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.
Stop signs on side of bus CREDIT WINK News Imagine your child’s school bus stop being located at the home of a registered sex offender. This scenario has become a reality for one mother who reached out to WINK News for help. The mother, who wants to remain anonymous for her safety, said her child’s designated bus stop on Fordham St. in Fort Myers happens to share an address with a registered sex offender. WINK News later verified her claim through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s online registry. Ultimately, the mother is urging Lee County Schools to take action. Her plea is clear: move the bus stop further along the road to prioritize the well-being of her child and others. She mentioned that the registered sex offender consistently appears when the children gather at the bus stop in the morning and afternoon. She said she reached out to the district, but wasn’t satisfied with their response. Fordham St. CREDIT WINK News According to mom, here’s what the director of Transportation Services for the South Zone told her via email. “I appreciate you bringing this matter to my attention. We have examined your request. We are required to relocate stops for violent sexual predators, not sex offenders. Our routers often check addresses with Dept. of Corrections when they are placing released predators for the 1,000 feet compliance. We are unable to process your request.” WINK News also reached out to Lee County Schools, and obtained additional information that could be alarming to parents along Fordham St. “We are not required to move bus stops for sexual offenders. The number of sexual offenders in this neighborhood does not allow us to move this stop to a location more than 1,000 feet from one of their homes. We are only required to move stops for violent sexual predators, and there are only three of those in Lee County. As a reminder, parents are responsible for the safety of their children until they board the bus in the morning and once they get off the bus in the afternoon.” In Florida, there is not a law that prevents “released” sexual offenders or predators from living near places like bus stops, schools, playgrounds, or daycares. However, there is a statute, Florida Statute 775.215, entitled, “Residency restriction for persons convicted of certain sex offenses,” which directs, in part, that certain individuals convicted of certain sexual crimes cannot reside within 1,000 feet of any school, day care center, park, or playground. For additional details, please see Florida Statute 775.215. In this instance, the statute could apply to the bus stop on Fordham St. where the registered sex offender lives. Records indicate he was convicted of indecent assault and battery on a person aged fourteen or older, which typically involves inappropriate physical contact. However, since we lack information about the exact crime and child’s age, it’s not clear whether the sex offender is breaking the 1,000-feet rule. Sexual offenders or predators who are still serving sanctions, such as probation, parole, or community control under the Florida Department of Corrections, are required to follow the “Conditions of Supervision” as ordered by a judge in accordance with Florida Statute. Additionally, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, there may be municipal and/or county ordinances in your area regarding certain sexual offenders/predators which may restrict where they reside or live. At the end of the day, mom said she isn’t concerned about the legalities. She simply doesn’t want her child, or any others, near this sex offender on a daily basis. She wants Lee County Schools to help find a solution. Mother also told WINK News that the sex offender boarded the school bus recently. However, a representative with Lee County Schools told us that no unauthorized person has boarded a bus at this stop.