Whiskey Creek residents frustrated by worsened floodingBonita Springs firefighters rescue a bulldog in Helene’s aftermath
FORT MYERS Whiskey Creek residents frustrated by worsened flooding Whiskey Creek residents do not know why flooding has worsened, but they said they want something done about it.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs firefighters rescue a bulldog in Helene’s aftermath In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Bonita Springs Fire Station 27 received a guest: a sweet little bulldog.
FGCU professor speaks on port worker strike 45,000 port workers on the East and Gulf Coasts are officially on strike as of Wednesday after their labor contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance expired.
CAPE CORAL Oasis head football coach leading the Sharks after 22 years with Cape Coral Police Oasis High School head football coach Brice Bearman in his first season after retiring from the Cape Coral Police Department after 22 years.
NAPLES Naples City Council votes to repair Naples Pier Though Helene did cause further damage to the Naples Pier, the city manager said it would not get in the way of its reconstruction.
Florida voter registration deadline upcoming Monday, Oct. 7, is the deadline to register to vote in November’s general election.
FORT MYERS BEACH The future of Church of the Ascension after Helene One of the hardest hit churches by Hurricane Ian is on Fort Myers Beach. Church of the Ascension got more water from Helene, but there wasn’t much left to damage.
HARLEM HEIGHTS How were Harlem Heights residents affected by Helene? A community filled with water nearly two years ago is dry two years later, even after the storm surge of Helene, and now residents told us why.
PUNTA GORDA Harbor Belle residents in Punta Gorda on day 7 with no power after Helene Hurricane Helene’s impact on an RV park in Punta Gorda has left the community in the sweltering heat with nowhere else to turn.
Lee County Sheriff implementing new bus stop signs to improve safety The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has installed three bus stop signs throughout Lee County.
NORTH PORT What’s next for the Rapkins? Family sues Heritage Insurance A family is paying for a mess they didn’t ask for or create.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood neighborhood drying out ahead of potential heavy rain Debris on front lawns, homes gutted, and roofs in need of repair. People in one Englewood community say they are not ready for another bout of rain, let alone another tropical storm.
New AirTag tracking law goes into effect This week, a new state law went into effect, cracking down on tracking devices like AirTags and increasing criminal penalties for people who track others without their consent.
Detecting breast cancer with a wearable patch This year, more than 350,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed. Early detection increases survival rates up to 98%
Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office remembers K-9 Scar The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office remembers the life of one of their K9s, Scar.
FORT MYERS Whiskey Creek residents frustrated by worsened flooding Whiskey Creek residents do not know why flooding has worsened, but they said they want something done about it.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs firefighters rescue a bulldog in Helene’s aftermath In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Bonita Springs Fire Station 27 received a guest: a sweet little bulldog.
FGCU professor speaks on port worker strike 45,000 port workers on the East and Gulf Coasts are officially on strike as of Wednesday after their labor contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance expired.
CAPE CORAL Oasis head football coach leading the Sharks after 22 years with Cape Coral Police Oasis High School head football coach Brice Bearman in his first season after retiring from the Cape Coral Police Department after 22 years.
NAPLES Naples City Council votes to repair Naples Pier Though Helene did cause further damage to the Naples Pier, the city manager said it would not get in the way of its reconstruction.
Florida voter registration deadline upcoming Monday, Oct. 7, is the deadline to register to vote in November’s general election.
FORT MYERS BEACH The future of Church of the Ascension after Helene One of the hardest hit churches by Hurricane Ian is on Fort Myers Beach. Church of the Ascension got more water from Helene, but there wasn’t much left to damage.
HARLEM HEIGHTS How were Harlem Heights residents affected by Helene? A community filled with water nearly two years ago is dry two years later, even after the storm surge of Helene, and now residents told us why.
PUNTA GORDA Harbor Belle residents in Punta Gorda on day 7 with no power after Helene Hurricane Helene’s impact on an RV park in Punta Gorda has left the community in the sweltering heat with nowhere else to turn.
Lee County Sheriff implementing new bus stop signs to improve safety The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has installed three bus stop signs throughout Lee County.
NORTH PORT What’s next for the Rapkins? Family sues Heritage Insurance A family is paying for a mess they didn’t ask for or create.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood neighborhood drying out ahead of potential heavy rain Debris on front lawns, homes gutted, and roofs in need of repair. People in one Englewood community say they are not ready for another bout of rain, let alone another tropical storm.
New AirTag tracking law goes into effect This week, a new state law went into effect, cracking down on tracking devices like AirTags and increasing criminal penalties for people who track others without their consent.
Detecting breast cancer with a wearable patch This year, more than 350,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed. Early detection increases survival rates up to 98%
Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office remembers K-9 Scar The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office remembers the life of one of their K9s, Scar.
One of the hardest hit churches by Hurricane Ian is on Fort Myers Beach. The Church of the Ascension got more water from Helene, but there wasn’t much left to damage. Two years after the storm, the property is fenced off and the buildings look abandoned, but for the first time, WINK News walked the campus and now knows what the future holds. “Rebuilding this property is a top priority for the bishop,” said Father Jarek Sniosek. It’s sad to see this once vibrant parish on Fort Myers Beach looking so empty, but that’s how it has been since Hurricane Ian’s devastating storm surge took this church from this: To this: Pews were strewn about, and sand was left on the seats. Tables floated, landing where they were not supposed to be. Two years later, a statue of Jesus, pushed from its pedestal, is a strong reminder of what happened here. It’s hard to imagine on this peaceful campus the harrowing things people went through during Hurricane Ian. It was on the 3rd floor of the monastery that religious priests and sisters waited out the height of the storm, and no one could reach them for three days. “They were on top of one of the condenser units outside, awaiting their rescue. And I know they were horrified, absolutely horrified,” said Joe Rego, director of building and development. Father Adams, who served this parish for years, has since retired. The Clare nuns also won’t be back, but the church will be rebuilt stronger and higher. Joe Rego is heading up the rebuilding process for the Diocese of Venice. “Current thought process, at least, is to take the church and centralize it on the property, get it up closer to the road. Where we have some higher elevation,” said Rego. The parish hall will also be rebuilt, and another priority is preserving the existing memorial garden. “Parts of the memorial gardens were completely washed away. It is really critical for the parish to protect the site and honor the memory of those who were laid to rest here,” said Father Sniosek. So, despite the boarded-up stained glass, the holes in the walls and the altar covered in plastic, this is a scene of hope, where one door is closed and another opened. “We want to build back better, not just better for today, better for the future,” said Rego. “I’m confident that, you know, one day, Ascension will rise again and serve many wonderful people,” said Father Sniosek. Rebuilding the church is expected to take another two to three years, and because of all the new building requirements, the costs will far exceed the insurance payout. If you would like to donate to help the church rebuild, click here.