Beautiful Sunday on tap with temperatures reaching the low 80s this afternoonCommunity raises funds for family of elementary school choking victim
southwest florida Beautiful Sunday on tap with temperatures reaching the low 80s this afternoon It will be another seasonal day with sun and clouds across Southwest Florida with temperatures reaching yet again topping out in the low 80s.
NAPLES Community raises funds for family of elementary school choking victim Staff and students from Laurel Oak Elementary School gathered at a Naples Culver’s to raise money for the family of Benjamin Cronin, an 11-year-old boy who died after choking at school.
NB lanes of US 41 at Olympia Ave closed due to traffic investigation According to the Punta Gorda Police Department, the northbound lane of US 41 at Olympia Avenue and Marion Avenue is closed due to a traffic crash investigation.
NAPLES Swine in the 239: Collier’s pig showdown Over 250 pigs took over the Collier County fairgrounds Saturday morning for Swine in the 239.
immokalee Fatal crash in Immokalee leaves 2 dead, both cars engulfed in flames The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a crash that left one person dead in Immokalee near the intersection of State Road 82 and Gators Slough Road.
NAPLES Motorcyclist dies in crash with pickup truck in Collier County The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly crash on Wilson Boulevard, near 10th Avenue Northeast in Collier County.
southwest florida Plenty of sunshine and less humid air for your Saturday plans The Weather Authority says this weekend is kicking off with some beautiful, less humid weather, perfect for any outdoor plans you may have!
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Playoffs Round 1 21 Southwest Florida high school football teams were in action in round one of the playoffs trying to keep their state title hopes alive.
CLEWISTON Suspect identified in shooting investigation at Clewiston Walmart According to the Clewiston Police Department, a suspect has been identified in the shooting investigation at a Walmart in Clewiston on Friday night.
WINK Investigates: Everything we know so far about Beattie Development A southwest Florida developer has now surrendered his six different contracting licenses, which include general contracting, plumbing and roofing. Paul Beattie, owner of Beattie Development cannot build homes anymore. It’s not a permanent situation, but part of a settlement agreement with the state says he’d need to pay $300,000 before he could get a new […]
Florida Attorney General speaks out following lawsuit against FEMA Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has spoken out following the filing of a lawsuit alleging that a FEMA supervisor directed aid workers to avoid going to homes in Lake Placid that had yard signs supporting Trump.
FORT MYERS BEACH How to increase odds of getting your hurricane insurance claim paid When Hurricane Helene hit Southwest Florida in September followed by Milton, many people’s lives were affected.
lehigh acres 25 students treated for heat exhaustion on Lehigh Sr. High School football field The Tice Fire Department treated around 25 students for heat exhaustion on the Lehigh Senior High School football field.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda pilots speak out on Allegiant Air strike Allegiant Air pilots said they want a new contract, one that’s amendable, fair and, in their words, what they should be paid.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach couple sues insurance over Hurricane Ian claim In the last two months, southwest Florida experienced a hurricane double punch with Helene and Milton, but for many people out there, it’s still all about Hurricane Ian from 2022.
southwest florida Beautiful Sunday on tap with temperatures reaching the low 80s this afternoon It will be another seasonal day with sun and clouds across Southwest Florida with temperatures reaching yet again topping out in the low 80s.
NAPLES Community raises funds for family of elementary school choking victim Staff and students from Laurel Oak Elementary School gathered at a Naples Culver’s to raise money for the family of Benjamin Cronin, an 11-year-old boy who died after choking at school.
NB lanes of US 41 at Olympia Ave closed due to traffic investigation According to the Punta Gorda Police Department, the northbound lane of US 41 at Olympia Avenue and Marion Avenue is closed due to a traffic crash investigation.
NAPLES Swine in the 239: Collier’s pig showdown Over 250 pigs took over the Collier County fairgrounds Saturday morning for Swine in the 239.
immokalee Fatal crash in Immokalee leaves 2 dead, both cars engulfed in flames The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a crash that left one person dead in Immokalee near the intersection of State Road 82 and Gators Slough Road.
NAPLES Motorcyclist dies in crash with pickup truck in Collier County The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly crash on Wilson Boulevard, near 10th Avenue Northeast in Collier County.
southwest florida Plenty of sunshine and less humid air for your Saturday plans The Weather Authority says this weekend is kicking off with some beautiful, less humid weather, perfect for any outdoor plans you may have!
WINK NEWS SWFL Scoreboard: High School Football Playoffs Round 1 21 Southwest Florida high school football teams were in action in round one of the playoffs trying to keep their state title hopes alive.
CLEWISTON Suspect identified in shooting investigation at Clewiston Walmart According to the Clewiston Police Department, a suspect has been identified in the shooting investigation at a Walmart in Clewiston on Friday night.
WINK Investigates: Everything we know so far about Beattie Development A southwest Florida developer has now surrendered his six different contracting licenses, which include general contracting, plumbing and roofing. Paul Beattie, owner of Beattie Development cannot build homes anymore. It’s not a permanent situation, but part of a settlement agreement with the state says he’d need to pay $300,000 before he could get a new […]
Florida Attorney General speaks out following lawsuit against FEMA Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has spoken out following the filing of a lawsuit alleging that a FEMA supervisor directed aid workers to avoid going to homes in Lake Placid that had yard signs supporting Trump.
FORT MYERS BEACH How to increase odds of getting your hurricane insurance claim paid When Hurricane Helene hit Southwest Florida in September followed by Milton, many people’s lives were affected.
lehigh acres 25 students treated for heat exhaustion on Lehigh Sr. High School football field The Tice Fire Department treated around 25 students for heat exhaustion on the Lehigh Senior High School football field.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda pilots speak out on Allegiant Air strike Allegiant Air pilots said they want a new contract, one that’s amendable, fair and, in their words, what they should be paid.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach couple sues insurance over Hurricane Ian claim In the last two months, southwest Florida experienced a hurricane double punch with Helene and Milton, but for many people out there, it’s still all about Hurricane Ian from 2022.
For those who scheduled appointments in Lee County, vaccines will be administered again starting Tuesday. Alan Aeschliman will be one of the 5,000 people to sit in tents to get his first shot for COVID-19 in the next few days, but thousands more aren’t so lucky. Many are still waiting to find out if they’ll be in Aeschliman’s shoes. He says the vaccine will give him a shot at a normal life again after being cooped up for nearly a year. “We still have our plans to go in the middle of this month to go up to Indiana to surprise our oldest granddaughter, 8-year-old granddaughter on her birthday,” Aeschliman said. Aeschliman only had to call once, and he spoke to a real person and got an appointment. But many, many people shared Samuel Leone’s pain. “I called over 120 times and I got through twice, and they hung up on me both times,” Leone said. “Your hopes are all there and then click.” Or there are people, such as Brenda and Michael Newman, who are waiting all night. “We’ve been kind of in prison for the last five or so hours waiting on a call back, which hasn’t happened yet,” Michael said. Monday’s effort to schedule appointments for the vaccine in Lee County left thousands frustrated. “If anything is annoying it’s just waiting on this phone call to come back, or maybe who knows? Maybe it will never happen,” Michael said. “I wanna be done with this and get the vaccine, so I was very disappointed,” Leone said. “I was disappointed that they had eight months to figure this out, and it seems like they haven’t figured it out.” The people we spoke to told us it seems like the only way out of the pandemic is through a shot in the arm, but they said getting to one of the tents to get vaccinated has been nearly impossible. RSW airport says there will be heavy traffic on the northside of the airport property near a vaccination site there Tuesday. It’s recommended to get there early. RESOURCE: WINK News is working by the minute on a daily basis to bring our coverage areas in Southwest Florida the latest COVID-19 vaccine information from the counties you live in. Visit our COVID-19 vaccine schedules and information for SWFL story for rolling vaccine updates.
