Convicted child predator receives 75-year prison sentence in DeSoto CountyWhite Pelican Villas taking shape at former Beachview Cottages site on Sanibel
Convicted child predator receives 75-year prison sentence in DeSoto County The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office has announced a 75-year prison sentence for a man convicted of sexual crimes against children.
White Pelican Villas taking shape at former Beachview Cottages site on Sanibel Following Hurricane Ian, Tony Lapi faced a dilemma. He could either rebuild the resort in the same footprint as the 22 Beachview Cottages that were destroyed on Sanibel Island or move it farther back from the beach and construct something more resilient.
WINK News Photos of the Week (3/21 – 3/27) Welcome to WINK News Photos of the Week, where we highlight memorable moments from Southwest Florida throughout the week.
NORTH NAPLES Man accused of stealing over $15K worth of Pokémon cards in North Naples The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of stealing over $15,000 worth of Pokémon cards from a North Naples business.
Tim Aten Knows: Costco formally files plans for second store in Collier Less than two weeks after hundreds of residents packed a neighborhood information meeting to protest conceptual plans for a second location in Collier County, Costco Wholesale Corp. submitted formal development plans earlier this month for a new store proposed on the southeast corner of Collier Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road.
FORT MYERS Vietnam Traveling Wall comes to Southwest Florida A moving tribute to Vietnam veterans arrived in Southwest Florida.
12-year-old Lee County student arrested for making bomb threats at his school A 12-year-old student from Veterans Park Academy for the Arts was arrested on Thursday for making threats involving planting bombs around the school.
Motorcyclist critically injured following SUV crash on US-41 in Lee County The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV that critically injured one person on U.S. 41 in Lee County.
BOKEELIA Bokeelia home destroyed after early morning fire The Matlacha Pine Island Fire Control District is on the scene of a fire that broke out at a Bokeelia home.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Breezy with a few showers Friday afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking a breezier Friday with a mix of sun and clouds, which may produce showers, impacting your evening plans.
ESTERO Estero Goodwill holds grand opening Lynn Watts, a longtime Goodwill shopper, found herself in the midst of the bustling scene.
SANIBEL Destroyed and distressed: properties on Sanibel facing code enforcement Sanibel, a city known for its resilience, is now facing challenges as some of its beloved landmarks remain in disrepair.
NAPLES Collier County first responders extinguish brush fire near golf course A brush fire in Collier County threatened the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples on Wednesday, but quick action from first responders helped prevent disaster.
Naples embraces new mobile gym for dogs A unique mobile gym for dogs is making waves in Naples, offering a convenient way for pets to exercise without leaving their homes.
EVERGLADES Florida sugar firms lose lawsuit; Everglades restoration moves forward The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Army Corps, marking a significant victory for Everglades restoration efforts.
Convicted child predator receives 75-year prison sentence in DeSoto County The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office has announced a 75-year prison sentence for a man convicted of sexual crimes against children.
White Pelican Villas taking shape at former Beachview Cottages site on Sanibel Following Hurricane Ian, Tony Lapi faced a dilemma. He could either rebuild the resort in the same footprint as the 22 Beachview Cottages that were destroyed on Sanibel Island or move it farther back from the beach and construct something more resilient.
WINK News Photos of the Week (3/21 – 3/27) Welcome to WINK News Photos of the Week, where we highlight memorable moments from Southwest Florida throughout the week.
NORTH NAPLES Man accused of stealing over $15K worth of Pokémon cards in North Naples The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of stealing over $15,000 worth of Pokémon cards from a North Naples business.
Tim Aten Knows: Costco formally files plans for second store in Collier Less than two weeks after hundreds of residents packed a neighborhood information meeting to protest conceptual plans for a second location in Collier County, Costco Wholesale Corp. submitted formal development plans earlier this month for a new store proposed on the southeast corner of Collier Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road.
FORT MYERS Vietnam Traveling Wall comes to Southwest Florida A moving tribute to Vietnam veterans arrived in Southwest Florida.
12-year-old Lee County student arrested for making bomb threats at his school A 12-year-old student from Veterans Park Academy for the Arts was arrested on Thursday for making threats involving planting bombs around the school.
Motorcyclist critically injured following SUV crash on US-41 in Lee County The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV that critically injured one person on U.S. 41 in Lee County.
BOKEELIA Bokeelia home destroyed after early morning fire The Matlacha Pine Island Fire Control District is on the scene of a fire that broke out at a Bokeelia home.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Breezy with a few showers Friday afternoon and evening The Weather Authority is tracking a breezier Friday with a mix of sun and clouds, which may produce showers, impacting your evening plans.
ESTERO Estero Goodwill holds grand opening Lynn Watts, a longtime Goodwill shopper, found herself in the midst of the bustling scene.
SANIBEL Destroyed and distressed: properties on Sanibel facing code enforcement Sanibel, a city known for its resilience, is now facing challenges as some of its beloved landmarks remain in disrepair.
NAPLES Collier County first responders extinguish brush fire near golf course A brush fire in Collier County threatened the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples on Wednesday, but quick action from first responders helped prevent disaster.
Naples embraces new mobile gym for dogs A unique mobile gym for dogs is making waves in Naples, offering a convenient way for pets to exercise without leaving their homes.
EVERGLADES Florida sugar firms lose lawsuit; Everglades restoration moves forward The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Army Corps, marking a significant victory for Everglades restoration efforts.
Credit: Lee County Sherriff’s Office The Fort Myers Police Department has arrested a hospital employee accused of stealing more than $150,000 worth of medical equipment from Lee Health. Fifty-six-year-old Ricardo Rodrigues, a former Lee Health employee, is accused of taking 10 heart monitors and batteries from Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers and selling them on eBay. According to FMPD, 10 Philips heart monitors, and five Philips monitor batteries were unaccounted for at the hospital. The heart monitors had been stored in the Lee Health intensive care unit and were stolen due to blind spots in the security cameras as well as the busy activity of the hospital. Each monitor was valued at $8,500, and the batteries at $4,500. The Fort Myers Police Department reviewed footage from security cameras at the hospital and tracked down the equipment via serial numbers. The investigation started on Nov. 18 after staff noticed the equipment missing. FMPD worked with the Lee Health Nursing Director to survey the hospital and determine how the equipment may have been stolen. A camera was placed in the room where the storage was located to capture the culprit accountable. The case had a breakthrough when Detective Richard Carpenter was able to track down the activated monitors through the BioMed notifications they would receive when the stolen monitors were activated. These monitors were tracked back to SakoMed, a company in California that purchased the stolen items from an eBay account linked to Rodrigues’s cellphone number. When confronted by detectives, Rodrigues denied the claims, but after a further search of his eBay account, the stolen items were found to be being sold to SakoMed. Rodrigues was charged with grand theft, larceny and trafficking stolen property. He was released on Feb. 2 after bonding out of jail at $55,000.