Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMissing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres
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 Ian.
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.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
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 Ian.
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.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Damage from Hurricane Ian. CREDIT: WINK News Deborah Croquart’s bedroom in her Cape Coral home used to be the place she relaxed at the end of the day. The place that brought peace now brings the opposite. It’s stripped to nothing but concrete, wooden posts and wires hanging from the walls. “It’s kind of hard to walk into this room and I do it every night because I have to sweep up what fell from the night before or bugs whatever the case may be,” Croquart said. “I just want my life back.” Her bedroom has become a constant reminder of September 28, 2022. “That was terrifying,” Croquart remembered. “We heard this big crash so I walked through the door and the ceiling was on the bed. I thought the ceiling was going to come down on my car. We would take our car down to our friends’ and put it in their garage every time it rained.” That’s when Croquart called and filed a claim with her insurance company, Homeowners Choice Property and Casualty Insurance Company. She said the whole process has kept her on edge, especially since she’s moving her elderly mother with dementia in to care for her. “We have nowhere to put her. So, my beautiful Canadian neighbors are going to let me put her there for a bit,” said Croquart. “I’ve put a deposit on an apartment up the street, but it’s going to financially cripple us.” According to the Homeowners Choice website, they have 100,000 policyholders and growing in Florida and five other states. Croquart feels like the company and her assigned desk adjuster have been dragging their feet ever since the storm. Looking at damage from Hurricane Ian. CREDIT: WINK News “[The desk adjuster] more or less argued with me over everything right then and there. And I’m like ‘Well, wait a minute. We don’t have a ceiling. We don’t have this and the baseboard.’ She goes ‘Oh, you can put the baseboard back up and paint it.’ and I said ‘What planet are you on?!’” Croquart recalled. A field adjuster later came out to look at the damage. “I showed him everything. Well, he didn’t include half of the stuff. That’s wrong,” Croquart said. “When I had a public adjuster come and they got that bill, they’re like ‘oh no.’ They were told to come out several times. They have not. They’ve not responded or anything.” So Croquart stepped it up and hired a lawyer. “I’m so disappointed in their actions and what they have ignored, to probably other people as well, to our plight and don’t care,” added Croquart. “It’s been nothing but a nightmare. No answers back.” She’s not alone. As of March 9, 2023, data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation shows 397,966 homeowners opened Hurricane Ian claims. 77.5% of those claims are closed but 55,923 are open and have received payment, while 33,486 have not. Croquart said an insurance check came in December 2022. Credit: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation “It was for $32,000 and some change,” Croquart said with disappointed. “It wasn’t the right amount and it didn’t even say what it was for.” Croquart’s estimated cost for damages is more than $184,000. She said the $32,000 check was barely enough to fix the roof. Again, Croquart said the desk adjuster told her Homeowners Choice would not cover certain damage even though she said it’s all covered in her policy. “Numerous things like landscaping, debris cleanup,” Croquart pointed in her policy. “[The desk adjuster] said ‘Well no. We’re not responsible for that.’ That’s in there.” So she filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Financial Services. Croquart believes she’s spent more than $15,000 out of pocket to get her home back to normal. “People pay their premiums faithfully. They get a nice chuck of change annually. You do that for this very reason and then they ignore you,” Croquart added. WINK News emailed and called Homeowners Choice. Someone with the company called back a couple of days later saying they’d send another inspector out. The representative added he called Croquart’s attorney letting him know the company would be cutting another check for Croquart’s damaged contents. The total number of Hurricane Ian related Insurance claims filed is 708,255, according to the State. That includes flood and commercial property claims costing $13,937,676,794. Credit: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation If you still have issues with your insurance company after the storm, send us a tip.