ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
FWC pushing to protect Florida’s endangered manatees Florida Fish and Wildlife is pushing to protect endangered manatees. One danger that animals face is when boats bash into them, leaving deep scars across their backs.
FORT MYERS The Fort Myers Fire Department looks towards new year Fighting fires is always top of mind for the Fort Myers Fire Department. The Fort Myers Fire Department leads the way when it comes to protecting your property when a fire breaks out.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA One step closer to decision on South Seas building density After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
FWC pushing to protect Florida’s endangered manatees Florida Fish and Wildlife is pushing to protect endangered manatees. One danger that animals face is when boats bash into them, leaving deep scars across their backs.
FORT MYERS The Fort Myers Fire Department looks towards new year Fighting fires is always top of mind for the Fort Myers Fire Department. The Fort Myers Fire Department leads the way when it comes to protecting your property when a fire breaks out.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA One step closer to decision on South Seas building density After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Punta Gorda City Council searches for new home Punta Gorda City Council sought a temporary solution when it was unable to meet Jan. 9 at the Military Heritage Museum because elevators weren’t working, which would have been a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
When Larry Gary got his first head coaching job in 1994, being the first Black head football coach in Lee County wasn’t even on his mind. “It didn’t dawn on me. I just was thinking I was ready to be a head football coach, taking on the challenge,” said Larry Gary, the first Black head football coach in Lee County. Gary took over the Lehigh Lightning football program 30 years ago. His success as a head coach paved the way for future Black coaches in southwest Florida. “I’m so proud that they have taken the opportunity to just say I can do it, and let’s see what the challenges are,” said Gary. Gary retired as head coach at Cape Coral in 2017. He didn’t stay off the gridiron long. In 2022, Gary came out of retirement to mentor a former player who wanted to become a head coach. Isaac Harvin played under Gary at Cypress Lake before he graduated from Cape Coral as a standout defensive back in 1995. “Coach Harvin was so talented. We did more cheering and rooting him on than coaching him. He was like Forrest Gump: just run, Forrest, run. He had speed to burn,” said Gary. Harvin played at Kansas State before returning to Lee County to coach. He didn’t plan on doing anything more than assistant coaching, but when his alma mater needed a leader, he put his name in the hat. “They said, ‘We got a good idea. Why don’t you let Gary mentor you for two years and see how you do since you’ve never been a head coach and see how it goes, and he’s gonna pretty much let you run the operation,'” said Harvin. For Harvin, the opportunity to learn hands-on from one of his mentors was a no-brainer. “I’ve got three sisters, a handful of nephews and nieces. He has been in all our lives and has coached all of us, which is crazy, so he’s like my uncle, mentor, brother, all that… I was like, man, let’s do it. Here we go,” said Harvin. After two seasons as interim and associate head coach, Harvin is officially at the helm of the Seahawks. Gary is confident that Harvin is ready. “I’m very proud of him, and we’ve talked before this came about, and I said your only enemy is you. If you want to do something, you have to go out there and do it,” said Gary. And that’s exactly what Harvin did. “At first, I was denying myself, always saying I don’t want to be a head coach. I’m just going to be an assistant cause there’s too many problems, too many things you have to deal with. But now that I’m taking this challenge on, it’s making me feel so proud of myself for stepping out there in faith,” said Harvin. That’s the message Gary has worked to instill in every player he has coached: take on the challenge. Coach Gary isn’t going too far from the gridiron. He will stay on staff as a physical education teacher at Cape Coral.