WINK Investigates: For the first time, Beattie Development owner Paul Beattie speaks out during liquidation after allegationsLocal Rabbi and Israeli soldier speak on Iran missile attack
CAPE CORAL WINK Investigates: For the first time, Beattie Development owner Paul Beattie speaks out during liquidation after allegations On Tuesday for the first time, Paul Beattie, owner of Beattie Development, who a lot of people say owe them a lot of money, is speaking out.
FORT MYERS Local Rabbi and Israeli soldier speak on Iran missile attack Israeli authorities said Iran launched dozens of missiles at the country.
PORT CHARLOTTE “It was just a monster in disguise,” Port Charlotte couple cleans up after Helene Wesley and Karen Wingate will never forget what they had for dinner September 27th.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IRS announces tax relief for those affected by Helene The IRS has just announced tax relief for people affected by Hurricane Helene.
FORT MYERS BEACH How the Fort Myers Beach community is handling Helene’s aftermath One storm hit Fort Myers Beach, but the damage is as different from block to block as the stories their homeowners tell
SOUTH FORT MYERS Submerged car in Fort Myers neighborhood has people worried A submerged car has neighbors worried that their pond will become polluted. One neighbor told WINK News that the vehicle has been in the pond since Hurricane Helene.
Collier County expands mosquito control district The Collier Mosquito Control District is expanding to different areas, and new tools are being used to keep the mosquito population under control as more standing water remains following Hurricane Helene.
CAPE CORAL Memorial benches being removed from Jaycee Park in Cape Coral After years of discussions, the City of Cape Coral will start to remove items from Jaycee Park as part of ongoing improvements.
ST. JAMES CITY How residents of St. James City are coping after Helene Once known for sunsets and dolphins, the tiny island community of St. James City is once again cleaning up after a hurricane.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Charlotte County woman and dog rescued from home during Helene Amidst the rising waters of Hurricane Helene, a woman and her dog sought safety atop the kitchen counter inside their Charlotte County home.
NAPLES After 60 years in River Park, neighbors moving out because of Hurricane Helene Southwest Florida is still feeling the impacts from Helene, and a Naples community got the brunt of the storm.
ESTERO SWFL 12-year-old swimmer earns statewide recognition Last season Kallen Garnier-Chan achieved a national ranked top three time in the 800 and 1000 meter freestyle.
NORTH PORT Family continues legal battle with Heritage Insurance A husband and wife will not quit the fight with their homeowner’s insurance.
CAPTIVA Captiva restaurant surrounded by sand after Helene A Captiva restaurant was left almost unrecognizable after Helene, with piles of sand reaching the doors and windows of the establishment.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County offers showers and laundry facilities post-Helene Charlotte County has opened a comfort station equipped with showers and laundry facilities to aid residents struggling with storm recovery.
CAPE CORAL WINK Investigates: For the first time, Beattie Development owner Paul Beattie speaks out during liquidation after allegations On Tuesday for the first time, Paul Beattie, owner of Beattie Development, who a lot of people say owe them a lot of money, is speaking out.
FORT MYERS Local Rabbi and Israeli soldier speak on Iran missile attack Israeli authorities said Iran launched dozens of missiles at the country.
PORT CHARLOTTE “It was just a monster in disguise,” Port Charlotte couple cleans up after Helene Wesley and Karen Wingate will never forget what they had for dinner September 27th.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IRS announces tax relief for those affected by Helene The IRS has just announced tax relief for people affected by Hurricane Helene.
FORT MYERS BEACH How the Fort Myers Beach community is handling Helene’s aftermath One storm hit Fort Myers Beach, but the damage is as different from block to block as the stories their homeowners tell
SOUTH FORT MYERS Submerged car in Fort Myers neighborhood has people worried A submerged car has neighbors worried that their pond will become polluted. One neighbor told WINK News that the vehicle has been in the pond since Hurricane Helene.
Collier County expands mosquito control district The Collier Mosquito Control District is expanding to different areas, and new tools are being used to keep the mosquito population under control as more standing water remains following Hurricane Helene.
CAPE CORAL Memorial benches being removed from Jaycee Park in Cape Coral After years of discussions, the City of Cape Coral will start to remove items from Jaycee Park as part of ongoing improvements.
ST. JAMES CITY How residents of St. James City are coping after Helene Once known for sunsets and dolphins, the tiny island community of St. James City is once again cleaning up after a hurricane.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR Charlotte County woman and dog rescued from home during Helene Amidst the rising waters of Hurricane Helene, a woman and her dog sought safety atop the kitchen counter inside their Charlotte County home.
NAPLES After 60 years in River Park, neighbors moving out because of Hurricane Helene Southwest Florida is still feeling the impacts from Helene, and a Naples community got the brunt of the storm.
ESTERO SWFL 12-year-old swimmer earns statewide recognition Last season Kallen Garnier-Chan achieved a national ranked top three time in the 800 and 1000 meter freestyle.
NORTH PORT Family continues legal battle with Heritage Insurance A husband and wife will not quit the fight with their homeowner’s insurance.
CAPTIVA Captiva restaurant surrounded by sand after Helene A Captiva restaurant was left almost unrecognizable after Helene, with piles of sand reaching the doors and windows of the establishment.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County offers showers and laundry facilities post-Helene Charlotte County has opened a comfort station equipped with showers and laundry facilities to aid residents struggling with storm recovery.
It’s safe to say Wesley and Karen Wingate will never forget what they had for dinner on September 27. “We were having dinner, and the water started to rise,” said Wesley Wingate, a Port Charlotte resident who lives near the Peace River. “And it was the same as the last storm that hit this area.” The couple didn’t worry about it. They continued eating dinner as Hurricane Helene rolled by. “Then at that point, I started noticing (the water) coming into the lanai,” said Wesley. “So once it came into the lanai, it got right up to the running boards of the of the door. Right to the door jam. And I told my wife, I said, ‘Karen, start picking stuff up off the floor!” Within minutes, the Wingates said the water was about six inches in the house. RELATED: Charlotte County offers showers and laundry facilities post-Helene RELATED: Animal shelter in Charlotte Harbor devastated by Helene is seeking support When all was said and done, Hurricane Helene brought a total of about two feet of water inside their home. “When we opened the front door, the surge of water came in like a river,” recalled Wesley. “And so by then, it was over four feet from our driveway to the driveway across the street.” Luckily, their neighbors across the street own an Airbnb. “Nobody was there, so she was gracious enough to let us stay there,” said Wesley. “If we didn’t have that place to go, we couldn’t have got out of here.” But getting across the street was scary for the couple’s four-legged friend. “Our dog had to swim across,” explained Wesley. “It was so deep she couldn’t walk across. So she was scared. She was very scared… Animals do feel when things are in disarray, you know?” As for Wesley and Karen’s belongings, most of them now sit on the curb outside their home. “We’ve lost all the appliances, washer, dryer,” said Wesley, adding in a joke: “everything from q tips to the hot water heater is gone!” RELATED: Sisters fly to Matlacha to help father rebuild after Hurricane Helene’s destruction The floor will need replacing too. So will their drywall. “Everybody got caught off guard,” said Wesley. “It was just a monster in disguise, this storm.” But Wesley and his wife Karen are not letting it bring them down. “This has been a harrowing experience, but God has poured down more blessings on us than we can count or even write down,” Karen said. And this couple will continue to pray for all those affected by Helene. “We pray for those that are less fortunate,” added Wesley. “We won’t know the whole impact of the storm, I don’t think, for a while, you know?”