News Cast for August 18th:
City working with new business
The city of Okeechobee could have a solution to a long-term eyesore.
A pharmacy related business went before the Technical Review Committee this summer.
They want to turn the former convenience store and gas station into a new business.
Public Works Director David Allen said he’d like to see the entire property upgraded, not just the route 70 frontage.
“It is a blighted property in the community and we want something that will enhance the entire parcel.”
The address is 510 NE Park Street.
Two Okeechobee residents received four months in jail and two years on probation on drug charges.
Okeechobee deputies said Christina and Cathleen Garrett were in a car that was bringing the dangerous drug fentanyl into the community on May 5th.
They pled no contest to charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The prosecution dropped charges of drug trafficking.
The traffic stop occurred in the 5600 block of highway 441 south east.
The arrest report said 2.5 grams of fentanyl was located in the vehicle.
Several area sheriff’s office including Okeechobee, Hendry, Glades and Highlands will receive funding from the state again this year for deputy salaries.
Highlands County is expected to receive $1.2 million.
Sheriff Paul Blackman said the funding is expected to come every year, “The legislature is labeling as reoccurring funds. That obviously can change. As long as we are a fiscally constrained county we qualify for the funding.”
A felony charge of cruelty to animals resulted in a warrant arrest this week. Kevin Fraley was charged with a misdemeanor October 2nd of last year after city police said they found three malnourished and sick dogs in his custody on SE 3rd Avenue. One of the dogs had to be euthanized. The owner said he didn’t have the money to take the dog to the veterinarian.
A small plane crashed Thursday west of Fort Pierce just after 12 noon. The Piper four seater crashed into a large metal barn off Sneed Road. The St. Lucie County Fire District said one person died in the crash, while another was air lifted to a regional trauma center for treatment. The NTSB is investigating the crash.