County by County: How to separate hurricane-related debris before pick up in SWFLCity of Fort Myers opens post-storm response hubs
County by County: How to separate hurricane-related debris before pick up in SWFL Counties around Southwest Florida are reminding residents of the proper way to separate debris after Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers opens post-storm response hubs City employees and volunteers will be available at these locations to offer information and resources to residents, such as FEMA Individual Assistance.
City of Fort Myers distributing ice at the Skatium The City of Fort Myers staff is distributing ice at the Fort Myers Skatium until 4:00 p.m. Friday for anybody who needs it.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY No casualties found after door-to-door check by Charlotte County deputies following Milton No casualties were discovered following a door-to-door search throughout the barrier islands and other low-lying areas by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
Sanibel opens to contractors; how to get your reentry pass The Sanibel Causeway is now open for contractors to return to Sanibel following Hurricane Milton.
PUNTA GORDA Peace River Wildlife Center closes indefinitely after back-to-back hurricanes Forces from major Hurricane Milton overwhelmed the Peace River Wildlife Center, leaving the organization uncertain if they will return to Ponce Park.
Tim Aten Knows: Updates on projects planned along Immokalee Road Local developers are still dealing with generalities rather than specifics when it comes to development plans on property recently cleared on the south side of Immokalee Road between Wilson and Randall boulevards in Golden Gate Estates.
Blind Pass Bridge opens to residents amid cleanup The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday morning the Blind Pass Bridge is now open but must be crossed using caution due to clean-up crews. The Florida Department of Transportation is currently active in the area, using heavy equipment to move large amounts of sand, so there will be deputies helping direct traffic. Any residents […]
The Naples Zoo: “We are happy to report all animals are safe and secure.” Some good news after Hurricane Milton: the Naples Zoo animals are safe and sound. “Our ride-out team is safe, and we are happy to report that all the animals are safe and secure,” the Naples Zoo said in a Facebook post. “We thank you all for your support and are grateful to our staff who […]
SANIBEL Milton leaves the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation HQ surrounded by water Staff from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation are evaluating their facilities and areas where they operate in the wake of Hurricane Milton.
Harry Chapin Food Bank to hold emergency food distributions Harry Chapin Food Bank is holding emergency food distributions on Friday and Saturday following Hurricane Milton. When Milton made landfall Wednesday, communities across Southwest Florida were affected by wind, storm surge, tornadoes and flooding. Now Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties are all seeing the devastation. Luckily, the Harry Chapin Food Bank sustained no […]
NORTH PORT North Port police comb the streets after Milton’s mess The North Port Police Department took to the streets on Thursday to clean up around the city after Hurricane Milton.
The Weather Authority Cooler day with isolated showers The Weather Authority is tracking a cooler Friday ahead, with quick isolated showers expected throughout the afternoon.
RSW to resume flights on Friday Due to Hurricane Milton, Southwest Florida International Airport canceled flights on Wednesday and Thursday.
FORT MYERS Suspect sought, two others arrested in alleged Fort Myers burglary One suspect remains at large after the Fort Myers Police Department confirmed a burglary on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Thursday night.
County by County: How to separate hurricane-related debris before pick up in SWFL Counties around Southwest Florida are reminding residents of the proper way to separate debris after Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS City of Fort Myers opens post-storm response hubs City employees and volunteers will be available at these locations to offer information and resources to residents, such as FEMA Individual Assistance.
City of Fort Myers distributing ice at the Skatium The City of Fort Myers staff is distributing ice at the Fort Myers Skatium until 4:00 p.m. Friday for anybody who needs it.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY No casualties found after door-to-door check by Charlotte County deputies following Milton No casualties were discovered following a door-to-door search throughout the barrier islands and other low-lying areas by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
Sanibel opens to contractors; how to get your reentry pass The Sanibel Causeway is now open for contractors to return to Sanibel following Hurricane Milton.
PUNTA GORDA Peace River Wildlife Center closes indefinitely after back-to-back hurricanes Forces from major Hurricane Milton overwhelmed the Peace River Wildlife Center, leaving the organization uncertain if they will return to Ponce Park.
