SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
downtown fort myers Large crowds expected for Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival Downtown Fort Myers is on higher alert as this weekend’s 4th Annual Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival is expected to draw large crowds.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral neighborhood growing frustrated over debris piles Pounds of trash and debris are blowing through a Cape Coral neighborhood, through the streets, into canals and every which way.
Inside a Lee County special corrections program More than 3,000 bags of trash, 19 interstate projects, nearly 100 citizen requests and over one hundred truckloads of trash—that’s the work done by nonviolent offenders in Lee County, who are doing their part to make our county more beautiful.
FGCU NCAA implements rules for checking pitchers for foreign substances The NCAA will soon send out an instructional video on in-game foreign substance checks for pitchers.
Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol In the new year, there’s a new call to warn Americans about the negative effects of alcohol.
Family of Charlotte deputy killed during traffic stop releases statement The family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz is breaking their silence.
Southwest Florida battles the Flu Flu cases are skyrocketing in Southwest Florida, making this busy season even more challenging.
FORT MYERS SWFL 19-year-old hurt in New Orleans terrorist attack releases statement One of the young women from Fort Myers hurt during the New Orleans New Year’s Eve attack is speaking out for the first time.
Bonita Bill’s to close Jan. 5 prior to pending $5.5M sale HM Restaurant Group, owners the adjacent Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and Dixie Fish Co. restaurants, has been named as the buyer.
naples Beloved Naples Zoo giant anteater, Dee Gee, passes away The Naples Zoo is mourning the loss of a beloved male giant anteater who had given nearly 10 years of joy to visitors.
Charlotte County Property Appraiser accepting applications for partial property tax refunds The Charlotte County Property Appraiser is now accepting applications for partial 2024 property tax refunds.
FORT MYERS 2 wanted for stealing an e-bike from Fort Myers business parking lot Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two men who stole an electric bike.
Hurricane Ian damages in Punta Gorda exceed $6M Multiple city-owned properties were either destroyed or damaged by Category 4 winds.
north fort myers Lee County man arrested for causing nearly $5K worth of property damage The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of causing nearly $5,000 worth of property damage to a home in North Fort Myers.
SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
downtown fort myers Large crowds expected for Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival Downtown Fort Myers is on higher alert as this weekend’s 4th Annual Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival is expected to draw large crowds.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral neighborhood growing frustrated over debris piles Pounds of trash and debris are blowing through a Cape Coral neighborhood, through the streets, into canals and every which way.
Inside a Lee County special corrections program More than 3,000 bags of trash, 19 interstate projects, nearly 100 citizen requests and over one hundred truckloads of trash—that’s the work done by nonviolent offenders in Lee County, who are doing their part to make our county more beautiful.
FGCU NCAA implements rules for checking pitchers for foreign substances The NCAA will soon send out an instructional video on in-game foreign substance checks for pitchers.
Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol In the new year, there’s a new call to warn Americans about the negative effects of alcohol.
Family of Charlotte deputy killed during traffic stop releases statement The family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz is breaking their silence.
Southwest Florida battles the Flu Flu cases are skyrocketing in Southwest Florida, making this busy season even more challenging.
FORT MYERS SWFL 19-year-old hurt in New Orleans terrorist attack releases statement One of the young women from Fort Myers hurt during the New Orleans New Year’s Eve attack is speaking out for the first time.
Bonita Bill’s to close Jan. 5 prior to pending $5.5M sale HM Restaurant Group, owners the adjacent Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and Dixie Fish Co. restaurants, has been named as the buyer.
naples Beloved Naples Zoo giant anteater, Dee Gee, passes away The Naples Zoo is mourning the loss of a beloved male giant anteater who had given nearly 10 years of joy to visitors.
Charlotte County Property Appraiser accepting applications for partial property tax refunds The Charlotte County Property Appraiser is now accepting applications for partial 2024 property tax refunds.
FORT MYERS 2 wanted for stealing an e-bike from Fort Myers business parking lot Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two men who stole an electric bike.
Hurricane Ian damages in Punta Gorda exceed $6M Multiple city-owned properties were either destroyed or damaged by Category 4 winds.
north fort myers Lee County man arrested for causing nearly $5K worth of property damage The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of causing nearly $5,000 worth of property damage to a home in North Fort Myers.
A damaged home in Lee County (CREDIT: WINK News) Many in Lee County, like Marty White of Fort Myers Beach, notice their properties have been marked with colored dots on a damage assessment map on the county website. “I got an orange on my property, it received seven and a half feet of water to the ground level, Michigan-built home,” White said. “There’s no damage to the structure but I got an orange dot.” Orange equals major damage. White has noticed discrepancies between the color of the dot on their property and the color of the one on their neighbor’s home. “I know homes that don’t have any dots. Other homes on my street, that are the same as my home, with the green dots and yellow dots and they received just as much water,” White said. Green means an affected home, yellow means minor damage. So what do the dots really represent? The county told WINK News the dots may have been placed there by fire or Urban Search and Rescue crews on the ground. They are not definitive representations of the actual amount of damage to a structure. The map was created to help determine the impact and magnitude of damage and the resulting needs of people, businesses and the community as a whole after the storm. Fort Myers Beach Town Manager Roger Hernstadt explained this at the town’s meeting on Tuesday. A Lee County damage assessment map is causing confusion among residents. “So they use that to assess the extent of damages so that they can make certain decisions in the state with regard to things, such as will FEMA pay for debris from your house to be removed from the curb? Or will it pay to be removed from your property? Will they take down your property if you ask them to, things of that nature,” Hernstadt said. If you think the dot on your property doesn’t accurately reflect the damage or lack thereof, don’t panic. In fact, when you get to the map, the site itself reminds you that the data is for estimation purposes only and that damage levels and dollar figures are estimates that should not be considered accurate or final.