WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA Judge upholds decision in fight over building heights and density on Captiva Island After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Heavy metal drummer turns Winkler House into Stet’s Bar rock venue Stet Howland, who as a drummer has an affinity for heavy metal music, bought a longtime Fort Myers dive bar and then transformed it into a haven for rock and roll.
CAPE CORAL 40th annual Cape Coral Art Festival to close roads Cape Coral Parkway will close off Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard for this weekend’s 40th annual Art Festival.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County man arrested after holding woman at knifepoint The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for holding a woman at knifepoint during a domestic disturbance.
2 accused of multiple thefts while using stolen vehicle in Charlotte County The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men accused of multiple thefts and driving a stolen vehicle.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA Judge upholds decision in fight over building heights and density on Captiva Island After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Heavy metal drummer turns Winkler House into Stet’s Bar rock venue Stet Howland, who as a drummer has an affinity for heavy metal music, bought a longtime Fort Myers dive bar and then transformed it into a haven for rock and roll.
CAPE CORAL 40th annual Cape Coral Art Festival to close roads Cape Coral Parkway will close off Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard for this weekend’s 40th annual Art Festival.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County man arrested after holding woman at knifepoint The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for holding a woman at knifepoint during a domestic disturbance.
2 accused of multiple thefts while using stolen vehicle in Charlotte County The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men accused of multiple thefts and driving a stolen vehicle.
People at the Arcadia Rodeo. Credit: WINK News The 95th annual All-Florida Championship Rodeo rides again in Arcadia, filled with bull riding, barrel racing and tie-down roping. It’s a chance for riders to share their culture. Carl McKettrick, who is now the executive director of the rodeo, started performing when he was a kid. He’s all about getting young people involved. “You have the ability to bring a different event and different side of livestock to the local community who don’t get to see it on a day in, day out basis; to show a little heritage, to show how agriculture and animal agriculture was started,” McKettrick said. “I did the mutton bustin’, then went into a little bigger animals, the steers, and eventually into the bulls. Now, my son is following suit; he is one of the bullfighters here at the rodeo.” Carlston Pearce is one of the competitors at the rodeo. “I will be competing in the junior barrels on Saturday,” Peace said. “My barrel horse, her name is Priscilla. She is a 14-year-old mare horse.” Weldon Campbell, rodeo director and former bronco rider, says there is a lot of danger to the practice. “I lost part of one of my little fingers here, so I told everybody, ‘I’d give you a high five, but alls I got is a high four-and a-half,’ so the danger aspect of that… it was time to step away,” Campbell said. Now, Campbell’s daughters are in the rodeo. While he’s retired from riding, he’s still a fan, especially when his girls get out there. “We have three girls in the mutton bustin’ this year,” Campbell said. ‘One is 4, the other is 6, and they have a ball getting on the back of the sheep and riding it as long as they can.” Judge Don Hall, president of the Arcadia Rodeo Association, loves the feeling of the event. “I’ll tell you what, I love the tradition, I love the lifestyle, I love the people involved,” Hall said. “It just gives you a great feeling. It is a true all-American sport.” The Arcadia Rodeo runs through Sunday, and you don’t have to ride a horse to have a good time. There are many other activities for everyone and a lot of good food.