News cast for January 20th:
Over 100 people marched for freedom, unity, and equality in Okeechobee to mark the Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Birthday and holiday this morning.
The march went from Douglas Park to Flagler Park #5.
Organizers DJ Washington and Nick Garner said the purpose of the march is to educate young people about the history of civil rights in the United States, what has been done, and where the nation needs to go.
Washington said there is not a lot of education in school today about civil rights.
“The reason we march today is civil rights. He’s the reason a lot of us can vote, the reason we have less discrimination, is because he marched and fought against things like that.”
He said the voice for freedom should not be muffled.
“We march because we can still fight, we march because we still have a voice.”
King fought for voting rights, against segregation, and support education.
“Dr. King wanted protection of our civil rights. They are your personal rights guaranteed to you protected by the constitution and federal law. It is your right to worship as you choose, the right to vote, the right to due process and the right to privacy.”
The program featured musical performances by the Chobee Steelers.
Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen said despite one arrest, they are still investigating the homicide of 16-year-old Cole Owens.
One suspect has been charged, 17 year old Sebastian Urbano, but others might be involved.
The birthday party for a teen turning 15 was held at the Scott Driver Boat Ramp on August 26-27, 2023.
A fight broke out at the part and the juvenile suspected was allegedly seen shooting the victim several times. Two other teens were shot and treated.
The suspect was also shot in the leg and was hospitalized. He confessed to firing the fatal shots.
Stephen said authorities think people and witnesses at the scene have withheld evidence of the actual shooting.
“We have a lot of question that we don’t have answers to. We have speculation from the evidence we had collected that we had multiple guns involved.’
He said while having one arrest is progress, they want the complete story.
“We did make an arrest, that doesn’t always happen. Some cases have no closure. We have a person involved in the death of a young man that was unnecessary.”
The teen was charged with first-degree murder and remains in the county jail awaiting trial.
The state of Florida rolled out some new tools and incentives to combat the problem of human trafficking.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said the reward for information leading to an arrest on human trafficking is now $7,500.
The state posted signs at 53 rest stops along interstates and the turnpike to promote the Florida trafficking hotline, 855-FLA-SAFE.
Moody said human trafficking has been on the increase. Since 2019, the Office of Statewide Prosecution has prosecuted 130 alleged traffickers.
The state also has trained over 100 workers in the gaming and transportation industries to be able to spot trafficking.
“No piece of information is too small, Moody said, “If it ends up being nothing, that is not a problem. We always want more tips.
The Indiantown Village Council endorsed the idea of a farmers market at Post Family Park.
It could be organized and operating in the fall of this year.
The village would like various food vendors to take advantage of the opportunity.
The council did delay a permit for a proposed food truck at 15988 SW Warfield Blvd.
Councilmember Vernestine Williams Palmer said she did not support a food truck at a permanent location.
“We don’t want that look. People are investing in the community. We do not want to look like a rag tag village.”
Councilmember Karen Onsager suggested the put a time limit on permits. She also wanted to further define mobility.
“A mobile food truck needs to be mobile. We have food trucks sitting around Indiantown that have been sitting there long enough that they are no longer mobile. They haven’t been maintained properly and their wheels are off.”