Vehicle pursuit in Charlotte County ends in crash A pursuit between the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and a vehicle on Interstate 75 ended in a crash.
Red tide looms off Southwest Florida coastline Beware of the beach! Red tide is making its way towards Southwest Florida once again.
FORT MYERS BEACH $1.2 million approved for repairs for FMB and Sanibel schools This hurricane season left an expensive mess at Fort Myers Beach Elementary and the Sanibel school, but who’s paying the $1.2 million price tag?
FORT MYERS Teen carjacks woman after escaping mental health facility A teenager accused of carjacking a woman in a church parking lot on Friday had just escaped from a facility where he was being held under the Baker Act, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Teachers union raises issues with Lee County School District after arbitration Being a teacher is just like any other profession. Teachers need to take days off, get sick, and sometimes cover for co-workers.
LABELLE LaBelle Animal Shelter hoping to raise money to avoid property being sold The owner of Animal Rescue Inc. in LaBelle is doing everything she can to prevent the shelter from disappearing in a matter of months.
County settlement allows Links of Naples golf course to redevelop into homes Collier County residents are vocalizing their concerns over the commissioner’s decision to develop housing on the Naples Golf Course.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers mayor weighs in on possible city hall relocation With Lee Memorial Hospital scheduled to close in 2027, discussions over what will replace the building are in full swing and whether Fort Myers City Hall is the right choice.
Toys for Tots: A 77-Year tradition of service and holiday cheer Toys for Tots aims to bring gifts to children and their families who may not be able to afford them for the holidays.
Inside the mind of accused CEO gunman WINK News is learning more about the man accused of shooting and killing a health insurance CEO on a New York City sidewalk last week, and breaking down what he may think of himself based on the writings he left behind.
1 dead after crash on Airport-Pulling Road in Collier County The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving a sedan and pick-up truck that occurred near Airport Pulling Road.
bonita springs Prostate cancer treatment aims to freeze further development When it comes to cancer treatment, several options come to mind, such as chemotherapy, surgery, and or radiation; however, there is another option that may prove to be as effective.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man convicted of sexually assaulting teenager A Fort Myers man has been convicted of several charges, including the sexual assault of a 17-year-old teenager.
Red tide advisory issued for Clam Pass and Barefoot Beach The Florida Department of Health issued a red tide advisory after presence of the algae bloom was found near Clam Pass and Barefoot Beach in Collier County.
FORT MYERS RSW offering remote parking for the holidays Southwest Florida International Airport, RSW, is offering passengers RSWRemote, a reserved holiday parking option.
Vehicle pursuit in Charlotte County ends in crash A pursuit between the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and a vehicle on Interstate 75 ended in a crash.
Red tide looms off Southwest Florida coastline Beware of the beach! Red tide is making its way towards Southwest Florida once again.
FORT MYERS BEACH $1.2 million approved for repairs for FMB and Sanibel schools This hurricane season left an expensive mess at Fort Myers Beach Elementary and the Sanibel school, but who’s paying the $1.2 million price tag?
FORT MYERS Teen carjacks woman after escaping mental health facility A teenager accused of carjacking a woman in a church parking lot on Friday had just escaped from a facility where he was being held under the Baker Act, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Teachers union raises issues with Lee County School District after arbitration Being a teacher is just like any other profession. Teachers need to take days off, get sick, and sometimes cover for co-workers.
LABELLE LaBelle Animal Shelter hoping to raise money to avoid property being sold The owner of Animal Rescue Inc. in LaBelle is doing everything she can to prevent the shelter from disappearing in a matter of months.
County settlement allows Links of Naples golf course to redevelop into homes Collier County residents are vocalizing their concerns over the commissioner’s decision to develop housing on the Naples Golf Course.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers mayor weighs in on possible city hall relocation With Lee Memorial Hospital scheduled to close in 2027, discussions over what will replace the building are in full swing and whether Fort Myers City Hall is the right choice.
Toys for Tots: A 77-Year tradition of service and holiday cheer Toys for Tots aims to bring gifts to children and their families who may not be able to afford them for the holidays.
