Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the legExclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out
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.
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.
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.
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.
Patricia France gets ready to hug her grandson, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Collin Yoder, who surprised his grandparents with a visit for Valentine’s Day. SOUTH FORT MYERS, Fla. The surprise was sweeter than any Valentine’s Day candy could have been. Richard and Patricia France thought they’d be reuniting with friends when they pulled into the arrivals lane Tuesday at Southwest Florida International Airport. Instead, they saw their grandson, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Collin Yoder, standing outside the door. “All of a sudden my husband goes, ‘Well, there’s Collin,’ and that’s when I lost it,” Patricia said. “I couldn’t get out of that truck fast enough.” Yoder arranged with the friends to concoct a ruse that left the Frances completely unaware. “We tricked them good, in a way we knew they wouldn’t suspect anything,” he said. Richard hadn’t seen Yoder in three years, and Patricia hadn’t seen him in two. He’s been stationed in Germany and was recently deployed to Turkey, and in two days he’ll have to leave again to prepare for a deployment in Africa. In the meantime, he intends to savor the chance to reconnect with his grandparents at their winter home on Pine Island. “It felt surreal to be able to see that truck again, to see them,” Yoder said. Yoder’s mother was in on the plan. “I text my daughter saying, ‘We got him,’ and she said, ‘You’re not mad at me are you?'” Patricia said. “I said of course not!” Richard is sorry his friends didn’t wind up coming, but he’s far from upset about the deception. “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see my grandson again,” he said. “It’s wonderful. I am so glad he tricked us!” The moment was doubly sweet for Richard, a Vietnam War veteran. Yoder followed in his footsteps when he enlisted three years ago at the age of 18. Richard began to tear up as he spoke about his grandson’s service. “He’s one of the warriors,” Richard said. Richard’s heartstrings aren’t the ones Yoder pulled Tuesday. A stranger came up to Yoder in the airport lobby and gave him money to take his grandparents out to dinner. “It means a lot to me,” Yoder said. “I don’t really like to be thanked for my service — it’s something I chose to do — but it’s nice to see people appreciate it.” For the next two days, Yoder will be most appreciated merely for his presence. “From 1-10, this is probably at least a 50,” Patricia said. “It’s the biggest surprise of my life!” WINK News reporter Megan Contreras was there at the moment the reunion happened: