Death investigation at Target on Dynasty DriveDisplaced resident speaks out after fire at Winkler Apartment Complex
Fort Myers Death investigation at Target on Dynasty Drive The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a death at the Target on Dynasty Drive in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS Displaced resident speaks out after fire at Winkler Apartment Complex For the second time in as many days, a fire broke out at the Retreat at Vista Lake Apartment Complex in Fort Myers.
Florida politicians react to 2nd Trump assassination attempt Florida politicians are reacting after an assassination attempt at Donald Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club.
FORT MYERS FMPD asking for public’s help in solving 2013 cold case The Fort Myers Police Department is asking for information regarding the 2013 homicide of Laura Howard.
FORT MYERS Possible kitchen fire at Winkler apartment complex Authorities are investigating a possible kitchen fire at the Retreat Apartment Complex Sunday afternoon. This comes after a fire at the same complex yesterday.
WEST PALM BEACH Trump safe after gunshots reported, Biden and Harris have been briefed Donald Trump was safe after gunshots were reported in his vicinity Sunday afternoon in Florida, his campaign and the Secret Service said.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police seek public’s help in Carrell Road hit-and-run investigation The Fort Myers Police Department is requesting information regarding a hit-and-run involving a vehicle and pedestrian.
LEHIGH ACRES Man arrested in Lehigh Acres for holding a woman against her will A man in Lehigh Acres has been arrested for holding a woman against her will for over 24 hours, threatening her with a knife and attempting to strangle her.
southwest florida WINK Neighborhood Watch: Inmate attacks, reckless driving, and a hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a man sentenced to 15 years for attacking another inmate, reckless driving, and a fatal hit and run.
golden gate Canal accident: car found in Golden Gate canal One person was transported to the hospital for evaluation after their vehicle ended up in a canal.
southwest florida How Harry Chapin Food Bank is helping SWFL families combat hunger As the price of just about everything is up, some say they have to choose between groceries or paying the bills.
naples Collier County hosts inaugural Emergency Readiness Summit To make sure we’re ready when disaster strikes, Collier County hosted an Emergency Readiness Summit.
southwest florida Hot temperatures for the week ahead in SWFL; TS Gordon to fizzle in the Atlantic The Weather Authority is tracking another day of plenty of sunshine in store for Southwest Florida. Temperatures will top out yet again in the low 90s, but when factoring in the humidity, the ‘feels-like’ temperatures will be in the triple digits.
FORT MYERS Residents react to Winkler apartment complex fire Residents of the Retreat at Vista Lakes Apartment Complex were forced to evacuate due to a fire Saturday morning.
FORT MYERS Structure fire at Fort Myers apartment complex Authorities responded to the scene of a fire at The Retreat at Vista Lakes apartment complex Saturday afternoon.
Fort Myers Death investigation at Target on Dynasty Drive The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a death at the Target on Dynasty Drive in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS Displaced resident speaks out after fire at Winkler Apartment Complex For the second time in as many days, a fire broke out at the Retreat at Vista Lake Apartment Complex in Fort Myers.
Florida politicians react to 2nd Trump assassination attempt Florida politicians are reacting after an assassination attempt at Donald Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club.
FORT MYERS FMPD asking for public’s help in solving 2013 cold case The Fort Myers Police Department is asking for information regarding the 2013 homicide of Laura Howard.
FORT MYERS Possible kitchen fire at Winkler apartment complex Authorities are investigating a possible kitchen fire at the Retreat Apartment Complex Sunday afternoon. This comes after a fire at the same complex yesterday.
WEST PALM BEACH Trump safe after gunshots reported, Biden and Harris have been briefed Donald Trump was safe after gunshots were reported in his vicinity Sunday afternoon in Florida, his campaign and the Secret Service said.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police seek public’s help in Carrell Road hit-and-run investigation The Fort Myers Police Department is requesting information regarding a hit-and-run involving a vehicle and pedestrian.
