Lee County student ran up and hit teacher in head, report showsCollier Planning Commission continues discussion for apartments near Fiddler’s Creek
Lee County student ran up and hit teacher in head, report shows The report says a 13-year-old student ran up and smacked a teacher in the head because multiple classmates offered him money to do so.
Collier Planning Commission continues discussion for apartments near Fiddler’s Creek The developer of fiddler’s creek wants to build hundreds of luxury apartments on a slice of a 600 acre-plus property known as section 29.
CAPE CORAL Fatigue sets in for third day of FEMA hearings Flying several hours to come to a FEMA code compliance hearing in Cape Coral is the reality for John Gasparini from Maryland.
Prescription drug shortages lead to higher prices There are currently more than 250 medications on the nation’s drug shortage list, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The organization says 2023 marked the worst year for shortages in about a decade.
Mental health resources to help children Here are some resources to help you navigate the mental health system when it comes to help for children. Park Royal Park Royal does not have in-patient options for youth; however, the facility’s launched a new intensive outpatient program for 14 to 17-year-olds. It typically last several weeks or months, and offers three to five […]
NAPLES Video: FWC releases bobcat after rehab stint at Naples Zoo Wildlife officials released a bobcat back into the wild after recovering from a broken leg at Naples Zoo for eight weeks.
Single-member vs. at-large voting debate intensifies in Lee County Three members of Southwest Florida’s state Legislature delegation hosted a public forum May 1 at Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, established by the state in 2015.
Unsolved: sawfish deaths rise during Florida Keys mystery More endangered smalltooth sawfish deaths were reported in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s weekly report.
Emails show beginnings, contradictions of South Seas resort amendment South Seas resort ownership group’s engineer proposed a land-use amendment for Lee County’s government at least six months before the first public discussions and at least seven weeks before the county’s official timeline began, emails between the resort’s representatives and county show.
ALVA SR 31: a dangerous road and persistent safety concern State Road 31 proves hazardous once again, with a recent fatal crash highlighting ongoing safety concerns. The road — particularly the stretch at the Lee/Charlotte county line — has seen numerous crashes, including Wednesday’s incident involving a 19-year-old who died after crashing with a car hauler. The Florida Highway Patrol has not released the victim’s […]
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputy subdues convicted felon with Taser at North Fort Myers Walmart Lee County deputies used a Taser on a man after they raced through a North Fort Myers Walmart searching for him.
FORT MYERS 2 posing as Target Corporate employees steal over $6K at Fort Myers Target SWFL Crime Stoppers seeks information on two men who allegedly claimed to be employees of Target Corporate and stole over $6,000 at Target.
Punta Gorda cosiders fate of historic A.C. Freeman House It was built by politician and businessman Augustus C. Freeman whose name the house bears, and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested for armed robbery in Cape Coral The Cape Coral Police Department has arrested a man for armed robbery and giving a fake name to law enforcement.
Jacksonville Gov. DeSantis signs bills to provide financial options for Floridians Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will provide financial options to Floridians and another bill that curates the state public school curriculum.
Lee County student ran up and hit teacher in head, report shows The report says a 13-year-old student ran up and smacked a teacher in the head because multiple classmates offered him money to do so.
Collier Planning Commission continues discussion for apartments near Fiddler’s Creek The developer of fiddler’s creek wants to build hundreds of luxury apartments on a slice of a 600 acre-plus property known as section 29.
CAPE CORAL Fatigue sets in for third day of FEMA hearings Flying several hours to come to a FEMA code compliance hearing in Cape Coral is the reality for John Gasparini from Maryland.
Prescription drug shortages lead to higher prices There are currently more than 250 medications on the nation’s drug shortage list, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The organization says 2023 marked the worst year for shortages in about a decade.
Mental health resources to help children Here are some resources to help you navigate the mental health system when it comes to help for children. Park Royal Park Royal does not have in-patient options for youth; however, the facility’s launched a new intensive outpatient program for 14 to 17-year-olds. It typically last several weeks or months, and offers three to five […]
NAPLES Video: FWC releases bobcat after rehab stint at Naples Zoo Wildlife officials released a bobcat back into the wild after recovering from a broken leg at Naples Zoo for eight weeks.
