Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMissing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
War hero William H. Pitsenbarger. Credit: U.S. Air Force. “The Last Full Measure” hit movie theaters Friday. It’s based on the true story of war hero William H. Pitsenbarger. His name is well known in the U.S Air Force, and his heroic actions in Vietnam saved dozens of men. We sat down with one of Pitsenbarger’s childhood friends, who now calls Bonita Springs home, and he remembered his dear friend with us recently, ahead of the new film made in his honor. “We used to double date in my ‘57 Chevy convertible,” childhood friend Jerry Sutton told WINK News Safety and Security Specialist Rich Koko during the sit-down interview. Drive around Piqua, Ohio, a small town just outside Dayton, and it’s hard to miss the signs of Pitsenbarger’s legacy. Sutton remembers a time before Pitsenbarger’s heroic actions went down in history, a time when “Pits,” as he was known, was just a kid like him. “I met him right after he graduated high school,” Sutton said. “I took him to this dance place up in Greenville, Ohio. He won a dance contest up there, he and this girl.” Sutton remembers after graduation, “Pits” enlisted in the Air Force and soon was shipped off to basic training and then to Vietnam, where he was a pararescueman. “He just was dynamic,” Sutton said. “You meet him one time, and you had a friend.” During a rescue operation in 1966, Pitsenbarger was lowered into an active battle in the jungle to evacuate wounded soldiers. It would go down as one of the bloodiest days of the war. After getting nearly a dozen soldiers lifted to safety, Pitsenbarger refused rescue and stayed on the ground to help more soldiers still under gunfire. Sutton remembers getting a call from his wife. “I have bad news for you,’” Sutton recalled his wife telling him. “I said, ‘What?’ She said Bill Pitsenbarger got killed. I said, ‘What?’ That’s how I found out about my buddy.” It took decades, but in 2000, Pitsenbarger was awarded the Medal of Honor, which was received by his parents. “It took so damn long to get him this achievement, this notoriety, and the boy deserved it,” Sutton said. “The next day, after they found his body. Hell, he saved 60 guy’s lives.” And now, 54 years after that heroic stand, a new movie is paying tribute to that fateful day, an important story to tell and to remember but still too raw for an old friend. “To go and watch a friend get killed, I don’t know if I can or not,” Sutton said. MORE: First Division Museum at Cantigny Park – William H. Pitsenbarger #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran William H. Pitsenbarger Congressional Medal of Honor Society