Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior nightPolice: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
PUNTA GORDA Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
PUNTA GORDA Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Immokalee ‘The eyes always draw me in’; Immokalee portrait artist turns dark times into color One of Southwest Florida best portrait artist, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now she’s on the forefront of the city of Immokalee, to make her community filled with color.
HOMESTEAD, Fla.- Monday night, we brought you a story about America’s bravest. A group of Wounded Warriors took to the sky to skydive with the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team. Now, we’re bringing you part two. WINK News reporter Megan Contreras was invited to jump, so, she put her trust in the elite group of soldiers and made the plunge from over 13,000 feet up. It was the invitation of a lifetime. A chance to see the U.S. Army Golden Knights in action! A group of competitive soldiers dominating the sky, winning the hearts of Americans. “I’m ready! I’m about to jump with a real life, life-size action figure,” said WINK News Reporter Megan Contreras. With such a love for our military, it’s always been a dream to be able to shake hands with the Army Golden Knights, but, what’s even better, is taking to the blue skies, in an airplane strapped to one, about to plunge towards the ground! “I get to see what it’s like to be a Golden Knight for a jump, I’m super stoked.” The Golden Knights parachute aerial demonstration team is all active duty U.S. Army soldiers. You might call them fearless because their everyday job is to embrace gravity by jumping out of a plane. “I’m with the best! Whooo!” “It’s not so much jumping out of the airplane, but turns into trying to accomplish things outside of the airplane once you go into freefall.” SFC Chris Acevedo is the leader of the Vertical Formation Skydiving Team. They go through rigorous training five to six days a week, taking advantage of all blue sky. “We basically build formations on our heads, in a head down attitude or in a sit attitude,” Acevedo told Wink News. SFC Acevedo is a Golden Knight with over 3,000 jumps under his belt and my life in his hands. “I’m ready, I feel army strong right now. I feel like I can conquer the world,” Contreras said. At over 13, 500 feet and no time to second guess what you’re about to do, there was only one way down. Free falling at 120 miles per hour, with a bird’s-eye view of Homestead, Florida. A skilled paratrooper was recording the entire skydive, making it look as easy as if he was shooting on the ground. They put the strong in Army Strong, showing the world first hand why they are the best. The command they have over the sky, is a true demonstration of the dedication they have for our country. “Relax, arch, have fun.” As we landed at Homestead Reserve Base, it’s safe to say it was another successful mission for the U.S. Army Golden Knights. My first skydive, done, with the most elite, finest parachute team of soldiers in the world. “Oh my gosh! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am speechless, that was the best experience of my life.”