NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
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.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
lehigh acres LCSO: Lehigh Acres shooting investigation underway The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
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.
Barry Schmalbach (Credit: Cape Coral Police Department) 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.