33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee CountyCool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
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.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
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.
FILE photo of a Charlotte County deputy response. Credit: WINK News. Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office says parents of students made matters worse during a deputy response to a school lockdown in January. A lockdown occurred last month after reports of a man near two schools with a gun. That man turned out to be an iguana hunter carrying a pellet gun. CCSO says mistakes from parents on that day could have added complications if there really had been an active shooter. Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell sent Charlotte County students home with a letter Friday for parents about how they should behave during school lockdowns. We spoke to a parent of a student involved that day and looked at what the sheriff’s office says parents can learn from that incident. Jan. 28, Candace Stevens was at Englewood East barber shop Wiseguys. “It was a very busy day,” said Stevens, the owner of Wiseguys barber shop. Stevens said she noticed her phone buzzing with calls and flooded with texts, one coming from her daughter inside L.A. Ainger Middle School just north of Rotonda West. “Hey mom there’s a shooter, a shooter of some sort, a person on campus, and we are on lockdown,” Stevens recalled the message from her duaghter. So Stevens drove down to the school and parked about a mile away. “Your worst fear is that you’re not hearing everything,” Stevens said. “Everything is quiet. That something bad is going on.” CCSO says concerned parents like Stevens did the right thing by staying out of law enforcement’s way. “Although it wasn’t an active shooter type situation, it came across as that,” said Skip Conroy, the community affairs supervisor with CCSO. But some parents made the deputy response more difficult. Charlotte County Public Schools sent students home with a letter from Sheriff Bill Prummell. His letter says parents argued with deputies and called their kids phones that day, which could have impacted safety during a real active shooter scenario. “It can cause potential harm to, not only the deputies, but the children who we’re trying to protect,” Conroy said. The school district also said in an email statement it works closely with the sheriff’s office during these types of stations. It stressed the trust in the sheriff’s leadership and knowledge of threats to schools and management of school lockdowns. “Our school district and law enforcement train for instances like this and take the safety of students, staff and parents seriously,” shared in the Charlotte County Public Schools’ statement. Sheriff Prummell wants parents to trust law enforcement to do their jobs if there is a next time. The sheriff’s office says it’s had discussions on its response from that day and continues to talk about areas of improvement. “I felt good about sending them back to school the next day,” Stevens said. “I knew that they were going to be fine at that school for how quickly they responded.”