Deputy injured, suspect killed in shooting near State Road 72 in DeSoto CountySunSplash Waterpark hosts hiring event in Cape Coral
Deputy injured, suspect killed in shooting near State Road 72 in DeSoto County A deputy-involved shooting near State Road 72 in DeSoto County has left one deputy injured and the suspect dead early Saturday.
CAPE CORAL SunSplash Waterpark hosts hiring event in Cape Coral As chilly temperatures linger, it might be hard to think about the hot, humid days of summer, but SunSplash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral is already preparing for the season.
the weather authority Cold Saturday morning, warmer afternoons on the way The Weather Authority says Southwest Florida woke up to the coldest temperatures in 3 years.
Neighbors react to deputy-involved shooting of man with machete New body camera footage shows the moment Charlotte County deputies opened fire on a man armed with a machete.
FORT MYERS 21st annual Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival underway in Fort Myers The 21st Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival is underway. Despite the colder weather, visitors are enjoying the festivities in Fort Myers.
New video shows alternate angle of I-75 multi-county chase A theft ring in Lee County led to a dramatic car chase involving Paul Fritzson, who allegedly carjacked a couple in Collier County.
Meet the kids benefiting from Naples’ charity wine festival: Kolson’s story The Naples Winter Wine Festival, known as the largest charity wine auction in the world, kicked off on Friday with a focus on benefiting children in Collier County.
Iona Firefighter rescues homeowner from blaze A firefighter bravely rescued a homeowner from a burning house on Whiskey Creek Drive.
LEHIGH ACRES Father and son face off in hoops for the first time Gateway guard Quran Pettyjohn Jr. faced off against his dad, East Lee County head coach Quran Pettyjohn Sr., for the first time Thursday night.
NAPLES School burglars in Collier County make off with guns The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying four people who broke into Golden Gate Middle School and stole guns that were locked in a safe.
NAPLES Local veteran impresses Trump and Stallone with handcrafted flags A local veteran has always had a passion for art. After serving in the military, he found a new mission through his hobby of wood cutting.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High cross-country runner makes history as first girl in state finals A Dunbar High senior is making history. Jennifer Gonzalez is the first girl from the school to reach the state finals in cross country.
NORTH NAPLES Meet the Kids Day! Big dollar donors hear how their money helps Tooday is Meet the Kids Day. People who bid on high-dollar auction items at the Naples Winter Wine Festival get to see who benefits.
CAPE CORAL American Legion Post 90 to hold Four Chaplains ceremony American Legion Post 90 is holding the Four Chaplains ceremony commemorating the sinking of an American troop ship during World War II.
SUV crashes into Hendry County canal Hendry County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating after an SUV crashed into a canal in Hendry County.
Deputy injured, suspect killed in shooting near State Road 72 in DeSoto County A deputy-involved shooting near State Road 72 in DeSoto County has left one deputy injured and the suspect dead early Saturday.
CAPE CORAL SunSplash Waterpark hosts hiring event in Cape Coral As chilly temperatures linger, it might be hard to think about the hot, humid days of summer, but SunSplash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral is already preparing for the season.
the weather authority Cold Saturday morning, warmer afternoons on the way The Weather Authority says Southwest Florida woke up to the coldest temperatures in 3 years.
Neighbors react to deputy-involved shooting of man with machete New body camera footage shows the moment Charlotte County deputies opened fire on a man armed with a machete.
FORT MYERS 21st annual Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival underway in Fort Myers The 21st Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival is underway. Despite the colder weather, visitors are enjoying the festivities in Fort Myers.
New video shows alternate angle of I-75 multi-county chase A theft ring in Lee County led to a dramatic car chase involving Paul Fritzson, who allegedly carjacked a couple in Collier County.
Meet the kids benefiting from Naples’ charity wine festival: Kolson’s story The Naples Winter Wine Festival, known as the largest charity wine auction in the world, kicked off on Friday with a focus on benefiting children in Collier County.
Iona Firefighter rescues homeowner from blaze A firefighter bravely rescued a homeowner from a burning house on Whiskey Creek Drive.
LEHIGH ACRES Father and son face off in hoops for the first time Gateway guard Quran Pettyjohn Jr. faced off against his dad, East Lee County head coach Quran Pettyjohn Sr., for the first time Thursday night.
NAPLES School burglars in Collier County make off with guns The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying four people who broke into Golden Gate Middle School and stole guns that were locked in a safe.
NAPLES Local veteran impresses Trump and Stallone with handcrafted flags A local veteran has always had a passion for art. After serving in the military, he found a new mission through his hobby of wood cutting.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High cross-country runner makes history as first girl in state finals A Dunbar High senior is making history. Jennifer Gonzalez is the first girl from the school to reach the state finals in cross country.
NORTH NAPLES Meet the Kids Day! Big dollar donors hear how their money helps Tooday is Meet the Kids Day. People who bid on high-dollar auction items at the Naples Winter Wine Festival get to see who benefits.
CAPE CORAL American Legion Post 90 to hold Four Chaplains ceremony American Legion Post 90 is holding the Four Chaplains ceremony commemorating the sinking of an American troop ship during World War II.
SUV crashes into Hendry County canal Hendry County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating after an SUV crashed into a canal in Hendry County.
Michael retirement statement. Credit: WINK News The president of the Support Personnel Association of Lee County (SPLAC) has signed her retirement papers. This comes in the midst of a bus driver shortage and an ongoing fight for better pay and treatment for drivers. Jamie Michael says that with COVID-19 and everything else that’s been happening, she’s just tired. Michael says she planned to retire at the end of the year anyway. Bus drivers say they have mixed feelings about their union president leaving now. This is in the middle of contract negotiations. It’s not even November and it’s already been a long school year for bus drivers in the Lee County School District. There’s an ongoing bus driver shortage and the district claims they need about 100 more drivers. The School District of Lee County is also currently in the middle of contract negotiations. On top of all of this chaos, the district has already had three drivers die due to COVID-19 complications. Through all of that, some drivers believe union president Michael didn’t have their backs. “If our union president won’t do the right thing, then we will do what’s best for us as a whole,” one said at a meeting last week. That driver seems to have gotten their wish. Effective on November 1, Jamie Michael will be the union’s former president. She announced her retirement on Thursday. She says it’s “time to enjoy free time instead of 10 hour days for eight hours of pay.” Many drivers admit that they are not exactly saddened by Michael’s announcement. One driver asked that WINK News conceal their identity but says they aren’t sad to see her go. “I was happy. We have all been trying to get her out for a really long time,” they said. “I feel that there should be an investigation on Jamie because it’s really a coincidence that she’s retiring all of a sudden.” When drivers say “all of a sudden,” they mean right in the middle of contract talks. Michael says negotiations set for Monday, November 1 will not take place because the Lee County School Board did not allocate money to negotiate. Drivers are worried that without a union president, negotiations will drag on and on for months. “We’re supposed to get a raise and we were hoping for, you know, a better raise because the past 11 years it’s only been like a 2% raise,” said one driver. “I just would like to see everybody getting treated fairly,” they said. The Florida Education Association told WINK News that local unions have systems in place to ensure that a smooth transition will take place when someone steps down. Therefore, those contract negotiations will continue. Jamie Michael served as union president since 2012.