VILLAS Memorial service held for 12-year-old killed in crash Andrew’s family told WINK News that he was a good friend, a dedicated student and a talented musician.
NORTH FORT MYERS Hooping from Australia to the Sunshine State The exhibition between two Australian teams and two Lee County teams gives kids the experience of what it is like playing in another country.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High grad wins first place at USA Weightlifting Nationals Port Charlotte High School alumna Angelina Dabney wins first place at USA Weightlifting Nationals event in Pittsburgh.
PORT CHARLOTTE Restaurant dine-and-dash caught on video Surveillance video shows the moments on Sunday when a woman walked into a Port Charlotte restaurant and ordered enough food for two people ate about half of it then walked out without paying.
State turns down additional federal funds for summer feeding programs The state of Florida is turning down Federal funding that would provide extra cash to feed kids this summer, leaving local summer feeding programs in a tough spot.
Tracking domestic violence calls in Collier County Domestic violence: it’s Collier County’s best-kept secret.
Lee County School District has a new proposed 10 year plan While kids are enjoying their summer break, the Lee County School District is hard at work. A new plan is being proposed.
CAPE CORAL Community mourns the loss of manager killed in tire explosion Diane Shorb has been taking her cars to this Firestone for the last 15 years. When she heard someone had passed away there on Sunday, she was worried.
ATLANTA Byron Donalds in Atlanta ahead of presidential debate Congressman Byron Donalds will soon arrive to take part in a forum on how Black men in particular will impact the presidential election.
Local dealerships respond to CDK cyberattack In response to a recent cyber attack on the major software provider CDK Global, local car dealerships are reverting to traditional methods to help manage their operations.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2 women arrested in Port Charlotte, allegedly part of retail theft ring According to the Port Charlotte Sheriff’s Office, a pair of women have been arrested for stealing over $400 worth of merchandise from a Burlington Store in Port Charlotte.
FORT MYERS Habitat for Humanity and Fort Myers team up to build affordable housing Jaylen Watkins Street is about to change, as the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency will transform a plot of land into an affordable housing community.
CAPE CORAL Death penalty or life in prison: what’s next for Wade Wilson? We are waiting to hear if a judge will take the recommendation from the jury and sentence Wilson to death.
FORT MYERS State attorney, Lee County Sheriff announce indictments in 2 murder cases State Attorney Amira Fox held a press conference Wednesday afternoon with Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno to announce the arrest of two men.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for June 26, 2024 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for June 26, 2024.
VILLAS Memorial service held for 12-year-old killed in crash Andrew’s family told WINK News that he was a good friend, a dedicated student and a talented musician.
NORTH FORT MYERS Hooping from Australia to the Sunshine State The exhibition between two Australian teams and two Lee County teams gives kids the experience of what it is like playing in another country.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte High grad wins first place at USA Weightlifting Nationals Port Charlotte High School alumna Angelina Dabney wins first place at USA Weightlifting Nationals event in Pittsburgh.
PORT CHARLOTTE Restaurant dine-and-dash caught on video Surveillance video shows the moments on Sunday when a woman walked into a Port Charlotte restaurant and ordered enough food for two people ate about half of it then walked out without paying.
State turns down additional federal funds for summer feeding programs The state of Florida is turning down Federal funding that would provide extra cash to feed kids this summer, leaving local summer feeding programs in a tough spot.
Tracking domestic violence calls in Collier County Domestic violence: it’s Collier County’s best-kept secret.
Lee County School District has a new proposed 10 year plan While kids are enjoying their summer break, the Lee County School District is hard at work. A new plan is being proposed.
CAPE CORAL Community mourns the loss of manager killed in tire explosion Diane Shorb has been taking her cars to this Firestone for the last 15 years. When she heard someone had passed away there on Sunday, she was worried.
ATLANTA Byron Donalds in Atlanta ahead of presidential debate Congressman Byron Donalds will soon arrive to take part in a forum on how Black men in particular will impact the presidential election.
Local dealerships respond to CDK cyberattack In response to a recent cyber attack on the major software provider CDK Global, local car dealerships are reverting to traditional methods to help manage their operations.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2 women arrested in Port Charlotte, allegedly part of retail theft ring According to the Port Charlotte Sheriff’s Office, a pair of women have been arrested for stealing over $400 worth of merchandise from a Burlington Store in Port Charlotte.
FORT MYERS Habitat for Humanity and Fort Myers team up to build affordable housing Jaylen Watkins Street is about to change, as the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency will transform a plot of land into an affordable housing community.
CAPE CORAL Death penalty or life in prison: what’s next for Wade Wilson? We are waiting to hear if a judge will take the recommendation from the jury and sentence Wilson to death.
FORT MYERS State attorney, Lee County Sheriff announce indictments in 2 murder cases State Attorney Amira Fox held a press conference Wednesday afternoon with Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno to announce the arrest of two men.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for June 26, 2024 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for June 26, 2024.
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.