School burglars in Collier County make off with gunsLocal veteran impresses Trump and Stallone with handcrafted flags
NAPLES School burglars in Collier County make off with guns The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying four people who broke into Golden Gate Middle School and stole guns that were locked in a safe.
NAPLES Local veteran impresses Trump and Stallone with handcrafted flags A local veteran has always had a passion for art. After serving in the military, he found a new mission through his hobby of wood cutting.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High cross-country runner makes history as first girl in state finals A Dunbar High senior is making history. Jennifer Gonzalez is the first girl from the school to reach the state finals in cross country.
NORTH NAPLES Meet the Kids Day! Big dollar donors hear how their money helps Tooday is Meet the Kids Day. People who bid on high-dollar auction items at the Naples Winter Wine Festival get to see who benefits.
CAPE CORAL American Legion Post 90 to hold Four Chaplains ceremony American Legion Post 90 is holding the Four Chaplains ceremony commemorating the sinking of an American troop ship during World War II.
SUV crashes into Hendry County canal Hendry County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating after an SUV crashed into a canal in Hendry County.
Falling back on New Year’s resolutions Here we are in the last half of January, but the majority of people who made New Year’s resolutions have already given up.
Charlotte County Sheriff: suspect shot 12 times in Englewood deputy-involved shooting The suspect in a deadly deputy-involved shooting was shot 12 times after deputies fired 17 rounds when the man charged them with a machete.
ESTERO Officials working to get Estero Sports Park on fast track The Estero Village Council is looking to speed up the development of the Estero Sports Park.
Punta Gorda’s City Marketplace hits market for $12M The vacant City Marketplace acreage in downtown Punta Gorda hit the market recently with a $12 million price tag and is being marketed as a mixed-use development opportunity that will blend residential, retail and hospitality for a live-work-play environment.
Sip & Sizzle aspires to elevate dining in downtown Fort Myers Sip & Sizzle first opened Jan. 6 at 2236 First St. at the corner of Hendry Street in downtown Fort Myers.
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers man arrested for stolen gun and drug possession A man is in jail after he was arrested for lying about having a stolen gun and possessing illegal drugs.
Tim Aten Knows: Water tank, not tower, part of new school Passersby can’t miss the monumental tank and pine tree cell tower under construction at the intersection of Immokalee Road and Cornerstone Drive, about 3 miles east of Collier Boulevard.
the weather authority Morning mist moves out for a sunnier Friday afternoon As the clouds begin to clear, the Weather Authority is tracking Friday afternoon highs in the lower 60s after some morning mist moves out.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
NAPLES School burglars in Collier County make off with guns The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying four people who broke into Golden Gate Middle School and stole guns that were locked in a safe.
NAPLES Local veteran impresses Trump and Stallone with handcrafted flags A local veteran has always had a passion for art. After serving in the military, he found a new mission through his hobby of wood cutting.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High cross-country runner makes history as first girl in state finals A Dunbar High senior is making history. Jennifer Gonzalez is the first girl from the school to reach the state finals in cross country.
NORTH NAPLES Meet the Kids Day! Big dollar donors hear how their money helps Tooday is Meet the Kids Day. People who bid on high-dollar auction items at the Naples Winter Wine Festival get to see who benefits.
CAPE CORAL American Legion Post 90 to hold Four Chaplains ceremony American Legion Post 90 is holding the Four Chaplains ceremony commemorating the sinking of an American troop ship during World War II.
SUV crashes into Hendry County canal Hendry County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating after an SUV crashed into a canal in Hendry County.
Falling back on New Year’s resolutions Here we are in the last half of January, but the majority of people who made New Year’s resolutions have already given up.
Charlotte County Sheriff: suspect shot 12 times in Englewood deputy-involved shooting The suspect in a deadly deputy-involved shooting was shot 12 times after deputies fired 17 rounds when the man charged them with a machete.
ESTERO Officials working to get Estero Sports Park on fast track The Estero Village Council is looking to speed up the development of the Estero Sports Park.
Punta Gorda’s City Marketplace hits market for $12M The vacant City Marketplace acreage in downtown Punta Gorda hit the market recently with a $12 million price tag and is being marketed as a mixed-use development opportunity that will blend residential, retail and hospitality for a live-work-play environment.
Sip & Sizzle aspires to elevate dining in downtown Fort Myers Sip & Sizzle first opened Jan. 6 at 2236 First St. at the corner of Hendry Street in downtown Fort Myers.
NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers man arrested for stolen gun and drug possession A man is in jail after he was arrested for lying about having a stolen gun and possessing illegal drugs.
Tim Aten Knows: Water tank, not tower, part of new school Passersby can’t miss the monumental tank and pine tree cell tower under construction at the intersection of Immokalee Road and Cornerstone Drive, about 3 miles east of Collier Boulevard.
the weather authority Morning mist moves out for a sunnier Friday afternoon As the clouds begin to clear, the Weather Authority is tracking Friday afternoon highs in the lower 60s after some morning mist moves out.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
Collier County Clerk Crystal Kinzel of Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. Credit: Collier County Clerk’s website. Former employees are suing a Southwest Florida clerk of court and claim they were fired over their political support, which they claim infringes upon their First Amendment rights. Five former employees of the office of Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller say they were fired by Clerk Crystal Kinzel out of political vengeance and retaliation, so they are suing her. The Collier County Clerk’s office did not tell us if the department underwent staffing issues at the time of the firings. The lawsuit claims none of the former employees exercised their political beliefs while on the clock and shouldn’t have been let go. MORE: Lawsuit against Collier County Clerk Kinzel “There had been no write ups; there had been no discipline; this came completely out of left field,” said Benjamin Yormak, a labor and employment attorney. Yormak represents the five former employees of the Collier County Clerk, who have filed a lawsuit against Kinzel in both her official and individual capacities. Two former employees were fired after nearly 20-year careers. “Really heartbroken to have their careers ripped out from underneath them, simply by virtue of them supporting a different candidate,” Yormak said. Jim Molenaar was the first employee Yormak represents who was fired by the clerk’s office. He was terminated from his position as senior legal counsel after filing to run for office against Kinzel. ”The message seemed to be pretty clear; ‘If you’re not with me, you’re against me, and you can’t work here,’” Yorkmak described the claims of his clients. The four other employees — Mark Pasek, Meredith Carr, Patricia Morgan and Steven Morgan — were fired Sept. 1, 2020. Yormak says it was done after Kinzel found out each of them had supported Molenaar’s campaign. “We have heard it was a reduction in force,” Yormak said. “We have also heard we don’t have to give you a reason.” Some who voted for Kinzel, including Steven Williams, believe there was more going on behind closed doors. “You have to have done something wrong,” Williams said. According to the lawsuit, Kinzel fired the five former employees because, “She was no longer confident in their abilities to carry out the duties and functions of their positions.” Clerk Kinzel denied an interview with us. A spokesperson with her office says they can’t comment pending litigation, but they did say they’re confident in their defense. “They were public servants who had worked for the taxpayers in Collier County and who, because they did not support Ms. Kinzel, lost their jobs,” Yormak said. “That’s wrong, and we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure justice is served here.”