HSFB SWFL Scoreboard: Regional Semifinal It’s the regional semifinal round of high school football in Southwest Florida. Check out the scores and highlights.
FORT MYERS Large response to rollover crash in Fort Myers There was a large response to a multi-car crash with a rollover in Fort Myers just after 8 p.m on Friday night.
FORT MYERS BEACH New information on why FEMA put Fort Myers Beach on probation FEMA was sure to lay it out in a letter. Out of the five points listed, three areas need work on Fort Myers Beach to re-apply for the flood insurance discount.
CAPE CORAL Exclusive: Cape Coral Police Chief speaks out on hate crime incident New exclusive surveillance video shows the moment a Cape Coral home is vandalized. The suspects painted racial slurs on the wall in red paint. WINK News broke this story on Wednesday.
CAPE CORAL New police precincts coming to Cape Coral The Cape Coral Police Department is adding new precincts around the city. The reason? Growth.
Vietnam veteran’s unique service animal companion When we think of service animals, dogs usually come to mind, but it’s not just dogs that help people navigate through their challenges.
NAPLES Gulfshore Life’s Men and Women of the Year award honoree: John Cooney It’s one thing to be philanthropic and help our community. It’s another to provide so much help and want absolutely nothing in return, not even your name mentioned.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High principal named Lee County Principal of the Year Carl Burnside was the last to find out Friday morning that he was selected as Lee County Schools Principal of the Year for 2025.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach businesses excited for increased season traffic Those on Fort Myers Beach are excited for the town to return to normal. Businesses are ready to accept snowbirds and residents again.
CAPE CORAL Mom faces DUI charge after crash during pick-up at Oasis High School A crash in the pick-up line at Oasis High School led Cape Coral police to a DUI investigation.
Rethinking daily Asprin intake Many of us have heard the saying, “An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away,” but new research shows that taking aspirin every day might not be as good for you as we once thought.
NAPLES Embezzlement investigation in Naples WINK News is looking into claims of embezzlement in the Naples government.
NORTH FORT MYERS Where did the Shell Factory animals go? With the closure of The Shell Factory in September, people have been wondering where the animals went.
Tim Aten Knows: Publix to demolish, rebuild Naples store Two days after Thanksgiving, the 38-year-old Publix supermarket in Neapolitan Way Plaza will close to begin a Naples redevelopment project that has been planned for years.
Planned retail, lifestyle center seeking tenants at Babcock Ranch A new 112,000-square-foot mixed-use complex designed for retail shops, restaurants, bars, office space and residential units is planned for Babcock Ranch. Called B Street at Babcock Ranch, there are approximately 20 parties negotiating leases, said Jon Cashion, a principal with commercial real estate agency Katz & Associates. A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for early 2025, […]
HSFB SWFL Scoreboard: Regional Semifinal It’s the regional semifinal round of high school football in Southwest Florida. Check out the scores and highlights.
FORT MYERS Large response to rollover crash in Fort Myers There was a large response to a multi-car crash with a rollover in Fort Myers just after 8 p.m on Friday night.
FORT MYERS BEACH New information on why FEMA put Fort Myers Beach on probation FEMA was sure to lay it out in a letter. Out of the five points listed, three areas need work on Fort Myers Beach to re-apply for the flood insurance discount.
CAPE CORAL Exclusive: Cape Coral Police Chief speaks out on hate crime incident New exclusive surveillance video shows the moment a Cape Coral home is vandalized. The suspects painted racial slurs on the wall in red paint. WINK News broke this story on Wednesday.
CAPE CORAL New police precincts coming to Cape Coral The Cape Coral Police Department is adding new precincts around the city. The reason? Growth.
Vietnam veteran’s unique service animal companion When we think of service animals, dogs usually come to mind, but it’s not just dogs that help people navigate through their challenges.
NAPLES Gulfshore Life’s Men and Women of the Year award honoree: John Cooney It’s one thing to be philanthropic and help our community. It’s another to provide so much help and want absolutely nothing in return, not even your name mentioned.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High principal named Lee County Principal of the Year Carl Burnside was the last to find out Friday morning that he was selected as Lee County Schools Principal of the Year for 2025.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach businesses excited for increased season traffic Those on Fort Myers Beach are excited for the town to return to normal. Businesses are ready to accept snowbirds and residents again.
CAPE CORAL Mom faces DUI charge after crash during pick-up at Oasis High School A crash in the pick-up line at Oasis High School led Cape Coral police to a DUI investigation.
Rethinking daily Asprin intake Many of us have heard the saying, “An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away,” but new research shows that taking aspirin every day might not be as good for you as we once thought.
NAPLES Embezzlement investigation in Naples WINK News is looking into claims of embezzlement in the Naples government.
NORTH FORT MYERS Where did the Shell Factory animals go? With the closure of The Shell Factory in September, people have been wondering where the animals went.
Tim Aten Knows: Publix to demolish, rebuild Naples store Two days after Thanksgiving, the 38-year-old Publix supermarket in Neapolitan Way Plaza will close to begin a Naples redevelopment project that has been planned for years.
