News Cast for November 12th:
Hauler told to pick up the pace
The Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners heard a discouraging report from Solid Waste Director Russell Rowland on the status of hurricane debris pickup.
Rowland said the collection is behind schedule and has not been up to par.
The county was promised five trucks, but at one point, had one two working.
The county has 90 days to pick up the debris to get fully reimbursed by FEMA.
They were going to contact Waste Management to see if they could assist the county.
Commissioner Brad Goodbread suggested they look at hiring some local haulers to also pick up debris.
Part of the problem is the amount of debris in other areas.
The company Crowder Gulf is also picking up debris in those locations.
Commissioner Terry Burroughs said he can understand that the company is trying to make money and there is more damage and money to be made on the coast.
Okeechobee celebrated Veterans Day with observances at local schools and also in Veterans Memorial Park.
The Okeechobee Freshman Campus observance held at the First Baptist Church Recreation Outreach Center included exercises by the Jr. ROTC, a poem In Flanders Field, an address by Principal Vikki Goggans and a speech from a student on why we celebrate Veteran’s day.
Local veterans were also invited to attend.
The public observance included remarks from several VFW and American Legion Post representatives, a representative from Wreaths Across America, and patriotic songs.
RJ Sandefur gave a rousing rendition of God Bless America.
Veteran Andy Bowers, a former member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Tribal Council, spoke on his military service in Vietnam.
He saw a sign, Uncle Sam needs you, while attending school in Lawrence, Kansas, and signed up along with his brother Pat.
Bowers would serve over a year in Vietnam and recalled meeting three Okeechobee men while fighting the war.
He said veterans stand out and are different because they sign up to serve knowing they could lose their lives and never see their families or this country again.
A hearing set for Nov. 22 in Highlands County as the courts decide what to do with the murder charge against Virgil Lee West of Lorida.
A jury deadlocked at his trial in August on the first-degree murder and attempted murder charge. The found West guilty of shooting or throwing a deadly missile and tampering with evidence.
The case dates back to 2015. West was charged with shooting to death Shawn Ziegler and shooting and injuring Carrie Leaphart on White Oak Road near Lake Istokpoga.
West fled the scene and admitted he threw the murder weapon out of the vehicle as he fled toward Sebring.
Highlands County Sheriff Detectives said West also admitted to shooting Zeigler after the two men exchanged unpleasant words.
West claimed he had been often bullied by the victim and he just snapped.