Photo shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospitalMan arrested for failing to return U-Haul
Photo shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospital The grandfather of one of the teens struck by a truck in a New Orleans terrorist attack has released a picture of the teens sharing an emotional moment in the hospital.
Man arrested for failing to return U-Haul According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a man was arrested on Thursday for failing to redeliver a U-Haul truck.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Stolen Jeep, knife attack, and officer impersonator This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a stolen Jeep, a man caught red-handed after slashing his neighbor, and a man impersonating a federal officer.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bonita Bill’s final day: Celebrating 34 years of memories At 8 a.m., the doors opened for one last time at Bonita Bill’s, a beloved restaurant that has been a staple on Fort Myers Beach since 1991.
the weather authority Seasonal Sunday in store with highs reaching the mid 70s The Weather Authority says that even though Southwest Florida is getting another chilly start, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, it will warm up nicely into the afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man arrested for death threats against local leaders A Punta Gorda man has been arrested for sending over thirty threatening emails to senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and a Punta Gorda police officer.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man arrested for stealing Jeep, possessing firearm illegally A 39-year-old man was arrested early Friday morning in Cape Coral after being accused of stealing a Jeep and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
NORTH PORT North Port Firefighters rescue dog, cats during structure fire North Port Fire Rescue crews responded to a structure fire, saving one dog and four cats from a burning home.
CAPE CORAL Runners turn out for 13th annual LCEC 5K for United Way Jim Jeffers Park in Cape Coral transformed into a sea of runners Saturday morning as people laced up their shoes for the 13th annual LCEC 5K for United Way.
the weather authority A cool, comfortable first weekend of 2025 with lots of sunshine The Weather Authority is kicking off the first weekend of 2025 on a chilly note with morning temperatures in the 40s and 50s across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Locals respond to Surgeon General advisory on alcohol Many think a cancer warning label won’t stop anyone who is planning on having a drink from having one. But at the same time, hearing alcohol could increase their cancer risk did get them thinking about drinking.
New provision to Florida law gives public the authority to sue over homeless camping People now have the power to sue local leaders for not stopping the homeless from camping in public if a report is made.
CAPE CORAL Understanding water restriction in Cape Coral The city of Canals has water problems again!
SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
Photo shows SWFL teens hit in New Orleans terrorist attack reunited in hospital The grandfather of one of the teens struck by a truck in a New Orleans terrorist attack has released a picture of the teens sharing an emotional moment in the hospital.
Man arrested for failing to return U-Haul According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a man was arrested on Thursday for failing to redeliver a U-Haul truck.
WINK Neighborhood Watch: Stolen Jeep, knife attack, and officer impersonator This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a stolen Jeep, a man caught red-handed after slashing his neighbor, and a man impersonating a federal officer.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bonita Bill’s final day: Celebrating 34 years of memories At 8 a.m., the doors opened for one last time at Bonita Bill’s, a beloved restaurant that has been a staple on Fort Myers Beach since 1991.
the weather authority Seasonal Sunday in store with highs reaching the mid 70s The Weather Authority says that even though Southwest Florida is getting another chilly start, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, it will warm up nicely into the afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox Rosen’s Construction Heads Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man arrested for death threats against local leaders A Punta Gorda man has been arrested for sending over thirty threatening emails to senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and a Punta Gorda police officer.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man arrested for stealing Jeep, possessing firearm illegally A 39-year-old man was arrested early Friday morning in Cape Coral after being accused of stealing a Jeep and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
NORTH PORT North Port Firefighters rescue dog, cats during structure fire North Port Fire Rescue crews responded to a structure fire, saving one dog and four cats from a burning home.
CAPE CORAL Runners turn out for 13th annual LCEC 5K for United Way Jim Jeffers Park in Cape Coral transformed into a sea of runners Saturday morning as people laced up their shoes for the 13th annual LCEC 5K for United Way.
the weather authority A cool, comfortable first weekend of 2025 with lots of sunshine The Weather Authority is kicking off the first weekend of 2025 on a chilly note with morning temperatures in the 40s and 50s across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Locals respond to Surgeon General advisory on alcohol Many think a cancer warning label won’t stop anyone who is planning on having a drink from having one. But at the same time, hearing alcohol could increase their cancer risk did get them thinking about drinking.
New provision to Florida law gives public the authority to sue over homeless camping People now have the power to sue local leaders for not stopping the homeless from camping in public if a report is made.
CAPE CORAL Understanding water restriction in Cape Coral The city of Canals has water problems again!
SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
The tragic drowning of a little boy in Fort Myers is starting a conversation. It’s only natural for people to gravitate towards the things they love, and 7-year-old Braylin Staco’s family told WINK News he loved water. The little boy with autism was found dead in a retention pond in Lee County on Friday, and now a local man wants to make sure what happened to Braylin will never happen again. WINK News reporter Haley Zarcone spoke with the man to find out how he hopes to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again. Drowning in a retention pond specifically, John Fletemeyer said, is a preventable death. Fletemeyer is the chairman of the International Drowning Prevention Alliance, and he’s taken a special interest in this tragedy. “A child will walk to the edge of a pond and see a tadpole or frog,” Fletemeyer told WINK. “In Florida alone, there’s between 7,500 and 7,600 retention ponds.” Sadly, it is not prevented enough. Fletemeyer’s book Retention Pond Safety may seem niche, but it hits home for the young boy’s family. Staco was autistic. “Water is like a magnet to them, and they’re drawn to water depending on what level in the spectrum they are, but at any level, they’re certainly drawn to the water. And this is the reason that retention ponds are especially dangerous to children suffering from autism,” Fletemeyer explained. RELATED: Police report reveals how child with autism got out of house before drowning in Fort Myers pond A portion of this book is dedicated to those with autism, and it states, in part, that water is a calming sensory for children with autism. Within the last 18 months, Staco is the third child with autism to drown in Southwest Florida. So what can be done? Now that his book has hit the shelves, Fletemeyer hopes it catches the eyes of a state legislature. “We need to have retention ponds with a barrier fence or fence-in all swimming pools that you see in a condominium complex or a public pool, they’re fenced in, and they prevent a barrier for a child to accidentally gain access to,” Fletemeyer explained. “Studies that we’ve conducted over the years, about 5%, show that retention ponds have barrier fences. 95% don’t. So 95% are especially dangerous.” In regards to Staco’s drowning, DCF has received our request for their report, and they said they are working on getting that to us.