ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
One of five finalists for Lee County Officer of the Year is a deputy who was thrown into the worst kind of violence before she had even finished training. Deputy Michelle Wilson has only been with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for a little more than a year. “That’s incredible,” Wilson said after learning she had been nominated. “Let’s just say I’ve learned about and experienced a lot more than people have ever done in their career.” Wilson received a sobering experience while still learning from a field training officer, before she even got her own patrol vehicle. “My first day on FTO, which is our training, I experienced watching my FTO in a very violent situation, a very bad situation with a not-so-good person,” Wilson said, “and with my training, a little bit of experience and just being a person, I had the duty to act, and I had to do what I had to do to make sure she went home to her family.” At 7:42 a.m., on Oct. 17, 2021, Wilson and her fellow deputy were searching for a robber who had just targeted a 7-Eleven in Estero. During the search, the suspect, 30-year-old Joshua Dewayne Hammock, came out from behind a building and started stabbing Wilson’s field training officer in the head and neck. Wilson shot and killed Hammock. “It was every emotion in this world you can imagine,” Wilson said. “You go through the initial shock, you freak out, you’re sad, and then you get a sense of relief because you guys go home to your family? Absolutely.” Wilson said her family life helps her process everything and keep herself in check. “I have a wonderful support group: my husband, my kids, our family,” Wilson said. “I don’t have time to think, you know. We’re always doing something. We’re busy, so it’s just, that’s what keeps me kind of going for you, so I have three girls that are 12, 9 and 7, and then I have a little boy.” Wilson said her mission is to protect her kids and others and show them how they can give back to their community in their own way. “I wanted to be there for kids,” Wilson said. “I was part of a family that was kind of broken, so I wanted to kind of assist kids and kind of fill that gap. Let them know, you know, ‘You’re not alone.’ I might be in this uniform, but I’m still human… I was born and raised in Lee County, so I just want to contribute with the awesome team that I have and keep the streets safe and clean and be a mentor in community policing—you know, it’s not always bad guys… they’re more than that.” Wilson said she feels honored to be a woman in law enforcement. Her advice to children, especially girls: If someone says no, keep trying. The Officer of the Year will be announced at this year’s Law and Order Ball, hosted at the Suncoast Arena by the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South. WINK News anchors Amanda Hall and Corey Lazar will emcee the event, and WINK is a sponsor. Those interested in attending the Law & Order Ball on June 3 can buy tickets at the event’s website.