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.
For the businesses that are back, the business itself is booming on Fort Myers Beach. Dozens of people visit the beach every single day, grabbing lunch at the popular spots that have made a comeback, but balancing recovery efforts and business ventures hasn’t been easy. One woman is helping to spearhead it all. Fort Myers Beach is a train that fell off the tracks and got right back on, and Jacki Liszack is helping to conduct the train. “Jacki is a bad— gal. And we are so lucky to have her as a leader on Fort Myers Beach,” said Barry Frank, a volunteer at the FMB Chamber of Commerce. Liszak said she is so impressed with the resiliency she sees from beach residents every day. Some people say it doesn’t happen at all without her. She is the president of the Chamber of Commerce. Forty businesses are back open in some capacity on Fort Myers Beach as of Feb. 1, but getting there has been the opposite of easy. “It’s been difficult for all of us, obviously, lots of changes happening all around us. And we’re having to put away the old and kind of look forward to the new spot,” Liszak said. Creativity has taken control. Some, like La Ola and Rude Shrimp Company, brought in giant shipping containers. What are the long-term implications of these shipping containers placed in spots that will become active construction zones? “I know these business owners,” Liszak said. Liszak is confident it won’t be a problem at all. “They’re willing to do whatever it’s going to take to make sure that those containers can stay in an appropriate manner,” she said. “And then if we do have an emergency coming up, that they’ll be able to get those out of there pretty quickly. And some of them are saying 24 hours’ notice, and some of them even are willing to do contracts with contractors that would come in and remove that within a 24-hour period.” To be very frank, Barry Frank would not be here if it were not for Liszak. “For me personally, I would be up where I came from four or five years ago. And she’s influential with a lot of people who care, and no one cares any more than her,” said Frank, a volunteer with the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce. Frank wasn’t always a Floridian. He came down years ago from Chicago, trading the wind for sunshine. That trade sometimes has a nasty tradeoff. “The waterline was about six inches from the ceiling,” said Frank. Hurricane Ian destroyed his home on the beach. He had nothing left, and he was about to leave town. “I don’t have my place. I don’t have power or water. And she did. And she said, bring it on. So that’s where we’ve been ever since,” said Frank. That was until Liszak said there is room for you at my place. “And that’s where we live right now in the RV. In Jackie and Scott’s driveway,” Frank said. The Chamber of Commerce lost its entire headquarters in the storm. All that remains a tiny mobile camper named “Roxie.” Frank mans the little trailer. He’s technically one of Liszak’s employees, but at this point, he feels more like family. “She’s wonderful. I really can’t even explain how good she is. And Jackie, thank you,” said Frank.