Lee County Supervisor of Elections to mail sample ballotsThe Weather Authority: More rain and storms this Thursday afternoon and evening
Lee County Supervisor of Elections to mail sample ballots The Lee County Supervisor of Elections will soon begin sending out mail sample ballots for the upcoming 2024 election.
The Weather Authority The Weather Authority: More rain and storms this Thursday afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking more rain and storms this Thursday, possibly heavily impacting some areas this afternoon.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers CRA discusses downtown expansion On Wednesday, the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency discussed an expansion of the area they oversee.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda couple salvages what’s left after dramatic rescue A Punta Gorda couple is awaiting FEMA assistance after dealing with damage from Helene.
BOCA GRANDE Rebuilding after Hurricane Helene and avoiding contractor pitfalls Neighbors across Southwest Florida and beyond are picking up the pieces and assessing the damage left by Hurricane Helene.
PORT CHARLOTTE Areas of Port Charlotte flooded due to heavy rain Some areas of Port Charlotte are underwater after heavy rain Wednesday evening.
PINE ISLAND The Greater Pine Island Alliance is seeking volunteers to help recovery efforts The Greater Pine Island Alliance is looking for volunteers, and age or skill set does not matter; if you want to help, they have a job for you.
FORT MYERS Whiskey Creek residents frustrated by worsened flooding Whiskey Creek residents do not know why flooding has worsened, but they said they want something done about it.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs firefighters rescue a bulldog in Helene’s aftermath In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Bonita Springs Fire Station 27 received a guest: a sweet little bulldog.
FGCU professor speaks on port worker strike 45,000 port workers on the East and Gulf Coasts are officially on strike as of Wednesday after their labor contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance expired.
CAPE CORAL Oasis head football coach leading the Sharks after 22 years with Cape Coral Police Oasis High School head football coach Brice Bearman in his first season after retiring from the Cape Coral Police Department after 22 years.
NAPLES Naples City Council votes to repair Naples Pier Though Helene did cause further damage to the Naples Pier, the city manager said it would not get in the way of its reconstruction.
Florida voter registration deadline upcoming Monday, Oct. 7, is the deadline to register to vote in November’s general election.
FORT MYERS BEACH The future of Church of the Ascension after Helene One of the hardest hit churches by Hurricane Ian is on Fort Myers Beach. Church of the Ascension got more water from Helene, but there wasn’t much left to damage.
HARLEM HEIGHTS How were Harlem Heights residents affected by Helene? A community filled with water nearly two years ago is dry two years later, even after the storm surge of Helene, and now residents told us why.
Lee County Supervisor of Elections to mail sample ballots The Lee County Supervisor of Elections will soon begin sending out mail sample ballots for the upcoming 2024 election.
The Weather Authority The Weather Authority: More rain and storms this Thursday afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking more rain and storms this Thursday, possibly heavily impacting some areas this afternoon.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers CRA discusses downtown expansion On Wednesday, the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency discussed an expansion of the area they oversee.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda couple salvages what’s left after dramatic rescue A Punta Gorda couple is awaiting FEMA assistance after dealing with damage from Helene.
BOCA GRANDE Rebuilding after Hurricane Helene and avoiding contractor pitfalls Neighbors across Southwest Florida and beyond are picking up the pieces and assessing the damage left by Hurricane Helene.
PORT CHARLOTTE Areas of Port Charlotte flooded due to heavy rain Some areas of Port Charlotte are underwater after heavy rain Wednesday evening.
PINE ISLAND The Greater Pine Island Alliance is seeking volunteers to help recovery efforts The Greater Pine Island Alliance is looking for volunteers, and age or skill set does not matter; if you want to help, they have a job for you.
FORT MYERS Whiskey Creek residents frustrated by worsened flooding Whiskey Creek residents do not know why flooding has worsened, but they said they want something done about it.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs firefighters rescue a bulldog in Helene’s aftermath In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Bonita Springs Fire Station 27 received a guest: a sweet little bulldog.
FGCU professor speaks on port worker strike 45,000 port workers on the East and Gulf Coasts are officially on strike as of Wednesday after their labor contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance expired.
CAPE CORAL Oasis head football coach leading the Sharks after 22 years with Cape Coral Police Oasis High School head football coach Brice Bearman in his first season after retiring from the Cape Coral Police Department after 22 years.
NAPLES Naples City Council votes to repair Naples Pier Though Helene did cause further damage to the Naples Pier, the city manager said it would not get in the way of its reconstruction.
Florida voter registration deadline upcoming Monday, Oct. 7, is the deadline to register to vote in November’s general election.
FORT MYERS BEACH The future of Church of the Ascension after Helene One of the hardest hit churches by Hurricane Ian is on Fort Myers Beach. Church of the Ascension got more water from Helene, but there wasn’t much left to damage.
HARLEM HEIGHTS How were Harlem Heights residents affected by Helene? A community filled with water nearly two years ago is dry two years later, even after the storm surge of Helene, and now residents told us why.
Kathleen Boyle with her tow dogs, Bear and Robin, at their Fiddler’s Creek home in Collier County. Boyle says all three of them survived an encounter with a black bear during a morning walk the day of Christmas Eve Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. Credit: WINK News. We told you about the encounter a woman says she and her two small dogs had with a mother black bear and her cubs on Christmas Eve morning. It’s an encounter wildlife agencies take seriously. Kathleen Boyle told WINK News a mother bear came after her when she ran into two bear cubs on her morning walk with her two West Highland White Terriers, Bear and Robin. Boyle said she was able to escape with the help of her two dogs and a bicyclist who rode by in the Fiddler’s Creek community, where she lives with her husband and their two pets. “And as I was trying to punch her, she came at me,” Boyle recalled. Wildlife experts say everyone needs to be prepared for this sort of situation. “We live in a place, especially if you live right against wild areas or natural areas, that there will be wildlife encounters, bears included,” said Katie Johnson, the community engagement coordinator for Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Luckily, the encounter ended well for both Boyle and her dogs. “I know I’m one of the lucky ones,” Boyle said. She says what ultimately allowed her to escape the mother bear was the nearby biker and her dogs. “[Bear], really, by charging her let me know that she was there, and he’s showing the injuries for it, but he is, he really saved us from the attack,” Boyle said. “And then the biker really was able to help scare her off and get her back.” Boyle also says she knew what to do during the attack. “I’m jumping up and screaming and doing what you’re supposed to do, make yourself big, deep voice,” Boyle said. On Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website, it says, when attacked by a black bear, you need to fight back aggressively, even with your bare hands as Boyle did. “I tried to, you know, get my arms drawn out and throat punch but pull back quickly so that she couldn’t get me,” Boyle said. As for what not to do, according to FWC, do not play dead or try to climb a tree, and, of course, don’t approach a bear in the first place. “They really want to mind their own business,” Johnson said. “They don’t want anything to do with us, and, really, a lot of times with animals, their last resort is going to be to approach a human.” Boyle’s situation is a reminder that, even when you’re careful, these encounters can happen. “I truly owe it to those dogs,” Boyle said. “I mean, she she’s 2 years old, and she went out for the momma bear. He’s 17 months, and he went up to the momma bear to protect me.” Go to MyFWC.com/Bear to learn more about living in bear country. MORE: Human/Bear Encounters Protect Pets Scare That Bear