FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herselfSurrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society concerns
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.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
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.
GOLDEN GATE Collier commissioners approve agreement for golf complex in Golden Gate Collier commissioners unanimously approved a long term lease and operating agreement to reopen the Golden Gate golf course Tuesday.
PUNTA GORDA Motorcyclists ride in SWFL to help veterans battle suicide A group of veterans from the American Legion are grabbing their helmets and boots for a motorcycle ride to bring awareness to the staggering rates of suicide among veterans.
SARASOTA Alleged sexual abuse victims of Port Charlotte priest comes forward Father Riley worked at three churches in Charlotte County and another in Naples. On Friday, new allegations emerged from a news conference in Sarasota.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte priest accused of sexual abuse appears in court A priest accused of sexually abusing four altar boys in Iowa nearly 40 years ago returned to Charlotte County court.
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- A handwritten script that began with, “This is a robbery,” was among the items found during a search Wednesday that led to the arrest of a 26-year-old man in connection with two recent armed robberies in East Naples. Collier County Sheriff’s Office detectives say Jonathan Wessel, who is homeless, wore a “Scream” mask in one of the robberies. Wessel is charged with two felony counts of armed robbery with a firearm and five counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony. Officials say on Monday Wessel entered the GameStop store located on the 9900 block of Business Circle. According to authorities, Wessel walked up to the counter and pointed a firearm at the three employees, demanding cash. He removed an undisclosed amount of cash from a safe and secured the employees with zip ties before making his getaway. Deputies also connected Wessel to a Nov. 4 robbery at the Circle K store located at 12800 US 41 East. Detectives say Wessel entered the Circle K store wearing a mask made popular by the Halloween movie “Scream.” He allegedly pointed a firearm at the clerk and demanded cash. Authorities say he then secured the clerk and a customer in the bathroom and left the store. More charges are possible as detectives investigate whether Wessel is linked to several other recent robberies in Collier County. “Between the dates of Nov. 1 and Nov. 11, there have been multiple robberies with a firearm committed within Collier County involving a tall, thin, polite, white male subject that matched the physical description, the dialogue used during the robberies, and demeanor of Jonathan Paul Wessel,” said Detective James Lockerby. According to arrest reports, Wessel was identified as a possible suspect in the robberies after detectives watched video surveillance footage from an Oct. 27 retail theft at a Wal-Mart in North Naples. On Tuesday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Wessel’s vehicle, and he and his female passenger were transported to the sheriff’s North Naples substation for interviews. Wessel declined to speak to detectives and requested an attorney. In her interview, the woman told detectives Wessel had been staying with her at her residence in Naples Park for the past three weeks, and that he recently came into a large amount of money, reports said. She also gave detectives permission to search her residence. During the search, detectives found a handwritten note that began, “This is a robbery,” reports said. The note read like a script and contained a “check list” and “reminders” which were used in the Circle K robbery, reports said. Detectives also played the audio from the Circle K robbery for the woman and she identified the voice as belonging to Wessel. The search also turned up a bank bag, which had been removed from a safe at The GameStop, along with heavy duty zip ties that matched the ties that the robber used to secure the employees and a written robbery note that resembled the dialogue he used. On Wednesday, detectives executed a search warrant on Wessel’s 1995 Buick. A dark color pair of pants with white vertical stripes and a blue hooded sweatshirt were recovered from the vehicle. Detectives said the items are identical to the clothing worn by the suspect in Circle K robbery.