Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster childrenCity of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
New ovarian cancer treatments Ovarian cancer is a problematic disease because of symptoms such as nausea, bloating and diarrhea.
Largest Lee County land deal closes, $100M for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral The most lucrative land deal in Lee County history just closed at a price of $100 million for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral, where building up to 3,500 homes and commercial property to support it has been in the planning stages for almost two years.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
New ovarian cancer treatments Ovarian cancer is a problematic disease because of symptoms such as nausea, bloating and diarrhea.
Largest Lee County land deal closes, $100M for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral The most lucrative land deal in Lee County history just closed at a price of $100 million for 1,745 acres in northwest Cape Coral, where building up to 3,500 homes and commercial property to support it has been in the planning stages for almost two years.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno talking with FBI agent. CREDIT: LCSO An attempted bank robbery turned deadly at the Bank of America near the Bell Tower Shops in Lee County. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 36-year-old Sterling Ramon Alavache was the attempted bank robbery suspect. During a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the scene, Lee County Sheriff Marceno said a SWAT sniper shot and killed the suspect while he held two hostages at knifepoint. “We tried to negotiate with him continuously,” said Lee Sheriff Carmine Marceno. “At one point of the negotiations, he became physical. He started to put one of the hostages in a headlock, and he had the knife to her throat. Attempted Bank Robbery Rundown The sheriff said deputies quickly entered the bank. “As dozens of people ran out, [deputies] began to secure all other portions of the building while simultaneously hostage negotiations began with our suspect,” said Marceno. Marceno said after the suspect entered the bank, he made a bomb threat and became physical with the hostages, at one point holding the knife to one of their throats. South Fort Myers Bank of America scene. CREDIT: Ben Stephens “SWAT team was in place,” said Marceno. “When he presented deadly force like that, our SWAT sniper shot and killed the suspect … We were in fear for her life and her safety.” Marceno said the SWAT sniper is now on routine administrative leave, as the investigation continues. Witnesses Describe Hostage Scene Marsha Brown told WINK News she was inside the Bank of America when the man ran in saying he had a bomb. “He came running in, and he was screaming, ‘I have a bomb. I have a bomb,'” said Brown. “He [the suspect] said, ‘I have a bomb, and I will use it.'” She said she was able to get out before the violent hostage situation unfolded. “He wasn’t trying to retain us at all. He just said, ‘Get out.’ and we all ran,” said Brown. “I didn’t know that he had hostages. He was young. Foolish, very foolish. No mask.” Jonathan Spellman, a man who works in the building, told WINK News what he saw. “The elevator doors opened quickly, and I saw negotiations between police and someone. I could not see, so I quickly closed the door and went back to my office,” said Spellman. Spellman explained what it sounded like he was overhearing. “Sounded like they were discussing weapons and things like that, I’m not sure, was trying to close the door so fast. [It] became apparent something was not right,” said Spellman. Brett Sands, another building employee, told WINK News a teller was among those taken hostage. “He jumped the counter, and he assumed one of the tellers,” said Sands. “He was using a box cutter or knife and was holding that against her, and that’s what we heard when the sheriff’s department gave the order to remove the culprit.” At 1 p.m., the FBI said the situation had been resolved. The LCSO Command Center and Hazardous Device Unit are still at the scene. We want to share more stories from inside that bank today. If you were there, please reach out to us at tips@winknews.com. Stay tuned to WINKNews.com, WINK News App, streaming, and on air for any new developments on this story.