Mama Sonya spreads holiday cheer to hundreds of Lee County kidsWINK Neighborhood Watch: Deadly DUI, fairground murder and shooting at police
Mama Sonya spreads holiday cheer to hundreds of Lee County kids During the holidays, the spirit of giving takes center stage, and one local woman goes above and beyond.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Deadly DUI, fairground murder and shooting at police This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features deadly DUIs, murder at a fairground and the attempted murder of a Sanibel police officer.
FORT MYERS Man arrested after shots fired in the air, stolen gun recovered A man was arrested early Sunday in Fort Myers after police responded to a ShotSpotter alert near Maple and Meadows streets.
FORT MYERS Crash investigation underway in downtown Fort Myers The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash in downtown Fort Myers on Fowler Street.
Cool, comfortable Sunday in store with highs in the low 70s The Weather Authority is tracking a beautiful Sunday in store across Southwest Florida, with afternoon highs only topping out in the low 70s.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral hosts annual Holiday Boat-a-Long Families, residents, and businesses came out to enjoy Cape Coral’s annual Holiday Boat-a-Long and Christmas movie on Saturday.
FORT MYERS FGCU head volleyball coach steps down to coach UCF FGCU coach Matt Botsford announced that he is stepping down as head volleyball coach to join the University of Central Florida Knights.
FORT MYERS Top rated prospects shine in City of Palms Classic Year-after-year some of the top high school teams featuring many of the top players in the country compete in the Fort Myers Tournament.
Meals for Hope brings Southwest Florida together to fight hunger On Saturday morning, Meals for Hope held its annual Holidays Without Hunger event, aiming to ensure no one in Southwest Florida goes hungry during the holidays.
1 dead, 2 injured in four-vehicle crash on I-75 in Collier County A collision involving four vehicles on northbound Interstate 75 near mile marker 108 resulted in one fatality, minor injuries to two others, and a large paint spill.
Lee County woman’s home transforms into Santa’s Workshop for families in need One Lee County woman’s home has looked like Santa’s workshop since June.
Chilly first day of winter with plenty of sunshine overhead The Weather Authority says Saturday is the first day of the winter solstice, and it feels like it across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Kitten recovering after surviving horrific abuse At 12 pounds and 12 weeks old, this little kitty was snatched from her home and literally dragged through the unthinkable.
Losing loved ones in the line of duty; Community offers support to Diaz family Heartbreak over Sergeant Elio Diaz’s death consumed the Charlotte County community, after the fallen hero was laid to rest Friday.
CAPTIVA Impacts of hurricane season on fishing in SWFL Whipping winds and torrential downpours are all too common with hurricanes.
Mama Sonya spreads holiday cheer to hundreds of Lee County kids During the holidays, the spirit of giving takes center stage, and one local woman goes above and beyond.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Deadly DUI, fairground murder and shooting at police This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features deadly DUIs, murder at a fairground and the attempted murder of a Sanibel police officer.
FORT MYERS Man arrested after shots fired in the air, stolen gun recovered A man was arrested early Sunday in Fort Myers after police responded to a ShotSpotter alert near Maple and Meadows streets.
FORT MYERS Crash investigation underway in downtown Fort Myers The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash in downtown Fort Myers on Fowler Street.
Cool, comfortable Sunday in store with highs in the low 70s The Weather Authority is tracking a beautiful Sunday in store across Southwest Florida, with afternoon highs only topping out in the low 70s.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral hosts annual Holiday Boat-a-Long Families, residents, and businesses came out to enjoy Cape Coral’s annual Holiday Boat-a-Long and Christmas movie on Saturday.
FORT MYERS FGCU head volleyball coach steps down to coach UCF FGCU coach Matt Botsford announced that he is stepping down as head volleyball coach to join the University of Central Florida Knights.
FORT MYERS Top rated prospects shine in City of Palms Classic Year-after-year some of the top high school teams featuring many of the top players in the country compete in the Fort Myers Tournament.
Meals for Hope brings Southwest Florida together to fight hunger On Saturday morning, Meals for Hope held its annual Holidays Without Hunger event, aiming to ensure no one in Southwest Florida goes hungry during the holidays.
1 dead, 2 injured in four-vehicle crash on I-75 in Collier County A collision involving four vehicles on northbound Interstate 75 near mile marker 108 resulted in one fatality, minor injuries to two others, and a large paint spill.
Lee County woman’s home transforms into Santa’s Workshop for families in need One Lee County woman’s home has looked like Santa’s workshop since June.
Chilly first day of winter with plenty of sunshine overhead The Weather Authority says Saturday is the first day of the winter solstice, and it feels like it across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Kitten recovering after surviving horrific abuse At 12 pounds and 12 weeks old, this little kitty was snatched from her home and literally dragged through the unthinkable.
Losing loved ones in the line of duty; Community offers support to Diaz family Heartbreak over Sergeant Elio Diaz’s death consumed the Charlotte County community, after the fallen hero was laid to rest Friday.
CAPTIVA Impacts of hurricane season on fishing in SWFL Whipping winds and torrential downpours are all too common with hurricanes.
A popular spot for seniors and families is closing its doors. The Cultural Center of Charlotte County is preparing for its final show. Jackie McDaniel, who lives in Port Charlotte, says she spent most of her childhood at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County. “I remember taking ballet classes there. I took tennis classes. I mean, I did so much there over the summer as a kid,” McDaniel said. “It’s really been a cornerstone for seniors too.” The center will have its final curtain call on November 8th after 61 years of shows, classes and services for the community. The entire cultural center closed last spring when the pandemic began. “We were in the middle of one of our busiest seasons. We had things booked all the way through July. Subsequently, we had to cancel all those things,” said K. Stephen Carter, the executive director for the Cultural Center of Charlotte County. The center re-opened to an 80% drop in business. They say PPP loans helped temporarily, “We have done our best and we’re hoping it’s not the end, but it’s, we’re still trying,” said Carter. County commissioners denied the center’s recent request for emergency funding. The Communications Manager for the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners said in a statement: Last month, the Cultural Center of Charlotte County requested $300,000 from Charlotte County to fund operations. The county requested financial information about the center’s operations and finances to justify the request and the center’s plans to improve its operations and finances. While the county did receive some information, including that the center was reportedly losing more than $30,000 per month, the information did not include any business plans for improving the Center’s financial position other than raising fees for the seniors who use the center.  Ultimately, the County Commission on Oct. 26 determined it could not grant the center’s request. The statement went on to say: The Cultural Center rents the county-owned facility for $1 per year under a 40-year lease signed in 2000. Prior to the extension of the center’s contract in 2000, the county invested $6,436,000 in a renovation and expansion of the facility with voter-approved 1% local option sales tax revenue. The county maintains the facility, including the exterior, roof and HVAC systems. The Cultural Center funds its operations through user fees, rentals and donations. Carter said of the emergency funding requirements, “it’s an impossible question to answer. There’s still a pandemic, that is what created this situation.” The center says it can’t operate on a $1.8 million dollar budget with fewer sales and fewer donations. A big loss for families and seniors who have enjoyed it for the last several decades. “I think there are multiple generations that are disappointed in the closing,” said McDaniel. The final show at the theater is scheduled for Monday, November 8. The cultural center plans to close its doors to the public next Monday.