FGCU softball senior balances EMT training and Regional playHomes For Our Troops grants veteran new home
PUNTA GORDA The Weather Authority helps you prepare for the hurricane season at the 2024 Charlotte County Hurricane Expo With hurricane season less than two weeks away, it’s important to start preparing.
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball senior balances EMT training and Regional play Ahead of NCAA Regional play, FGCU senior outfielder Riley Oakes started EMT training as she works toward being a trauma surgeon.
PUNTA GORDA Homes For Our Troops grants veteran new home Through all the cheers and a community-wide escort, it’s a ‘welcome to your forever home for army sergeant veteran Brandon Rethmel and his family.
ALVA Three dead in triple drowning near the Franklin Lock in Olga The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is responding to a scene of a water rescue where three people were recovered.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Beat the Heat: Stay safe during extreme weather The Weather Authority has issued a heat advisory for portions of South, Southeast, and Southwest Florida from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
FORT MYERS Leaders discuss possibility of shutting down Caloosahatchee Bridge Should residents endure two years of partial lane closures, or fully shut the Caloosahatchee bridge down for 10 weeks?
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball parents cherish NCAA Tournament experience The parents of the FGCU softball team are relishing seeing their daughters play in the NCAA Tournament.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: Hot, hot, hot Heat advisory in place for Saturday until 8 p.m.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers teen finds dead body in bed of his truck A 16-year-old in Fort Myers drove to school, drove home, drove to the barbershop and back home again. Then, he noticed a swarm of flies in the back of his truck.
Scottie Scheffler facing felony charges; local attorney reacts The attorney we spoke with told us that, at a minimum, we’d spend the night in jail before having our first appearance and getting bail.
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball falls to No. 4 Florida in NCAA Tournament The FGCU softball team couldn’t keep up with the No. 4 Florida Gators as the Eagles drop their first Regional game 6-0 to the Gators.
Summer Safety: Swim safety tips to know before the summer The pool is warming up to be the hot spot for kids and families this summer. It’s now also the number one leading cause of drowning deaths for children ages 1-4 in the state.
FORT MYERS BEACH ‘The Whale’ restaurant to break ground on new building The Whale is a place that has shown great strength and determination.
COLLIER COUNTY Endangered Florida panther deaths surpass 2023 total in 5 months It’s taken wildlife officials just over five and a half months to report finding more dead endangered Florida panthers than in all of 2023.
FORT MYERS FMPD honors 7 officers and 2 K-9s who died in the line of duty dating back to 1930 Nine lives were given, and all nine will remain remembered. A lifetime of gratitude for the fallen officers.
PUNTA GORDA The Weather Authority helps you prepare for the hurricane season at the 2024 Charlotte County Hurricane Expo With hurricane season less than two weeks away, it’s important to start preparing.
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball senior balances EMT training and Regional play Ahead of NCAA Regional play, FGCU senior outfielder Riley Oakes started EMT training as she works toward being a trauma surgeon.
PUNTA GORDA Homes For Our Troops grants veteran new home Through all the cheers and a community-wide escort, it’s a ‘welcome to your forever home for army sergeant veteran Brandon Rethmel and his family.
ALVA Three dead in triple drowning near the Franklin Lock in Olga The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is responding to a scene of a water rescue where three people were recovered.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Beat the Heat: Stay safe during extreme weather The Weather Authority has issued a heat advisory for portions of South, Southeast, and Southwest Florida from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
FORT MYERS Leaders discuss possibility of shutting down Caloosahatchee Bridge Should residents endure two years of partial lane closures, or fully shut the Caloosahatchee bridge down for 10 weeks?
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball parents cherish NCAA Tournament experience The parents of the FGCU softball team are relishing seeing their daughters play in the NCAA Tournament.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: Hot, hot, hot Heat advisory in place for Saturday until 8 p.m.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers teen finds dead body in bed of his truck A 16-year-old in Fort Myers drove to school, drove home, drove to the barbershop and back home again. Then, he noticed a swarm of flies in the back of his truck.
