Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bandsCharlotte County Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting in Punta Gorda
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting in Punta Gorda The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a road rage/shooting in the Punta Gorda area on Saturday night.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting in Punta Gorda The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a road rage/shooting in the Punta Gorda area on Saturday night.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Superintendent Gregory Adkins of the School District of Lee County announces his retirement from the school district during a public address at the Lee County Public Education Center Friday, April 16, 2021. Credit: WINK News. Lee County Superintendent Greg Adkins has decided to retire at the end of his contract later this year. Two District sources told WINK News Adkins sent an email announcing his plans to all District employees. Adkins’ plan is to retire at the end of June, which is when his employment contract is up, according to a copy of Adkins’ email obtained by WINK News. Adkins shared his plan to retire during a public address Friday at the Lee County Public Education Center. See the conference below, or click here to watch. School district spokesperson Rob Spicker said Adkins has been thinking about this for some time, and his announcement allows for an orderly transition. Adkins has served in his role for five years and called it “an honor and privilege beyond my highest expectation” in his email. Adkins has been with the school district for 33 years. In his email, he said he hopes to be able to help the next superintendent before his retirement. Adkins’ email includes his list of accomplishments during his tenure, including the construction of new schools through the passage of the half-cent sales tax referendum. “With those dollars we will build, add to, or perform major campus renovations at more than 20 locations over the next 10 years,” Adkins wrote. “Included in that are the addition at Lehigh Senior High School, the new Gateway High School and Lehigh Acres Middle School – both set to open in August, and the Innovation School, an exciting collaboration with Florida Gulf Coast University which will revolutionize and improve education and professional development in our region.” Adkins described the challenge of working through Hurricane Irma in 2017 and more recently, the pandemic. “And over the last year we have mobilized again, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in a truly exceptional way,” he said in his email. “We quickly moved more than 95,000 students to a Distance Learning environment, and led the country by reopening schools in the fall. We now have approximately 80% of our students in face-to-face instruction, while the rest continue in an innovative distance learning model.” “I will deeply miss the many friends, colleagues and community members I have built relationships with over the years,” he added. “I am tremendously appreciative of those relationships forged while striving to improve the educational opportunities for the children of Lee county.” Read his email to employees below: April 16, 2021 Dear School District of Lee County Team, I am writing to inform you of my decision to retire at the end of my current employment contract on June 30, 2021. Serving as Superintendent in Lee County for the last five and half years has been truly an honor and privilege beyond my highest expectation. During my almost 33-year tenure with our District, I have had the pleasure to serve with some of the most amazing and talented teachers, support staff, administrators and board members our profession has ever seen and whose commitment to children is immeasurable. Similarly, I have found our parents, community members and business leaders to be supportive, engaged and willing to help us achieve our mission that leaves me extremely grateful. Our collective achievements over my last five years have been remarkable. Our students continue to set record graduation rates each year, with this year seeing the highest percentage of graduates in District history. During the same time, achievement gaps continued to close and the number of schools considered underachieving by the State, was reduced from 23 to zero. We saw student achievement improve in most areas, resulting in steady progress toward our goal of becoming an A+ school district. Unprecedented growth in Lee County resulted in the need to build more schools, and led to the accomplishment of something most never thought possible – the passage of the half cent sales tax referendum. With those dollars we will build, add to, or perform major campus renovations at more than 20 locations over the next 10 years. Included in that are the addition at Lehigh Senior High School, the new Gateway High School and Lehigh Acres Middle School – both set to open in August, and the Innovation School, an exciting collaboration with Florida Gulf Coast University which will revolutionize and improve education and professional development in our region. Taking on the challenge of Kindergarten readiness, we expanded our PreK program with the opening of a 200 seat PreK center at James Stephens International Academy and we have plans to continue this expansion in other areas of the county. Finally, the need for skilled workers is at an all-time high and we have responded by adding career academies at our high schools, with plans to expand our technical colleges in order to meet that demand. Over and above educating our children, we have also overcome many challenges. In 2017, we mobilized during Hurricane Irma, providing food and shelter for over 25,000 Lee County residents. After the storm we worked diligently to assess and repair the damage to open our schools safely. And over the last year we have mobilized again, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in a truly exceptional way. We quickly moved more than 95,000 students to a Distance Learning environment, and led the country by reopening schools in the fall. We now have approximately 80% of our students in face to face instruction, while the rest continue in an innovative distance learning model. With your dedication and commitment to the health and well-being of our students, the spread of COVID-19 in our schools has been minimal. We have worked to make an abnormal year as normal as possible, hosting afterschool clubs and activities, proms and in a few short weeks we will celebrate our seniors at their graduation ceremonies. The successes we have celebrated together as a District are some of my proudest moments. My hope is to be here to help with a transition to the next Superintendent before retiring to spend more time with my family. I will deeply miss the many friends, colleagues and community members I have built relationships with over the years. I am tremendously appreciative of those relationships forged while striving to improve the educational opportunities for the children of Lee county. Working together to build a better future for our students has been one of the most gratifying missions of my life. Thank you. Greg