Trumparilla Boat Parade kicks off in Fort MyersThe Weather Authority: Hot temperatures, rain, and we’re watching the tropics
FORT MYERS Trumparilla Boat Parade kicks off in Fort Myers The Lee County GOP is hosting the Trumparilla Boat Parade in support of the Republican nominee.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Hot temperatures, rain, and we’re watching the tropics Get ready for a typical Southwest Florida weekend. It’s going to feel like the triple digits before rain rolls in and we’re watching the tropics.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner charged for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
FORT MYERS Trumparilla Boat Parade kicks off in Fort Myers The Lee County GOP is hosting the Trumparilla Boat Parade in support of the Republican nominee.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Hot temperatures, rain, and we’re watching the tropics Get ready for a typical Southwest Florida weekend. It’s going to feel like the triple digits before rain rolls in and we’re watching the tropics.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner charged for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
Firefighters believe an ATV caused flames to break out in Lehigh Acres on Tuesday. With the dry season in full swing, ATV drivers should know the dangers of riding through overgrown brush. When someone rides an ATV, the engine gets hot, and that can cause sparks to fly. When those sparks hit tall grass, for example, a brush fire can start. It was a smoky ride for drivers along Aletha Avenue South on Tuesday. Just before 2 p.m., a spark caused a fire in an empty lot near the road in Lehigh Acres. First responders contained the brush fire within the hour, which burned through a quarter acre of land. “When our investigators were able to take a look at the area, there’s a lot of evidence of very significant ATV activity, right along the same pathway where the fire started,” said Katie Heck, public relations officer with Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue. ATV trails. (Credit: WINK News) The empty lot is full of ATV trails. Firefighters say as we enter dry season, these vehicles could pose a risk to homes nearby. To prevent further dangers, Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue is asking ATV owners to install spark arrestors. “It goes right into the exhaust system, like right in the muffler. And it kind of prevents all those sparks from exiting the muffler,” said Heck. ATV fire safety tips. (Credit: Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue) Heck said it would be great if ATV drivers would also stay out of the tall grass because that also would prevent brush fires. It’s good for neighbors and good for wildlife too. “We have about 90,000 vacant lots in Lehigh Acres. There’s nice areas for the wildlife to congregate. But when we burn that area down, especially when it’s not by nature or intended to be cleared out, it does create a hardship for animals,” Heck said. No one was hurt due to the fire, but one neighbor said it makes her nervous that these drivers could pose a risk to her home. The pile of charred remains reminds Daphnie Charles how lucky she is. The brush fire was just steps away from her home. “I’m not the only one that’s close by, so it could have hurt my neighbor way more than it hurt us before it got to us, but it’s still scary,” said Charles. Charles said she sees people driving ATVs in the empty lots near her home daily. “They know what can happen when it comes to ATVs and driving in the dry grass and stuff like that. So they could be a little bit more precautious when it comes to things like that,” said Charles. “All of these fires are normally started by people doing something that creates sparks, that creates heat on that dry brush. So especially with ATV riding, it’s best to just avoid it for the next couple of months while it’s so dry,” said Heck. If you can’t stay off the trails, there are things you can do to prevent fires. Install a spark arrestor and keep it out of tall grass. Heck also suggests, “Stick to legal paths that are well traveled and well used.” To prevent more fires like this one from happening again. Heck told me all of these fires are preventable. It just takes a change in behavior by ATV drivers until the summer rainy season arrives.