‘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.
Giovel Chmelnicky Valdes arrest photo. CREDIT: Hendry County Sheriff A second arrest was made during the investigation of the mysterious hazmat scene in LaBelle that made 20 first responders sick. The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office arrested 39-year-old Giovel Chmelnicky Valdes on Monday, June 24, in connection to several stolen vehicles and parts worth close to $1 million at the scene. He was an individual who rented space at property and he now faces grand theft charges of vehicle motor theft. A total of 15 stolen vehicles and trailers were found on the scene. They include: 2022 White Freightliner flatbed tow truck 2019 Black F450 Tiffin Phaeton RV Black Jeep Grand Cherokee 2018 White Wabash trailer (full of Printers Valved $317,000) 2011 Black Ford F250 (Stripped) 2020 White Dodge Challenger (Just body) 2015 White Ford F550 (with a toolbox body full of tools) 2024 Black Peterbilt Truck (Just Cab) 2024 White Freightliner Truck (Just cab on Lowboy trailer) 2014 Green Kenworth Semi Unknown make box trailer with stolen Peterbilt cab and sleeper inside Unidentifiable low boy trailer 2005 Volvo Truck White Peterbilt and Car hauler 2003 Black Ford F250 (transmission) Ford L9000 with multiple vehicle parts 2018 Gold Cadillac Deputies initially responded to a storage lot on North Industrial Loop off State Road 29 on June 19 to investigate the discovery of a stolen vehicle hauler. While at the scene they found a man face down on the floor of a locked RV. When responders made entry a “suspicious element” made them all sick, including hazmat crews. All were taken to the hospital as well as the man inside, Juan Gonzalez Diaz, from Miami. Diaz was released from the hospital and later arrested for an outstanding federal warrant for violating probation. RELATED: Man found unconscious at Hendry County hazmat scene appears in federal court It is unclear if there is a relationship between Diaz and Valdes. Lots of questions linger in the wake of this new arrest, including what made first responders so sick that they had to be hospitalized. All have since been treated and released. Several agencies responded to figure out what made the responders and Diaz sick. The agencies included some from the federal government: Hendry County Sheriff’s Office Clewiston Police Department (mutual aid/support staff) Hendry County Fire/EMS LaBelle Fire Department Army National Guard CST (conducting testing for chemicals, air quality, etc.) ATF Bomb Technician (supporting other agencies while search by Federal agencies continue) FBI – WMD (precautionary measures with sophisticated technology to measure the air quality) FBI (evidence collection) DEP (any ground/soil contamination testing) Lee County Unified Haz-Mat Team “Even though we may not know what the substance is, there’s a baseline of our training that covers what our minimum should be. So, if you’re going into this type of aerosol type of event, you do XYZ, and if you’re going to, you know, so it’s all about based upon our training, it’s all based upon our understanding, and the things that we practice each and every day to make it safer,” Fort Myers Fire Chief, Tracy McMillion said. The road was closed in the area for two days as teams investigated. In the end, no immediate conclusion was made about the toxic airborne element. The sheriff’s office confirmed that samples of the substances were sent to a lab for more in-depth testing. We are still waiting to hear whether those results concluded anything concrete. Hendry County Sheriffs Office said that additional charges will most likely be filed.