The 52nd annual Fort Myers Boat Show beginsTracking Tropical Depression 19, expected to become Tropical Storm Sara
FORT MYERS The 52nd annual Fort Myers Boat Show begins An annual Fort Myers tradition has returned as the region’s premier display of boats and boating products, which will be on full display for enthusiasts to enjoy.
the weather authority Tracking Tropical Depression 19, expected to become Tropical Storm Sara The Weather Authority is tracking Tropical Depression 19, which is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Sara in the Caribbean later this Thursday afternoon.
the weather authority Gorgeous Thursday afternoon with highs in the mid 80s The Weather Authority is tracking pleasant afternoon conditions with temperatures in the mid-80s this Thursday.
SANIBEL Failed air quality tests push back reopening date for The Sanibel School The tentative reopening of The Sanibel School has been pushed back once again after being closed since Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police respond to rollover crash; driver flees scene The Fort Myers Police Department responded to a crash involving one vehicle on Colonial Gardens Circle and Colonial Boulevard.
FORT MYERS West End residents frustrated by security failures, lack of response A nearly $64 million luxury apartment complex that close to 500 people call home, but somehow, security seems to fall through the cracks.
NAPLES Collier County nearly doubles tourism budget On Tuesday, Collier County Commissioners approved a nearly $12 million budget for a tourism marketing campaign.
Florida policyholders urged to contact OIR if policies are canceled or nonrenewed If your insurance has been canceled or is not being renewed due to this year’s storms, the state of Florida wants you to reach out to the Office of Insurance Regulation.
BAREFOOT BEACH Woman thinks QR code got hacked A Fort Myers woman says a fraudulent QR code at Barefoot Beach caused her credit card to be hacked. She’s on a mission to warn others.
CAPE CORAL Sticker shock: Cape Coral residents hit with unexpected property tax hikes This is the time of year when people start paying their property taxes, but what happens when you get your bill and it’s more than you expected?
SANIBEL Sanibel workshop teaches residents benefits of elevating homes and businesses With each hurricane that brings damage to our area, many people rush to be more resilient. On Sanibel, more than 300 people have RSVP’d to learn about raising their homes and businesses.
SANIBEL Sanibel Causeway construction causing confusion and costing local business Repairing the Sanibel Causeway after recent storms has caused more than just traffic back-ups.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Speakeasy in downtown Fort Myers honors local historic figures Everything inside the Escondido Lounge whispers an authentic speakeasy, from the dim red lights to the fancy vintage glasses.
ESTERO Caught on camera: Man steals money from tip jar in Estero A business manager feels violated after a man took money from a tip jar on Tuesday.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral ranked 13th for establishing small businesses A blog set out to find the top U.S. cities where aspiring business owners can thrive in 2024, Cape Coral was named 13th.
FORT MYERS The 52nd annual Fort Myers Boat Show begins An annual Fort Myers tradition has returned as the region’s premier display of boats and boating products, which will be on full display for enthusiasts to enjoy.
the weather authority Tracking Tropical Depression 19, expected to become Tropical Storm Sara The Weather Authority is tracking Tropical Depression 19, which is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Sara in the Caribbean later this Thursday afternoon.
the weather authority Gorgeous Thursday afternoon with highs in the mid 80s The Weather Authority is tracking pleasant afternoon conditions with temperatures in the mid-80s this Thursday.
SANIBEL Failed air quality tests push back reopening date for The Sanibel School The tentative reopening of The Sanibel School has been pushed back once again after being closed since Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police respond to rollover crash; driver flees scene The Fort Myers Police Department responded to a crash involving one vehicle on Colonial Gardens Circle and Colonial Boulevard.
FORT MYERS West End residents frustrated by security failures, lack of response A nearly $64 million luxury apartment complex that close to 500 people call home, but somehow, security seems to fall through the cracks.
NAPLES Collier County nearly doubles tourism budget On Tuesday, Collier County Commissioners approved a nearly $12 million budget for a tourism marketing campaign.
Florida policyholders urged to contact OIR if policies are canceled or nonrenewed If your insurance has been canceled or is not being renewed due to this year’s storms, the state of Florida wants you to reach out to the Office of Insurance Regulation.
BAREFOOT BEACH Woman thinks QR code got hacked A Fort Myers woman says a fraudulent QR code at Barefoot Beach caused her credit card to be hacked. She’s on a mission to warn others.
CAPE CORAL Sticker shock: Cape Coral residents hit with unexpected property tax hikes This is the time of year when people start paying their property taxes, but what happens when you get your bill and it’s more than you expected?
