Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
Credit: WINK News COVID numbers continue to surge in Southwest Florida hospitals. Emergency rooms are overcrowded and Healthcare workers are overworked. Soon patients could end up staying in hallways or the cafeteria, as the situation worsens and cases continue to climb. “The part that’s the most exhausting is that we are not seeing the relief at all,” said Heather Kingery, nurse manager in the intensive care units at Lee Health. On Monday, Lee Health saw more than 1,200 patients in their emergency departments. Of those, 500 were COVID-related patients. Nine people died on Monday and 128 people have died of COVID-related complications in the last 90 days. Since the pandemic began, 800 people have died in Lee Health hospitals. On Tuesday, Lee Health reported 81 new COVID-19 hospital admissions since Monday, and 56 COVID-19 discharges. This brings the current total of patients isolated for COVID-19 to 571. 571 COVID-19 patients isolated in Lee Health hospitals (inpatient). Since Monday; 81 new COVID-19 hospital admissions and 56 COVID-19 discharges. 52 COVID-19 patients are on ventilators and 86 in the intensive care unit. Currently, 63% of Lee Health ventilators and 29% of ICU rooms are available for use. The current census is at 90% of staffed operational bed capacity. Lee Health strongly urges everyone in the community age 12 and over to get vaccinated. Doing so provides significant protection against serious illness even if you are exposed to the coronavirus, Lee Health said. The need for beds continues to climb. “Our hospitals are almost at capacity,” said Armando Llechu, chief officer of Hospital Operations at Lee Health. “Could we take another hundred 150 patients? Probably. Anything north of that I think we would start to create some different operational challenges.” Challenges like where to put more hospital beds. “Worst case scenario, that would be community room, cafeterias, spaces like that,” Llechu said. Lee Health is expecting the surge to continue. Most of its hospitals are in Phase One of its surge plan. That means patients in every possible treatment room, including an overload in the emergency department. “We are seeing them come into our ICU and require breathing tubes within hours of arrival. We are seeing them on our max ventilators setting,” Kingery said. “We are turning them from their backs onto their stomachs for prone positioning, help their oxygenation but this is very physically demanding.” Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and CEO of Lee Health said they can’t turn patients away. But patients should only head to the hospital if it’s a true emergency. If someone just wants a COVID test, Lee Health is opening testing sites across the county to help accommodate for the need. Lee Health is working with Curative, which operated the Century Link site, to open new test sites. Submit Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.