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.
New sand berm on Fort Myers Beach. CREDIT: WINK News Our beaches are getting rebuilt after Hurricane Ian damaged or destroyed them. As the rebuilding progresses, there are worries that people with disabilities are getting forgotten. WINK News spoke with Sue Haynes and her sister Jasmine Haynes after their home floated away during Hurricane Ian. They’re rebuilding it themselves because of how much they love the island and nearby beaches. Although, with the new sand berm, Sue suddenly feels much farther away. Since moving to Fort Myers Beach, Sue has done the same thing almost every day. Before Hurricane Ian took her home, it was a mere three lots down from the nearest beach access. “I just go straight across, or well, we go down Connecticut, excuse me — that access just right there, takes two seconds,” Sue said. It used to be a disability access point. “I had a stroke six years ago and lost mobility in my left side. I mean, I can do some things, but that’s why I’m on the trike: to get around. I mean, I drive a little bit, but that’s too… you know… how people walk down there, and I can’t do it,” Sue said. However, the area is blocked because of a sand berm about three feet high, and if Sue tries to scale the berm, she gets stuck. Sue Haynes stuck at the top of the sand berm. CREDIT: WINK News “You get stuck up there. It’s scary is what it is, but you know it was like, ‘Oh, just go fast, you know’… Yeah, you can’t really get over it,” Sue said. That is unless she has someone to push her over the top of the berm. For Sue, this is tantamount to a loss of freedom and autonomy. “I’m limited on what I can do and stuff,” Sue noted. A good Samaritan pushing Sue the rest of the way over the sand berm. CREDIT: WINK News A representative with Fort Myers Beach sent WINK News a statement regarding the access points. “You might not be aware that many beach accesses were ADA accessible before Ian … The plan is that, once the berm and the renourishment projects are done, the beach accesses will be restored as close as possible to what they were before Ian damaged them. You can read about the berm and renourishment projects at www.fmbgov.com/beach,” Jennifer Dexter, the communications coordinator for the Town of Fort Myers Beach, said. They also sent a list of ADA access points, shown below, on the island before Hurricane Ian. The town plans to restore the ones that have been damaged. Beach-AccessesDownload Sue would like this problem solved sooner rather than later. “They have to leave access to people, you know, maybe a couple of feet or something here and there,” Sue said. WINK News searched for the nearest public beach access point from Sue’s house that was not blocked by the sand berm. After a 17-minute walk, we found it. Sue said she would keep riding through a private lot. She isn’t totally comfortable about doing so, but a 17-minute trudge is a bit too much.