Charity hockey game to be held for family of Sgt. Elio DiazSpeed detection cameras to be installed in Cape Coral school zones
FORT MYERS Charity hockey game to be held for family of Sgt. Elio Diaz The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will take on LCSO in a charity hockey game to benefit the family of Elio Diaz.
CAPE CORAL Speed detection cameras to be installed in Cape Coral school zones Speed detection cameras will be installed in 16 Cape Coral school zones. The city will activate the cameras in January.
Photo shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospital The grandfather of one of the teens struck by a truck in a New Orleans terrorist attack has released a picture of the teens sharing an emotional moment in the hospital.
Man arrested for failing to return U-Haul According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a man was arrested on Thursday for failing to redeliver a U-Haul truck.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Stolen Jeep, knife attack, and officer impersonator This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a stolen Jeep, a man caught red-handed after slashing his neighbor, and a man impersonating a federal officer.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bonita Bill’s final day: Celebrating 34 years of memories At 8 a.m., the doors opened for one last time at Bonita Bill’s, a beloved restaurant that has been a staple on Fort Myers Beach since 1991.
the weather authority Seasonal Sunday in store with highs reaching the mid 70s The Weather Authority says that even though Southwest Florida is getting another chilly start, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, it will warm up nicely into the afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man arrested for death threats against local leaders A Punta Gorda man has been arrested for sending over thirty threatening emails to senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and a Punta Gorda police officer.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man arrested for stealing Jeep, possessing firearm illegally A 39-year-old man was arrested early Friday morning in Cape Coral after being accused of stealing a Jeep and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
NORTH PORT North Port Firefighters rescue dog, cats during structure fire North Port Fire Rescue crews responded to a structure fire, saving one dog and four cats from a burning home.
CAPE CORAL Runners turn out for 13th annual LCEC 5K for United Way Jim Jeffers Park in Cape Coral transformed into a sea of runners Saturday morning as people laced up their shoes for the 13th annual LCEC 5K for United Way.
the weather authority A cool, comfortable first weekend of 2025 with lots of sunshine The Weather Authority is kicking off the first weekend of 2025 on a chilly note with morning temperatures in the 40s and 50s across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Locals respond to Surgeon General advisory on alcohol Many think a cancer warning label won’t stop anyone who is planning on having a drink from having one. But at the same time, hearing alcohol could increase their cancer risk did get them thinking about drinking.
New provision to Florida law gives public the authority to sue over homeless camping People now have the power to sue local leaders for not stopping the homeless from camping in public if a report is made.
FORT MYERS Charity hockey game to be held for family of Sgt. Elio Diaz The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will take on LCSO in a charity hockey game to benefit the family of Elio Diaz.
CAPE CORAL Speed detection cameras to be installed in Cape Coral school zones Speed detection cameras will be installed in 16 Cape Coral school zones. The city will activate the cameras in January.
Photo shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospital The grandfather of one of the teens struck by a truck in a New Orleans terrorist attack has released a picture of the teens sharing an emotional moment in the hospital.
Man arrested for failing to return U-Haul According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a man was arrested on Thursday for failing to redeliver a U-Haul truck.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Stolen Jeep, knife attack, and officer impersonator This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a stolen Jeep, a man caught red-handed after slashing his neighbor, and a man impersonating a federal officer.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bonita Bill’s final day: Celebrating 34 years of memories At 8 a.m., the doors opened for one last time at Bonita Bill’s, a beloved restaurant that has been a staple on Fort Myers Beach since 1991.
the weather authority Seasonal Sunday in store with highs reaching the mid 70s The Weather Authority says that even though Southwest Florida is getting another chilly start, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, it will warm up nicely into the afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man arrested for death threats against local leaders A Punta Gorda man has been arrested for sending over thirty threatening emails to senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and a Punta Gorda police officer.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man arrested for stealing Jeep, possessing firearm illegally A 39-year-old man was arrested early Friday morning in Cape Coral after being accused of stealing a Jeep and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
NORTH PORT North Port Firefighters rescue dog, cats during structure fire North Port Fire Rescue crews responded to a structure fire, saving one dog and four cats from a burning home.
CAPE CORAL Runners turn out for 13th annual LCEC 5K for United Way Jim Jeffers Park in Cape Coral transformed into a sea of runners Saturday morning as people laced up their shoes for the 13th annual LCEC 5K for United Way.
the weather authority A cool, comfortable first weekend of 2025 with lots of sunshine The Weather Authority is kicking off the first weekend of 2025 on a chilly note with morning temperatures in the 40s and 50s across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Locals respond to Surgeon General advisory on alcohol Many think a cancer warning label won’t stop anyone who is planning on having a drink from having one. But at the same time, hearing alcohol could increase their cancer risk did get them thinking about drinking.
New provision to Florida law gives public the authority to sue over homeless camping People now have the power to sue local leaders for not stopping the homeless from camping in public if a report is made.
(CREDIT: WINK News) Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency as Hurricane Ian churns in the Caribbean. While Florida remains within the cone, there is still uncertainty about where a future hurricane could make landfall. DeSantis’ State of Emergency covers 24 counties within the potential span of Hurricane Ian. In Southwest Florida, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry and Lee are now under a State of Emergency. “This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations. We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm,” DeSantis said. By declaring a state of emergency, the governor’s office said its ensuring that state and local governments have ample time, resources and flexibility to prepare. The Florida Attorney General has activated the price gouging hotline ahead of the storm. In areas covered by the state of emergency, Floridians can report instances of severe price increases on essential commodities needed to prepare for the storm, according to a press release from the Attorney General’s Office. Florida’s price gouging number. The price gouging law only applies to commodities and services essential to preparing or recovering from a storm within the areas of a declared state emergency. The phone number is 1-866-966-7226. In Southwest Florida, governments continue monitoring the depression’s movement. Lee County Lee County said it is closely monitoring Hurricane Ian. Part of the county is now under a hurricane warning. The county said it will make decisions regarding activation levels based on the forecast, but at the moment, there is no local emergency declared as of Friday afternoon. Lee County residents can sign up for AlertLee and download the Lee Prepares App to keep up to date. Hurricane preparedness tips from Lee County can be found here. Lee County said the Department of Transportation maintains drainage ditches year-round, but the public should expect minor intersection and road flooding with heavy rainfall. Lee County said staff is observing lower water levels in the drainage system since last weekend when heavy rainfall moved through the area. The School District of Lee County said all after-school activities and athletics have been canceled for Monday, and the district has made the decision to close schools and District offices and suspend all before and after-school programs and extra-curricular activities on Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28. Cape Coral charter schools are also closed for the next two days. Parents will be updated Wednesday afternoon about the rest of the week, according to the superintendent for the charter schools. Matlacha and Pine Island Fire Control District has sand and sandbags. The sandbags are located at 5700 Pine Island Rd., Bokeelia, FL 33922. The sandbags are limited to 25 per resident and it is self-serve. You are encouraged to bring your own shovels, but some shovels will be available. MORE: WINK News Hurricane Central Residents are encouraged to check for debris and obstructions around their properties, including culverts and neighborhood ditches. In order to assist residents who are prepping their homes and yards in advance of tropical weather, Lee County Solid Waste is extending its Saturday hours at four sites. Instead of the usual closing time of noon, these sites will remain open until 4 p.m. Saturday: Resource Recovery Facility, 10500 Buckingham Road, Fort Myers 3390 Lee/Hendry Regional Solid Waste Disposal Facility, 5500 Church Road, Felda 33930 LaBelle Transfer Station, 1280 Forestry Division Road LaBelle 33935 Clewiston Transfer Station, 1350 S. Olympia St., Clewiston 33440 Fort Myers Beach Meanwhile, on Fort Myers Beach, the fire department said the Town of Fort Myers Beach has sand and bags available behind Town Hall. They ask that you bring a shovel. Town Hall is located at 2525 Estero Blvd. Residents of Fort Myers Beach can also subscribe to the Town’s CodeRed Notification System, which is used for emergencies. Sanibel Sanibel is advising residents, property owners, business owners, property managers, and essential personnel to get a hurricane pass. To assist persons who still need to obtain a Hurricane Reentry Pass, the Sanibel Police Department will extend its public opening hours to issue Hurricane Reentry Passes on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Passes will also be issued during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Applications are available here. Collier County The Collier County Board of County Commissioners has declared a State of Emergency for the county. The county says it has not issued evacuation orders, and the Bureau of Emergency Services has not opened any storm shelters or special needs shelters at this time. The Naples Police Department is fervently hoping Hurricane Ian turns out to be nothing, but they “have all learned that these types of storm systems can develop into a dangerous storm just as quickly as they can fizzle,” the department posted to Twitter. The message is better to be prepared. It’s time to refresh those hurricane kits. MORE: How to prepare a hurricane kit Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk met with the incident management team on Friday morning to review the forecast and initiate storm preparations. “We need you to do your part, too,” the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said. “This includes paying close attention to the forecasts and preparing as appropriate for your family, your property and your pets.” Collier County public schools will be closed through Thursday. Monday is already a day off for students as it’s a “Professional Development Day.” You can sign up for notifications from the City of Naples here. Charlotte County Charlotte County Emergency Management said it is monitoring the storm, which means they are ready to operate the Emergency Operations Center if needed. Part of the county is now under a hurricane warning. The Punta Gorda Airport said its staff is working to secure the airport ahead of any potential storm impacts. The airport’s runways will remain open as long as conditions are safe. The Punta Gorda Airport said it is not responsible for reminding passengers of flight changes, but they should check their emails. The City of Punta Gorda is also offering free sandbags and sand at Hounds on Henry on Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. In preparation for Hurricane Ian, schools will be canceled on Tuesday as well as any student activities scheduled Tuesday. Charlotte County mini-transfer facilities and the landfill will operate on normal schedules on Tuesday. Curbside collection will occur as scheduled. On Wednesday, mini-transfer facilities and the landfill will be closed. Curbside collection will not occur Wednesday. Curbside collection will resume Thursday for Wednesday pick-ups, Friday for Thursday pick-ups and Saturday for Friday pick-ups. DeSoto County According to DeSoto County Public Information Officer Sara Walker, the county is following standard operating procedures for hurricane preparation. “As far as drainage, DeSoto County’s Road & Bridge Department’s director has been assessing drainage areas today with vegetation and will be taking care of problem areas today and prior to the storm,” Walker said. The DeSoto County School District will close Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to prepare for the potential impacts of Hurricane Ian. Sarasota County The City of North Port declared a local state of emergency Monday in preparation for possible impacts from Hurricane Ian as it strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico. There will be no waste collection in North Port on Wednesday or Thursday. All collections for the remainder of the week will be pushed back two days (Wednesday’s collection will now be Friday, Thursday will be Saturday, and Friday will be Sunday). Glades County Glades County public schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. This story will be updated with any closures or updates from local governments.