President Donald Trump’s phone call with Georgia’s secretary of state is being heard nationwide. Trump continues to assert elections in certain states for the 2020 presidential election were unfair. The effort to support the president is heating up in Florida, and we looked at what that means in Southwest Florida in particular. Republican Party leaders in Collier County and Lee County are not happy with Florida U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. One went so far as to say Rubio needs to resign. Some local Republicans say, if you don’t speak up now, you don’t support the president. A dozen Republican senators say they will object to certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. Not among them Rubio and Scott. “I think that they should,” said Jonathan Martin, the chairman for the Lee County Republican Party. “I think that they should raise concerns, raise an objection, and raising the objection doesn’t mean Donald Trump is going to stay in power for four years. Raising an objection means there’s going to be a discussion.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel doesn’t want that discussion and warned his fellow Republicans not to join the effort. “If Mitch McConnel is saying that it’s tough because politicians are going to have to have their vote put on the record, I think if those politicians don’t like that, they should find another job,” Martin said. This republican fight among the ranks comes just days after the president’s personal attempt to overturn the election. His hour-long phone call with Georgia’s secretary of state to find more votes is making headlines around the world. “So look, all I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state,” Trump is heard saying during the phone call. “You know what they did, and you’re not reporting it. That’s a, you know, that’s a criminal, that’s a criminal offense. And you know, you can’t let that happen.” “Well, Mr. President, the challenge that you have is the data you have is wrong,” said Bradford Jay Raffensperger (R) Georgia secretary of state. Martin defended the president. Martin says Trump is not trying to change the results of the election but trying to ensure the election we had was fair. “I think the president has every right to advocate for his position for himself,” Martin said. “I don’t think that creating votes is good for either side. It doesn’t sound like the president was trying to get anybody to create votes.” Joann Debartolo, who is on the committee for the Collier County Republican Party, told us she’s not surprised Sen. Rubio is not speaking up. That’s why she is calling for him to resign. As for Sen. Scott, she remains unsure. In a statement to us, the office of Sen. Scott, said he, “is reviewing his options and will announce his decision at the appropriate time.”
As COVID-19 vaccinations in Lee County get underway for the week at a new site, RSW is preparing. The County announced over the weekend that the new site will be across from the old Southwest Florida International Airport Terminal, near the North parking lot, at Paul J. Doherty Parkway off Daniels Parkway. Provided by Lee County The site is set to start its vaccination appointments on Tuesday at 10 a.m. So, RSW officials are saying, via Facebook, that if you plan to travel to or from RSW tomorrow to expect delays. They are advising that you give yourself extra time especially if you’ll be on the north side of the airport, near Daniels Parkway and Chamberlain Parkway. To avoid congestion, RSW is saying that people use the I-75 direct connection to the airport if you’re traveling between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
In just a few short weeks, people inside our senior living facilities will receive their second and final COVID-19 vaccine dose. Meanwhile, some have yet to receive their first dose. For months, Roger Kyle’s only glimpse of sunshine has been seeing his wife from his window. “Which is almost unacceptable, but I have to live with it,” Kyle said. “She’s 61 years old and I don’t know what I would do without her shes my lifeline. She does everything for me,” said Kyle. Roger has been staying at Manorcare Lely Palms for therapy. He’s been through so much as a Vietnam veteran. “You already lost a leg so I feel like you’re a tough guy,” Kyle said. While the pandemic has been a tough battle, and now he and many other patients here will combat the virus with a second round of vaccines. Duane Smith works with Manorcare Lely Palms. “January 11th is when the first group will get their second one and the second group will get their first,” Smith said. Smith says that no healthcare worker or patient has had side effects from the vaccine so far. “This is all new ground for all of us completely different so when this process started our sister facilities up north reached out to ask about how the process went,” said Smith. Other adult care facilities like The Arlington Naples expects the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the next couple of weeks. Jessica work at The Arlington. “While we promote people to receive it and we educate them thoroughly about the data that shows its safety,” Jessica said. “Still, people are a little bit questionable about receiving it themselves so we are hoping at future dates we will have more people participate.” Kyle sees another dose as a window of opportunity. “So I can go home. That’s the main thing,” he said. The vaccine is not mandatory at any of the facilities WINK News spoke with. About 50 residents at Manocare Lely Palms are expected to get the second vaccine dose. But, they will continue to practice social distancing and mask-wearing.
From packed holiday beaches to New Year’s Eve parties at bars without masks, health experts are concerned to see the same causes of spread for the coronavirus last year creep into 2021. The vaccine might be in rollout mode, but it’s going to take a while before it’s making a difference in our community. Experts told us daily coronavirus numbers will not go down in the state and the region until we stop attending large gatherings and continue to wear our masks. We reported on the large gatherings seen throughout Southwest Florida on New Year’s Eve. Credit: screen shots via WINK News. Facebook posts of celebrations at Dixie Roadhouse in Cape Coral and Seed to Table in Collier County were among many celebrations that showed packed public gatherings to ring in the new year in the region. “What we don’t need right now is to see those cases continue to increase while we’re trying to get things under control with the vaccine,” said Cindy Prins, an epidemiologist at UF. In December, Florida reported more cases than any other month during the pandemic. Partying on — like what was seen at The Cottage Bar Fort Myers Beach — is not what epidemiologists want to see. “There are a lot of deaths that are occurring because of increases in cases, because of transmission that is going on, because of what people are doing right now,” Prins said. “The more it spreads, the more chances it has to mutate,” said Edwin Michael, an epidemiologist at USF. It’s not gatherings in bars and restaurants or in our homes alone. It’s travel too. This past Sunday at RSW saw a busy travel day. Experts say we should look to places such as London as a sign of what can happen next. “It is frightening, the surge which is coming,” Michael said. Experts say we can stop the surge if we put crowds on hold. The health experts know people are exhausted. We’re 10 months into the pandemic, and it’s hard on everyone. They say — keep in mind — the vaccine will truly work best and quickest if the spread is slowed now.
