Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
It’s time for a miracle moment: a young man probably more excited to return to school today than most kids. Eleven-year-old Bensin Gaff was delivering goodie bags at Golisano Children’s Hospital. The only sign of what Bensin has been through is a slender surgical scar slightly visible through his jet-black hair. “After my baseball game, I went home and went to sleep. I was trying to turn my music down, and then I couldn’t talk,” said Bensin. He was trying to tell Alexa to turn his music down, but he couldn’t get the words out. Bensin told WINK News something similar happened again at school the next day. “I could move, but my eyes went blurry, and then I couldn’t really talk, and I made noises,” said Bensin. His parents, Jason and Kristin, brought him to the emergency room. It turned out that Bensin was having seizures. “I never thought on Thursday night, when Bensin was playing a baseball game with his team standing on second base, he threw somebody out at first. I never thought within a matter of 12 hours, we would be getting, you know, the worst news of our life, that our son had a large brain tumor that didn’t look good,” said Kristin Gaff, Bensin’s mom. Bensin had what’s called a cavernous malformation or cavernoma. As his neurosurgeon explained, they’re benign but serious. “It’s a mass that grows by small amounts of bleeding instead of cells reproducing themselves like a tumor,” said Dr. TJ Spinks, a neurosurgeon. “Because his tumor was near the motor strip and right next to the motor strip, it was causing him weakness and causing some seizures as well.” Dr. Spinks removed it, and Bensin came through surgery like a champ, getting to go home just 72 hours later. He had to re-learn to walk, but just one month after the operation, he threw out the first pitch at a Mighty Mussels game. His big sister Gracelin still gets emotional thinking about it. “Oh, I’m very proud. He got through it easier than I expected him to. I expected it to be a longer journey than it was,” said Gracelin Gaff, Bensin’s sister. He’s had a lot of support. The whole family has. “Bensin’s definitely a miracle. Bensin was the strongest through all of it. The support from the community and his school and the prayers got us through this whole process,” said Jason Gaff, Bensin’s dad. Another blessing for Bensin and the family is having surgery at home in Southwest Florida. A few years ago, they would have had to travel to Tampa, which is not easy for anyone, especially a couple with 11 kids. And since they couldn’t all be here, we’ll leave it to Gracelin, Bensin’s miracle and our miracle. The Pediatric Neurosurgery Program is covered entirely by donations. The surgeon’s salary, all the equipment that made this possible is all paid for by our generous community. And in case you’re wondering what was in the goodie bags, Bensin said it’s “the good stuff.” Good soap and other toiletries, because he remembers how good those felt during the eleven days he spent in the pediatric intensive care unit.