Planned retail, lifestyle center seeking tenants at Babcock Ranch A new 112,000-square-foot mixed-use complex designed for retail shops, restaurants, bars, office space and residential units is planned for Babcock Ranch. Called B Street at Babcock Ranch, there are approximately 20 parties negotiating leases, said Jon Cashion, a principal with commercial real estate agency Katz & Associates. A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for early 2025, […]
A storm surge wiped her out, until all this Fort Myers Beach mother had was a hammer and hope. In came WINK News Investigates Reporter Celine McArthur, who introduced you to, “A Man with a Plan,” and created a storm surge of another kind: A tidal wave of community hope. As Tammy Drake climbs into the cab of this excavator, and prepares to level her Fort Myers Beach home, she’s feeling… a mix of emotions. “Part of me is beyond ecstatic,” said Tammy. “I don’t have to look at that anymore, and we have something beautiful and flood-proof going in. Then, you know, that’s where my kids were born and raised. And there are so many memories in that house.” But the memory of riding out Hurricane Ian with her daughter Maddy, watching their house—their HOME—disappear into the storm surge, is one they never want to re-live. So, this house has got to go! Demo day has been more than a month in the making. Once this debris is hauled away, it’s time to build this! These are the plans for a raised home, that hopefully will never flood again. It’s about a $350,000 project, when you factor in materials and labor. Joe Orlandini says his suppliers have stepped up in a big way, and neighbors pitched in. Then, after our story aired, there was a tidal wave of support. “People wanting to supply roofs. People wanting to contribute and donate cabinets, labor and even time. Even furniture! I had someone that said, ‘I want to do Maddy’s bedroom with the mermaids!’ That was really, really cute and nice.” A birds-eye view of the demolition. CREDIT: WINK News Tammy is overwhelmed by the support. “Oh, so much outpouring of love,” said Tammy. “I have people come up to me multiple times a day just saying they saw the story. They’re all teared-up, which makes me all teared-up. And the responses have been absolutely beautiful. Just beautiful.” Then came THE BIG ONE. A WHALE of an opportunity from WINK News viewers Mike and Dawn Miller who watched our story about Tammy and Maddy. “We absolutely love the story,” said Mike. Dawn added, “We felt for her. We want her daughter back home with her. We’re like, we’ve got to figure out a way we can help!” This, while they’re also rebuilding their Fort Myers Beach landmark! The Millers bought The Whale restaurant in June of 2022. “We absolutely fell in love with it,” said Mike. But three months later, it was gone. Wiped out by Hurricane Ian. The Millers say they’re not leaving, and believe their neighbors, who were relative strangers, should be able to stay put, too. So, Mike reached out to Joe… with a plan of his own. Joe recounted the conversation on text. “He says, would $100,000 help? Completely blown away, I texted back Mike. I think, Oh, my God! I can’t believe it. Are you serious? You know, for real?” It’s real. Our cameras were rolling when the Millers handed Tammy a check for $100,000. Tammy’s first reaction: “You know I’m going to leave here and go puke, right?” After the news sunk in, she said, “I was in shock. Just absolutely shock. I mean, they have so much to rebuild already between their home and their business, and to give to my family’s… it tears at the heartstrings. Beautiful thing.” Construction vehicle tearing down a Fort Myers Beach restaurant. CREDIT: WINK News And then it happened again. Another big donation. $20,000 from a neighbor, who asked to not be identified by name. With a plan in hand, money in the bank, and a community behind them, Tammy is ready to build a new foundation. A Man with a Plan Series FORT MYERS BEACH The future of Fort Myers Beach: The man with a plan Many of you closely follow what’s happening on Fort Myers Beach, especially if you live or work there. Decisions made now and in the near future about how to rebuild will impact everyone with a stake on this island. “I’m sorry for being so emotional,” says Fort Myers Beach resident William Dean Simmons. It isn’t […] FORT MYERS BEACH The future of Fort Myers Beach: The personal side of progress It’s been just over three months since Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida. For some in Fort Myers Beach, the aftermath has been the most challenging time of their lives. WINK News is profiling the rebuild of the barrier island town through the eyes and experiences of a local builder. In part one of the series, […] FORT MYERS BEACH The time has come: ‘Man with a plan’ to replace Fort Myers Beach clock lost during Hurricane Ian An iconic piece of Fort Myers Beach lost in Hurricane Ian will be replaced. We’re talking about the big blue clock. In our special series “A Man With a Plan,” WINK news investigative reporter Céline McArthur sits down with the beach builder behind the project to get the story. The last thing this man has […] FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach man to build $350k home for Hurricane Ian victims Can the character of pre-Hurricane Ian Fort Myers Beach be saved? In our special series, “A Man With a Plan,” we’re profiling the rebuild of the barrier island town through the eyes and experiences of a local builder. He says the answer is yes—one family at a time.
FORT MYERS BEACH The future of Fort Myers Beach: The man with a plan Many of you closely follow what’s happening on Fort Myers Beach, especially if you live or work there. Decisions made now and in the near future about how to rebuild will impact everyone with a stake on this island. “I’m sorry for being so emotional,” says Fort Myers Beach resident William Dean Simmons. It isn’t […]
FORT MYERS BEACH The future of Fort Myers Beach: The personal side of progress It’s been just over three months since Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida. For some in Fort Myers Beach, the aftermath has been the most challenging time of their lives. WINK News is profiling the rebuild of the barrier island town through the eyes and experiences of a local builder. In part one of the series, […]
FORT MYERS BEACH The time has come: ‘Man with a plan’ to replace Fort Myers Beach clock lost during Hurricane Ian An iconic piece of Fort Myers Beach lost in Hurricane Ian will be replaced. We’re talking about the big blue clock. In our special series “A Man With a Plan,” WINK news investigative reporter Céline McArthur sits down with the beach builder behind the project to get the story. The last thing this man has […]
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach man to build $350k home for Hurricane Ian victims Can the character of pre-Hurricane Ian Fort Myers Beach be saved? In our special series, “A Man With a Plan,” we’re profiling the rebuild of the barrier island town through the eyes and experiences of a local builder. He says the answer is yes—one family at a time.