ENGLEWOOD Indian Mound Park left in ruins, residents look to rebuild People living in Englewood’s Indian Mound Park community are cleaning up what’s left of their homes.
CLEWISTON Two arrested in Clewiston teen’s murder Two people are in jail Tuesday night for the murder of 16-year-old Ja’yhanna Johnson.
FORT MYERS NWS surveys tornado damage as Lee County residents share their loss The National Weather Service got a firsthand look at what people in one Lee County neighborhood have been dealing with for a week.
NAPLES Naples stormwater project to reduce street flooding The project aims to improve water quality and reduce flooding in city streets that often experience heavy rainfall.
CAPTIVA How the South Seas Resort in Captiva is recovering after Milton At the South Seas Resort in Captiva, dozens of crews are working hard to restore power, remove trees and clear roads.
TWIN PALMS Twin Palm’s tornado was the strongest tornado ever recorded in southwest Florida A tornado from Hurricane Milton left a Glades County community in pieces. WINK News has confirmed that the tornado that hit the Twin Lakes Resort was the strongest tornado ever recorded in southwest Florida, according to the National Weather Service.
FORT MYERS BEACH Harry Chapin Food Bank on Fort Myers Beach after Milton People on Fort Myers Beach were feeling the love on Tuesday. Harry Chapin Food Bank set up a distribution site on the island.
IMMOKALEE Collier County woman arrested for shooting another woman in the face A woman has been arrested in Collier County after shooting another woman in the face, killing her.
FGCU FGCU athletic director speaks exclusively on House v. NCAA settlement FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis spoke exclusively with WINK News about how the House v. NCAA settlement impacts the athletic department.
MANASOTA KEY Residents let back onto south side of Manasota Key WINK News is getting a look at the south side of Manasota Key for the first time since Hurricane Milton.
BOCA GRANDE LCSO tours damage on Boca Grande after Milton An island community was almost completely underwater after Hurricane Milton.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda reels from destruction, clings to hope The community of Riverside Drive in Punta Gorda was hit hard and mangled by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
CAPE CORAL Police searching for pair suspected of gift card fraud in Cape Coral and Fort Myers The Cape Coral and Fort Myers police departments are asking for the public’s help in identifying two individuals suspected of conducting fraudulent transactions.
Key permitting information by county for hurricane recovery If you’re recovering from Hurricane Milton, you need to pay attention to some critical permitting information in our area.
CLEWISTON New tips received in Clewiston teen’s murder; Two people arrested People are providing tips on the murder of a Glades County teenager.
ENGLEWOOD Indian Mound Park left in ruins, residents look to rebuild People living in Englewood’s Indian Mound Park community are cleaning up what’s left of their homes.
CLEWISTON Two arrested in Clewiston teen’s murder Two people are in jail Tuesday night for the murder of 16-year-old Ja’yhanna Johnson.
FORT MYERS NWS surveys tornado damage as Lee County residents share their loss The National Weather Service got a firsthand look at what people in one Lee County neighborhood have been dealing with for a week.
NAPLES Naples stormwater project to reduce street flooding The project aims to improve water quality and reduce flooding in city streets that often experience heavy rainfall.
CAPTIVA How the South Seas Resort in Captiva is recovering after Milton At the South Seas Resort in Captiva, dozens of crews are working hard to restore power, remove trees and clear roads.
TWIN PALMS Twin Palm’s tornado was the strongest tornado ever recorded in southwest Florida A tornado from Hurricane Milton left a Glades County community in pieces. WINK News has confirmed that the tornado that hit the Twin Lakes Resort was the strongest tornado ever recorded in southwest Florida, according to the National Weather Service.
FORT MYERS BEACH Harry Chapin Food Bank on Fort Myers Beach after Milton People on Fort Myers Beach were feeling the love on Tuesday. Harry Chapin Food Bank set up a distribution site on the island.
IMMOKALEE Collier County woman arrested for shooting another woman in the face A woman has been arrested in Collier County after shooting another woman in the face, killing her.
FGCU FGCU athletic director speaks exclusively on House v. NCAA settlement FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis spoke exclusively with WINK News about how the House v. NCAA settlement impacts the athletic department.