Stimulus checks are going out as you’re reading this. They could come by check, debit card or direct deposit. And those checks are going to struggling people and families. In March, Matthew Delaney and his wife went from having two incomes to one. “We’ve had to cut back to one vehicle cut, you know, cut back on a lot of unnecessary things,” Delaney said. His wife was a waitress, but decided to stay home because she was pregnant. “Now we’re 35-36 weeks pregnant. We just… neither of us think it’s a good idea,” Delaney said. “Because, you know, even wear the mask and stuff. There’s just so much. There’s just so much close contact and things like that.” So their $1200 payment will go to catching up on bills. “We are, like, exactly one month behind on my power, and I’m almost a month behind on rent,” Delaney said. Suzan Naskrent got her check on Monday and said she’s donating her money to the Suncoast Humane Society. “I believe in humans, and I think a lot of times when things get really rough day, forget about the animals,” Naskrent said. Her pets helped her through some tough times. “I don’t think I would have made it through. Just being able to go out in the backyard, and play with them gave me a lot of joy, and going for walks,” Naskrent said. To get the status of your stimulus check, use the IRS ‘get my payment’ tool. But remember, the site is experiencing delays because of high traffic. If someone you know lives in an assisted living facility, the FTC wants to remind those people the money is theirs, not the facilities’. If you hear of any issues make sure to contact the Attorney General.
There were numerous delays in and out of Southwest Florida International Airport Monday. Some flights were delayed for several hours. We asked RSW why so many flights were delayed, and a spokesperson said she wasn’t aware of an issue. Other airports in Florida including those in Tampa and West Palm Beach were also reporting massive delays. They said it’s because of a temporary closure of the Jacksonville FAA air traffic control center. In a response to a Florida real estate agent’s Twitter account, United Airlines tweeted the Jacksonville control center was shut down due to COVID-19. Hi Carol. That message is in error. Your flight is delayed because of a closure for Covid-19 cleaning procedures at the FAA air traffic control facility in Jacksonville, which is impacting flights to and from Florida. ^AD — United Airlines (@united) January 4, 2021 WINK News has not received a follow-up response from RSW.
Since testing and now vaccines began for the coronavirus, many people might have wondered why insurance information is wanted for both when they’re supposed to be funded. The short answer is there is still a bill to settle even if you don’t have to pay. When it comes to getting tested for COVID-19, Carmen Jankowski didn’t hesitate. She received the vaccine in Cape Coral recently. “I feel very comfortable and happy that I did it,” Jankowski said. With some registration forms asking for insurance information, concerns about hidden costs, surprise bills or higher premiums can lead to hesitation toward the vaccine. Experts say there is nothing to worry about. “That form is on there because it’s a variable pay system typically for people who go to the DOH for normal vaccinations,” said Brian Gleason, the public information officer for Charlotte County. “There’s no payment required for COVID-19 vaccinations, so they can just leave that blank. If they feel more comfortable putting their insurance information in there, it doesn’t matter, there’s no charge to it, so their insurance would not be charged.” But that doesn’t mean other providers can’t charge administrative fees. “It costs the provider something to hire a nurse or a paramedic to give the vaccine,” explained Karen Pollitz, the senior fellow with Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. “It costs them something to store the vaccine, to keep records about who got it and on what dates.” Those costs are either picked up by insurance providers or the federal government, but never the patient. “They want people to get vaccinated and tested and will do everything out of their way to make sure there are no hurdles, especially financially,” said Jon Hess, the CEO for Athos Health. “Anybody who tries to bill right now for a COVID vaccine could be fined by the federal government,” Pollitz said. In Charlotte County, Joseph Pepe, the administrator for the county’s Florida Department of Health, explained why insurance information might be requested even though it’s free. “The form is used for multiple types of clinic settings,” Pepe explained. “At this time, we are not charging nor collecting insurance information.” The reason vaccines are free is the same reason anyone can get a vaccine even if they don’t live in a particular county: It’s a federal program; therefore, the vaccines need to be available to everyone. If you get a bill you feel is incorrect, email us at costofcare@winknews.com. Health Resources and Services Administration statement According to HRSA, Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost. However, vaccination providers