‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California fires are being felt worldwide as people evacuate some are in southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Progress being made on City View Park in Dunbar More promises made by a city that has not kept its promises for the last six years have some neighbors concerned about the future of their community.
COLLIER COUNTY Seacrest hoops player hits a full court buzzer beater Seacrest Country Day School boys basketball player Hayden Fuller hits full court buzzer beater against Aubrey Rogers.
NAPLES Cutting-edge ACL surgery reducing reinjury risk by 80% Known for its game-changing orthopedic repair options, Naples-based Arthrex has done it again.
NAPLES MacStrength FL offers sport and lifestyle training for young athletes In 2025, MacStrength FL is swinging for success with their current players and for a wider reach in its community.
You can appeal FEMA’s decision on your claim – Here’s how Now a week after the deadline for FEMA hurricane assistance has closed, the federal agency says you can appeal their decision on your claim if you don’t agree.
Naples selects city CFO as next city manager, averts national search Naples Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Gary Young will become the next city manager, averting a lengthy, expensive national search for a replacement.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California fires are being felt worldwide as people evacuate some are in southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
FORT MYERS Progress being made on City View Park in Dunbar More promises made by a city that has not kept its promises for the last six years have some neighbors concerned about the future of their community.
COLLIER COUNTY Seacrest hoops player hits a full court buzzer beater Seacrest Country Day School boys basketball player Hayden Fuller hits full court buzzer beater against Aubrey Rogers.
NAPLES Cutting-edge ACL surgery reducing reinjury risk by 80% Known for its game-changing orthopedic repair options, Naples-based Arthrex has done it again.
NAPLES MacStrength FL offers sport and lifestyle training for young athletes In 2025, MacStrength FL is swinging for success with their current players and for a wider reach in its community.
You can appeal FEMA’s decision on your claim – Here’s how Now a week after the deadline for FEMA hurricane assistance has closed, the federal agency says you can appeal their decision on your claim if you don’t agree.
Naples selects city CFO as next city manager, averts national search Naples Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Gary Young will become the next city manager, averting a lengthy, expensive national search for a replacement.
This could definitely be called a survivor’s story. And Tim Casto knows it well. It’s his story. “I went back to using powdered fentanyl and intravenous use, and ended up getting arrested again in Lee County, and doing another two months in jail,” explained Casto. But, recovering from addiction, he has turned his life around. During addiction, your mind seems to be the first thing to go. Tim Casto “I now have two full time jobs that both pay well. I’m going somewhere in life. I have direction now. I have purpose,” he stated with pride. He owes that renewed direction and purpose, in part, to St. Matthew’s House, which focuses on helping people experiencing hunger, homelessness, or, in Tim’s case, addiction. RELATED: Fentanyl fueling fears after Collier deputy overcome by exposure Casto shared his story with WINK News Anchor Chris Cifatte as they sat in front of a wall full of names of people who didn’t survive their addiction. He recalled how in the depths of despair, a voice saved him. It was his sister’s voice. “She said that she didn’t want to lose me to my addiction. She wanted me to be there for her wedding,” said Casto. He is sober now. And, he pledged to be at her wedding. It’s a story that would make any sister proud, but not all sisters have that same chance. My brother didn’t come home. Riley Kempton Lost brother Josh to addiction Riley Kempton’s brother, Josh Liesman, lost his battle with addiction. He fought it for half his life and fentanyl killed him. Now, rather than ever seeing her brother again, Riley wanted to share his struggle and maybe save another family from the heartache hers has endured. “He wanted to be better so bad,” she said through tears. “It’s like a warm embrace,” shared Dan Lampinen as he explained the powerful attraction to the deadly drugs. “Any anxiety or whatever stress, whatever you’re holding on to, it just kind of melts away.” RELATED: Powdered, pills, no matter how you slice it – fentanyl kills Mike Palumbo, the Director of Operations at White Sands, a residential treatment facility in Fort Myers, considers fentanyl a huge problem. “They’re having a lot harder time getting off of fentanyl, compared to the other opioids such as heroin, morphine, oxycodone. Their detox is taking, on average, about seven to 14 days, where as, heroin detox usually took three to seven days. We’re seeing that their withdrawal symptoms are a lot more amplified,” explained Palumbo. The tough lesson – someone stuck in addiction is not going to get or accept help until they are ready. Riley Kempton does what she can now on her brother’s behalf. She spreads awareness through Drug Free Lee. St. Matthew’s House has a year-long faith-based residential program to break addiction. It’s the same program that helped Tim Casto. “I definitely want to go somewhere. I couldn’t say I know exactly where I’m going at this point in time. I’m still figuring that out. But I can tell you I’m going somewhere,” said Casto as he reflected on his future. Signs of Addiction Difficulties at school Poor work performance Changes in physical appearance Altered behavior A noticeable lack of energy when performing daily activities Spending or borrowing more money than usual Bloodshot eyes and poor skin tone Defensiveness when asked about substance use Get Help St. Matthew’s House FindTreatment.gov WhiteSands Treatment Center Stop Overdoses Resources from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office DEA: https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html National Institute on Drug Abuse National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare Treatment Options