MANASOTA KEY Residents let back onto south side of Manasota Key WINK News is getting a look at the south side of Manasota Key for the first time since Hurricane Milton.
BOCA GRANDE LCSO tours damage on Boca Grande after Milton An island community was almost completely underwater after Hurricane Milton.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda reels from destruction, clings to hope The community of Riverside Drive in Punta Gorda was hit hard and mangled by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
CAPE CORAL Police searching for pair suspected of gift card fraud in Cape Coral and Fort Myers The Cape Coral and Fort Myers police departments are asking for the public’s help in identifying two individuals suspected of conducting fraudulent transactions.
Key permitting information by county for hurricane recovery If you’re recovering from Hurricane Milton, you need to pay attention to some critical permitting information in our area.
CLEWISTON New tips received in Clewiston teen’s murder; Two people arrested People are providing tips on the murder of a Glades County teenager.
The month of February is known as the time of love, but it’s also a significant month that reflects on Black history. From national public figures like Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr, Rosa Parks and so many others, just to name a few. Black history is also in our communities, big and small. In Southwest Florida, it’s everywhere, and it continues to live on in the city of Punta Gorda, a city known for its charm, small community, and murals painted throughout the city. Mural artist Keith Goodson has painted several murals throughout Central and Southwest Florida. There are few in Punta Gorda he holds dear, too, and that’s the Black History Mural painted on Baker Center. “When I started to see and hear some of the stories and do some of my research on this particular mural, I just was intrigued by the just humanity of all of it,” Goodson said. “It’s a visual that people can connect with.” The mural Goodson painted features ten panels that reflect on the impacts Blacks made in the early stages of Punta Gorda’s development. From railroad development to local businesses to even education, Blacks had a significant role in making change in a society that viewed them as inferior. Their impacts would leave more than a mark but a legacy. A legacy Demetrius Thomas, pastor of St. Mary’s Baptist Church, knows well. “There’s a legacy that’s being put that others will see,” Thomas said. A legacy I can share with my son to pass on to each generation to let them know their grandfather was one of the first to integrate Charlotte High School.” Panel five, also known as desegregation, shows the Charlotte High Five, or some may refer to them as the Fab Five. Gertha Haddock, Minnie Lee Mitchell, Isaac Thomas, Jr., Dan Ronald Middleton, and Felix Johnson were the first Blacks to integrate Charlotte High School on September 3, 1963. Those five brave students were not only breaking the walls of segregation at Charlotte High, but their efforts would eventually lead to the desegregation of all Charlotte County schools over the next several years. Demetrius Thomas’s father, Isaac Thomas, was one of those students, and he remembers his father telling him about his first day and experience at Charlotte High in 1963. “It took a lot of bravery, Thomas said. “He would tell me the stories about it, and he was scared at first, but all the parents, teachers and students welcomed those five kids, so it was exciting yet nervous at the same time.” During those times, the walls of segregation were still enforced in some areas. It didn’t stop Thomas’s father or the others from making history in the classroom and on the field at Charlotte High. “My Dad was very involved in sports,” Thomas said. He played on the football team and he ran track for Charlotte High and played sports all the years he was in there. It was a purpose behind everything they did at that point.” A purpose that would serve a greater meaning for generations to come. Despite some of the challenges Blacks went through during those times, it didn’t stop the Fab Five from preserving and making a difference in education. “There were going to be some difficult moments they had to overcome, especially them being in education,” Thomas said. During those times, as Black students, you had to do a little bit more and study a little bit more to prove yourself. I think they enjoyed being the first five to make a difference for those who were going to come after them.” Now, their story is forever embedded on the walls of Baker Center, along with so many other stories reflecting on the Black History of Punta Gorda. Goodson highly advises everyone to go see and engage with the murals. “I would encourage anyone to come up and not only look at the mural but interact with the panel that has all the QR codes and see the stories on what the panel means and which each one represents and the story behind it,” Goodson said. The Black History Mural is located at 311 E. Charlotte Avenue at Baker Center School. To learn more about each panel on the mural, click here.