Single-member vs. at-large voting debate intensifies in Lee County Three members of Southwest Florida’s state Legislature delegation hosted a public forum May 1 at Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, established by the state in 2015.
Unsolved: sawfish deaths rise during Florida Keys mystery More endangered smalltooth sawfish deaths were reported in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s weekly report.
Emails show beginnings, contradictions of South Seas resort amendment South Seas resort ownership group’s engineer proposed a land-use amendment for Lee County’s government at least six months before the first public discussions and at least seven weeks before the county’s official timeline began, emails between the resort’s representatives and county show.
ALVA SR 31: a dangerous road and persistent safety concern State Road 31 proves hazardous once again, with a recent fatal crash highlighting ongoing safety concerns. The road — particularly the stretch at the Lee/Charlotte county line — has seen numerous crashes, including Wednesday’s incident involving a 19-year-old who died after crashing with a car hauler. The Florida Highway Patrol has not released the victim’s […]
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputy subdues convicted felon with Taser at North Fort Myers Walmart Lee County deputies used a Taser on a man after they raced through a North Fort Myers Walmart searching for him.
FORT MYERS 2 posing as Target Corporate employees steal over $6K at Fort Myers Target SWFL Crime Stoppers seeks information on two men who allegedly claimed to be employees of Target Corporate and stole over $6,000 at Target.
Punta Gorda cosiders fate of historic A.C. Freeman House It was built by politician and businessman Augustus C. Freeman whose name the house bears, and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested for armed robbery in Cape Coral The Cape Coral Police Department has arrested a man for armed robbery and giving a fake name to law enforcement.
Jacksonville Gov. DeSantis signs bills to provide financial options for Floridians Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will provide financial options to Floridians and another bill that curates the state public school curriculum.
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is one of six venomous snake species found in Florida. (Credit: WINK News) Rattlesnakes are common in a lot of Florida neighborhoods, but when they come too close for comfort, getting rid of one could cost you hundreds. The animal control team, a group of faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students at FGCU, relocate rattlesnakes in the area. While most of us are trying to avoid them, this team is seeking them out. The distinctive rattle is a sound you don’t want to hear and it is a snake you don’t want to see, but Matt Metcalf with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) studies and tracks diamondback rattlesnakes. “Their breeding season actually runs from mid-October to March, April. So, they’re a lot more active throughout the next 6 or 7 months,” said Metcalf. And very soon, if it’s a baby rattlesnake, Metcalf says you are more likely to come across it. “They don’t really know where they’re going so a lot of times they do end up in people’s driveways, or like in apartment complexes or run into human encounters that way.” He along with the animal control team at FGCU study rattlesnakes. Samantha Troast, a graduate student at FGCU said, “if we get calls about snakes we’ll come help and remove them to conservation areas.” “We’re looking at how these organisms move across a landscape, what time of year are they moving into certain areas, are they utilizing our wetland areas, are they utilizing the upland areas. Lots of different things with that, we’re also doing some work with the genetics so we’re taking scale samples from the belly of the snake,” said Metcalf. While most of us would run away if we saw one, this team would run towards it. “We don’t understand, we just assume a lot about how these species behave but we don’t really know much. So, getting actual answers for what assumptions we have is really cool,” said Troast. Over the last 50 years, Metcalf said there has been a decline in the rattlesnake population, so they would rather you call their team than take matters into your own hands. “Usually when that call comes in I’ll ask them to send me a photo just to confirm what it is. If it is a venomous snake, because there are health hazards that go along with that not only for people and their pets but also for the animal, we try to take the time to get out there and safely remove that animal.” And they’ll do it free of charge. “I would say we usually get a call once or twice maybe a week or every other week for rattlesnakes,” said Metcalf. Metcalf and officials with the Florida Wildlife Commission told WINK News these snakes are not aggressive and will typically not bother you if you don’t bother them. If you see a rattlesnake and want Metcalf and the animal control team to relocate it, you can send them an email at swflrattlesnakes@gmail.com. They ask that you make sure you include a picture of the snake in your email.