Visitors to Charlotte County up 26% amid plans to entice moreHerc Rentals expands with new Fort Myers location
Visitors to Charlotte County up 26% amid plans to entice more There was a 26% increase in visitors to Charlotte County for the second fiscal quarter, January through March 2024, and the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau is planning ways to direct more to the county’s attractions.
Herc Rentals expands with new Fort Myers location As construction projects across Southwest Florida continue, Herc Rentals needed to expand to meet the demand for its equipment.
Beware of Scam: Fraud Alert for Collier County The Collier County Sheriff’s Office wants the public to be aware of a scam that is circulating and misrepresenting the law enforcement department.
IMMOKALEE Immokalee man accused of leaving dog tied up outside in rain An Immokalee man has been arrested after allegedly leaving his dog tied up outside with only his partially inundated doghouse for shelter.
SWFL criminals on death row With the recent cases of Wade Wilson and Zephen Xaver, who both potentially face death sentences for their crimes of random murder, one might wonder who else from Southwest Florida is awaiting execution.
MARCO ISLAND Woman wanted for stealing hundreds of dollars worth of items from Marco Island store A woman is wanted after being caught on video stealing hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise from a Marco Island retail store.
Collier workforce housing, vet nursing home inching forward An affordable workforce housing project on the Golden Gate Golf Course that was granted an extension in May by Collier County commissioners received Department of Housing and Urban Development approval, with construction expected to begin this fall.
WINK NEWS More than 150 laws will take effect in Florida in July; what to look out for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis traveled throughout the state during the 2024 legislative session to announce and sign dozens of bills.
WINK NEWS Jury begins deliberation in sentencing phase for man who killed 5 women at Sebring bank A jury has begun the deliberation process for its recommendation of punishment for the man who executed five women in a Sebring bank.
PORT CHARLOTTE Man accused of fatal hit-and-run in Port Charlotte The Florida Highway Patrol and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man for a fatal hit-and-run that occurred in Port Charlotte.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Scattered storms move inland this Wednesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking scattered storms moving from the coastal lines and into the inland communities this Wednesday afternoon.
WINK NEWS Collier County Teachers Union to meet and negotiate salaries Collier County teachers brace for their third day of salary negotiations as those living within the area struggle financially.
Police report: witnesses say fatal Firestone tire explosion caused by overinflation The Cape Coral Police Department has released its report regarding a tire explosion that killed a man at a Firestone garage on Sunday.
NAPLES Voters meet with Collier County candidates It was a packed house at Seed to Table on Tuesday night as Collier County voters met with the candidates running to represent them.
FORT MYERS Texas Roadhouse honors memory of five teenagers lost in tragic crash It has been one year since the tragic crash that took the lives of five teenagers on Top Golf Way in Lee County.
Visitors to Charlotte County up 26% amid plans to entice more There was a 26% increase in visitors to Charlotte County for the second fiscal quarter, January through March 2024, and the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau is planning ways to direct more to the county’s attractions.
Herc Rentals expands with new Fort Myers location As construction projects across Southwest Florida continue, Herc Rentals needed to expand to meet the demand for its equipment.
Beware of Scam: Fraud Alert for Collier County The Collier County Sheriff’s Office wants the public to be aware of a scam that is circulating and misrepresenting the law enforcement department.
IMMOKALEE Immokalee man accused of leaving dog tied up outside in rain An Immokalee man has been arrested after allegedly leaving his dog tied up outside with only his partially inundated doghouse for shelter.
SWFL criminals on death row With the recent cases of Wade Wilson and Zephen Xaver, who both potentially face death sentences for their crimes of random murder, one might wonder who else from Southwest Florida is awaiting execution.
MARCO ISLAND Woman wanted for stealing hundreds of dollars worth of items from Marco Island store A woman is wanted after being caught on video stealing hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise from a Marco Island retail store.
Collier workforce housing, vet nursing home inching forward An affordable workforce housing project on the Golden Gate Golf Course that was granted an extension in May by Collier County commissioners received Department of Housing and Urban Development approval, with construction expected to begin this fall.
WINK NEWS More than 150 laws will take effect in Florida in July; what to look out for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis traveled throughout the state during the 2024 legislative session to announce and sign dozens of bills.