LEHIGH ACRES Man arrested in Lehigh Acres for holding a woman against her will A man in Lehigh Acres has been arrested for holding a woman against her will for over 24 hours, threatening her with a knife and attempting to strangle her.
southwest florida WINK Neighborhood Watch: Inmate attacks, reckless driving, and a hit-and-run This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a man sentenced to 15 years for attacking another inmate, reckless driving, and a fatal hit and run.
golden gate Canal accident: car found in Golden Gate canal One person was transported to the hospital for evaluation after their vehicle ended up in a canal.
southwest florida How Harry Chapin Food Bank is helping SWFL families combat hunger As the price of just about everything is up, some say they have to choose between groceries or paying the bills.
naples Collier County hosts inaugural Emergency Readiness Summit To make sure we’re ready when disaster strikes, Collier County hosted an Emergency Readiness Summit.
southwest florida Hot temperatures for the week ahead in SWFL; TS Gordon to fizzle in the Atlantic The Weather Authority is tracking another day of plenty of sunshine in store for Southwest Florida. Temperatures will top out yet again in the low 90s, but when factoring in the humidity, the ‘feels-like’ temperatures will be in the triple digits.
FORT MYERS Residents react to Winkler apartment complex fire Residents of the Retreat at Vista Lakes Apartment Complex were forced to evacuate due to a fire Saturday morning.
FORT MYERS Structure fire at Fort Myers apartment complex Authorities responded to the scene of a fire at The Retreat at Vista Lakes apartment complex Saturday afternoon.
Some people are so angry at the contractor they hired to build their dream home, they’re demanding changes in the law. Homeowners face a huge problem now: liens. Homeowners who paid their contractor, Beattie development, are being liened by subcontractors who claim Beattie never paid them. Florida law generally allows that. “We get PTSD to go to the mailbox. You never know what’s gonna come,” Mary Ann Fitzgerald, a former Beattie Development customer said. The battle isn’t over. Imagine asking your contractor for years to finish your home and it doesn’t get done. “We didn’t know who to call, when to call. Nothing ever got done. It was the most stressful thing,” Fitzgerald, a former Beattie Development customer said. Then, you start to get billed for materials you already paid for. “You’re just kind of like waiting, for that 90 day mark to finish and just wondering what else hasn’t been paid that I don’t know about,” Kristen Kramer, a former Beattie Development customer said. “I abided by the contract. I did everything that I was supposed to do, right, but yet, now I have to double pay for everything,” Jason Yoraway, a former Beattie Development customer said. This is the reality of some homeowners after terminating their contract with Beattie Development. Unable to move into their homes and having trouble getting loans from banks to finish their homes if the liens are not taken care of. They told WINK News Reporter Olivia Jean that Beattie always had an excuse when liens came during contracts. RELATED: WINK INVESTIGATES: Numbers rise of those claiming to be impacted by Beattie Development “We called up the office and we told them, what’s this? He says it’s being taken care of,” Ramon Rosas, a former Beattie Development customer said. Subcontractors and Beattie Development are where the liens are coming from. The big issue: homeowners say they gave Beattie Development money to give to the subcontractors for their work but say they discovered later the subcontractors were never paid. “We want to take care of the vendors. We really do, but we have no money to do that, and so it would be great if we could have some patience and tolerance and extra negotiating power with these vendors,” Yoraway said. So, that raises the question: Why isn’t Beattie Development getting the liens? “You have some trust that there’s going to be some some checks and balances, right, some controls that are in place, and it just doesn’t seem to be the case,” Ed Nagy, a former Beattie Development customer said. These homeowners are now demanding change within the law. “I think that things have to change. A lot of people, so many people like they wait their lives to move to Florida, right? And, you know, then they save a ton of money because they want to build their dream house here in Florida. And then you come, and then these nightmares happen,” Kramer said. Homeowners say when things go bad it’s on them. “We don’t have any protection,” Rosas said. “Why is it that it’s the homeowner’s responsibility and the builder gets to walk away from that just because they wrote something in a contract that we found out he’s broke on multiple levels,” Roberta Murphy, a former Beattie Development customer said. “I don’t see where homeowners have much protection. I don’t see where there’s much like at all,” John Fitzgerald, a former Beattie Development customer said. “We need help from our government to, you know, help make it better. And we really want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anybody else, because it sucks,” Kramer said. RELATED: WINK Investigates: How to protect yourself when hiring a contractor Dozens of homeowners are now demanding help to change state law. There is a Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund, but they some say the process is impossible to complete without spending more money. There’s still have one big unanswered question: Where did all of their money go? WINK News will continue to stay on top of this story and bring you updates as we get them.