St. Lucie County Commissioners discussed increased complaints about sex offenders living in neighborhoods.
Commissioner Kathy Townsend said she heard complaints that offenders live too close to schools, parks and school bus stops.
The current regulation prohibits sex offenders within 2,500 feet away from these facilities. In Florida, sex offenders convicted of crimes against a minor cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school, child care facility, park, playground or designated school bus stop.
A 32 year old Moore Haven man, Donald Curry, faces charges of aggravated animal abuse, after a dog died in his care, Glades County Sheriff Deputies said.
Curry also faces improper disposal of a dead animal charges.
The arrest affidavit said an inspection of the residence and property located two malnourished pit bulls in a pen. The report said there was no food or water available.
One of the dogs died soon afterward. The second dog was taken into custody by animal control.
Deputies said Curry said he was caring for the dogs for a friend and feeds them when he has the money or the owner gives him money.
Deputies noted dogs living inside the residence were in good shape.
The former owner of the dog said he gave the dogs to Curry because his new residence did not allow animals.
An Okeechobee man was facing numerous drug charges after he allegedly sold cocaine a house of worship in Douglas Park.
Deijah Jackson was jailed after a search by the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force at 1211 NE 11th Street.
The arrest report said they conducted undercover drug purchases of crack cocaine at that residence.
During the search officers said they found scales, a 9 millimeter handgun, powdery substances, razor blades and cocaine residue. They also found a double burner stove commonly used to help turn powder cocaine into crack cocaine.
The report noted the alleged sale took place near a ministry center.
In a second case Jackson was charged with trafficking cocaine for an incident on Feb. 26.
The affidavit said the task force was able to purchase $1,000 worth of crack cocaine, or one ounce, 28 grams, at the residence.
Jackson was jailed with a bond of $150,000.
$750 million is how much the USDA is spending to keep the New World Screwworm out of the U.S.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the parasite could impact all American families.
The federal government plans to build a sterile fly facility in Edinburg, Texas to produce 300 million flies per week and triple the current output.
The U.S. typically impacts over one million Mexican cows every year. The border with Mexico was closed to cattle imports in May after report of the disease growing north from Central America.
The Florida cattlemen’s Association held a rancher roundtable in Ona this month and discussed the issue.
President Rick Moyer said there are more ways to combat the parasite than there used to be but it is an issue of concern to Florida ranchers.
The city of Pahokee selected Isabelle MacDonald to be the new city commissioner.
The seat was vacated when Derrick Boldin resigned. Jack Finkle and Clara Murvin also applied.
MacDonald said she wants to work for Pahokee to return it to its glory days.
An Okeechobee woman is scheduled to change her plea for a traffic fatality in Fort Basinger on September 9th.
Selina Harvey allegedly was drunk in a DUI crash on March 31, 2022.
Harvey’s van struck a sedan at the intersection of US 98 and CR 721 in Fort Basinger, the highway patrol said.
Harvy was charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI with serious bodily injury and DUI causing property damage.
Thoeurna Kiv, 62 of SW Florida died in the crash. She was a passenger in a sedan driven by Seun Sopheap, 38, of Lehigh Acres. Two children, ages 12 and 14, also were injured in the crash.