K-9 officer, who served Cape Coral Police Department for 15 years, passes awayBishop Verot cheerleaders march in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
CAPE CORAL K-9 officer, who served Cape Coral Police Department for 15 years, passes away The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the passing of retired K-9 Officer Todd Salmon.
Bishop Verot cheerleaders march in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Cheerleaders from Bishop Verot High School graced television screens across the nation as they marched through the streets of New York City in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
WINK NEWS Driving safely during Thanksgiving holiday in Southwest Florida Most people drive to their Thanksgiving destination on Thanksgiving Day, and nearly 72 million people are expected to get behind the wheel.
WINK NEWS What’s open and closed on Thanksgiving Day in Southwest Florida On Thanksgiving Day, millions across the country come together to celebrate the holiday with friends, family and food.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda residents show resilience this Thanksgiving amid recent hurricane damage Many people are expressing gratitude for what they have this Thanksgiving, but some residents of Punta Gorda will spend this holiday gathering what they have left.
the weather authority Beautiful weather for your Thanksgiving Day The Weather Authority is tracking beautiful conditions with sunny skies expected throughout this Thanksgiving Day.
NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO confirms fatal deputy-involved shooting in North Fort Myers A 21-year-old man has been killed after a deputy-involved shooting at a Sunoco gas station near Suncoast Drive in North Fort Myers.
Meteorologist’s dream of joining Thanksgiving parade comes true WINK News Weather Authority meteorologist Lauren Kreidler is usually doing her thing in front of the green screen, but behind the scenes, she’s got her eyes on more than just the 10-day forecast.
FORT MYERS Residents choosing to order pizza on the night before Thanksgiving The night before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest business days for pizza places like McGregor Pizza Company.
‘Everybody needs oversight’ State lawmaker backed calls for audit of Lee County Sheriff’s Office A state lawmaker is backing the high-ranking Lee County leader who went public on WINK News Tuesday with his warning about possible money trouble inside the sheriff’s office.
Celebrate the holidays on SWFL beaches The beaches are a big draw for anyone in southwest Florida and with the extended weekend due to the holiday, it could be a good time to hit the sand.
Excitement begins for Black Friday The deals for holiday shopping have been going on for days already, but there is still a large group of you who still love the thrill of getting to the store on Black Friday.
CAPE CORAL Social media influencer donates land for burrowing owls A social media influencer who used to live in southwest Florida has donated a plot of land she owned where burrowing owls live.
FORT MYERS Building a clear future for the Sanibel Outlets The question of what will happen to the Sanibel outlets has been top of mind for many years now.
CAPE CORAL 16-year-old accused of stealing car and leading troopers on chase According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a trooper attempted to stop a car on Pondella Road, but the car, being driven by a 16-year-old, then took off.
CAPE CORAL K-9 officer, who served Cape Coral Police Department for 15 years, passes away The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the passing of retired K-9 Officer Todd Salmon.
Bishop Verot cheerleaders march in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Cheerleaders from Bishop Verot High School graced television screens across the nation as they marched through the streets of New York City in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
WINK NEWS Driving safely during Thanksgiving holiday in Southwest Florida Most people drive to their Thanksgiving destination on Thanksgiving Day, and nearly 72 million people are expected to get behind the wheel.
WINK NEWS What’s open and closed on Thanksgiving Day in Southwest Florida On Thanksgiving Day, millions across the country come together to celebrate the holiday with friends, family and food.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda residents show resilience this Thanksgiving amid recent hurricane damage Many people are expressing gratitude for what they have this Thanksgiving, but some residents of Punta Gorda will spend this holiday gathering what they have left.
the weather authority Beautiful weather for your Thanksgiving Day The Weather Authority is tracking beautiful conditions with sunny skies expected throughout this Thanksgiving Day.
NORTH FORT MYERS LCSO confirms fatal deputy-involved shooting in North Fort Myers A 21-year-old man has been killed after a deputy-involved shooting at a Sunoco gas station near Suncoast Drive in North Fort Myers.
Meteorologist’s dream of joining Thanksgiving parade comes true WINK News Weather Authority meteorologist Lauren Kreidler is usually doing her thing in front of the green screen, but behind the scenes, she’s got her eyes on more than just the 10-day forecast.
FORT MYERS Residents choosing to order pizza on the night before Thanksgiving The night before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest business days for pizza places like McGregor Pizza Company.
‘Everybody needs oversight’ State lawmaker backed calls for audit of Lee County Sheriff’s Office A state lawmaker is backing the high-ranking Lee County leader who went public on WINK News Tuesday with his warning about possible money trouble inside the sheriff’s office.
