Experts give safety tips regarding reigniting heatersNaples Winter Wine Festival: 25 years of helping Collier County children
FORT MYERS Experts give safety tips regarding reigniting heaters With record cold fronts this week, some are now turning on their heaters for the first time in a while.
NAPLES Naples Winter Wine Festival: 25 years of helping Collier County children This year marks the silver anniversary of The Naples Winter Wine Festival. It was an idea sparked by a group of like-minded friends.
NAPLES Girl’s weightlifting popularity growing in Collier County Since the sport was introduced in Collier County schools three years ago teams have seen a sharp increase in participation.
CAPE CORAL Trend of phasing out shingled roofs for metal In Florida, the trend of replacing shingle roofs with metal roofs is gaining attention.
CAPTIVA Red tide warning near Turner Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Turner Beach.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Beach Town Council facing threats over development projects Tensions have risen in Fort Myers Beach, with local council member Karen Woodson facing verbal threats and abuse.
NAPLES Attendees arrive ahead of 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival The Naples Winter Wine Festival is set to begin on Friday night, marking its silver anniversary.
COVID-19’s hidden dangers Researchers have discovered that the neurological effects of long COVID extend beyond common symptoms like coughing and sneezing.
Locals react to Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to end the nation’s birthright citizenship policy.
Watering schedule to begin for unincorporated Lee County residents A once-a-week watering schedule is being issued for unincorporated Lee County, which is intended to conserve water and protect the aquifer.
ESTERO Upcoming election for Village of Estero canceled According to Tommy Doyle, the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, the scheduled election for the Village of Estero has been canceled.
LEHIGH ACRES Quan Martin representing SWFL on NFL Championship Sunday Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin, who went to Lehigh Senior High, is representing Southwest Florida on NFL Championship Sunday.
8-story Naples hotel passes first hurdle in approval process An eight-story, dual-brand luxury hotel received unanimous preliminary approval from the Naples Design Review Board, the first hurdle in a yearlong planning process.
Jacksonville Gov. Ron DeSantis to reinforce immigration policies Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is looking to enhance law enforcement’s role in helping the federal government with immigration policies.
Man accused of stealing ATV from DeSoto County campground A man has been arrested after allegedly driving an ATV that was reported stolen last year in DeSoto County.
FORT MYERS Experts give safety tips regarding reigniting heaters With record cold fronts this week, some are now turning on their heaters for the first time in a while.
NAPLES Naples Winter Wine Festival: 25 years of helping Collier County children This year marks the silver anniversary of The Naples Winter Wine Festival. It was an idea sparked by a group of like-minded friends.
NAPLES Girl’s weightlifting popularity growing in Collier County Since the sport was introduced in Collier County schools three years ago teams have seen a sharp increase in participation.
CAPE CORAL Trend of phasing out shingled roofs for metal In Florida, the trend of replacing shingle roofs with metal roofs is gaining attention.
CAPTIVA Red tide warning near Turner Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Turner Beach.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Beach Town Council facing threats over development projects Tensions have risen in Fort Myers Beach, with local council member Karen Woodson facing verbal threats and abuse.
NAPLES Attendees arrive ahead of 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival The Naples Winter Wine Festival is set to begin on Friday night, marking its silver anniversary.
COVID-19’s hidden dangers Researchers have discovered that the neurological effects of long COVID extend beyond common symptoms like coughing and sneezing.
Locals react to Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to end the nation’s birthright citizenship policy.
Watering schedule to begin for unincorporated Lee County residents A once-a-week watering schedule is being issued for unincorporated Lee County, which is intended to conserve water and protect the aquifer.
ESTERO Upcoming election for Village of Estero canceled According to Tommy Doyle, the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, the scheduled election for the Village of Estero has been canceled.
LEHIGH ACRES Quan Martin representing SWFL on NFL Championship Sunday Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin, who went to Lehigh Senior High, is representing Southwest Florida on NFL Championship Sunday.
8-story Naples hotel passes first hurdle in approval process An eight-story, dual-brand luxury hotel received unanimous preliminary approval from the Naples Design Review Board, the first hurdle in a yearlong planning process.
Jacksonville Gov. Ron DeSantis to reinforce immigration policies Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is looking to enhance law enforcement’s role in helping the federal government with immigration policies.
Man accused of stealing ATV from DeSoto County campground A man has been arrested after allegedly driving an ATV that was reported stolen last year in DeSoto County.
FILE Photo: Tyler Williams, a former officer of Fort Myers Police Department, appears in court in September 2020. Williams was fire from FMPD following an internal affairs investigation that found he failed to report the mother of an endangered child to Florida Department of Children & Families in January 2020. Credit: WINK News. An officer accused of neglecting a 3-year-old girl after pulling over her mother with drugs in the car is no longer employed by a Southwest Florida police department. The officer is now asking for his job back, and he is receiving support in his quest. Gulf Coast Police Benevolent Association is supporting Tyler Williams, a former officer of Fort Myers Police Department, after he was fired recently over the of a death of a child in a 2020 crash. Matt Sellers, the president of the police union, told us Wednesday he filed a grievance against FMPD, demanding Williams get his job back. Sellers said he will also pursue legal action. “Officer Tyler Williams’ termination is not based or supported by a just cause,” Sellers said. “That’s a direct violation of his contract … This was an overzealous [internal affairs] investigator and prosecutor. These charges should have never happened.” FILE Photo: Tyler Williams, a former officer of Fort Myers Police Department, appears in court in September 2020. Williams was fire from FMPD following an internal affairs investigation that found he failed to report the mother of an endangered child to Florida Department of Children & Families in January 2020. Credit: WINK News. Toddler Serenity Rose Robinson died from injuries she suffered in a February 2020 crash when her mother, Leslie Zeagler, was in the driver’s seat. Roughly a month prior in January 2020, Williams pulled over Serenity’s mom and found heroin and meth in the car with Serenity in the backseat. At that time Williams did not notify Florida Department of Children and Families. Subsequently following an FMPD internal affairs investigation, Williams faced charges for failing to make a report to DCF about an endangered child after he pulled over Serenity’s mother the first time and after Serenity then died due to the serious crash she was involved in. Williams’ trouble started with the traffic stop in January 2020. His body camera recorded it all. “Beautiful little girl, and she does not deserve that,” Williams could be heard on his body cam during his traffic stop with Zeagler. Serenity Rose Robinson. Credit: Shared with WINK News. Serenity was the little girl sleeping in the back seat with her mother in the front seat. During his search, Williams found needles and drugs. “That’s solid heroin in there,” Williams said during his search of the vehicle. Police say Zeagler was behind the wheel under the influence of drugs. Instead of reporting Zeagler to DCF during the traffic stop in January 2020, Williams allowed her to leave. Charges Williams faced were originally dismissed against him, but the police benevolent association president confirmed he still plans to pursue legal action against FMPD in support of Williams. When a judge dismissed criminal charges against Williams, he did not go back to work. Instead, FMPD kept him off the streets, while internal affairs did its own investigation. Tuesday, FMPD Chief Derrick Diggs fired Williams. In June, Diggs said, “Officer Tyler Williams failed in his duty to protect a young child.” We requested the final internal affairs report from Fort Myers Police Department, but FMPD has not sent it to us yet. Zeagler was also eventually arrested and remains in Lee County Jail on bond of more than $350,000. She faces charges for DUI manslaughter, aggravated manslaughter of a child and driving with a suspended license. She is scheduled to appear in court in late April.