Caloosahatchee Bridge exit ramp closureFort Myers man sentenced for distributing, possessing child sex abuse media
WASHINGTON (AP) Some of the most notable quotes from the JD Vance-Tim Walz vice presidential debate The first and only vice presidential debate between Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz featured an often orderly, policy-focused and even civil dialogue between the two men seeking to serve as the next president’s second in command.
FORT MYERS Caloosahatchee Bridge exit ramp closure The southbound exit loop ramp from the Caloosahatchee Bridge will be closed for the next four weeks for planned construction work.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man sentenced for distributing, possessing child sex abuse media A Fort Myers man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for distributing and possessing child sex abuse media.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach condos still under construction 2 years after Hurricane Ian As condos are turned into construction zones, the impacts from Hurricane Ian are still evident two years later.
Madeira Beach Gov. DeSantis provides recovery efforts update following Hurricane Helene Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Madeira Beach.
WINK NEWS Bipartisan school safety legislation introduced to develop emergency parental notifications New bi-partisan school safety legislation was introduced Tuesday to streamline parent communication during emergencies.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms Wednesday afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms throughout this Wednesday afternoon, dropping temperatures slightly.
CAMPAIGN CENTRAL Tim Walz and JD Vance face off in VP debate WINK News is campaign central, and on Tuesday night, all eyes are focused on the debate stage in New York, where the vice presidential candidates are facing off in their only debate.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County couple rescued from rooftop by stranger Hurricane Helene battered Charlotte County with heavy rain and wind, and many neighbors watched as water flooded into their homes.
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.
WASHINGTON (AP) Some of the most notable quotes from the JD Vance-Tim Walz vice presidential debate The first and only vice presidential debate between Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz featured an often orderly, policy-focused and even civil dialogue between the two men seeking to serve as the next president’s second in command.
FORT MYERS Caloosahatchee Bridge exit ramp closure The southbound exit loop ramp from the Caloosahatchee Bridge will be closed for the next four weeks for planned construction work.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers man sentenced for distributing, possessing child sex abuse media A Fort Myers man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for distributing and possessing child sex abuse media.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach condos still under construction 2 years after Hurricane Ian As condos are turned into construction zones, the impacts from Hurricane Ian are still evident two years later.
Madeira Beach Gov. DeSantis provides recovery efforts update following Hurricane Helene Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Madeira Beach.
WINK NEWS Bipartisan school safety legislation introduced to develop emergency parental notifications New bi-partisan school safety legislation was introduced Tuesday to streamline parent communication during emergencies.
The Weather Authority Scattered rain and storms Wednesday afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking scattered rain and storms throughout this Wednesday afternoon, dropping temperatures slightly.
CAMPAIGN CENTRAL Tim Walz and JD Vance face off in VP debate WINK News is campaign central, and on Tuesday night, all eyes are focused on the debate stage in New York, where the vice presidential candidates are facing off in their only debate.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County couple rescued from rooftop by stranger Hurricane Helene battered Charlotte County with heavy rain and wind, and many neighbors watched as water flooded into their homes.
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.
As condos are turned into construction zones, the impacts from Hurricane Ian are still evident two years later. Todd Kluener owns a condo and is the board’s vice president at the Seaside Resort. “So our roof got completely ripped off. The surge went through the first floor, and first-class Whirlpool was going through their units,” said Kluener. He told WINK News the permitting and planning process to rebuild took longer than expected, but they are nearing the finish line. “The biggest hurdle is having our elevator contractor come in and start rebuilding our elevator,” said Kluener. Then, they must have the fire department sign off and say the building is safe to live in. “We call on a pretty much continuous basis, asking for consults to say, ‘Hey, what do we need to do? What are we missing here?’ And we’re more than happy to come out just to let them know, ‘You’re missing this. Let’s get this in line,’ and we want them in as fast as we can get them in there, but we want them in there safely,” said Bill Genevrino, Life Safety Specialist at the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District. That means working water pumps, alarm systems, fire doors, emergency exit signs and lighting. “It’s those larger, more complex systems that are going to take more time, and therefore, you know, kind of be the limiting factor as to when you can get in,” said Genevrino. Since Hurricane Ian, the fire department has inspected 476 apartment or condo buildings, including the Hibiscus Pointe condos on the southern end of the island. Lynn Gregory doesn’t own a unit here, but she’s renting one while her condo next door continues to be worked on. “Keep getting new dates when you can move in, and those dates come and go, and then there’s new dates after that, and it’s just been a very long process,” said Lynn Gregory. Condos are building back stronger, with many adding hurricane-impact windows and moving their electrical systems higher up. “When these condos get back open and running, we now have owners that come back to stay, vacationers that support the economy locally,” said Kluener. “I’m just waiting until it’s just the day because it’s been too many disappointments,” said Gregory. The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District told WINK News that they didn’t experience any major setbacks from Hurricane Helene and that no properties had to be red-tagged. Many owners hope to be back in their units later this year or early next year.