33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee CountyCool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
Wisner Desmaret in court. CREDIT: WINK News The trial for the man accused of killing a Fort Myers Police Officer is undoubtedly unique in how it’s going. In the death penalty trial, Wisner Desmaret is defending himself, but that’s only one of the factors making this trial unique. Shellie Desmaret told WINK News she is watching her brother fall apart before her eyes. She believes Desmaret, her brother, is not competent and shouldn’t be representing himself. Jury selection is over, and Desmaret will be going to court on Monday for opening statements. Shellie is concerned things will only get worse going forward. “Just the history of his mental illness charts. Like it’s 1000s of pages. And so reading like this didn’t just start now it’s been going on since he was younger. From the juvenile cases like, like, this is not a yesterday thing,” Shellie said. “It’s like watching a clown in the circus,” Shellie said. over four days of jury selection, Desmaret’s comments echoed through the courtroom. “That is a man in women’s clothing,” Desmaret said, referring to Amira Fox, the state attorney. “I’m being prosecuted by a transgender,” Desmaret said. And confusion about what is happening in the courtroom. “Why is we having preliminary hearing and we at trial,” Desmaret asked. Desmaret went on to ask prospective jurors questions. “So did the state pay you to come here,” Desmaret asked. “Do you have a preference gender like if somebody straight or something?” Then deciding to take a different approach, Desmaret goes silent. “I’m the listener; I’m just listening,” Desmaret said. Thursday WINK News watched as Desmaret let the state have full control over choosing the jury panel that will decide first if he is guilty or not of shooting Adam Jobbers-Miller, an FMPD officer in the head in 2018. Then, if found guilty, the jury will decide if Desmaret should be sentenced to death for the crime. “I’m just chilling right now to see what the state got goin’ on,” Desmaret said. Judge Robert Branning found Desmaret competent to act as his own attorney, despite his history of mental illness. “They know the state and the judge can clearly see that he’s not competent to represent himself like, just again like I was saying like the history of our brothers previous cases, like, you guys know the history. Why would you guys give someone the okay to represent themselves knowing the history of this person? It’s just not making sense,” Shellie said. Shellie told WINK News that the decision needs to be revisited. “You see it right in front of your eyes like you can see talking to someone that doesn’t comprehend, I don’t feel like he’s able to represent himself. He can’t defend himself in the proper way,” Shellie said. Shellie told WINK News, Desmaret’s unpredictability we’ve seen in the courtroom is what her family would regularly see. “We have, you know, conversations where he may seem okay, the next conversation like he’s talking some like off the chart stuff like he, he’s not here,” Shellie said. Shellie Desmaret told WINK News she hopes the judge has a change of heart and appoints an attorney to represent her brother.