Professional Experience

2014 to present: Anchor for WINK News This Morning. Previously worked at KMGH-TV in Denver, WSJV-TV in South Bend, Ind., and KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Service

Enjoys participating in marathons and triathlons.

Education

The University of Missouri.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

As an island girl at heart, I'm thrilled to be back by the beach. While there are so many fantastic things about Southwest Florida, one of my favorites is Captiva, which holds a special place in my heart because that is where I celebrated my marriage.

Hometown

I don't have one. I've never lived anywhere longer than four years.

Family

Husband and two young children.

Memorable Assignments

Covering the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., and historic floods that destroyed parts of Colorado.

Interesting Fact

As the daughter of U.S. Navy parents, I've lived in 10 states, Guam and Sweden.

8 arrested in Fort Myers drug bust

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Eight people were arrested after an undercover drug operation. On July 23, Fort Myers police used undercover officers to buy illegal drugs. During the operation, police arrested five suspected drug dealers including 47-year-old Paulette Gary, 33-year-old Merilee Bizzozero, 52-year-old Woodrow Watkins, 23-year-old William Sanchez and 55-year-old Johnie Peacock. All five were […]

Man dead, Interstate 75 shutdown for hours in Alachua County

MICANOPY, Fla.(The Gainesville Sun) – A man was found dead and Interstate 75 was shut down in both directions for hours on Saturday after an exchange of gunfire near the Micanopy exit. Northbound and southbound traffic on Interstate 75 was closed at mile marker 374 near Micanopy after an armed man fired a handgun at […]

Daily Deal: Energy Saving Tips

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – The summer months are often when your electric bill is the highest, so WINK NEWS Call for Action asked local electric companies how you can reduce your bill. Doug Barker is the Supervisor of Energy Services of LCEC, the Lee County Electric Cooperative. He said the number one way to cut down […]

SUV catches fire at 7-Eleven

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Crews are investigating what caused a car to catch fire at a 7-Eleven Sunday afternoon. The driver of the SUV told WINK News he was at McGregor Boulevard and Cypress Lake Drive, when he noticed smoke coming from his air conditioning. He said he pulled into the 7-Eleven and within minutes […]

GOP candidates criticize Trump on war hero comments

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republicans’ swift condemnation of Donald Trump’s disparaging comments about Sen. John McCain’s military service marks a turning point in the party’s cautious approach to the billionaire-turned-presidential candidate. But Trump simply may not care; indeed he seemed to bask in his McCain takedown. After dismissing McCain’s reputation as a war hero because he […]

Toddler loses foot in lawn mower accident

DADE CITY, Fla. (AP) – A 2-year-old Pasco County boy is being treated after is foot was severed by a lawn mower. Emergency officials say the toddler ran into the riding lawnmower that his mother was driving early Saturday. The boy’s leg got caught under the mower and was severed below the knee. He was […]

Cuba embassy to reopen Monday

HAVANA (AP) – Cuba’s blue, red and white-starred flag is set to fly outside the country’s diplomatic mission in the United States for the first time since the countries severed ties in 1961. While no formal ceremony is planned Monday for the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, it too will become a full-fledged embassy just […]

St. Pete Beach evacuated after WWII-era flash bomb found

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (AP) – An Air Force bomb squad has safely detonated a barnacle-encrusted bomb that washed ashore on St. Pete Beach. A spokesman for Mac Dill Air Force base says the object was a photoflash bomb, used to aid WWII-era night photographic missions. A beachgoer found the old bomb while combing the […]

BMW hits home in Charlotte County

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – Around 2,200 people in Charlotte County were without power Sunday morning after a car crashed into a home and hit a power pole. According to Charlotte County Fire and EMS, the driver of a BMW was headed eastbound on Willmington Boulevard, when she lost control and hit a home in the […]

Four charged for making fake oil spill claims in Pensacola

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) – Four Pensacola residents including a former IRS employee are going to prison for filing false oil spill claims. U.S. Attorney Pamela Marsh announced Friday that four people had been sentenced on mail fraud charges. The four pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme where they alleged they lost money due to […]