News Cast for January 14th:
A man missing since August, 2022, was brought back into the spotlight last week when his home in Port Mayaca was damaged by fire.
John Henry Mallouk, 78, lived in the remote area near Lake Okeechobee in the 12000 block of US 441.
A relative reported him missing in January, 2023, and reported she hadn’t heard from him for the previous four months.
Martin County Sheriff investigators checked out the home in 2023 and found no signs of struggle or foul play. The premises appeared untouched, with doors left unlocked, food still in the refrigerator and a cell phone abandoned on the counter.
Martin County Fire Rescue is yet to reveal what started the fire.
Okeechobee County Commissioners approved an ordinance to allow backyard chickens. Up to six chickens will be allowed in residential areas depending on the size of the lot. The commission did not approve a proposed $15 permit fee.
The school board and commission in late 2024 approved a land swap.
The schools have been using county owned land on the west side of 441 for parking for the high school while the construction project is underway.
They will now have that land permanently and the county gets some land closer to the sports complex.
Commissioners also approved $70,000 for the host fee and related expenses to host the Bassmaster Elite series tournament from Feb. 27 to March 2 at Scott Driver Boat Ramp.
An Okeechobee man was sentenced to four years in prison for soliciting a child for sex.
Brian Peterson spent 26 months in the county jail before his day in court. He will also pay $1,277 in court costs.
Peterson was adjudicated guilty of lewd and lascivious solicitation of a child, transmission of materials harmful to a minor by electronic equipment, and resisting arrest without violence.
He had prior convictions for battery, false imprisonment,, and leaving the scene of an accident.
He scored up to 71 months in prison.
The case dated back to August, 2022. Peterson was accused of contacting a 16-year-old female via Facebook Messenger in Okeechobee.
Sheriff investigators were able to trace his address to a local trailer park near Treasure Island.
Among the allegations were Peterson sent a lewd photo to the child.
He then invited the child over to his residence. Deputies were contacted and one detective posed as the child and several
detectives conducted surveillance and made the arrest at 3975 Highway 441 Southeast.
Deputies said Peterson refused to step out of his vehicle when first ordered to.
Clarke Environmental Services plans to conduct adult mosquito spraying tonight from 7 pm until 5 am Wednesday.
They plan to spray along 20 miles of roads in residential areas including the area behind Bill’s Mini-Mart and in Douglas Park.
Anyone with questions can call 1-800-203-6485.
The Pahokee City Commission could learn tonight if City Manager Michael Jackson plans to continue working for the city.
He asked but was rejected in a request for a $20,000 salary hike. He is listed as the interim manager and has worked for the city for seven months.
He currently makes $120,000.
Mayor Keith Babb said Pahokee is a small city with a small budget and can’t afford that kind of salary.
Supporters said Jackson is very qualified and experienced and deserves a higher salary.
Motions to increase the salary to $130,000 and $135,000 annually were defeated in narrow 3-2 votes.
A Glades County man who allegedly possessed child pornography was sentenced to 127 months in state prison and 52 months on sex offender probation.
Raymond Lang pled guilty to 10 felony counts of possession, control or intentional viewing of child pornography.
Lang must register as a sex offender and can’t have any contact with minors.
His court costs will exceed $6,000.
A Pahokee woman faces charges she beat up and cut another female with a box cutter during an argument in Okeechobee.
The two were driving to Okeechobee with a child in the vehicle when the victim was punched several times by Na Terria Daley, Okeechobee Sheriff Deputies said.
Daley faces charges that include criminal mischief, aggravated battery and child abuse. Her bond was set at $4,500.
The victim got out of the vehicle and suffered lacerations to her arms and body from the box cutter but was not hospitalized.
Daley also is charged with busting out two windows to a residence and with puncturing the tire on the vehicle.