3 injured after single boat crash in Cape CoralAll lanes on Immokalee Road closed due to vehicle collision
CAPE CORAL 3 injured after single boat crash in Cape Coral According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, three people were injured in a single boat crash in Cape Coral.
IMMOKALEE All lanes on Immokalee Road closed due to vehicle collision According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle collision occurred on Immokalee Road Sunday night.
NAPLES Body found in Collier County retention pond According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a body was found in a retention pond on Sunday. The body was found on Lindsey Lane.
NAPLES Naples police rescue injured owl outside station Naples police officers took on an unusual task when they rescued an injured owl outside the police department.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2 suspects in custody after allegedly stealing $1500 worth of vapes According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, two suspects are in custody after stealing $1500 worth of vapes early Sunday morning.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: knife attack, robbery at gunpoint and hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a knife attack, a robbery at gunpoint and a hit-and-run on a bicyclist.
FORT MYERS Former Uber driver convicted of rape to be sentenced Monday Felix Torres, a former Uber driver, was found guilty in December of raping one of his passengers and will be sentenced Monday.
the weather authority Sunnier, less humid day in store with highs in the low 70s The Weather Authority says a pleasant day is in store for Southwest Florida, with much more sunshine than we saw on Saturday.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police department hosts annual Cops and Joggers 5K FMPD hosted the Cops and Joggers 5K event on Saturday. This unique experience takes attendees through the heart of Downtown Fort Myers.
Purple Heart Army veteran receives new home thanks to charity A Purple Heart Army veteran and his family entered their new accessible home on Saturday, thanks to the charity “Homes for Our Troops.”
CAPE CORAL Rain doesn’t stop crowds at 40th Annual Cape Coral Arts Festival For 40 years, the Cape Coral Arts Festival has drawn crowds from across Southwest Florida, showcasing a blend of small businesses from the region.
CAPE CORAL Sports trading card collecting going through “a generational reboot” The hobby of sports trading card collecting has been on the rise since 2020, especially in Southwest Florida with more card shows.
PUNTA GORDA 11th annual short film festival coming to Punta Gorda The Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Visitor Convention Bureau will host its 11th annual short film festival.
the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
CAPE CORAL 3 injured after single boat crash in Cape Coral According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, three people were injured in a single boat crash in Cape Coral.
IMMOKALEE All lanes on Immokalee Road closed due to vehicle collision According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle collision occurred on Immokalee Road Sunday night.
NAPLES Body found in Collier County retention pond According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a body was found in a retention pond on Sunday. The body was found on Lindsey Lane.
NAPLES Naples police rescue injured owl outside station Naples police officers took on an unusual task when they rescued an injured owl outside the police department.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2 suspects in custody after allegedly stealing $1500 worth of vapes According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, two suspects are in custody after stealing $1500 worth of vapes early Sunday morning.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: knife attack, robbery at gunpoint and hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a knife attack, a robbery at gunpoint and a hit-and-run on a bicyclist.
FORT MYERS Former Uber driver convicted of rape to be sentenced Monday Felix Torres, a former Uber driver, was found guilty in December of raping one of his passengers and will be sentenced Monday.
the weather authority Sunnier, less humid day in store with highs in the low 70s The Weather Authority says a pleasant day is in store for Southwest Florida, with much more sunshine than we saw on Saturday.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police department hosts annual Cops and Joggers 5K FMPD hosted the Cops and Joggers 5K event on Saturday. This unique experience takes attendees through the heart of Downtown Fort Myers.
Purple Heart Army veteran receives new home thanks to charity A Purple Heart Army veteran and his family entered their new accessible home on Saturday, thanks to the charity “Homes for Our Troops.”
CAPE CORAL Rain doesn’t stop crowds at 40th Annual Cape Coral Arts Festival For 40 years, the Cape Coral Arts Festival has drawn crowds from across Southwest Florida, showcasing a blend of small businesses from the region.
CAPE CORAL Sports trading card collecting going through “a generational reboot” The hobby of sports trading card collecting has been on the rise since 2020, especially in Southwest Florida with more card shows.
PUNTA GORDA 11th annual short film festival coming to Punta Gorda The Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Visitor Convention Bureau will host its 11th annual short film festival.
the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
Alex Nickell catches a big snake near Bear Island. CREDIT: ALEX NICKELL Catching invasive Burmese pythons in Florida is challenging; some hunters grab the snakes by the back of the head, others try to be safer and grab them by the tail, but one hunter decided to catch a 14-foot python by sitting on it. By day, Alexander Nickell is a carpenter, but when the sun goes down, and the predators come out, he pursues his passion project: hunting Burmese pythons. Nickell has been hunting the invasive species in Florida since 2008. In those 16 years, Nickell has caught a lot of snakes. “I’ve got a little in the hundreds, about 140, I think, in that range,” said Nickell. “Year to date from about this date to last year in around about 40.” While heading to Bear Island, Nickell came across a 14-foot, 10-inch Burmese python slithering across the road late at night. “I got control of the head real quick,” said Nickell. “She wrapped around both my legs. She tied herself pretty tight.” CREDIT: ALEX NICKELL Then, in a moment of creative improvisation, Nickell got the upper hand on the python by taking a seat. “I could actually just lean forward and just sat on her, and she couldn’t move after that. It kind of ended pretty quick because she messed up,” said Nickell. Quick thinking to overcome the constricting strength of an apex predator. However, Nickell mentioned, back in 2010 was the only time he caught a bigger snake measuring a bit longer than 16 feet. That said, this isn’t the average python size he finds while hunting. “Most of the ones just driving down the road you’ll end up seeing are usually at least six foot,” said Nickell. Nickell has seen how startling the invasive constrictor’s impact on ecological balance has been since the species’ proliferation in Florida. Burmese python caught. CREDIT: ALEX NICKELL “From what it was when I was a kid out here, if you stopped off on the side of the road anywhere in the Everglades and maybe had a sandwich, you’d be having to fight raccoons for your sandwich. I’ve been out here solid for the last two years, just out there about every three days at least, and I haven’t seen a raccoon in two years. They’re wiped out and devastated the population of native animals,” said Nickell. RELATED: Burmese python, longer than an African elephant’s height, captured in Collier County RELATED: Burmese pythons found slithering further north For Nickell, hunting Burmese pythons is a fun hobby. Sure, it isn’t your typical hobby like painting, exercising or traveling, but it is something he is passionate about. Nickell hopes this passion will help bring balance to the Florida ecosystem and the environment he calls home. Burmese python skin. CREDIT: ALEX NICKELL “Helping out at the Everglades because a breeder that size would put a lot more little babies back out there,” said Nickell. Luckily for Nickell, python hunting in Florida has become a pretty big deal. In fact, hunters from around the world migrate every year to the Sunshine State for the Florida Python Challenge. In 2023, Nickell competed for the first time, but he isn’t planning on stopping any time soon. “I just started it last year, so I’m gonna definitely be in from here on out as long as they keep it up,” said Nickell.