Demolition begins on Bimini East propertiesMost Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for January 22, 2025
CAPE CORAL Demolition begins on Bimini East properties Demolition has begun on the Bimini East properties that are part of the City of Cape Coral’s revitalization development.
Lee County Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for January 22, 2025 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for January 22, 2025.
Charlotte County sheriff: deputy-involved shooting suspect was on 68 medications Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell has revealed new details regarding a deputy-involved shooting on Eager Road last week.
Plans for Aquarius Hotel receive final design approval in Naples A proposed 18-unit boutique hotel with a restaurant received unanimous final design approval Jan. 22 by the Naples Design Review Board.
What you need to know for FEMA transitional sheltering assistance Many in Southwest Florida are dealing with unlivable conditions after a series of hurricanes hit the area last fall.
FORT MYERS BEACH Suspect wanted for stealing electric bike in Fort Myers Beach Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who stole an electric bike in Fort Myers Beach.
Kelly’s Roast Beef, Oar & Iron continue SWFL expansion A Massachusetts-based restaurant company is bringing a taste of its home state to Southwest Florida, plus a new surf and turf concept aimed at people who call the region home.
GOLDEN GATE Investigation at Golden Gate Middle School after overnight burglary An overnight burglary at a middle school had deputies rushing to the scene, causing parents to have to wait to drop their children off.
Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann court date rescheduled Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann is set to appear in court after pleading not guilty to her drunk driving charge.
Bonita springs ‘Cold stunned’ evening bat rescued by CROW amid frigid Florida weather The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife rescued an evening bat in Bonita Springs suspected of being “cold-stunned.”
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Morning showers move out for your Wednesday afternoon plans The Weather Authority is tracking Wednesday morning showers, then chillier conditions remain throughout the afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County cousins arrested for street racing at 90 mph in Lehigh Acres Lee County deputies arrested two men after witnessing them racing down Lee Boulevard at nearly 90 mph.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers activist reacts to shutdown of government reproductive rights website The website ReproductiveRights.gov, which offered resources on abortion and reproductive rights, is no longer accessible.
2 Southwest Floridians involved in Jan. 6 attack pardoned and commuted by President Trump Two men involved in the January 6th attack are now back in southwest Florida, thanks to a series of pardons from President Trump.
CAPE CORAL Demolition begins on Bimini East properties Demolition has begun on the Bimini East properties that are part of the City of Cape Coral’s revitalization development.
Lee County Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for January 22, 2025 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for January 22, 2025.
Charlotte County sheriff: deputy-involved shooting suspect was on 68 medications Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell has revealed new details regarding a deputy-involved shooting on Eager Road last week.
Plans for Aquarius Hotel receive final design approval in Naples A proposed 18-unit boutique hotel with a restaurant received unanimous final design approval Jan. 22 by the Naples Design Review Board.
What you need to know for FEMA transitional sheltering assistance Many in Southwest Florida are dealing with unlivable conditions after a series of hurricanes hit the area last fall.
FORT MYERS BEACH Suspect wanted for stealing electric bike in Fort Myers Beach Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who stole an electric bike in Fort Myers Beach.
Kelly’s Roast Beef, Oar & Iron continue SWFL expansion A Massachusetts-based restaurant company is bringing a taste of its home state to Southwest Florida, plus a new surf and turf concept aimed at people who call the region home.
GOLDEN GATE Investigation at Golden Gate Middle School after overnight burglary An overnight burglary at a middle school had deputies rushing to the scene, causing parents to have to wait to drop their children off.
Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann court date rescheduled Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann is set to appear in court after pleading not guilty to her drunk driving charge.
Bonita springs ‘Cold stunned’ evening bat rescued by CROW amid frigid Florida weather The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife rescued an evening bat in Bonita Springs suspected of being “cold-stunned.”
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Morning showers move out for your Wednesday afternoon plans The Weather Authority is tracking Wednesday morning showers, then chillier conditions remain throughout the afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
LEHIGH ACRES Lee County cousins arrested for street racing at 90 mph in Lehigh Acres Lee County deputies arrested two men after witnessing them racing down Lee Boulevard at nearly 90 mph.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers activist reacts to shutdown of government reproductive rights website The website ReproductiveRights.gov, which offered resources on abortion and reproductive rights, is no longer accessible.
2 Southwest Floridians involved in Jan. 6 attack pardoned and commuted by President Trump Two men involved in the January 6th attack are now back in southwest Florida, thanks to a series of pardons from President Trump.
Punta Rassa Boat Ramp closed. CREDIT: WINK News Getting to places like Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach by boat was a breeze if you used the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp. However, it’s lately been used as a construction site for the Sanibel Causeway, and boaters don’t know how long it will take to finish. Since Punta Rassa is getting used this way, boaters are finding other places to put their boats in the water, mainly in Cape Coral. The problem with the other places that are used, like Rosen Park and Horton Boat Rams, is the how much more expensive they are. Moreover, the ride to Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel is much longer. A crane at the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp. CREDIT: WINK News Before Hurricane Ian, the area around the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp wasn’t surrounded by cranes, construction workers, and do not enter signs. But it has since shifted to a busy work site. “Most of the time, I’d use Punta Rassa and Sanibel. That was my place to go,” boater Sachin Handa said. The Punta Rassa Boat Ramp was once popular for boaters like Handa. And it was especially if they were going to Sanibel or Fort Myers Beach. “When I have like friends and family from out of town. They’re coming to Fort Myers first thing in their head is going to Fort Myers Beach,” Handa said. But Sachin has to use the Rosen Park Ramp in Cape Coral which makes the boat ride to the islands much longer. “Punta Rassa, you drop your boat down and you are in Sanibel, but right now from here to get to Sanibel, it takes you about like 45 to 50 minutes of boat ride,” Handa said. And that longer ride means the trip is more expensive. Cape Coral boat ramps, like Rosen Park and Horton, are not cheap for non-locals. “If you live in the cape, you can get a permit at this. And you can work at any one of these places. But seeing how I don’t live here, I have to pay every time,” boater Michael Bahr said. $15 each time to use the ramp at Horton whereas a Lee County membership to use Punta Rossa costs $60. But Sachin doesn’t mind the inconvienences and understands that recovery after Ian won’t be speedy. “It’s not like 123 and everything will be fixed. You know, it takes time,” Handa said. A Lee County government spokesperson told WINK News there are plans to reopen the Punta Rassa ramp, but becasue its a staging area for constuction crews, there is no exact timetable. WINK News reached out to the state to find out how far along the rebuild of the Sanibel Causeway is but nobody got back to us. Construction workers on the scene believe it could be as long as another year.