Caught on Camera: TikTok video shows Ochopee airboat crashCape Coral to install school zone speed cameras to enhance safety
OCHOPEE Caught on Camera: TikTok video shows Ochopee airboat crash A new video has been released that shows the moments before, during, and after two airboats collide in the Everglades.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral to install school zone speed cameras to enhance safety The City of Cape Coral is stepping up efforts to protect students by installing speed cameras in 16 school zones during the 2025 school year.
$578M initiative for I-75 congestion relief in Lee and Collier counties $578 million from the Moving Florida Forward Initiative is being dedicated to congestion relief on Interstate 75 from Golden Gate Parkway in Collier County to Corkscrew Road in Lee County.
Troubled Past: Mother of shooter who killed Charlotte County deputy claims he had “extreme mental illness” Sergeant Elio Diaz was gunned down and killed by a 24-year-old from Georgia named Andrew (AJ) Mostyn. WINK News is learning that the shooter had a troubled past.
Family of Charlotte County sergeant killed in line of duty visits growing memorial Early Tuesday evening, the family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Elio Diaz visited the memorial for him that was built into a flower bed.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda’s Gilchrist Park reopens after Hurricane Milton cleanup On Tuesday, the boats were finally gone; the city and a handful of volunteers got their hands dirty and cleaned everything up.
New study shows trend of young Floridians leaving the state Has the Sunshine State become too expensive for young people to live here? A new study says yes.
Chaplains comfort first responders as they mourn the loss of their own As CCSO mourns the loss of one of their own, we spoke with one of the people tasked with helping our first responders at the hardest times.
Florida FWC proposing new hunting changes The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is proposing some changes to the next hunting season that could take effect July first.
NORTH FORT MYERS Eagle enthusiasts celebrate birth of 2 eaglets in North Fort Myers As of Tuesday, there are two new eaglets on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam in North Fort Myers, E24 and E25!
Motorcade for Sgt. Elio Diaz, Charlotte County sergeant killed in line of duty An everlasting memory in the minds of many. A motorcade made its way through the streets of Southwest Florida on Tuesday to honor a fallen hero, a deputy loved by many in our community.
Egg prices soar during holiday season Why the heck are eggs so expensive? It’s getting ridiculous in the grocery store, and prices keep going up.
CAPE CORAL Vulgar graffiti sparks uncertainty for Cape Coral development plans For the second time in less than a month, the n-word has been plastered for all to see in the city of Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS BEACH The fight over Red Coconut RV Park on Fort Myers Beach A decision was made despite what the people of Fort Myers Beach said.
CAPE CORAL Water main break closes Cape Coral Parkway at Skyline Blvd. Eastbound and westbound lanes of the Cape Coral Parkway have been shut down at Skyline Boulevard due to a water main break, according to the city.
OCHOPEE Caught on Camera: TikTok video shows Ochopee airboat crash A new video has been released that shows the moments before, during, and after two airboats collide in the Everglades.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral to install school zone speed cameras to enhance safety The City of Cape Coral is stepping up efforts to protect students by installing speed cameras in 16 school zones during the 2025 school year.
$578M initiative for I-75 congestion relief in Lee and Collier counties $578 million from the Moving Florida Forward Initiative is being dedicated to congestion relief on Interstate 75 from Golden Gate Parkway in Collier County to Corkscrew Road in Lee County.
Troubled Past: Mother of shooter who killed Charlotte County deputy claims he had “extreme mental illness” Sergeant Elio Diaz was gunned down and killed by a 24-year-old from Georgia named Andrew (AJ) Mostyn. WINK News is learning that the shooter had a troubled past.
Family of Charlotte County sergeant killed in line of duty visits growing memorial Early Tuesday evening, the family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Elio Diaz visited the memorial for him that was built into a flower bed.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda’s Gilchrist Park reopens after Hurricane Milton cleanup On Tuesday, the boats were finally gone; the city and a handful of volunteers got their hands dirty and cleaned everything up.
New study shows trend of young Floridians leaving the state Has the Sunshine State become too expensive for young people to live here? A new study says yes.
Chaplains comfort first responders as they mourn the loss of their own As CCSO mourns the loss of one of their own, we spoke with one of the people tasked with helping our first responders at the hardest times.
