South Gulf Cove to host benefit for family of slain Charlotte deputyLocal doctors working to speed up biopsy process
ch South Gulf Cove to host benefit for family of slain Charlotte deputy The South Gulf Cove Homeowner Association will host a fundraising event to honor the late Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz.
FORT MYERS Local doctors working to speed up biopsy process Waiting to find out if a suspicious lump is cancerous can be incredibly stressful. Anything that speeds up the process and leads to faster treatment, if needed, is a huge help.
Punta Gorda keeps its own 911 dispatch center Punta Gorda City Council on Feb. 19 voted unanimously to keep its 911 dispatch center under city control in a move that blocks the county from consolidating the city’s dispatch center with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man sentenced to 2 years in prison for possessing marijuana, firearm A Fort Myers man has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
ICE activity confirmed in Hendry County WINK News has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is in Hendry County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers woman sentenced to 1 year in prison for forging late mother’s signature to claim benefits A Fort Myers woman has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for acts of wire fraud involving her dead mother dating back to 2005.
TALLAHASSEE Streaming Now: Gov. DeSantis holds news conference at Florida Capitol Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference at the state capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee.
City of Fort Myers to keep fluoride in drinking water City of Fort Myers won’t be joining other local governments in removing fluoride from its drinking water, council members decided.
ALVA Alva neighbors brace for another development battle Alva neighbors have made an urgent call to action to “Defend Alva and North River Road from overdevelopment.”
WINK NEWS President Trump signs Executive Order aimed at expanding access to IVF President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Tuesday to try to reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans.
Warm and breezy afternoon with scattered rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday, and scattered rain is expected this evening.
WINK NEWS 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.
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
NAPLES Costco construction causes commotion in Collier County community Costco is eyeing a plot of land in Collier County for a new store, but residents are voicing strong opposition.
NAPLES Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho’s impact on education and Southwest Florida Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho, a beloved philanthropist and advocate for education, dedicated his life to empowering others through opportunity and knowledge.
ch South Gulf Cove to host benefit for family of slain Charlotte deputy The South Gulf Cove Homeowner Association will host a fundraising event to honor the late Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz.
FORT MYERS Local doctors working to speed up biopsy process Waiting to find out if a suspicious lump is cancerous can be incredibly stressful. Anything that speeds up the process and leads to faster treatment, if needed, is a huge help.
Punta Gorda keeps its own 911 dispatch center Punta Gorda City Council on Feb. 19 voted unanimously to keep its 911 dispatch center under city control in a move that blocks the county from consolidating the city’s dispatch center with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man sentenced to 2 years in prison for possessing marijuana, firearm A Fort Myers man has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and a firearm as a person with felony convictions.
ICE activity confirmed in Hendry County WINK News has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is in Hendry County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers woman sentenced to 1 year in prison for forging late mother’s signature to claim benefits A Fort Myers woman has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for acts of wire fraud involving her dead mother dating back to 2005.
TALLAHASSEE Streaming Now: Gov. DeSantis holds news conference at Florida Capitol Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference at the state capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee.
City of Fort Myers to keep fluoride in drinking water City of Fort Myers won’t be joining other local governments in removing fluoride from its drinking water, council members decided.
ALVA Alva neighbors brace for another development battle Alva neighbors have made an urgent call to action to “Defend Alva and North River Road from overdevelopment.”
WINK NEWS President Trump signs Executive Order aimed at expanding access to IVF President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Tuesday to try to reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans.
Warm and breezy afternoon with scattered rain this evening The Weather Authority is tracking a warm and breezy Wednesday, and scattered rain is expected this evening.
WINK NEWS 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.
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
NAPLES Costco construction causes commotion in Collier County community Costco is eyeing a plot of land in Collier County for a new store, but residents are voicing strong opposition.
NAPLES Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho’s impact on education and Southwest Florida Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho, a beloved philanthropist and advocate for education, dedicated his life to empowering others through opportunity and knowledge.
A mural at McCollum Hall (Credit: WINK News) A cultural centerpiece in Dunbar is being restored to its former glory. McCollum Hall has a long history as a staple of the community. It was once a place for entertainment, where everyone of any color was invited, and now it’s coming back to life. You may not look twice at the vacant building along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just east of downtown Fort Myers, but you can watch it reflourish. It was the place to be in the 1930s and 40s, and rare in the days of segregation. “McCollum Hall as a venue was very transcendent in that it provided a common space and safe place for Blacks and whites to come together,” said Antoine Williams, assistant director of the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). “It got famous because it became part of that Chitlin circuit with the Duke Ellingtons and all of those great performers,” said Charles Barnes, chairman of the Lee County Black History Society. “There were stories where it said there was a string that separated in the middle between the white and Black tenants that were actually there enjoying the music, but the music got so good that the rope came down and everybody was dancing with everybody.” Buck McCollum was a Black businessman who created the venue in the 1930s. The Fort Myers CRA wants to bring those days back to life by reviving the building and painting the past through murals located in Buck’s backyard. “This is an homage to their lifestyles, their culture, and their memories here in this Dunbar area,” said Shari Shifrin, director of the Fort Myers Mural Society. “What we’re trying to do is, we’re trying to tell the story of not only McCollum Hall but McCollum Hall’s influence on the Dunbar community,” said Erik Schlake, an independent artist and mural artist in Fort Myers. That story begins with Paul Laurence Dunbar. Not from the neighborhood that bears his name, but at the start of the 20th century, he was among the first influential Black poets. The story continues with scenes recreated from photos of McCollum Hall – the dancing, the stores, the everyday gatherings. There’s also a portrait of Evelyn Sams Canady, who founded the Dunbar Easter parade. “We are representing culture. We are trying to educate the community through culture,” said J.P. Almonacid, an independent artist. “Art goes hand in hand with history.” “I’m trying to tell better stories that I can kind of create a building block or really, stepping stones from the past to the present,” Schlake said. And in the future, McCollum Hall will be ready for a new story. “We hope that it will be an economic draw and asset not just for the City of Fort Myers but Lee County and Southwest Florida as a whole,” Williams said. “Recognizing the history, celebrating the history, and also acknowledging the need for to transition this property in this community in such a place to where everyone can benefit.” Crews have finished the exterior renovations to McCollum Hall. Construction on the inside of the building is set to begin next month and wrap up in December. The artists say they’ll be done with the murals by the end of March.