Naples Community Hospital wants to give you a more comfortable and modern health care experience by expanding their downtown Naples emergency department.
The downtown ER, which has not been updated in more than 20 years, treated 39,000 patients in 2017 alone.
That’s why the hospital wants a $32-million, two-story expansion.
The city’s design review board gave it approval Thursday morning, the first step to making it a reality.
The project expands emergency department beds from 34 to 50, to better accommodate more patients, especially during the busy season.
NCH says they will also design waiting rooms to be more comfortable for patients and their family members, by adding charging stations, mini office spaces and food options.
The hospital expects construction to begin next summer with a completion date in 2021.
Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrested two teenagers accused of stealing various items from homes in Amberton Luxury Townhomes during broad daylight.
“They’re just taking a bad route in a good place, and I just think it’s crazy,” said Amberton Luxury Townhomes resident Prince Dameus.
A 13 and 14-year-old stole six guns, including pistols, rifles and shot guns from Dameus’ neighbor.
Dameus says it is shocking, but says this kind of act is trending.
“Most of these kids really don’t have the dark hearts to actually go and use the guns, it’s more for image,” Dameus said.
According to the arrest reports, thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, guns and technology were taken from at least two apartments.
“Now, I definitely, definitely check the doors twice before I go to bed,” said Amberton Luxury Townhomes resident Andrea Suazo.
When investigators were on scene Tuesday, deputies saw the two teens carrying a trash bag into the woods, then returned home empty handed.
Deputies later found the bag filled with guns in the woods, the report said.
“Kids like that, I think social media is a big part of it because everyone wants like a gun on their Instagram,” Dameus said.
Neighbor Domenick Cueplo agrees, saying he doesn’t think there weren’t any intentions to use the weapons to kill.
“I would think they just do it because it’s like oh something fun to do, but it’s not fun,” Cupelo said. “It’s a lot of serious stuff that comes with it.”
Both teens are facing grand theft firearm and burglary charges.
Residents have dealt with construction, noise and dust along a busy road in their neighborhood, and the project started two years ago.
Neighbors are starting to lose their patience.
“I’m ready to be able to drive freely down Vanderbilt Drive. I’m ready for them to get out of here and go,” one resident said.
The project spans 20 blocks along Vanderbilt Drive to 111th Avenue North in Naples and it’s a sight that those living along Vanderbilt Drive want gone.
“I feel like it’s going to be an unnecessary amount of time that there’re having to spend on this kind of project,” said Tucker Davis, a resident nearby. “I feel like it should be moving along at this point.”
That work started in October 2016.
“I’m learning the value of patience, it’s not one of my virtues, but I have no choice but to accept that this will be going on for another year,” said Bill McLaughlin who lives in the neighborhood.
Collier County said it would take two years to complete the project, replacing the water pipes and utilities along Vanderbilt Drive to 111th Avenue North. The 17.8 million dollar project impacts more than 250 homeowners.
But just like many neighbors, the project took a hit when Hurricane Irma blew in.
“Sometimes it can be a bit of an inconvenience here at Naples Park, I’ve been living here for 10 plus years,” said Jordan Andino who lives on Vanderbilt. “I’m honestly surprised to see some construction being done, but it’s been going on for a while now.”
The county has completed construction on five of the seven phases since Irma, leaving only utility replacement from Willet Avenue to Conners Avenue and the section of Vanderbilt that connects them.
But Davis says he’s just looking forward to finally getting some peace and quiet.
” I am extremely ready to see this thing be over with. I’m ready to get all of the tractors out of here,” he said.
The county first bumped the completion date to August of 2019 and just recently delayed it again to late September.
Southwest Florida could be trending in the mode of public transportation like some other areas around the world, as electric scooters may offer people a new way to beat the seasonal traffic. But, some locals are skeptical about how safe these scooters will be.
The City of Naples is considering a deal to bring Bird electric scooters to the public, and all you would need is your phone.
“I don’t know if they’re just going to become reckless with tourists on them?” said Jim Ludwig, who lives in Naples.
Others see it as a new opportunity for the younger generation.
“The younger people would obviously love it more because it’s futuristic,” said Ryan Moitoso, who was visiting the area.
Ludwig said he has heard about issues related to the California scooter company.