WINK NEWS Jury begins deliberation in sentencing phase for man who killed 5 women at Sebring bank A jury has begun the deliberation process for its recommendation of punishment for the man who executed five women in a Sebring bank.
PORT CHARLOTTE Man accused of fatal hit-and-run in Port Charlotte The Florida Highway Patrol and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man for a fatal hit-and-run that occurred in Port Charlotte.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Scattered storms move inland this Wednesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking scattered storms moving from the coastal lines and into the inland communities this Wednesday afternoon.
WINK NEWS Collier County Teachers Union to meet and negotiate salaries Collier County teachers brace for their third day of salary negotiations as those living within the area struggle financially.
Police report: witnesses say fatal Firestone tire explosion caused by overinflation The Cape Coral Police Department has released its report regarding a tire explosion that killed a man at a Firestone garage on Sunday.
NAPLES Voters meet with Collier County candidates It was a packed house at Seed to Table on Tuesday night as Collier County voters met with the candidates running to represent them.
FORT MYERS Texas Roadhouse honors memory of five teenagers lost in tragic crash It has been one year since the tragic crash that took the lives of five teenagers on Top Golf Way in Lee County.
An aerial view of a neighborhood during a hurricane. Credit: WINK Last year, Hurricane Idalia brought a renewed focus and commitment to ensuring older adults had the support, information, and resources they needed to stay safe and evacuate from storms. To help older adults and their caregivers get more prepared, FEMA’s Ready Campaign launched a campaign to empower older adults to take three essential preparedness steps: assess your needs, create a plan, and engage your network. We developed new resources for older adults, including a Disaster Preparedness Guide for Older Adults to support older adults with easy-to-read, user-friendly worksheets and checklists so they can create a personalized plan, and we created a Disaster Preparedness Guide for Caregivers with the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers to directly help caregivers feel more prepared and in control when disaster strikes. Family caregivers are often the first responders in a disaster, and this new guide addresses the barriers to preparedness many caregivers face. Help Your Friends and Neighbors You can be a force for good by helping others plan evacuation routes and strengthen their homes against hurricane damage. Consider checking with neighbors, older adults, caregivers, or those who may need additional help making and completing their hurricane plans. Know When to Go and Where to Go It’s important to know if you live in an area that could be at risk during a storm. You may only need to go 10 miles inland, depending on the evacuation order, and you may not necessarily need to leave the state to stay safe until the storm passes. That’s why it’s critical to understand where your evacuation routes, zones, and areas are ahead of time, and to pay attention to directions from local officials. Stay Connected If you need to evacuate, make a family emergency communication plan so you know how to get in touch during and after a storm. Write down your family, friends, and loved ones’ phone numbers and make sure you have a plan to connect after the storm passes. Have several ways to receive alerts, including through the free FEMA app, local media, and alerts from the National Weather Service. Being Prepared and Resilient Personal resilience is at the heart of preparedness. By learning your area’s risk from hurricanes, you are better armed to take actions to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your home from whatever may come. You can build your resilience by having the supplies you’ll need to be safe and comfortable for seven days. Whether you need to evacuate or stay at home, your basic supplies should include non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand crank radio and flashlights with a supply of extra batteries, any medications you take, and pet supplies. Visit Ready.gov and Listo.gov for additional items for your kit. Strengthen Your Home Against Hurricane Damages The best time to make your home strong is now. Check your roof, protect your windows and exterior doors, and make sure trees and shrubs around your house are trimmed and in good condition. Save Your Documents and Know the Importance of Flood Insurance Print out documents ahead of time and have them ready to go when you evacuate. You may need to access those documents when applying for assistance following the storm. If you do apply for assistance from FEMA, the new changes we’ve made will better assist you during the recovery process and will provide you with flexible funding as you jumpstart your recovery. We understand how difficult our programs can be to navigate, which is why we recently changed our eligibility criteria to help people recover faster, while building back stronger. We also improved our customer experience by simplifying the application process to make it easier for people to apply for assistance. Visit the FEMA.gov page for more information on these new changes. Lastly, since most homeowners, renters, and business insurance policies do not cover flood damage, we encourage people to get flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program. Floridians are no strangers to hurricanes, and as we approach the 2024 Hurricane Season, I encourage everyone to act today to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your home before we reach the height of hurricane season.