Scottie Scheffler facing felony charges; local attorney reacts The attorney we spoke with told us that, at a minimum, we’d spend the night in jail before having our first appearance and getting bail.
GAINESVILLE FGCU softball falls to No. 4 Florida in NCAA Tournament The FGCU softball team couldn’t keep up with the No. 4 Florida Gators as the Eagles drop their first Regional game 6-0 to the Gators.
Summer Safety: Swim safety tips to know before the summer The pool is warming up to be the hot spot for kids and families this summer. It’s now also the number one leading cause of drowning deaths for children ages 1-4 in the state.
FORT MYERS BEACH ‘The Whale’ restaurant to break ground on new building The Whale is a place that has shown great strength and determination.
COLLIER COUNTY Endangered Florida panther deaths surpass 2023 total in 5 months It’s taken wildlife officials just over five and a half months to report finding more dead endangered Florida panthers than in all of 2023.
FORT MYERS FMPD honors 7 officers and 2 K-9s who died in the line of duty dating back to 1930 Nine lives were given, and all nine will remain remembered. A lifetime of gratitude for the fallen officers.
The community remains in suspense as 56-year-old Barry Schmalbach has been missing for several months without any breakthroughs in the case. Schmalbach vanished in July, and the silence surrounding his disappearance has left friends and family desperate for answers. A feeling of hopelessness Miguel Blanco, one of Schmalbach’s best friends, expressed his gratitude to those who assisted in the search but conveyed a sense of hopelessness, texting, “Thank you to everyone that helped, but I no longer feel hopeful.” Blanco, finding it too difficult to speak out at this time, declined an interview. Similarly, Schmalbach’s half-sister, Emily Scaletta, who was vocal after Barry’s disappearance, is currently unresponsive to calls and texts. Few clues According to a missing person’s report, Schmalbach’s live-in boyfriend of two months, Christopher Davis, claims he last saw Schmalbach getting into an Uber or another vehicle on July 19. Since then, no communication has been received from Schmalbach. Cape Coral Police Department detectives, treating Schmalbach’s disappearance as suspicious and potentially involving foul play, conducted an extensive search of his home on Beach Parkway for any leads. While the police have not officially labeled Davis as a person of interest, he was arrested by Cape Coral police for out-of-state warrants related to parole violations. Davis, the last person to see Schmalbach, is now incarcerated at the Kirkland Correctional Center in South Carolina, serving a 5-year sentence after a judge revoked Davis’ probation. Experts weigh in Dr. Dave Thomas, a professor and former police officer and FGCU professor of justice studies, spoke with WINK News. “Hypothetically, if Christopher Davis were a person of interest in the Barry Schwalbach case, this could give detectives time to work the case here, right?” asked WINK News anchor Emma Heaton. “It would give them plenty of time to work the case and to see whatever evidence they can come up with,” said Thomas. Despite Cape police remaining tight-lipped due to the ongoing investigation, Mercedes Phillips, CCPD spokeswoman, confirmed that officers are actively investigating and assembling different pieces of information. “In the Barry Schmalbach case, officers are still actively investigating. We’re kind of putting different pieces together, but there’s still not anything we’re ready to go on a release yet,” said Phillips. When asked about the family’s cooperation, Phillips stated, “Yeah, we’re still in touch with them. They’re still up-to-date with where our investigation is at and what’s going on, and they’re very understanding with everything.” Could the case go cold? “There’s not a direct answer for that,” responded Phillips about the possibility of the case going cold. “We still have different pieces of information that we’re putting together. It’s not cold at this point in time. Just between all the different aspects of the investigation that we’re compiling, eventually there probably will be something to come out of it.” Phillips refrained from answering specific questions about Davis’ incarceration, potential obstacles in the investigation or details about the case, citing the need to protect the ongoing investigation. If you have any information that could assist detectives in solving this case, please contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8477. You can also submit tips online or on the P3 Tips mobile app. Remember, you can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward.