16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier CountyNew bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
Covered furniture in the SalusCare Crisis Stabilization Unit after it was flooded by Hurricane Ian. Credit: WINK News On Friday morning, SalusCare, a mental health and substance abuse facility in Fort Myers, is set to announce its reopening plans after suffering major damage during Hurricane Ian. SalusCare has been closed since Ian devastated the building at 10140 Deer Run Farms Road. The empty beds and closed doors mean hundreds of people are not getting the help they need. But now there is some light at the end of the tunnel: At 10 a.m., WINK News will get a tour inside the repaired facility and hear an update on its reopening plans. Hurricane Ian sent 2 feet of water flooding into the SalusCare Crisis Stabilization Unit, but the damage hurt more than just the building. Since the storm, so many people who are hurting mentally have not had SalusCare to help, and it remains one of the only mental health crisis units in Lee County. Michelle Locke remembers the nights that seemed to never end. “You don’t want to go to sleep because you don’t want to feel the guilt and shame of you know, not being there with your family, your kids. So you just struggled to stay awake and do drugs,” Locke said. Michelle said she was a slave to drugs for 20 years. “You walk the streets. you sell your body you sell your soul. It’s embarrassing. You’d be walking down 41 It’s just a horrible existence,” Locke said. Four years later, Locke smiles from her undeniably successful and happy steps forward. “I like to go to the beach. I love reading. I love working out. Watching TV, and being with my friends and family. Yeah, it’s just as simple things are what makes me happy. Now I live a very simple life,” Locke said. It’s also the place police departments take people in a mental health crisis. SalusCare receives between 500 and 600 patients monthly to evaluate through the Baker Act. But with the stabilization unit closed, the Lee Health Emergency Department, Park Royal Hospital, the David Lawrence Center, and Charlotte Behavioral Health Care have had to process and care for an increase in patients. “They were flooded with individuals needing psychiatric service. And they’re not prepared for that. It was a very quick spike a very quick increase in demand. So no, it’s not something that the community was prepared for. It’s not something that we were prepared for,” SalusCare President Stacey Cook said. Re-opening has come with challenges. With no insurance reimbursement, SalusCare used emergency reserves to start the work. WINK spoke to SalusCare in January about what was needed to get back open. “If that means borrowing money, if it means community fundraising, we’ll do that,” said Ed Kleinow, SalusCare treasurer. “I think we may have wasted too much time already waiting on the insurance company.” Cook “We’re able to stabilize an individual who is suicidal and homicidal; we’re able to link patients to services that they need in order to become well, so it’s absolutely critical,” Cook said. “It’s an important and essential component of health care, and it’s missing right now. It is a huge missing link.” The crisis stabilization unit cost over $1 million. SalusCare says it is limiting its purchases to essentials and asking for funds from the community.