Tim Aten Knows: Updates on projects planned along Immokalee Road Local developers are still dealing with generalities rather than specifics when it comes to development plans on property recently cleared on the south side of Immokalee Road between Wilson and Randall boulevards in Golden Gate Estates.
Blind Pass Bridge opens to residents amid cleanup The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday morning the Blind Pass Bridge is now open but must be crossed using caution due to clean-up crews. The Florida Department of Transportation is currently active in the area, using heavy equipment to move large amounts of sand, so there will be deputies helping direct traffic. Any residents […]
The Naples Zoo: “We are happy to report all animals are safe and secure.” Some good news after Hurricane Milton: the Naples Zoo animals are safe and sound. “Our ride-out team is safe, and we are happy to report that all the animals are safe and secure,” the Naples Zoo said in a Facebook post. “We thank you all for your support and are grateful to our staff who […]
SANIBEL Milton leaves the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation HQ surrounded by water Staff from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation are evaluating their facilities and areas where they operate in the wake of Hurricane Milton.
Harry Chapin Food Bank to hold emergency food distributions Harry Chapin Food Bank is holding emergency food distributions on Friday and Saturday following Hurricane Milton. When Milton made landfall Wednesday, communities across Southwest Florida were affected by wind, storm surge, tornadoes and flooding. Now Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties are all seeing the devastation. Luckily, the Harry Chapin Food Bank sustained no […]
NORTH PORT North Port police comb the streets after Milton’s mess The North Port Police Department took to the streets on Thursday to clean up around the city after Hurricane Milton.
The Weather Authority Cooler day with isolated showers The Weather Authority is tracking a cooler Friday ahead, with quick isolated showers expected throughout the afternoon.
RSW to resume flights on Friday Due to Hurricane Milton, Southwest Florida International Airport canceled flights on Wednesday and Thursday.
FORT MYERS Suspect sought, two others arrested in alleged Fort Myers burglary One suspect remains at large after the Fort Myers Police Department confirmed a burglary on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Thursday night.
Isaiah Pettiford, A DNA match has brought the victim of a sex crime closer to justice. Monday, Lee County Sheriff’s Office booked suspect Isaiah Pettiford, 24, for sexual involvement with teenager three years ago. The survivor was 15 years old at the time and Pettiford was 20. She’s 18 now and wants law enforcement to pursue an investigation. A survivor of sexual abuse told us coming forward is already difficult. Now that an arrest been made, he told us it makes coming forward worth it. He says he can help the teenager go from victim to survivor. Pettiford’s warrant shows the victim went to a party near Gladiolus Boulevard and San Carlos Boulevard in 2017 when she was 15. The documents say the victim was pressured into drinking alcoholic beverages until she was drunk. She told investigators two men then forced themselves on her. The documents say the victim did not want to go forward with a criminal investigation at the time because she thought police wouldn’t be able to find the suspects or evidence. It’s a decision Aaron Averhart told us is very common after someone survives something like this. Averhart survived sexual abuse as a teenager at a camp in Charlotte County. “There is a lot of mixed emotions. There is guilt. There’s a shame, and it definitely keeps you from wanting to publicize your story in any way, publicize your struggles,” Averhart said. With a DNA match three years later, the victim is ready to pursue a criminal investigation. “It shows a lot of strength and courage to come forward, and I wish I could’ve been able to do it in three years,” Averhart said. Rich Kolko, WINK News Safety & Security Specialist, said, even though a rape kit collects DNA when a sexual crime happens, the suspect’s DNA would also need to already be in the system to make a match. “It would have to take an interaction with law enforcement, trying to take a security clearance, joining the military, a variety of things,” Kolko explained. Pettiford was arrested in Michigan and brought back to Lee County Monday, where he is in custody at Lee County Jail. He now faces a charge for lewd or lascivious battery of a victim aged 12 to 16. “It is never too late to come forward, and it is probably one of the most liberating and life-saving things that you can do as a survivor,” Averhart said. “It really helps cement the status of survivor in a weird way.”