SANIBEL Sanibel workshop teaches residents benefits of elevating homes and businesses With each hurricane that brings damage to our area, many people rush to be more resilient. On Sanibel, more than 300 people have RSVP’d to learn about raising their homes and businesses.
SANIBEL Sanibel Causeway construction causing confusion and costing local business Repairing the Sanibel Causeway after recent storms has caused more than just traffic back-ups.
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS Speakeasy in downtown Fort Myers honors local historic figures Everything inside the Escondido Lounge whispers an authentic speakeasy, from the dim red lights to the fancy vintage glasses.
ESTERO Caught on camera: Man steals money from tip jar in Estero A business manager feels violated after a man took money from a tip jar on Tuesday.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral ranked 13th for establishing small businesses A blog set out to find the top U.S. cities where aspiring business owners can thrive in 2024, Cape Coral was named 13th.
Alexis Sharkey pictured with husband Tom Sharkey. A man wanted in connection to the death of his wife and social media star Alexis Sharkey (Robinault) has been found dead of apparent suicide. Marshals confirmed to WINK News, that Sharkey was wanted for his wife’s murder and was staying with his daughter in south Fort Myers. The death of the Houston social media star had been ruled a homicide back in January, two months after her body was found in roadside bushes. Alexis Sharkey, 26, died by strangulation, though no wounds were visible on her body, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences said in a statement. A city employee found her body on Nov. 28, about 3 miles (4.83 kilometers) from her apartment. She was last seen alive the night before. Police officials said the investigation into her death continues and no arrests have been made, according to the Houston Chronicle, in January. “The investigation determined Thomas Sharkey, her husband, is the only person who had the means motive and opportunity to commit the murder,” said Det. Michael Burrow with Houston Police Department during a news conference. “We established there was a history of domestic violence between the two of them, and their relationship was ending, that there was a pending divorce.” Burrow explained investigators learned there was tension between the couple. “We have a lot of evidence that there was a separation, and that [Sharkey] was interested in reconciling the relationship, and [Alexis] did not appear to be,” Burrow said. Alexis Sharkey, who the Chronicle reported occasionally went by her maiden name of Robinault, garnered a sizeable Instagram following by showing off beauty products. She identified herself as a “mentor” for Monat, a marketing company that sells hair and skincare products. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, U.S. Marshals with the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force, went to the home of her husband Tom Sharkey. Marshals confirmed to WINK News, that Sharkey was wanted for his wife’s murder and was staying with his daughter in Fort Myers. Law enforcement knocked on the door of the home and announcing themselves and his daughter and her boyfriend came out. That’s when marshals say Sharkey shot and killed himself inside the home. “Mr. Sharkey avoided them, ran upstairs when he learned law enforcement was there for him and he took his own life using a firearm arm,” Burrow said. “The family of Mr. Sharkey did not know that he was wanted in the case at the time as we were able to keep the warrant secret. Mr. Sharkey also did not know he was wanted until last night when he was confronted by law enforcement.” We spoke to a neighbor who was home when investigators appeared at the home to arrest Sharkey. “I was laying in bed, and all of a sudden, I heard a bunch of car doors slam, bam, bam, bam,” neighbor Richard Valient explained. “I looked out here and saw a bunch of police cars. I said, ‘Oh!’ … You have no idea, and that scares the hell out of me.” Sharkey relocated to Florida from Georgia in August. Burrow said there was no single piece of evidence that led police to him as the suspect, but rather the gradual progression of the investigation itself. “Mr. Sharkey’s behavior and our conversations with him over time and the evolving stories and the ability to disprove stories that took time and eventually the mountain of evidence became high enough,” Burrow said. “There was alternative suspects that were presented, including people presented by Mr. Sharkey, that we had to investigate, so no, we weren’t able to move on an arrest until we were able to get to a point where we had eliminated sufficiently the other possibilities.” Amid the investigation, the medical’s examiner’s office switched Alexis Sharkey’s next-of-kin from that of her husband to her parents. No explanation was provided. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Below are mental health resources available to Southwest Floridians at the national and local level. National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 suicidepreventionlifeline.org David Lawrence Center  (Collier County) (239)455-8500 davidlawrencecenter.org National Alliance on Mental Illness, Collier County namicollier.org National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry Counties namilee.org The National Alliance for Caregiving offers a free handbook Circle of Care: A Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers Collier County Mental Health Court ca.cjis20.org/home/collier Lee County Mental Health Court ca.cjis20.org/home/lee Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance convio.net Local Support Groups: Anxiety and Depression Association of America adaa.org U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help) hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/mental-health-parity Local veterans resource: Home Base SWFL https://homebase.org/home-base-southwest-florida/