Dog rescue in Fort Myers holds fundraiser as founder fights cancerWoman arrested for stealing $3,400 in goods from Target in Collier County
FORT MYERS Dog rescue in Fort Myers holds fundraiser as founder fights cancer A beloved dog rescue service in Fort Myers is facing uncertainty as its founder, Carey Kendzior, battles cancer.
Woman arrested for stealing $3,400 in goods from Target in Collier County More than 150 items worth thousands of dollars were reportedly stolen from a Target in Collier County. Deputies arrested Kimberly McDonnell, 36, on charges of grand theft.
Egg prices leading to some locals raising their own chickens High egg prices have some people considering raising their own chickens, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach Library to reopen following Hurricane Ian The Fort Myers Beach Library plans to reopen its doors to the public on March 16.
FORT MYERS Save This Life pet microchips closes down For many, protecting your pet is as important as keeping your kids safe.
Rosie, dog lost during I-75 crash, back home with family New information has been released about Rosie, the dog that went missing in a car crash last weekend and was found Wednesday.
Gatorama owner loses finger at feeding show The owner of Gatorama in Palmdale was bitten by one of his gators during a feeding show over the weekend and lost a finger.
WWII Veteran hits 100th birthday milestone Hundreds of people came to celebrate WWII veteran Vernon Nelson’s 100th birthday.
FORT MYERS Volunteers boost Harry Chapin Food Bank’s reach The Harry Chapin Food Bank relies heavily on its volunteers to make a significant impact in the community.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Twins’ superfan attends Spring Training for more than two decades Twins’ superfan Neil Pierce lives more than one thousand miles away from Hammond Stadium and never misses a game in Lee County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival of Light with safety in focus The parade will begin at Fort Myers High School, travel up U.S. Highway 41, and conclude in downtown Fort Myers.
Byron Donalds accused of voter fraud U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds is being accused of voter fraud. A fellow lawmaker on Capitol Hill is making the allegations.
NAPLES FWC seeks Naples community’s help for derelict boat removal The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is searching for derelict boats in Southwest Florida and is asking for community assistance.
FORT MYERS Red dye ban and Valentine’s Day Red is synonymous with Valentine’s Day, seen in everything from roses to candy. However, some red sweets may not be as appealing this year due to a recent ban on a common dye linked to cancer risks.
FORT MYERS Savannah Bananas at JetBlue Park this weekend Are you heading out to watch the Savannah Bananas this weekend? This is what you need to know.
FORT MYERS Dog rescue in Fort Myers holds fundraiser as founder fights cancer A beloved dog rescue service in Fort Myers is facing uncertainty as its founder, Carey Kendzior, battles cancer.
Woman arrested for stealing $3,400 in goods from Target in Collier County More than 150 items worth thousands of dollars were reportedly stolen from a Target in Collier County. Deputies arrested Kimberly McDonnell, 36, on charges of grand theft.
Egg prices leading to some locals raising their own chickens High egg prices have some people considering raising their own chickens, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach Library to reopen following Hurricane Ian The Fort Myers Beach Library plans to reopen its doors to the public on March 16.
FORT MYERS Save This Life pet microchips closes down For many, protecting your pet is as important as keeping your kids safe.
Rosie, dog lost during I-75 crash, back home with family New information has been released about Rosie, the dog that went missing in a car crash last weekend and was found Wednesday.
Gatorama owner loses finger at feeding show The owner of Gatorama in Palmdale was bitten by one of his gators during a feeding show over the weekend and lost a finger.
WWII Veteran hits 100th birthday milestone Hundreds of people came to celebrate WWII veteran Vernon Nelson’s 100th birthday.
FORT MYERS Volunteers boost Harry Chapin Food Bank’s reach The Harry Chapin Food Bank relies heavily on its volunteers to make a significant impact in the community.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Twins’ superfan attends Spring Training for more than two decades Twins’ superfan Neil Pierce lives more than one thousand miles away from Hammond Stadium and never misses a game in Lee County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival of Light with safety in focus The parade will begin at Fort Myers High School, travel up U.S. Highway 41, and conclude in downtown Fort Myers.
Byron Donalds accused of voter fraud U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds is being accused of voter fraud. A fellow lawmaker on Capitol Hill is making the allegations.
NAPLES FWC seeks Naples community’s help for derelict boat removal The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is searching for derelict boats in Southwest Florida and is asking for community assistance.
FORT MYERS Red dye ban and Valentine’s Day Red is synonymous with Valentine’s Day, seen in everything from roses to candy. However, some red sweets may not be as appealing this year due to a recent ban on a common dye linked to cancer risks.
FORT MYERS Savannah Bananas at JetBlue Park this weekend Are you heading out to watch the Savannah Bananas this weekend? This is what you need to know.
Firefighters training at Franklin Park Elementary. CREDIT: WINK News The Fort Myers Fire Department is conducting drills at Franklin Park Elementary School before it is set to be demolished, using real hoses and water along with fake smoke. People who have worked with FMFD for decades say they’ve never been able to train in a real-life scenario inside a Lee County school. Even though the smoke you’re about to see is fake, it provides a realistic simulation of conditions inside a burning building. “This is a once-in-a-career opportunity for Fort Myers firefighters,” said Todd Poland, FMFD division chief. “I’ve been on the job 20 years, and I’ve never had the chance to train inside the actual school… being able to flow water… we’d never be able to do that in a, you know, real, working school. ‘Cause there’d be children there, and you’d ruin stuff.” Franklin Park Elementary is offering one last lesson before it gets demolished. The firefighters will fight in from outside to discover the alarm, taking them to the spot where the “fire” is raging. There, they will be met with fake smoke. Fort Myers Fire truck and van. CREDIT: WINK News “It’s like water-vapor smoke,” Poland said. “Same stuff you’d see at, like, a concert hall or a dance or something like that.” The firefighters have to find a way to see through the smoke in order to save lives. There is zero visibility within the fake plumes, but an infrared viewing tool shows where each firefighter is in the room. That’s how they find the fire and eliminate it. Capt. Jason Hawn is one of the firefighters involved in the drills. “Everything that you saw today… that is exactly the way we would handle it in a building like this,” Hawn said. “Check the control panel, find somebody that knows about the building, and hopefully find it and stop it before it goes any further.” Firefighters are taught to crawl on the ground when visibility is as low as it is during this training. You can see more obstacles under the smoke that way. FMFD has a crucial partnership with the School District of Lee County and others. “This is a great opportunity for Fort Myers firefighters,” Poland said. And behind that team is another team making this training day possible. “We have a long-time partnership with the school district, and being able to coordinate with the Fire Department is an amazing opportunity,” said Alesha Watchowski, Owen-Ames-Kimball’s director of operations. Firefighters suited up for training. CREDIT: WINK News “Five, ten, twenty years from now, they’re going to look back and remember going through Franklin Park,” said Rob Spicker, spokesman for the School District of Lee County. Those two entities, together combined with the Fort Myers Fire Department, understood Franklin Park Elementary School as an opportunity. It offered the chance for the fire department to train inside a Lee County school with the ability to use hoses, water, and fake smoke. FMFD responded to the alarm, fought through the fake smoke, found the fire, and eliminated the threat. The school is scheduled to be demolished as soon as next week. So one of the very last things that Franklin Park ever did will have a positive ripple effect on the community for years to come.