Police Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crashFort Myers Beach prepares for St. Patrick’s Day Parade
NORTH PORT Police Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crash The North Port Police Department is remembering a young life lost too soon.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach prepares for St. Patrick’s Day Parade Fort Myers Beach is gearing up for its St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is expected to cause traffic disruptions on the already busy island.
the weather authority A breezy Saturday with near-record high heat in store The Weather Authority says a warm Saturday with near-record high heat is in store with sun and clouds overhead.
SANIBEL Sanibel Beach shines as a top 2025 destination for shelling Southwest Florida’s beaches are a major draw for visitors from around the world.
911 calls save two kayakers in distress on Caloosahatchee River After strong winds left them stranded, two kayakers were rescued from the Caloosahatchee River.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman tricked into romance scam, police seek recovery Cape Coral police are working to recover more than $250,000 from a bank account that may be tied to criminal activity.
Captiva’s Mucky Duck plans reopening after hurricane damage The Mucky Duck, a beloved restaurant on Captiva Island, is determined to clear up any rumors about its closure.
PORT CHARLOTTE Tampa Bay Rays’ future in Port Charlotte raises business concerns The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to stay at Tropicana Field for the 2026 season while they repair damage from Hurricane Milton.
Red tide health alert lifted in certain Lee County areas The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has lifted the red tide health alerts issued in certain areas.
Charlotte Sheriff elected as chair of Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell is stepping into a new role as chair of the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches.
NAPLES Naples groups unite to protect endangered Florida Panthers The third Saturday in March marks the official Save the Florida Panther Day.
New housing development in Collier County raises environmental concerns Instead of fields of oranges fueling the local economy, rows of homes could soon take their place in the region.
NAPLES La Gondola: Venice experience in Southwest Florida Imagine cruising down the Southwest Florida waterways in your very own gondola, bringing a touch of Italy to Naples.
FORT MYERS Bubbles for Bug; Carwash raising funds for furry friend A Southwest Florida dog named Bug needs help. His owner, Lex Montanaro, is hosting a carwash fundraiser to raise the $10,000 Bug needs for surgery.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda’s Celtic Ray preps for St. Patrick’s Day bash Punta Gorda is gearing up for a massive St. Patrick’s Day celebration this weekend.
NORTH PORT Police Explorer Marcus Freeman remembered 14 years after North Port crash The North Port Police Department is remembering a young life lost too soon.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach prepares for St. Patrick’s Day Parade Fort Myers Beach is gearing up for its St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is expected to cause traffic disruptions on the already busy island.
the weather authority A breezy Saturday with near-record high heat in store The Weather Authority says a warm Saturday with near-record high heat is in store with sun and clouds overhead.
SANIBEL Sanibel Beach shines as a top 2025 destination for shelling Southwest Florida’s beaches are a major draw for visitors from around the world.
911 calls save two kayakers in distress on Caloosahatchee River After strong winds left them stranded, two kayakers were rescued from the Caloosahatchee River.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral woman tricked into romance scam, police seek recovery Cape Coral police are working to recover more than $250,000 from a bank account that may be tied to criminal activity.
Captiva’s Mucky Duck plans reopening after hurricane damage The Mucky Duck, a beloved restaurant on Captiva Island, is determined to clear up any rumors about its closure.
PORT CHARLOTTE Tampa Bay Rays’ future in Port Charlotte raises business concerns The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to stay at Tropicana Field for the 2026 season while they repair damage from Hurricane Milton.
Red tide health alert lifted in certain Lee County areas The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has lifted the red tide health alerts issued in certain areas.
Charlotte Sheriff elected as chair of Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell is stepping into a new role as chair of the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches.
NAPLES Naples groups unite to protect endangered Florida Panthers The third Saturday in March marks the official Save the Florida Panther Day.
New housing development in Collier County raises environmental concerns Instead of fields of oranges fueling the local economy, rows of homes could soon take their place in the region.
NAPLES La Gondola: Venice experience in Southwest Florida Imagine cruising down the Southwest Florida waterways in your very own gondola, bringing a touch of Italy to Naples.
FORT MYERS Bubbles for Bug; Carwash raising funds for furry friend A Southwest Florida dog named Bug needs help. His owner, Lex Montanaro, is hosting a carwash fundraiser to raise the $10,000 Bug needs for surgery.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda’s Celtic Ray preps for St. Patrick’s Day bash Punta Gorda is gearing up for a massive St. Patrick’s Day celebration this weekend.
Gwyn Gittens said photos of the outside of portable buildings at an undisclosed school bring her pain that students have to go to school in these conditions. (Photos shared by Gwyn Gittens) The School District of Lee County has responded to a board member’s claims that students are learning in dangerous conditions. WINK News first showed you on Wednesday some exclusive photos from Gwyn Gittens. The photos show rusty doors and chipped cinder blocks holding up portable classrooms. Gittens would not disclose the school these photos were taken at but said these conditions are unacceptable. The district responded Thursday, with spokesman Rob Spicker saying students most definitely do not go to school in dangerous conditions. “The portables in the photographs are all from one campus, and they were inspected by a state-certified fire inspector in January,” he said. Spicker said that’s when the district made a plan to fix the portables that had problems, but that fix hasn’t happened yet. The work will be done after school lets out for the summer. “Had there been any life-threatening hazards, the inspector would have immediately shut down the use of those portables,” Spicker explained. WINK News asked Spicker, “Should parents be concerned that below a life-threatening threshold, there could be any danger to their students learning in those portables?” “No, our portables are inspected every year by the state fire inspector,” he replied. “And if they were to determine that those portables were not in use, we would shut them down.” Gittens doesn’t buy it. In a phone call Thursday, she told WINK News the photos she shared speak for themselves, loud and clear. Debbie Jordan, school board chair, said she’s disappointed and frustrated that Gittens came to WINK News with the photos instead of the district. Gittens said she tried to call a special meeting weeks ago to address a number of her concerns and she was voted down. “She did ask for a special meeting, and based on not having information on what the special meeting was about, that meeting did not happen,” Jordan said. “I keep hearing about not being able to take care of the students. This right here is taking us away from what we need to be doing.” Jordan and the district directed WINK News to a May 2020 document that shows the board, including Gittens, approved inspection reports 7-0. On Wednesday, Gittens told WINK News she hadn’t seen the inspection reports. The district and Jordan referred WINK to a May 19 document in which the board approved building and portable inspections unanimously 7-0. When asked about that document in her phone call Thursday with WINK News, Gittens acknowledged she did in fact vote for approval of the reports. She said, however, that repairs were supposed to begin in January, not in June. And to that point, she reiterated that the photos should speak for themselves.