FGCU softball team helps Habitat for Humanity build three homesHome Base Golf Tournament helps SWFL Veterans
LEHIGH ACRES FGCU softball team helps Habitat for Humanity build three homes The Florida Gulf Coast University softball team helped Habitat for Humanity build three homes Saturday.
ESTERO Home Base Golf Tournament helps SWFL Veterans Veterans hit the green at the Copperleaf Golf Course on Saturday. This was part of the Home Base golf tournament.
FORT MYERS At least one person dead after propane truck collides with golf cart Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that has left one person dead and another injured Saturday morning.
Scattered storms ahead for your Saturday plans The Weather Authority is tracking weekend temperatures in the low to mid-90s this weekend with a chance for scattered storms this afternoon.
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Week 3 Thunderstorms tried to put a stop to week three of high school football on Friday Night, but gridiron action prevailed.
Man accused of plotting murder-for-hire denied bond A man suspected of being involved with a murder-for-hire plot will stay behind bars. Ryan Toranzo had his renewed motion to set bond denied today in Collier County Court.
LABELLE Two dead after crash on State Road 80 According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there was a crash on State Road 80 that has left at least one person dead Friday evening.
DeSoto County looks to recruit more teachers While it can sometimes be easy to fill a classroom with students, it is not so easy for teachers. Schools across the nation and locally in Southwest Florida are still dealing with the challenges of teacher shortages. With class back in session, so is teacher recruiting for DeSoto County schools. The assistant superintendent, Jake Reynolds, […]
IMMOKALEE ROAD Push for change after deadly crash on Immokalee Rd. We’re told the woman was driving with two kids in the car when a semi ran a red light and hit her Thursday morning.
FORT MYERS BEACH Mobi-Mats deployed on Fort Myers Beach A walkway to paradise! Brand new and blue, the Mobi-Mat is making things easier for Fort Myers Beachgoers.
NAPLES Women of Steel business conference inspiring and empowering women Focused, hardworking, empowered. These women have made a name for themselves as Women of Steel.
NAPLES Beloved Collier County bus driver retires after 20 years After 20 years of getting kids to school safely, a beloved Collier County bus driver is retiring.
Wade Wilson has new death row mugshot Convicted double-killer Wade Wilson has a new death row mugshot.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Sizzle Dining is back in SWFL It’s Sizzle Season! Local restaurants are ready to welcome new faces by offering exclusive menu deals to attract new customers.
PORT CHARLOTTE Player of the Week: Logan Flaherty Port Charlotte’s QB found the endzone twice himself and had two passing touchdowns in the Pirate’s week two victory over North Fort Myers.
LEHIGH ACRES FGCU softball team helps Habitat for Humanity build three homes The Florida Gulf Coast University softball team helped Habitat for Humanity build three homes Saturday.
ESTERO Home Base Golf Tournament helps SWFL Veterans Veterans hit the green at the Copperleaf Golf Course on Saturday. This was part of the Home Base golf tournament.
FORT MYERS At least one person dead after propane truck collides with golf cart Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that has left one person dead and another injured Saturday morning.
Scattered storms ahead for your Saturday plans The Weather Authority is tracking weekend temperatures in the low to mid-90s this weekend with a chance for scattered storms this afternoon.
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Week 3 Thunderstorms tried to put a stop to week three of high school football on Friday Night, but gridiron action prevailed.
Man accused of plotting murder-for-hire denied bond A man suspected of being involved with a murder-for-hire plot will stay behind bars. Ryan Toranzo had his renewed motion to set bond denied today in Collier County Court.
LABELLE Two dead after crash on State Road 80 According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there was a crash on State Road 80 that has left at least one person dead Friday evening.
DeSoto County looks to recruit more teachers While it can sometimes be easy to fill a classroom with students, it is not so easy for teachers. Schools across the nation and locally in Southwest Florida are still dealing with the challenges of teacher shortages. With class back in session, so is teacher recruiting for DeSoto County schools. The assistant superintendent, Jake Reynolds, […]
IMMOKALEE ROAD Push for change after deadly crash on Immokalee Rd. We’re told the woman was driving with two kids in the car when a semi ran a red light and hit her Thursday morning.
FORT MYERS BEACH Mobi-Mats deployed on Fort Myers Beach A walkway to paradise! Brand new and blue, the Mobi-Mat is making things easier for Fort Myers Beachgoers.
NAPLES Women of Steel business conference inspiring and empowering women Focused, hardworking, empowered. These women have made a name for themselves as Women of Steel.
NAPLES Beloved Collier County bus driver retires after 20 years After 20 years of getting kids to school safely, a beloved Collier County bus driver is retiring.
Wade Wilson has new death row mugshot Convicted double-killer Wade Wilson has a new death row mugshot.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Sizzle Dining is back in SWFL It’s Sizzle Season! Local restaurants are ready to welcome new faces by offering exclusive menu deals to attract new customers.
PORT CHARLOTTE Player of the Week: Logan Flaherty Port Charlotte’s QB found the endzone twice himself and had two passing touchdowns in the Pirate’s week two victory over North Fort Myers.
From working on the speed bag to jumping rope, no matter what Mario Nunez does at SJC Boxing, it comes from a place of gratitude. “Without this place, we wouldn’t be talking,” Nunez said. That’s because before Nunez discovered boxing four years ago, he was at his lowest point. He even considered taking his own life. “When I tried to pull the trigger, I just couldn’t,” Nunez recalled. He added, “I looked at myself in the mirror you know for a second I didn’t see this grown man face. I saw myself as a kid a chubby little kid. And you know I remember apologizing to myself and I started crying.” (If you or someone you know needs help, call or text the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988) Nunez decided to make a change. So he turned to boxing. “When I fight I’m not fighting alone,” Nunez said. “I’m fighting with everything I’ve ever lived through.” Nunez rose through the ranks in the gym, becoming a three-time champion. But when the opportunity came for Nunez to turn pro, the gym’s owner, Steve Canton, vividly remembers what Nunez told him, “If I turn pro right now I’m being a little selfish because this gym actually saved my life. Now I want to help other kids while I can. Teach me to become a coach. And we worked hard and he’s worked hard and he’s done a great job with the kids.” Nunez said, “I’m alive. I’m happy. I love myself. I love my family. I love these kids. I won you know. And you know I want to give these kids the same chance and make it easier on them.” One of those kids Nunez has helped in and out of the ring is Arbon Kurtishi. The 15-year-old is growing inside and outside the ring. “I’m more mature and then whatever this also helped me move on from things,” Kurtishi explained. “Let’s say you get whipped in sparring, you can’t hold onto that forever. You got to overcome how I say overcome your fears. You have to keep going. Keep pushing.” Kurtishi uses boxing to do just that. WINK News met with Kurtishi in February. He was using boxing to help deal with the loss of his father. Nunez serves as Kurtishi’s coach, even delivering the pre-title fight speech. “It’s two guys fighting in the ring. You did your job, now you just go out and have fun. You do what you’re supposed to do.” Kurtishi went on to win the Florida State Junior Olympics championship belt for his weight class. “I really wanted that win,” Kurtishi said. “For the other ones I was just going for the fight. But that one I really wanted. And it was amazing getting the hand raised. I did so well in that fight like one of my proudest accomplishments.” “To overcome his grief of losing his father, overcome the obstacles that he did to succeed, that’s just a good thing and one of the reasons why we’re here,” Canton said. Kurtishi said, “it’s good to be at the top now. Because it makes you even hungrier. You have people coming after you just I want all the completion. I want everyone to come after me.”