Florida FWC proposing new hunting changes The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is proposing some changes to the next hunting season that could take effect July first.
NORTH FORT MYERS Eagle enthusiasts celebrate birth of 2 eaglets in North Fort Myers As of Tuesday, there are two new eaglets on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam in North Fort Myers, E24 and E25!
Motorcade for Sgt. Elio Diaz, Charlotte County sergeant killed in line of duty An everlasting memory in the minds of many. A motorcade made its way through the streets of Southwest Florida on Tuesday to honor a fallen hero, a deputy loved by many in our community.
Egg prices soar during holiday season Why the heck are eggs so expensive? It’s getting ridiculous in the grocery store, and prices keep going up.
CAPE CORAL Vulgar graffiti sparks uncertainty for Cape Coral development plans For the second time in less than a month, the n-word has been plastered for all to see in the city of Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS BEACH The fight over Red Coconut RV Park on Fort Myers Beach A decision was made despite what the people of Fort Myers Beach said.
CAPE CORAL Water main break closes Cape Coral Parkway at Skyline Blvd. Eastbound and westbound lanes of the Cape Coral Parkway have been shut down at Skyline Boulevard due to a water main break, according to the city.
South Beach Bar and Grille location. (Credit: WINK News) Many homes, lives, and businesses were destroyed by Hurricane Ian. Some people saw the devastation firsthand, while others watched from afar. One of the South Beach Bar and Grille owners found out his business was destroyed when he saw it on his TV. WINK News spoke to the owners of the South Beach Bar and Grille, who said they hope to be back open by Christmas. Amazing if you look at what South Beach Bar and Grille looks like right now, which is nothing. The owners have faith that they’re going to rebuild quickly for themselves and for their little island of Boca Grande. Hurrian Ian meant utter destruction as it ravaged, blackened, and eventually burned the South Beach Bar and Grille like a scene out of a war movie. South Beach Bar and Grille on October 6, 2022. (Credit: WINK News) WINK News reporter Claire Galt was outside what remained of the restaurant just eight days after the storm. “I am standing at the back of the South Beach Bar and Grille. You can kind of get a better look at some of this damage. The restaurant appears to have burned down. We’re not sure why yet. It looks like an electrical issue, but this place looks like a warzone.” “That aerial view that you showed on your first live report. That’s when I first found out, like, I just fell to my knees, and my wife thought I was having a heart attack,” said Marco Meola, South Beach Bar and Grille co-owner. WINK News’ live report a week after the hurricane was the first time Meola saw the state of his restaurant. “I just… I couldn’t catch my breath. I haven’t felt like that, you know, other than the family person dying or so it was very overwhelming. I couldn’t function, I couldn’t talk, and I am somewhat of an emotional person, but I’m not usually brought to tears, and that was just, you know, my life’s work done in a day, you know,” said Meola. “I sat down on the steps. I said I gotta sit down for a few minutes,” said Bart Destefano, South Beach Bar and Grille co-owner. WINK News met with Meola and Destefano Friday afternoon and saw the restaurant again five months later. “It just kind of wipes away, just takes your breath away,” Meola said. “But, you know, we wallowed in self-pity for a few days. And then we got together, and we started planning to do something else,” Destefano said. South Beach Bar and Grille location. (Credit: WINK News) Right now, the Grille is still in shambles. In fact, the structure is gone altogether, but that’s not what Destefano and Meola see. “When you pull up, you’re gonna go like, ‘oh, wow, it’s back. It’s the same thing as it was before,'” said Meola. “It’s just an overwhelming feeling that we have to get this place rebuilt,” said They feel the need to rebuild because “If three people were sitting together at the bar, it would be a fifth generation fisherman sitting next to a fortune 500 businessman, you know, sitting next to a bartender, all three of them sharing conversations about the same things. You know, so that’s pretty iconic. And I know we said that before, but you don’t see that in a lot of places,” Meola said. “Boca Grande needs this place,” said Destefano. In the meantime, the owners are working out of a temporary location, Mimis 3rd Street Grill. It’s right down the road from where South Beach Bar and Grille stood. The owners said it doesn’t compare to what South Beach was, but they wanted to make sure their employees have a place to work.