Inside the mind of accused CEO gunman WINK News is learning more about the man accused of shooting and killing a health insurance CEO on a New York City sidewalk last week, and breaking down what he may think of himself based on the writings he left behind.
1 dead after crash on Airport-Pulling Road in Collier County The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving a sedan and pick-up truck that occurred near Airport Pulling Road.
bonita springs Prostate cancer treatment aims to freeze further development When it comes to cancer treatment, several options come to mind, such as chemotherapy, surgery, and or radiation; however, there is another option that may prove to be as effective.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man convicted of sexually assaulting teenager A Fort Myers man has been convicted of several charges, including the sexual assault of a 17-year-old teenager.
Red tide advisory issued for Clam Pass and Barefoot Beach The Florida Department of Health issued a red tide advisory after presence of the algae bloom was found near Clam Pass and Barefoot Beach in Collier County.
FORT MYERS RSW offering remote parking for the holidays Southwest Florida International Airport, RSW, is offering passengers RSWRemote, a reserved holiday parking option.
Video of the paddling was taken by the child’s mother. (Credit: Shared with WINK News) A review by the State Attorney’s Office has found that a Central Elementary School principal in Clewiston did not commit a crime when she paddled a 6-year-old in front of the child’s mother. Principal Melissa Carter and Cecilia Self, a clerk at the school, were recorded by the child’s mother as Carter spanked the child with a wooden paddle three times. The Office of the State Attorney’s Office for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, which covers Hendry County, released a memo late Friday. The paddling occurred on April 13 after the child damaged a computer. MORE: Full video and transcription of the video According to the memo, the child’s mother gave an initial account of the incident to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office on April 14. The memo called the child’s mother’s credibility into question after Carter and Self told authorities that the child’s mother said her daughter was damaging things at her home too, but she was afraid to discipline her because her daughter threatened to call police and the Department of Children and Families on her. Self said the child’s mother requested the school spank her daughter, but she was told she needed to be present for the spanking. According to both Carter and Self, the child’s mother went to the school and made the request. In a statement to WINK News, the family’s attorney Brent Probinksy said he was disappointed by the decision to not prosecute. “The family and I as their lawyer are very disappointed that the State Attorney, Amira Fox, did not criminally charge the school principal and her assistant who savagely beat this innocent 6-year-old with a paddle for merely scratching a computer,” Probinksy said. “The State Attorney, Ms. Fox, in our estimation failed to hold accountable those who violate their responsibility to educate and nurture school children under their care, and instead, physically and emotionally abuse them.” An interview of the child was redacted from the memo released by the state attorney’s office. The memo states the child’s mother told Hendry deputies that she went to the school to witness the discipline, but there was a language barrier that caused her to be “confused,” and that she “did not understand the process correctly.” The Clewiston Police Department attempted to speak with the child’s mother again, but she did not return phone calls. Her attorney, Brent Probinsky, returned calls instead. The State Attorney’s Office memo states the child’s mother’s statements to the media about “sacrificing” her daughter indicate that she knew the girl would be paddled. Additionally, “a parent has a right to use corporal punishment to discipline their children, and similarly has the right to consent that others do so on their behalf,” the State Attorney’s Office memo states. Corporal punishment is legal in Florida but is not allowed in Hendry County schools, so we asked an expert when corporal punishment becomes child abuse. Criminal Defense Attorney Robert Foley says the punishment established has to be reasonable to correct the behavior — in this case damaging a piece of computer equipment. Child abuse is an intentional injury on a child. “When they state attorney’s office was considering its filing decision that it reviewed the evidence that it had and that it was reasonable,” Foley said. “It is authorized by law, and what happened, at least in my eyes in the video, was not a crime.” But Foley says, since the Hendry County District Schools, doesn’t allow what we’ve seen in the now viral video, the two school staff members could still face disciplinary action from the district. Probinsky told the State Attorney’s Office he believed the paddling to be aggravated battery, but prosecutors disagreed. “It is clear using a paddle to spank a child is not likely to cause death or great bodily harm,” the memo states. Additionally, the memo states Florida law is clear that spanking a child does not amount to child abuse. WINK News continues to reach out to both the school principal, the clerk and the school district for response and updates, but we did not hear back from either of the parties Friday.