News Cast for October 23rd:
Remembering the service
A Community Hero Awards luncheon honored four veterans of the Korean War.
It was put on by the Okeechobee County Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by South State Bank.
Sgt. James C. Bass and Major Dan Fennell of the US Marines, Pastor Walter Montz of the Air Force, and Johnny McCullers of the US Navy were honored.
Featured speaker retired Lt. General Frank Libutti said these men were all about service and dedication and getting the job done.
“Inspiration, honor, dignity, sacrifice, patriotism, God Bless this great country. AT the end fo the day to you that served. The bottom line is this, the officers made it work and were privileged to lead those men and win the day.”
The chamber donated $1,000 to the Lt. Generals non-profit Horses and Heroes of Southeast Florida that helps veterans with PTSD.
Sgt. Bass said there are some things about military service you don’t forget.
“It was a honor. I received the Silver Star. Not because of what I did, but what my friends did. They paid a terrible price. They lived I didn’t.”
Major Fennell said the chamber honor was really appreciated.
“It was quite unexpected. I received an honor for something the Legion had done. It was appreciated. People forget. They call the Korean war the forgotten war. I lost a lot of friends over there. You make a lot of friends and then you lose them.”
A head on collision causes a fatality in Glades County. It happens on county road 74 near Fire Tower Road Saturday at 5:15 pm.
The Florida highway patrol said a west bound SUV driven by a 41-year-old Miami man, crossed the center line and hit an east bound sedan driven by a 28-year-old man from Boca Raton.
A passenger in the sedan, a 36-year-old Boca Raton woman died at the scene.
The SUV burst into flames. A five-year-old child in the Sedan was seriously injured.
Both drivers suffered minor injury.
The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board heard concerns about leaks at the C-44 reservoir in Indiantown. It is considered a major component of efforts to stop releases to the east coast.
Activist Newton Cook said the lake remains too high and this facility has to work.
“After all these years we have started to look at storage north of the lake above the ground. It has never been able to work out. Years ago we were interested in storage. All of the projects had a problem. We have to be careful. I love STA’s but they have to be in the right place.”
Former Board member Jacqui Thurlough Lippisch said they might have jumped the gun on the C-44 and need to be sure the projects are working before they celebrate them.
The Corps of Engineers said the leaks are in one place, are being handled and are not a huge concern.
Marcus Theriot was the All-Around cowboy at the PRCA rodeo in Indiantown this weekend. Over $45,000 in prize money was given out.
Jacob Raine won the bareback with 86 points, Shane Frey won the steer wrestling in 4.1 seconds, Spunk Sasser and Karter Kagel the team roping in 4.4 seconds, Parker Kempfer saddle bronc riding with 82 points, Ericka Nelson the barrel racing at 15.75 seconds, and Cayne the Man Jolly the bull riding at 84.5 points on board the bull Lawless Frontier.