12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidaysFort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
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.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
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.
CREDIT: WINK NEWS Trouble and concern rise over the tower at Page Field. On Tuesday, WINK News told you Congressman Byron Donalds sent a letter to federal authorities about the air traffic control tower at Page Field. Donalds said it’s outdated and needs to be modernized. RELATED: U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds calls on FAA to modernize “the antiquated Air Traffic Control Tower at Page Field” Donalds told WINK News exclusively that he sent his letter as a precaution and warns that if the FAA fails to take action, he fears the worst could happen here at Page Field. Donalds said he fears there are insufficient air traffic controllers at Page Field. “We know we have a shortage of air traffic controllers. That shortage has not been met by the FAA,” he said. Donalds sent a letter to the FAA administrator on Tuesday. He wrote, “Oftentimes, the tower [at Page Field] only has one controller handling all tower operations,” and that “around the country, air traffic control towers are generally operated by three individuals.” In the interview on Wednesday, Donalds doubled down. He said anything and everything that could affect the safety of people who live near fly in or out of Page Field must be addressed and fast. “I don’t think I want to classify it as a clear and present danger. It’s not that high, but look, if you see that there’s leaks, you want to make sure you take care of them before you have a real problem,” he said. Donalds said that aviation companies, aircraft owners, and people who live near Page Field had asked him for help. “What kind of evidence do they show to you that kind of prompted you to send this?” asked WINK News reporter Claire Galt. “They’re being essentially shut out from being able to use Page Field. That’s a concern. Blackout periods, if it’s a matter of staffing, then the FAA has a responsibility to answer that,” he said. When does the congressman expect the FAA to answer him? “I don’t think it’s going to be today or tomorrow. It might take them a week or two. My hope is that they just go ahead and investigate, but you can never predict what the what the federal agency is going to do,” he said. In addition to adding more air traffic controllers, Donalds wants the FAA to rebuild the tower with all the bells and whistles. WINK also met with the CEO of the National Flight Training Alliance, Lee Collins, who wants action taken. Last year, the FAA identified 23 of the most serious types of close calls, and he said many of these problems led to near misses we see here at Page Field. Collins flew into Page Field two weeks ago at the busiest time to see what’s changed in eleven years. “What I heard was, yeah, we have got to get some stuff straightened out,” Collins said. Collins said air traffic control is no easy job, especially when you’re the only one in the tower, which is the case at page field. “And then they get all fouled up that communication. What’s happening on those other two frequencies in a minute and a half or two minutes when you’ve got airplanes going 160 miles an hour and 180 miles an hour or 90 miles an hour,” he said. Collins said the solution is getting more help. “For more than a year and a half, they have had a request to the FAA for an additional position and additional employee to take it to a total of six right now,” he said. Currently, they’re at five with no answer from the FAA at this time, and add in the outdated tower that was built in the 1970s and has the technology to match.