will be able to charge an administration fee for giving the shot to someone. Vaccine providers can get this fee reimbursed by the patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund. You can find the answer to more questions related to vaccines on the CDC’s website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html Information for Providers on how to file claims for reimbursement for testing, treating and vaccinating the uninsured can be found here: https://www.hrsa.gov/coviduninsuredclaim Florida Division of Emergency management statement According to the state division, Vaccines purchased by the federal government are available free of charge. However, vaccination providers are able to charge an administration fee for administering the shot. Per CDC guidance, vaccine providers can be reimbursed for this fee through an individual’s insurance provider. By an individual providing their insurance information and charging insurance companies, the state can direct other spending to additional COVID-19 resources such as PPE distribution, nurses and supporting county-response efforts. Individuals who choose to present their insurance will never be asked to pay a copay or a deductible. This process is similar to providing health insurance information at state-supported testing sites — which has been a standard practice since state-supported sites began operating. It’s important to note – individuals can receive a COVID-19 vaccine for free, regardless if they currently have insurance. Providing insurance is completely optional and the state does not charge for individuals to receive the vaccine. The state remains committed to ensuring the vaccine remains free and accessible to Floridians.
More convenient COVID-19 testing opened Monday in Cape Coral, and there were no long lines and no one to come into contact with at the site. One by one, people did their own tests, including Al and Virginia Phelps, who said the process was quick and painless. “You go up and give them the little slip that you get off of the computer, and they hand you a plastic bag, and you go and swab the inside of your mouth and give it back to them and that’s it,” Virginia explained. Is this way of testing accurate? Dr. Jeffrey Collins with MD Now said that depends. “Most of these self-administered tests are antigen tests, their sensitivity rate varies. The trouble with COVID, as you know, is you don’t get symptomatic for somewhere between two and 14 days with an average of five days, and so if you do these tests too early, you miss a lot of people that may actually be starting to get sick because they don’t have enough virus,” Collins said. Regardless, the doctor said more testing is always better. The tests in Cape Coral are free and results come back in as little as 24 hours. The site at 1020 Cultural Park Blvd. is open daily and appointments are encouraged. To make one, click here.
Long lines of cars in Collier County on Monday showed just how great the demand is for the COVID-19 vaccine. People began lining up at 6 a.m. to get a shot, which the county began administering last week for those 65 and older, as well as frontline health care workers – but only if they had an appointment. Among those getting their dose at the drive-thru vaccine clinic on Monday were Kenneth and Jackie Murray. It was a boring year for the couple. “I’ve seen every Netflix movie on the planet,” Kenneth said with a laugh. But they consider themselves fortunate. “I have to say I’m one of the lucky ones; I’ve never had the disease,” Kenneth said. And also because the Murrays were among the first seniors to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in Collier County. “I feel terrific. Really happy to have gotten to this point, it’s a very exciting thing for us,” Jackie said. They and 499 others got a dose of the Moderna vaccine at South Collier Regional Park on Monday. “It was just great. The people are great and I think whoever administered this process did a great job,” Kenneth said. LINK: Collier County’s COVID-19 vaccine waitlist Thousands of others wait, some hoping to snag a spot on the county’s waitlist, which reserves your spot for only one date and time, depending on what you sign up for. You’ll receive an email if that spot opens. Kristine Hollingsworth, spokesperson for the FDOH-Collier, said you have to move fast if a spot opens up. “Once you receive that email, you have 12 hours to secure your appointment. Otherwise, it defaults to the next person.” The county expects to get more vaccines soon, and appointments will reopen once that happens. “Unfortunately we do not have that timeline at this point in time,” Hollingsworth said. Until more are vaccinated, “I think we’ll still be cautious. We know we still need to wear a mask and protect ourselves and others,” Kenneth said. FDOH-Collier said those who get that first dose can get their second 28 days later. They’ll email you 21 days after your first dose, asking you to make an appointment for the second. To get on Collier County’s waitlist, go to this link, click the date you want to join the waitlist for, click “Register” and then click “Join Waitlist” at the bottom.