Dead manatee found on Big Hickory Island; FWC conducts autopsyJunior Achievement of SWFL inducts 4 into Hall of Fame
BONITA SPRINGS Dead manatee found on Big Hickory Island; FWC conducts autopsy The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is conducting an autopsy on a manatee that washed ashore on Big Hickory Island.
Junior Achievement of SWFL inducts 4 into Hall of Fame A who’s who of the local business community celebrated four regional leaders March 25 at Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s annual banquet honoring this year’s Business Hall of Fame inductees.
fort myers beach Fort Myers Beach to implement temporary emergency traffic measure to assist EMS response The Town of Fort Myers Beach and the FMB Fire District have implemented a temporary emergency measure due to response time concerns with first responders and traffic.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County woman out on bond arrested again for drug trafficking, possession The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman who allegedly violated her bond as she was caught trafficking and possessing several forms of drugs.
FORT MYERS Florida Southwestern State College to hold free Spring Concert series Florida Southwestern State College is set to hold a series of free concerts throughout April.
the weather authority Mostly sunny, warmer for your Wednesday afternoon plans The Weather Authority is tracking mostly sunny conditions, bringing warmer temperatures throughout this Wednesday.
Collier County teen injured in violent parking lot incident A teenager is fighting for his life after a violent confrontation in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers recycling facilty catches fire; smoke visible for miles Thick smoke erupted from a Fort Myers recycling facility on Tuesday evening as flames tore through the building.
ROTONDA Rotonda residents worry as legal battle over bridge closure heats up Charlotte County is gearing up for a legal battle over the Rotonda Bridge, which has been closed since Hurricane Ian.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers’ Howard Sapp seeks to break GOP hold in district 19 race Howard Sapp has announced his candidacy to represent Southwest Florida in Washington, D.C. Sapp, a Democrat, aims to succeed Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who is running for governor of Florida.
FORT MYERS Laser lockup: Teen arrested for pointing laser at LCSO aviation unit A Lee County teenager has been arrested for pointing a laser at an aircraft, a dangerous act that poses significant risks to aviation safety.
Southwest Florida Collier clinic lease fight leaves families fearing healthcare loss A legal battle is unfolding in Collier County as Lee Health Systems takes on Nicklaus Children’s Hospital over a lease dispute
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach FEMA probation could end sooner than expected Fort Myers Beach may soon see relief from high flood insurance bills. The town lost its FEMA flood insurance discount last fall and was placed on probation, putting homeowners at risk of higher costs.
ESTERO FGCU and UMASS working on environmental projects A new partnership between Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of Massachusetts Lowell is set to drive long-term improvements in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel Island’s Lighthouse Beach shines after restoration, visitors thrilled Lighthouse Beach Park on Sanibel Island has completed the final phase of its beach renourishment project.
BONITA SPRINGS Dead manatee found on Big Hickory Island; FWC conducts autopsy The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is conducting an autopsy on a manatee that washed ashore on Big Hickory Island.
Junior Achievement of SWFL inducts 4 into Hall of Fame A who’s who of the local business community celebrated four regional leaders March 25 at Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s annual banquet honoring this year’s Business Hall of Fame inductees.
fort myers beach Fort Myers Beach to implement temporary emergency traffic measure to assist EMS response The Town of Fort Myers Beach and the FMB Fire District have implemented a temporary emergency measure due to response time concerns with first responders and traffic.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County woman out on bond arrested again for drug trafficking, possession The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman who allegedly violated her bond as she was caught trafficking and possessing several forms of drugs.
FORT MYERS Florida Southwestern State College to hold free Spring Concert series Florida Southwestern State College is set to hold a series of free concerts throughout April.
the weather authority Mostly sunny, warmer for your Wednesday afternoon plans The Weather Authority is tracking mostly sunny conditions, bringing warmer temperatures throughout this Wednesday.
Collier County teen injured in violent parking lot incident A teenager is fighting for his life after a violent confrontation in Collier County.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers recycling facilty catches fire; smoke visible for miles Thick smoke erupted from a Fort Myers recycling facility on Tuesday evening as flames tore through the building.
ROTONDA Rotonda residents worry as legal battle over bridge closure heats up Charlotte County is gearing up for a legal battle over the Rotonda Bridge, which has been closed since Hurricane Ian.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers’ Howard Sapp seeks to break GOP hold in district 19 race Howard Sapp has announced his candidacy to represent Southwest Florida in Washington, D.C. Sapp, a Democrat, aims to succeed Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who is running for governor of Florida.
FORT MYERS Laser lockup: Teen arrested for pointing laser at LCSO aviation unit A Lee County teenager has been arrested for pointing a laser at an aircraft, a dangerous act that poses significant risks to aviation safety.
Southwest Florida Collier clinic lease fight leaves families fearing healthcare loss A legal battle is unfolding in Collier County as Lee Health Systems takes on Nicklaus Children’s Hospital over a lease dispute
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach FEMA probation could end sooner than expected Fort Myers Beach may soon see relief from high flood insurance bills. The town lost its FEMA flood insurance discount last fall and was placed on probation, putting homeowners at risk of higher costs.
ESTERO FGCU and UMASS working on environmental projects A new partnership between Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of Massachusetts Lowell is set to drive long-term improvements in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel Island’s Lighthouse Beach shines after restoration, visitors thrilled Lighthouse Beach Park on Sanibel Island has completed the final phase of its beach renourishment project.
Charlotte Harbor homeowners are cleaning up the mess left behind after a truck crashed into their home. Around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, a car traveling around a band known to the locals as “Dead Man’s Curve” on Harborview Road crashed into the residence. The homeowners, Stephanie Lawerence and Tracy Hoffman, told WINK News that they are not surprised something like this happened in their neighborhood. “I woke up to what sounded like a small crash in my home, I sent [Tracy] out thinking that something fell, or maybe somebody was in the house,” said Lawerence. “He opens the door to the utility room and sees our car in the utility room and then comes out the front door and sees a red truck upside down.” READ MORE: Car crashes into Charlotte Harbor home The driver of the truck, 39-year-old Justin Lee Pullen was visibly drunk behind the wheel of the car. said Hoffman. His interaction with Hoffman after the crash left the homeowners fuming. “He climbed out of the truck with a cigarette in his mouth and asked me if I had a light,” said Hoffman, “[I was] really mad. Someone just destroyed my life in the middle of the night while I was sleeping.” Pullen now faces charges of DUI property damage. Lawerence said the crash nearly killed them, and it’s only a matter of time before something like this happens again in their neighborhood. “We live on what they call ‘Dead Man’s Curve,’ and there are accidents out here several times a year, a couple of fatalities, and a motorcyclist [who] lost his leg,” said Hoffman. Hoffman said that having cars in their front lawn seems like a regular occurrence these days. With the county’s plans for road expansion, the homeowners are worried that the next time something like this happens, they won’t be so lucky. The new road will only be 10 feet away from their bedroom window. “It’s a matter of when, not if it’s going to happen,” said Lawerence. “It’s something that’s on my mind every day when I come home.” The homeowners said a renovation company has helped to board up the damage, but they now face thousands of dollars in damage and repairs to get their home fixed. Pullen has since bonded out of jail on $1,000 bond.