American Sand Sculpting Competition returns to Fort Myers BeachEnglewood nonprofit gives hope to residents amid hurricane recovery
FORT MYERS BEACH American Sand Sculpting Competition returns to Fort Myers Beach After a year’s long wait, the American Sand Sculpting Competition on Fort Myers Beach returned on Thursday.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood nonprofit gives hope to residents amid hurricane recovery Many people in Charlotte County were hit hard by storms this hurricane season, but that won’t stop them from giving back to their community.
NAPLES CSN’s Jayvian Tanelus and offensive line erupt in round one Community School of Naples’ offensive line and Jayvian Tanelus put on a show in round one of the playoffs earning them player of the week.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral family opens home up for the holidays A Cape Coral family has gotten over 1,000 interactions on a Facebook post after opening up their home for the holidays.
SANIBEL Sanibel police trained and certified to catch alligators by FWC Pinning an apex predator down with little more than bare hands and tape: That’s what the Sanibel Police Department went through during alligator-catching certification training.
Southwest Florida welcomes first proton beam therapy center This is a big week in cancer care for patients in Southwest Florida and beyond.
PUNTA GORDA Whats next after Punta Gorda city manager’s resignation? Punta Gorda city manager Greg Murray said he resigned Monday but told the council on Wednesday. Now, Melissa Reichert is the interim city manager.
FORT MYERS BEACH 34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship begins on Fort Myers Beach After a years long wait, the American Sand Sculpting Competition on Fort Myers Beach returned on Thursday.
CAPE CORAL City council members talk about decision to repeal stipend ordinance A vote of 5 to 3 ends the saga over the Cape Coral City Council stipend and new members of the city council are sending a message they’re doing things differently.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers food pantry provides Thanksgiving meals to neighbors Dozens of people stopped by Sunshine Health’s food pantry one week before Thanksgiving. Sunshine Health is delivering hope.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach loses FEMA insurance discount The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has placed Fort Myers Beach (FMB) on probation.
FORT MYERS WINK News Game of the Week: Riverdale at Fort Myers Our WINK News Game of the Week is the regional semifinal matchup between Fort Myers and Riverdale, a rematch from the regular season finale two weeks ago.
NAPLES Hope for the Holidays turkey distribution event in Collier County A Naples nonprofit is expected to feed nearly 2,000 families.
Parts of Lee County to keep FEMA discount According to the Lee County Government, residents in parts of Lee County will keep their FEMA discount.
New blue-light system to be implemented to flag red-light runners Green means go, red means stop and blue means you just ran a red light.
FORT MYERS BEACH American Sand Sculpting Competition returns to Fort Myers Beach After a year’s long wait, the American Sand Sculpting Competition on Fort Myers Beach returned on Thursday.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood nonprofit gives hope to residents amid hurricane recovery Many people in Charlotte County were hit hard by storms this hurricane season, but that won’t stop them from giving back to their community.
NAPLES CSN’s Jayvian Tanelus and offensive line erupt in round one Community School of Naples’ offensive line and Jayvian Tanelus put on a show in round one of the playoffs earning them player of the week.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral family opens home up for the holidays A Cape Coral family has gotten over 1,000 interactions on a Facebook post after opening up their home for the holidays.
SANIBEL Sanibel police trained and certified to catch alligators by FWC Pinning an apex predator down with little more than bare hands and tape: That’s what the Sanibel Police Department went through during alligator-catching certification training.
Southwest Florida welcomes first proton beam therapy center This is a big week in cancer care for patients in Southwest Florida and beyond.
PUNTA GORDA Whats next after Punta Gorda city manager’s resignation? Punta Gorda city manager Greg Murray said he resigned Monday but told the council on Wednesday. Now, Melissa Reichert is the interim city manager.
FORT MYERS BEACH 34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship begins on Fort Myers Beach After a years long wait, the American Sand Sculpting Competition on Fort Myers Beach returned on Thursday.
CAPE CORAL City council members talk about decision to repeal stipend ordinance A vote of 5 to 3 ends the saga over the Cape Coral City Council stipend and new members of the city council are sending a message they’re doing things differently.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers food pantry provides Thanksgiving meals to neighbors Dozens of people stopped by Sunshine Health’s food pantry one week before Thanksgiving. Sunshine Health is delivering hope.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach loses FEMA insurance discount The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has placed Fort Myers Beach (FMB) on probation.
FORT MYERS WINK News Game of the Week: Riverdale at Fort Myers Our WINK News Game of the Week is the regional semifinal matchup between Fort Myers and Riverdale, a rematch from the regular season finale two weeks ago.
NAPLES Hope for the Holidays turkey distribution event in Collier County A Naples nonprofit is expected to feed nearly 2,000 families.
Parts of Lee County to keep FEMA discount According to the Lee County Government, residents in parts of Lee County will keep their FEMA discount.
New blue-light system to be implemented to flag red-light runners Green means go, red means stop and blue means you just ran a red light.
The School District of Lee County has opened enrollment for the next school year, and it has a new proximity plan intended to help solve the district’s issues with its bus system. The LCSD plan shrinks the school zones parents can choose from to send their children, hopefully cutting down on the commute to and from school for buses. If you have a child in kindergarten through 4th grade, the first step is to get online and create a Focus parent portal. There, you will be able to view the new proximity zoning maps. New Lee County school districts. CREDIT: LEE COUNTY If your child’s current school is in your new zone and you want them to continue to attend that school, you have nothing else to do. However, if your child’s current school is not within the new proximity zone on the map, you will have to log into your Focus parent portal and opt for your child to stay in their current school, keeping in mind that you will be responsible for finding your child a ride to school. That’s the idea—fewer routes for bus drivers and less time for students to wait. Transportation will only be provided if your assigned school is more than two miles from your home. There has been a lot of frustration about Lee County’s school bus situation, and LCSD hopes this new proximity zoning will help. WINK News spoke with Rob Spicker, a Lee County School District spokesperson, to get a better understanding of the rules and zones. “The big reason that this is happening is that the system no longer works, it was developed with about 68,000 students in the school district, Lee County, today, we’re up to almost 100,000. You can’t transport 100,000 students to the school of their choice,” Spicker said. In short, the student assignment is gone, and the “proximity plan” will replace it. This change will allow the school district to restructure how it gets kids to and from school and potentially solve the chronic bus driver shortage. Old Lee County school districts. CREDIT: LEE COUNTY “But through proximity, we’ll have the right amount of drivers to match to the number of routes we’re going to need,” Spicker said. Last week, Lee County mom Dixie Dorter told WINK News her daughter’s high school bus was either late or didn’t come at all. This new proximity plan won’t impact her yet, but she is an example of how it may help down the road. “They just haven’t been coming, and when I call the bus depot, there is no bus, and there’s no backup bus,” Dorter said. “And this has been going on… this is the second week. No school and the kids stand out here 30, 40 minutes. With no bus showing up, no way of knowing there’s no bus showing up until I called the bus depot.” While this plan is only for elementary students right now, the new zoning will eventually become a factor for some middle and high school parents. “She’s been there all these years; I want her to finish out there,” Dorter said. “I know that you try and pick and choose a school that you know a little better. So, I’m not sure how I feel on that one. The main thing is just getting them there safely.” Spicker wanted to let everyone know you can do this process online if you’ve got your PIN and are ready to go. You do not need to show up in person. Also, you can enter your child in the lottery selection for their school of choice at any time until March 10, and your chances are still just as good as they would be if you did it on Feb. 13. Elementary school open enrollment will be available online for the 2023-2024 school year starting Monday and runs through March 10.