Road rage leads to gunfire near US 41 bridge in Punta GordaWarm, breezy day with evening rain ahead of a slight cold front
PUNTA GORDA Road rage leads to gunfire near US 41 bridge in Punta Gorda A road rage incident near the Gilchrist Bridge in Punta Gorda led to shots being fired, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
the weather authority Warm, breezy day with evening rain ahead of a slight cold front The Weather Authority says Sunday is starting off warm across Southwest Florida with overnight lows in the upper 60s and 70s, staying warm throughout the day before a cold front sweeps south later this evening.
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PUNTA GORDA Road rage leads to gunfire near US 41 bridge in Punta Gorda A road rage incident near the Gilchrist Bridge in Punta Gorda led to shots being fired, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
the weather authority Warm, breezy day with evening rain ahead of a slight cold front The Weather Authority says Sunday is starting off warm across Southwest Florida with overnight lows in the upper 60s and 70s, staying warm throughout the day before a cold front sweeps south later this evening.
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
‘I’ll be back’ sign for The Whale on Fort Myers Beach. (Credit: WINK News) Hurricane Ian left in its wake the complete destruction and isolation of buildings and homes in our area. But its people make Southwest Florida, and we will be stronger through the process of coming back. Thursday night was another Resilient Lee meeting on Fort Myers Beach to discuss using hurricane funds. Resiliency is apparent as some restaurants return after losing everything during the storm. Liki Tiki BBQ was getting ready to celebrate its fourth year on Fort Myers Beach, but then Hurricane Ian changed everything. They lost everything, but this week they held their soft reopening at a new location. Customers told WINK News it’s a sign of progress in an area that still needs a lot of help. And Thursday night WINK News learned how your voice can make a difference in determining the financial help coming to Lee County. More than seven months after Hurricane Ian, the Liki Tiki BBQ is welcoming back familiar faces at a new location. “It was very emotional. I mean, we saw some people that, you know, we didn’t know if we were ever going to see them again,” Kristian Stojkoski, the general manager of Liki Tiki BBQ, said. Former Regulars are happy to support the business’s return. “I think the small businesses really need help. And they need support,” Liki Tiki BBQ customers Bob and Sharon said. Even Fort Myers Beach icons, like The Whale, are reopening, even if they’re unrecognizable. “I know businesses need help, but I mean, there are no businesses without people living here. And to me, it’s the homeowners. The homeowners need the help,” The Whale owner, Mike Miller, said. The Whale is able to serve customers again thanks to the help of a local food truck owner. But still, they recognize there are many unmet needs. “The hidden need is going to be your workers, your people that take care of your restaurants, that take care of your hotels, that do all the labor. There’s nowhere for them to live down here. There’s no affordable housing for them to live down here,” Marshall Barnhart, a food truck owner, said. That’s where the Resilient Lee Recovery Task Force comes into play. Through federal funding, the task force has access to over $1,000,000,000 to help Lee County recover. “This grant is the funding of last resort, so all the unmet needs of a community can be addressed with this funding,” Fort Myers Beach Town Council Member Bill Veach said. And every voice, including yours, matters. During a series of town hall meetings, your input will have a direct impact on how the money is spent. “They’re the final voice. There are some things they may suggest that are not feasible with all the different angles of funding, but we want to hear what’s important to them,” Veach said. There are still more than a dozen town hall meetings that will happen. They are in-person and online and at different locations throughout the county. As for the Liki Tiki BBQ, their grand re-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held next Tuesday. Click here for more information about the Resilient Lee Task Force. You can watch Thursday’s meeting here.