Shell Factory & Nature Park announces online auction liquidation of remaining inventoryLee County officials share progress on post-Milton debris cleanup
FORT MYERS Shell Factory & Nature Park announces online auction liquidation of remaining inventory Fans of the now-closed Shell Factory & Nature Park will have a final chance to own a piece of nostalgia with two virtual auctions.
Lee County officials share progress on post-Milton debris cleanup Lee County has announced it has collected 200,000 cubic yards of storm debris in unincorporated areas post-Hurricane Milton.
Man accused of fleeing from Charlotte deputies through drainage pipe The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man who tried to flee from deputies during a traffic stop through a drainage pipe.
FORT MYERS Man wanted for stealing money from tip jar at Fort Myers establishment Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man wanted for stealing from a tip jar at a Fort Myers establishment.
Matlacha Man accused of driving into That BBQ Place on Matlacha asks for new attorney Cody Curtis, the man accused of driving drunk and crashing his car into That BBQ Place on Matlacha, killing a patron, is asking for a new attorney.
Mostly sunny and seasonably high temps Monday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a mostly sunny Monday with temperatures matching seasonable highs this afternoon.
north fort myers Deputy presence reported in front of North Fort Myers laundromat The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is responding to a scene located on Pine Island Road in North Fort Myers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral hurricane debris drop-off sites closed Two hurricane debris drop-off sites have closed in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Former NFL star Tre Boston gives back to hometown of Fort Myers for Thanksgiving Boston was joined by members of the Lehigh Senior High School Football team to help deliver 800 turkeys to those in need.
WINK NEWS Holiday Cheer: Send letters to Santa at Sunshine Ace Hardware Sunshine Ace Hardware will be serving as a drop-off location for any children looking to mail their holiday wish lists to the North Pole.
FORT MYERS BEACH Sand, sweat, and precision: Final day of sculpting on Fort Myers Beach Sunday was the final day of the 34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship, hosted on Fort Myers Beach.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Illegal gun possession, Kate Spade theft and deadly crash This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a gun possessed by a person with felony convictions, a Kate Spade thief and a man arrested for causing a crash that killed a man on Alligator Alley.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead, 1 critically injured in North Fort Myers shooting The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shooting in North Fort Myers on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral looking to increase their FEMA flood insurance discount The City of Cape Coral got good news from FEMA; the 25% flood insurance discount is staying in place for the next three years.
Cool start, mild afternoon with lots of sunshine on this Sunday The Weather Authority says Sunday started off even slightly cooler than Saturday morning, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s across the area.
FORT MYERS Shell Factory & Nature Park announces online auction liquidation of remaining inventory Fans of the now-closed Shell Factory & Nature Park will have a final chance to own a piece of nostalgia with two virtual auctions.
Lee County officials share progress on post-Milton debris cleanup Lee County has announced it has collected 200,000 cubic yards of storm debris in unincorporated areas post-Hurricane Milton.
Man accused of fleeing from Charlotte deputies through drainage pipe The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man who tried to flee from deputies during a traffic stop through a drainage pipe.
FORT MYERS Man wanted for stealing money from tip jar at Fort Myers establishment Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a man wanted for stealing from a tip jar at a Fort Myers establishment.
Matlacha Man accused of driving into That BBQ Place on Matlacha asks for new attorney Cody Curtis, the man accused of driving drunk and crashing his car into That BBQ Place on Matlacha, killing a patron, is asking for a new attorney.
Mostly sunny and seasonably high temps Monday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a mostly sunny Monday with temperatures matching seasonable highs this afternoon.
north fort myers Deputy presence reported in front of North Fort Myers laundromat The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is responding to a scene located on Pine Island Road in North Fort Myers.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral hurricane debris drop-off sites closed Two hurricane debris drop-off sites have closed in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Former NFL star Tre Boston gives back to hometown of Fort Myers for Thanksgiving Boston was joined by members of the Lehigh Senior High School Football team to help deliver 800 turkeys to those in need.
WINK NEWS Holiday Cheer: Send letters to Santa at Sunshine Ace Hardware Sunshine Ace Hardware will be serving as a drop-off location for any children looking to mail their holiday wish lists to the North Pole.
FORT MYERS BEACH Sand, sweat, and precision: Final day of sculpting on Fort Myers Beach Sunday was the final day of the 34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship, hosted on Fort Myers Beach.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Illegal gun possession, Kate Spade theft and deadly crash This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a gun possessed by a person with felony convictions, a Kate Spade thief and a man arrested for causing a crash that killed a man on Alligator Alley.