“I’ve heard about it in other parts of the country,” Ludwig said. “And it seems like, possibly, they’re having problems.”
These public, dock-less electric scooters offer people an innovative way to get around.
How it works: You download an app to find and unlock scooters close to you, pay through the app, ride the scooter to where you want to go, then just walk away and leave it for the next rider.
“It’d be pretty cool just riding down on a two-wheeler having a little fun,” Moitoso said.
The positives: It promotes tourism, reduces congestion and frees up parking.
“We do have a lot of working-class people supporting the city,” Cathy Pisano. “So, that would help them get around and be an alternative to having to wait for a bus or riding a bicycle.”
The negatives: Neighbors said they are worried it would give them another thing to look out for on the road.
“If there are electric scooters crossing the roads, and people aren’t used to seeing them, it could be dangerous as well,” Piano said. “I don’t know that it would be the best fit for our city.”
The city is still in preliminary discussions regarding the electric scooters for public use. The city council would have to create and pass an ordinance to allow for the scooters to be used on sidewalks and roadways.
Cape Coral Police are investigating a crash that happened on Saturday around 11 am on Pondella Road and Hibiscuss Drive.
According to police, Lana A. Frisbie Urquhart, 73, was hospitalized, with life-threatening injuries after her car was hit from the side as she went through the intersection at Pondella Road and Hibiscuss Drive.
Police say, Urquhart was traveling southbound on Hibiscus Drive approaching the intersection of Pondella Road. James E. Williams, 37, was traveling westbound in the outside travel lane of Pondella Road, approaching the intersection of Hibiscus Drive.
Urquhart entered the intersection in an attempt to turn left onto eastbound Pondella Road as Williams vehicle entered the intersection, causing the collision.
Urquhart suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Williams was not injured in the crash.
John McNally said he is happy to see 400 signs all around the downtown Naples area that oppose a NCH Healthcare System hospital’s new patient program.
“You have your right to do whatever you want, but they have the right to not allow your doctor,” McNally said. “You have a right to get out of that hospital and go somewhere else. They haven’t taken your rights away from you, they’re just making it very complicated.”
Others have said, they do not like the signs because the policy works in their favor.
We first told our viewers and readers last months that Naples Community Hospital is moving forward with a new program that stops patients from using outside doctors.
Only doctors employed by NCH can admit patients, give medical orders and add notes to the patients records.
Dr. Ron Garry, an independent physician, said the program would limit his interactions with his NCH patients.
Sign claims the biggest medical groups in SWFL are denying patients the right to choose their own physician. Photo via WINK News.
“We’ve done nothing, but give outstanding care to this community,” Dr. Garry said. “Then to have the hospital just go ahead and take away our privileges for all the independent primary care docs and the independent hospitals. It’s just been very hard to swallow.”
NCH responded to the new model of care in response to comment from WINK News.
“Patients in the new model of care are having a better patient experience,” the hospital said, “[They] are having a shorter length of stay and are having a lower chance of being readmitted within 30 days.”
But McNally said regardless of those findings, he hopes the signs make more people understand its message of choice.
“I think people should have a choice,” McNally said, “not they shouldn’t be denying you the choice.”
Hundreds of animals on the shores of Southwest Florida are paying the price for red tide. A pelican is one of the latest victims of the water quality crisis. Animal hospitals continue to treat wildlife impacted by the blooms.
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel Island said it is treating animals sick from the blooms, a total that’s up to 500 red tide suspected cases in 2018
Shore birds like the pelican are in emergency care at Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Von Arx Wildlife Hospital in Collier County.
Veterinarians there said more than 20 birds have been brought in suffering from red tide effects in the past week.
Beachgoers find it devastating.
“There have literally been a few incidents where some of the terns have been seen falling as they fly, and hitting the beach,” Tim Thompson said. “When I went to pick up a sandwich tern, he actually died in my hands, and that’s a terrible feeling.”
Experts told WINK News the patchy red tide we’re seeing is about average for this time of year.
But, wildlife rescue workers said the number of animals impacted is far from normal.
With just days remaining before the deadline arrives, and much more still left to do, the Streetscape project in Cape Coral is in a crunch to be completed on time.
