News Cast for July 16th:
Over 100 faith leaders across the state urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to halt death penalty executions in Florida.
The state executed Michael Bell for a double murder in Jacksonville lats night. He was the 8th inmate put to death by lethal injection this year in the state.
Deacon Andy Grosmaire said his daughter was murdered in 2010 by her boyfriend.
He said the process of the death penalty only prolongs pain and suffering for the grieving families.
“Through the help of God, our community and our faith, we found forgiveness for the young man that killed our daughter.”
DeSantis has defended capital punishment in the past and calls it a necessary response for the worst of the worst criminals.
Glades County Commissioners voted to replace the exterior panels on the Doyle Conner building at a price of $31,516.
Commissioner Jeff Patterson commended the Glades County fire department and public safety for their work to try and save a residential home that was damaged by a fire in Moore Haven.
“It was a tragedy. You can’t say enough good about our first responders. They were there, they were working and they never gave up, it was very much appreciated.”
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Okeechobee for a fatal fire that killed a man on April 4, 2024.
The estate of Bryan Gener filed suit in circuit court against the property owner.
The blaze took place in the early morning hours in a single wide trailer located at 400 SE 7th Street.
The lawsuit claims the homeowner nailed the windows closed and that prevented the deceased man from being able to escape the flames.
The other claims in the suit include failure to maintain the property and grounds, improper installation of the windows, failure to make repairs, failure to warn Gener about the hazardous condition, and failure to inspect the property.
The estate is seeking damages for funeral and medical expenses, lost and future income, and mental pain and suffering.
The Village of Indiantown accepted a check from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for $22.5 million for the water treatment plant expansion and improvement.
Village Manager Taryn Kryzda said this will make the plant more reliable and they hope to add additional customers currently on wells.
The council is considering expanding the hours of village hall for at least two days per week from 4:30 pm to 5 p.m.
Councilmember Phyllis Waters Brown said there are people in the village that work out of town and can’t make it back to go to city hall before 4:30.
They discussed the idea of a drop box outside village hall for payments of bills so that residents don’t have to pay a late fee.
Village Manager Taryn Kryzda resisted the additional hours stating it would be unfair to the employees.
They also discussed staggering hours so the same employees don’t have to stay the additional hour, allowing them to come in later in the business day.
The state took another step toward Everglades restoration in Hendry County as they cut the ribbon on the nation’s largest above ground reservoir.
It is located near LaBelle and will measure 18 square miles.
It can store 55 billion gallons of water from Lake Okeechobee and the watershed.
A violent domestic dispute results in a suspect cutting his arm by breaking a window on 10th Street in Buckhead Ridge.
Glades County Sheriff’s Lt. Gary Johnson said Calvin Shuler, 44, was facing charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and felony battery.
Lt. Johnson said the suspect woke the victim in the middle of the night by breaking the glass. After a scuffle the female was able to flee out the front door. She said he was armed with a knife.
When deputies arrived, all the doors were locked and a brief standoff took place. Shuler gave up peaceably, He was treated at the scene for the arm injury by Okeechobee County Fire Rescue.
The arrest report noted Shuler had a lengthy criminal record with arrests dating back to 2002.
A former employee is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 19 year old client inside the Everglades Youth Academy of Level 10 prison off NE 168th Street.
Alundria Fuller of Clewiston faces a host of charges for allegedly bringing in cell phones, vape pens and marijuana to inmates in exchange for cash payments.
Fuller allegedly had sexual intercourse with the teen on at least two occasions. She allegedly sent him inappropriate texts and photos.
The investigation began last summer.
Sheriff investigators said guard found a cell phone on an inmate and found incriminating evidence about the relationship between Fuller and the client.
Fuller was fired last September, the report added.