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 arrested 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.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
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 arrested 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.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
While the brush fire that raged across Collier County over the weekend is 90% contained as of Monday afternoon, the Romero family lost everything in the flames. Their pickup truck will never run again, and all that’s left of the house is the frame. Oscar Romero says his wife was still in the house when the fire surrounded it. The Romeros lived in the home for 13 years. Oscar came to the U.S. from Colombia in 1996 with nothing and worked hard for years before buying a beautiful home for his family. “I saw how much this man worked, you know, for me and for the home,” said Jefferson Romeo, Oscar’s son. “And seeing it all gone, and knowing where they came from, knowing where he came from, coming to this country with nothing… it’s not easy. But I know God has much better things for him and for us, and for everyone that was affected. I’m just happy that he’s here and my mom is here and that I’m able to hold them and kiss them, because they mean the world to me.” The Romeros’ destroyed Golden Gate Estates home. Credit: WINK News The Romeros must, in a way, start all over again with nothing, but they do have each other. Jefferson was in North Carolina when he heard the news and saw the flames engulfing his parents’ home. He says he felt helpless and hopped on a flight home as soon as he could. “I came home to this, and that was my room,” Jefferson said, standing in the ruins of the house. “And I’m just very thankful to God that my mom is alive because when I got the phone call, they just said, ‘Hey, the back of the house is on fire and mom is inside, and she doesn’t want to get out.’ And I live in North Carolina, so I really didn’t know what to do. I just got on my knees and prayed. And, thanks to God, he sent an angel, and the cop was able to get her out just in time, and she’s alive. And that’s what matters to me the most.” Religious statues left charred in the ruins of the Romeros’ house. Credit: WINK News Jefferson is trying to help his parents pick up the pieces. Oscar has a hard time talking about the event. “I can’t say anything,” Oscar said. “I am sorry.” While his home is gone, Oscar is mostly upset about what his wife went through. “My wife right now, she’s in shock… nothing I can do for my wife,” Oscar said. “She’ll be OK and then frantically start crying,” Jefferson said. “Saying, ‘my casita,’ you know, ‘my home.’ She’s just… she hasn’t been back here.” Oscar Romero and his son Jefferson in front of the ruins of their home, destroyed by a brush fire in Golden Gate Estates. Credit: WINK News The Romeros believe that the Collier County Sheriff’s deputy who got Mrs. Romero out of the house is a hero. The family has not decided whether to rebuild or move on. For now, they’re just thankful none of them were hurt in the fire.