Celebrate the holidays on SWFL beaches The beaches are a big draw for anyone in southwest Florida and with the extended weekend due to the holiday, it could be a good time to hit the sand.
Excitement begins for Black Friday The deals for holiday shopping have been going on for days already, but there is still a large group of you who still love the thrill of getting to the store on Black Friday.
CAPE CORAL Social media influencer donates land for burrowing owls A social media influencer who used to live in southwest Florida has donated a plot of land she owned where burrowing owls live.
FORT MYERS Building a clear future for the Sanibel Outlets The question of what will happen to the Sanibel outlets has been top of mind for many years now.
CAPE CORAL 16-year-old accused of stealing car and leading troopers on chase According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a trooper attempted to stop a car on Pondella Road, but the car, being driven by a 16-year-old, then took off.
Damage left behind after an EF2 tornado touched down in Iona on January 16, 2022. (Credit: WINK News) Those who still are dealing with the impacts of January’s tornadoes can now get help from the state. Governor Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that more than $7.1 million worth of aid from federal funds is available. If you believe you may be eligible, you may contact the CAA serving the county where you live to learn more about assistance programs. Charlotte County residents may visit the Charlotte County Human Services Department, 1050 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33980, PH: 941-833-6500. Lee County residents may contact Lee County Human and Veteran Services, 2440 Thompson St., Fort Myers, FL 33901, PH: 239-533-7930. Joyce Schelegal is one of the people who may benefit from the new tornado relief funds. She and her sister are out $100,000 because of the damage caused by the storms. She only needs nine words to describe how she feels about the new assistance. “It’s about time we get some help around here,” said Schelegal. Governor DeSantis, along with the Department of Economic Opportunity, redirected millions of state dollars for tornado victims in Southwest Florida. “Our home is going to be torn down. And we do not have money to replace it,” Schelegal said. It is still not clear if they ever will. Eligibility for these state dollars will be determined on a case-by-case basis. There is up to $7.1 million in relief, yet some people won’t qualify for a penny. You have to apply to find out if you will be eligible. “We have no idea about that. If we’re going to. We’re hopeful,” said Schelegal. Ellie and Tony Costalas are hopeful too. They had just a little insurance. “Nowhere near enough. It’s going to take a big bite out of our savings,” said Ellie Costalas. Ellie and her husband spoke next to the governor when he visited the tornado damage last month. They hadn’t heard about his announcement and all the money until WINK News told them when we spoke with them. The reason why, “We haven’t had TV or computers or anything since the storm, tornado hit us. So we’re kind of out of the loop,” said Costalas. WINK News Reporter Sydney Persing gave the Costalas’ her phone to call the county. They expressed their interest, gave their information, and when the call ended, “Well, it feels like it’s a real thing. You know like you can count on it,” said Ellie Costalas. Gov. DeSantis and the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced that the money would be available to those impacted in Lee and Charlotte counties. DEO has also sent people to the affected areas to help the people affected. In addition to the more than $7 million in help, the governor and the Florida Department of Emergency Management have created an online portal where you can donate to help the people impacted and apply for assistance. You can donate or apply for assistance by clicking here or visiting FloridaDisaster.org/Assistance. “Victims of these tornadoes in Southwest Florida deserve assistance to kickstart their recovery process,” said Governor Ron DeSantis in a news release about the aid package. “Despite the Biden Administration’s failure to help Floridians in need, I will continue working with state agencies to find ways that we can assist our residents who have been devastated by these tornadoes.” Those impacted can also apply for help through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Money from those programs is distributed to local Community Action Agencies (CAA) by DEO. Below is a list of available resources: DEO is deploying team members to assist Charlotte and Lee County residents in their recovery efforts. $1,610,686 in CSBG funding is available to assist eligible income-qualified households in Charlotte and Lee counties with attaining the skills, knowledge, and motivation necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. Services may include the following: Emergency health Food Housing Debris Removal Repair electrical wiring or gas lines Personal documentation (Driver’s License, ID Cards) Medical Supplies Day Care Transportation Assistance Housing Counseling Financial Management Assistance Nutrition Programs Community Gardening Projects Food Banks Job Counseling Placement and Training Services Homeless Prevention Programs $5,515,917 in the LIHEAP is available to assist income-qualified families in Charlotte and Lee County with home heating and cooling costs. Services may include the following: Home heating and cooling costs Utility relocation setup and deposits Disaster-related temporary housing HVAC Replacement Generator Purchase Electrical Power Cable Connection For more information about the Community Services Block Grant Program, click here. Information about the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is also available here. For additional information on resources available in both Charlotte and Lee Counties, click here. FDLE has also appealed their request for aid from FEMA. FEMA has acknowledged that they have received the appeal and are processing it.