NORTH FORT MYERS 1 dead, 1 critically injured in North Fort Myers shooting The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shooting in North Fort Myers on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral looking to increase their FEMA flood insurance discount The City of Cape Coral got good news from FEMA; the 25% flood insurance discount is staying in place for the next three years.
Cool start, mild afternoon with lots of sunshine on this Sunday The Weather Authority says Sunday started off even slightly cooler than Saturday morning, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s across the area.
The Charlotte County community is still mourning Christopher Taylor, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputy killed in a violent crash. He will soon be laid to rest by his loved ones, and those who knew him are reflecting on his life. WINK News spoke to two of Taylor’s former teachers, one at North Fort Myers High School and one at the police academy. Both said he stood out and said his smile and his energy were contagious. At the Southwest Florida Police Academy, a wall is lined with pictures of graduates. Erica Rich has taught around 700 of them, but out of all the faces, one stands out. “I can remember exactly where he sat in class. I can remember interactions with him,” said Rich. “I can just sit and think of his smile and think of how he affected those that were around him. And I have absolutely no doubt that’s what he did when he left the academy.” Rich was an instructor at the police academy, and Taylor was one of the last students she taught before being promoted to law enforcement coordinator. She said she knew he was meant for something special. “He just had it naturally, soft and kind and compassionate and respectful all the way to strong and being able to command a room if needed. And that is exactly what he was,” said Rich. She didn’t know it would end so soon. On Tuesday, November 22, the phrase “Chris is ” became “Chris was.” “Instantly, I had my fair share of mourning, and thinking back, it’s hard not to be emotional,” Rich said. MORE: Community members pay their respects at memorial for Deputy Christopher Taylor 23-year-old Taylor died when crash investigators say a drunk driver hit and killed him on I-75. “When I first heard the news, it’s, you hear it, and you process it on one level, but then you wake up, day and day again. And you think that that couldn’t have been true like that could not have happened. I’m still grappling with it. It’s been over a week now,” said Susan Cook. In high school, Cook was Taylor’s English teacher, but she also knew him on a more personal level. He worked with her daughters at fast-food restaurants while they were both in school together. Cook said from the moment she met him, she knew he would do great things. “He was destined. He was just a different kind of person. Very introspective, I’m going to say, though you could tell that he thought hard about things that you asked him or problems, he would think hard about a solution before he would just offer up the first thing that came to his mind, which is appreciated again. And 17 or 18-year-old young man is what he was at that time. And then I got to know him on a more personal level. He became like a big brother to my youngest daughter, actually, just from hanging out in our home,” said Cook. Cassandra Smith, 30. (Credit: Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office) The woman accused in the crash, Cassandra Smith, 30, pled not guilty to DUI manslaughter and waived a formal arraignment. Smith had a previous DUI arrest in April of 2021 in Palm Beach County. Smith was one of the people who called 911 after the crash, not knowing what to do. She told dispatchers that she tried to avoid the cars on the road. Others also called 911 as they tried to help save Deputy Taylor’s life. “I’m at the I-75 crash. We’re doing CPR on the officer,” said one 911 caller. “I don’t think we know where the person in the Jeep is. This might have been like a drunk driving, and we’re still trying to do CPR.” “You’re going to need an ambulance. The back of this patrol car is destroyed.” One of the calls that came into dispatch was from Smith “Hi, I don’t know I’m on the side of the highway. I am, I don’t even, do you know what exit is that is, I’m on the phone with 911,” Smith said after calling 911. In the six-minute conversation, she told the dispatcher repeatedly what she tried to do in the moments leading up to the crash. Smith: “I was just trying to avoid the cars on the road.” Dispatcher: “OK, ma’am, stay on the line with me.” Smith: “Oh my god. I am going to like have an anxiety attack.” The call did have some head-scratching moments Dispatcher: “What kind of vehicle were you in?” Smith: “I have no idea, a Sorrento.” Dispatcher: “What color is it?” Smith: “Um…” Dispatcher: “Are you in a green Jeep?” Smith: “Green, yes.” The dispatcher asked Smith if she was hurt. “No, I’m fine. I’m concerned about the police officer that’s on the ground,” Smith told the dispatcher. Smith was told to put her hazards on by the dispatcher but had to be told how to do it. Her license expired on November 20, just two days before Deputy Taylor was killed. A public memorial service will be held on Wednesday in memory of Deputy First Class Christopher Taylor. Services will be held at the Babcock Ranch Field House at 10 a.m.