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 EIghteen months later, with little rebuilding, people in Matlacha say it’s still a mess and a constant reminder of Hurricane Ian. WINK News visited the tiny town and saw the damage Ian did. Almost every building was destroyed. Houses and trash continue to litter the water along with cars stacked on top of debris. CREDIT: WINK News WINK News reporter Olivia Jean talked with several Pine Island residents about the damage. “Healing is going to be when we can drive through there, and it’s just cleaned up,” Elsie Stearns said. It brings back sad memories not only for people who live here but for tourists. Many tourists are day trippers, and the trash greets them as they cross the bridge onto the island. “Driving through Matlacha takes you back literally to the day of the storm, or the day after the storm when many of us that were on the island went back up and, and saw the devastation there. So when you drive through there, now, you know, this many months, and year and a half, almost two years later, and you’re still looking at some of the same devastation. It just takes you right back to that day. It’s heart-wrenching,” Stearns said. I rode along with a man who lives in Pine Island who wished to remain anonymous. He showed WINK News just how bad things still are 18 months later. Another Pine Island resident said something needs to be done. “I’d like them to clean up the major buildings that have fallen in the water, areas like this behind us that need to be cleaned up. And I’d like him to let us know out here how long it’s going to be before this section of roadway is totally open again,” he said. Right after Ian, he told WINK the county was there, and they were an extreme help. “They cleared all the vegetative debris; they cleared our roads. They sent in trucks to call off all the debris. They did a wonderful job. Finish it,” he said. The progress in Matlacha has slowed. The job is not close to being done, and people who live here are wondering when it will be finished. Residents love Matlacha and hope to see it thrive someday like it did before the storm. “Matlacha has always been very special,” Stearns said. WINK News reached out to Lee County and they provided WINK News with this statement: Many county departments continue work and outreach in Matlacha-Pine Island post-Ian. Lee County understands residents and business owners continue to face a very long process in the repair and restoration of their properties. County staff continues to make itself available to private property owner with questions. Additionally, outreach efforts continue for those in need of help post-Ian via LeeCares. Our DOT department has an active resurfacing project going on mid-island. In addition, Lee County said this particular project belongs to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Here is the project website: 451937-2 Pine Island Causeway and Bridge Reconstruction Project WINK News reached out to FDOT and they sent us these answers to our questions: What is the status of recovery? Matlacha Causeway -All utility services for communications, power, water, and sewer service are currently being accommodated in the restoration process. What has been done? Matlacha Causeway- Installed permanent sheet pile wall, with concrete cap, on north and south side of causeway. What still needs to be done? Matlacha Causeway Crews continue installing utilities throughout the causeway. Installation of drainage structures and pipe as well as roadway reconstruction will follow. What is the timeline? Our public meeting on April 11, 2024, will share the design of the new Little Pine Island Bridge. Construction is anticipated to begin Spring 2024. How are you getting funding? Funding is provided by the Federal Highway Administration, the Florida Department of Transportation and Lee County. The roadway segments within this area are owned, operated, and maintained by Lee County. FDOT appreciates the continued patience of the community as we complete the restoration of Hurricane Ian related damage to the roadways with the resilience for years to come. WINK News will keep you updated with any other updates.