The months long construction project in Cape Coral’s entertainment district is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year, but with much left to do, it will take a lot of work to have it finished.
Residents of the area say they are ready for it to be done.
“We love coming down here and it’s so hard to get to with the construction going on,” said Bill Lynch of Cape Coral.
“I tripped on one of the curbing things already once and twisted my ankle so I don’t know hopefully it gets better soon,” said Dawn Pilz.
What started as a project to increase safety around the restaurants and shopping areas, has turned into a concern for businesses.
Business owners in the area worried about the construction, and the effects it would have on their business from the very beginning, and we are now learning that a business who temporarily shut down, is now shutting down for good.
Two Naples neighbors say a crook stole their personal checks right out of their mailboxes and tried to cash them for thousands of dollars.
One of the women says she got an alert on her phone from her bank, saying a large amount of money was trying to be taken from her account.
Angela Rippons and her neighbor Sheila Phillips say they were furious when they found out.
“It just makes you realize that we’re always susceptible to people that have bad intentions or intentions to fraud other people,” Phillips said.
Rippons says her checks were made out to the wrong people for wrong amounts.
“I found out that my check to FPL for $83 was made to $2,450 so someone else and my check for $300 was made to this other person for $1,450,” Rippons said.
The women then called their banks saying the checks were cashed by a fraudulent person using an ATM, but due to their quick thinking, no money was ever charged to their accounts.
Naples police say this time of year brings out the worst in some people.
“These things do spike at this time of year, but we’ve only had a couple of incidents of mail theft, so we would suggest you do banking online or mail their payments in at a post office,” said Lt. Matt Fletcher with the Naples Police Department.
Both women say that even though they are not out any money, they want whoever did this to face repercussions.
“I hope they get prosecuted, I will be the first one in court let me tell you, I will do whatever it takes because we have to take people like this away from the street,” Rippons said.
And now they will be more vigilant when taking that walk to the mailbox.
Naples police say this is an active investigation, and the person who stole the checks could face federal charges.
Dozens of people stood in front of the Naples City Council this morning as they expressed their concerns about the new patient program at the Naples Community Hospital.
They said, it’s hard to feel comfortable with a physician who does not know you. Others have said this will effect the way they interact with their patients.
“For myself the end game is not just the quality of care given during that hospitalization,” David Madwar said, an independent doctor. “It’s how well is that patient one year later, two years later, one decade later.”
WINK News informed readers last month that the Naples Community Hospital was moving forward with a new program that stops patients from using outside doctors. Only doctors employed by the NCH can admit patients, give medical orders and add notes to the patients records.
And today, city council said they want to make sure the public’s concerns are taken seriously by the NCH board.
“The consensus of our City Council is that we’ll send a letter to their board or trustees,” Bill Barnett said, who is the mayor of Naples, “and it’ll be a strong concise letter asking them to take a step back on behalf of the community, before they go full steam ahead.”
Law enforcement arrested a 39-year-old man for driving a boat that crashed into a Naples dock while drunk.
Lee Memorial nurse Doug Smith was nearby, working inside the home connected to the dock when he heard a loud crash and rushed outside to see what happened.
Smith saw a woman, the passenger on the boat, pinned between a boat and a boat lift. That’s when his instinct to help took over.
“As we were pushing it from one direction to another, it would get worse,” Smith said. “It would tighten on her and she would scream, ‘Ah, it’s getting worse. I can’t breathe.”
Eventually, the woman was able to wiggle herself free.
Smith says she was short of breath and in a lot of pain. Florida Fish and Wildlife says medics airlifted her to Lee Memorial.
“She kept saying there was another person in the boar, who I didn’t see anywhere,” Smith said.
Smith says the driver came to the dock on another boat and told him he hit a wake going very fast, was ejected and the boat lost control.
“Thinking at any point that thing could’ve slipped down a little further, and really crushed her, definitely a scary experience for her and for me,” Smith said.
Naples Police Department says the boat that crashed is a rental.
This is a developing story. Trust WINK News to provide more details when they become available.
Collier detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying two individuals from two separate ongoing investigations. We recently updated our composite sketches for each of these cases, hoping to identify the man and woman pictured.
The first composite is of a woman whose body was found in 1978 off of State Road 29 in Big Cypress National Preserve. She was buried in a shallow grave and covered in a white powder, possibly lime, authorities said.
She had multiple lacerations on her scalp, face and right hand. The woman was about 5 feet 4 inches tall. She was estimated to be between 45 and 70 years old at the time of death. Her eye and hair color are unknown, authorities said.
The second composite is of a man whose body was found floating in the Gulf of Mexico in 2002. The body was located about 1.5 to 2 miles north of Doctor’s Pass, according to authorities.
The man was about 5 foot 11 inches tall and weighed about 190 pounds. He had blue eyes and was between 45 and 60 years old at his time of death. His hair was reddish brown and gray and nearly collar length. He had a gray beard and mustache.
One Fort Myers woman has temporarily turned her home into Santa’s Southwest Florida workshop, preparing gifts for hundreds of children in the community.
But children aren’t the only ones that she is helping this holiday season.
Tots & Tails Christmas Toy Drive organizer Megan Steinke says her certified therapy dogs, Tala and Abigail, are the “tail” that inspired her idea for helping out local animal shelters.
“Last year Immokalee had some severe flooding, a lot of the residents in Immokalee were forced to go to a shelter. Between our therapy work we decided to make a stop at one of the shelters and visit with all the people there,” Steinke said. “We thought why not host a stuffed animal toy drive to bring smiles to these children who have been displaced for the time being.”
That effort grew into a large-scale effort for both kids and pets.
“[The dogs] relied on the generosity of others to make sure they had the basic needs before they were rescued,” Steinke said. “Whether it be food, leashes, beds for animals in the shelters.”
Steinke says they were able to provide 400 ‘tots’ with toys and gifts last year. This year, they are preparing presents for 500 kids.
“The most rewarding thing is to be able to bring the joy of Christmas to these children and these animals,” Steinke said.
Helping by providing kids in need with food, presents, toys, candy and clothes.
“For everything they had going through, that the community had gone through, it was beautiful,” Louisa Ganez said, who lives in Immokalee. “All kids deserve to have a happy Christmas.”
This year, Steinke is bagging toys with help from the Heights Foundation and the Pine Manor United Way House for this year’s Tots & Tails Christmas Toy Drive.
“Each kid we’re confident will get anywhere from three to six toys,” Steinke said. “It’s really rewarding to see the smiles on the kids faces when we hand them their toy bag.”
Tears and smiles, she said, are made possible by a partnership with the American Military Veterans Foundation and above all, your generosity.
They are collecting items at more than 30 locations in the Southwest Florida area. You can visit their Facebook page HERE to find one closest to you, or to find more ways to get involved.
Bob Votruba is a man known for taking his bus and his bicycle to different states spreading a strong message: that no one is alone.
Now he is in Naples hoping to just teach one more person to be kind by spreading love with a simple sign, a wave and a smile. He’s traveling across Southwest Florida as a part of his “One Million Acts of Kindness” message.
“If we are negative in our words and actions its going to be toxic to us,” Votruba says. It’s a mantra in a way as he’s made it his mission for more than ten years to bring kindness to communities.
“As traffic approaches they see one side and say remember to be kind and I see their faces soften,” he said. “That’s something I can do in my life.”
The Ohio native says it just takes one second to make someone’s life better.
“We have the change 1000 times a day to be kinder every breath we take is an opportunity to think of someone else. Being kind helps you feel better people live longer when they are kind. It’s just that simple.” he said.
Last year, he took his message across the country as a part of his “10,000 Miles to Spread Kindness” bus tour. He says the world can be a better place, if one person chooses to be kind.
“I’m able to talk to them about hurt they are carrying in their heart and talk to them before they act out in negative toward themselves or others and honestly to both,” he said.
Now he says he will stay in Southwest Florida for a good part of the winter.
Votruba has a big connection with schools in Collier County and just set up a connection with Lee County libraries to spread his message.
With a new policy, Naples Community Hospital would have its doctors assume care of patients once they have been admitted, eliminating primary care providers from seeing patients at the hospital.
NCH said it’s better for patients, but former hospital board members disagree and said it is not. They are concerned by the new policy and believe it’s less about patient care and more about control. They said it will end up costing the community as a whole.
“To [Allen Weiss] it’s a satisfactory program,” said Bob Stucker, former board chairman at NCH. “But for the community this is not what they want, and that’s why they overwhelmingly rejected it.”
Weiss, president and CEO of the hospital, wants to implement the program.
“He doesn’t care about losing doctors, high quality doctors or donations,” Stucker said. “Because now he’d get the revenue for 20,000 people, and it gives him the control, which is an important aspect of what he wants to have.”
NCH started the pilot program this summer and said patients are having a better experience and shorter lengths of stay.
Another form board member, John Morrison, is doubtful.
“This isn’t a case of trying to be better for patients,” Morrison said. “This is a case where we’re driving doctors out, driving patients out and not providing the type of health care that they want.”
Weiss did not respond when WINK News contacted him to ask about his stance on the controversial policy since hearing the outcry from the public during a Wednesday Naples City Council meeting.
There is a hospital board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 11. Previous members are asking the current board to take more time to think about the policy in order for them to make an informed decision.
John Allen, the chairmen of the Community School of Naples, said more research is needed, and hospital leaders can hit pause on the drastic change.
“I believe that board needs to take the step to bring in an independent assessor to determine what the overall culture of that hospital is,” Allen said.
A convicted felon was arrested after he was found in possession of a fake badge and weapons.
Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrested John Whidden Koors, 39, Thursday night after he was found with a fake sheriff’s badge and a loaded handgun outside Emergency Pet Hospital of Collier County.
“What’s he doing with a gun, right?” Tom Moran said. “He’s a convicted felon.”
Moran said things are getting out of control.
“It’s no different than people walking around with fake ID’s, fake passports, fake driver’s license, fake voter cards,” Moran said. “I mean it’s all over the place.”
The arrest was made in the parking lot of the animal hospital after it was closed.
Deputies said they pulled up when they saw a group of people loitering. Two individuals were known gang members.
“That sounds a little scary to me,” said Erik Madison owner of the hospital. “It does seem like people want to use our parking lot to go to the businesses next door.”
Madison said he and his staff often see suspicious activity outside the business, including random cars pulling into their lot after hospital hours.
While WINK News was on scene, deputies were making an arrest on warrant at another scene at the next-door motel.
“No one ever bothers us,” Madison said. “We lock the doors late at night. We have security all over the place, panic buttons. So, no, haven’t had a reason to worry yet.”
Koors is in jail without bond. This is the sixth time Collier deputies arrested him since November 2011.
“Just be careful,” Moran said. “What else can you do?”
Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man suspected of a domestic violence shooting that happened at a home on the 2500 block of 41st Avenue Northeast in Naples Sunday.
CCSO arrested suspect Raymond, Colon, 52, for the shooting of Victoria Colon, 49, who died from her injuries.
Deputies taped off the intersection of Naples off 41st Avenue Northeast and Everglades Boulevard during their response.
“So I drove up the block because they had been there for a number of hours — So I drove up the block to see what was going on. I parked my car and there was a group of people and I asked, ‘What’s going on,’ and they said some gentleman had shot his wife,” said Len Goodman, who lives near where the shooting took place.
A witness told WINK News Victoria was her mother. She was too distraught for an interview.
Deputies set up tents in the yard of the home, which they taped around during the response.
CCSO opened an ongoing homicide investigation.
Trust WINK News to update you as more information becomes available.
On Thursday, Nov. 29, deputies said a male suspect walked up to an elderly woman and asked her for money in the parking lot of an Aldi grocery store off Santa Barbara Boulevard in Collier County. When she refused, he grabbed her purse and pushed her to the ground.
Still on the run Monday night, Collier County Sheriff’s Office wants help from the public to identify the thief accused of shoving an elderly woman and robbing her.
“It’s a despicable act,” Bruce Carlson said. “It really truly is.”
Carlson shops at this Aldi location often.
“With the holidays and all, it’s just words can’t describe how horrendous it is,” Carlson said.
Lorna Ayers said the holidays could also have something to do with the actions of someone like this suspect.
“I definitely think that there is more cause for someone to do this,” Ayers said. “They want to buy gifts for their family.”
Anyone who recognizes the suspect is encouraged to contact CCSO Detective Clervoix at 239-252-9300.
