News cast for November 20th:
Fulwider named teacher of the year
Jennifer Fulwider of Everglades Elementary School was named the Okeechobee County School Board’s Teacher of the Year.
The night of the stars banquet was hosted by More 2 Life Ministries this year.
Fulwider began her teaching career in Michigan and has taught since 1999.
“I’m honestly speechless,” Fulwider said after accepting the award, “It was quite a shock. I’m just so passionate about the community in general and every child in this community.”
She worked seven years in Michigan and the last 17 in Okeechobee schools.
She said she appreciated her administration and the school system.
“I just want to cry. I feel honored. Teaching is my passion for children and our future.”
Other teachers nominated this year included Kristi Robincheck of Central Elementary, Catherine Rucks at the District Office, Leona Peters at North Elementary, Malinda Crosby of Seminole, Julee Pickles at South, Christopher Bowen at Osceola Middle, Saleem Johnson at Yearling Middle, Samantha Fulks at Okeechobee Achievement Academy, Yeymi Guerrero-Lopez of
the Okeechobee High School Freshman Campus and Krystin Hargraves of Okeechobee High School.
Several drug arrests of note were reported in Okeechobee in the past week.
The Okeechobee County Narcotics Task Force, with FDLE agents and Drug Enforcement agents conducted a search warrant of a home at 7174 NE 4th Street.
Elijah Barney allegedly was selling drugs out of the home and sold drugs to minors. He offered to sell $11,000 worth of narcotics authorities said.
They were able to locate five grams of LSD, 12.7 grams of pain pills, a half a gram of ecstasy, 1200 grams of codeine, 13 containers of THC, 152 grams of THC butter, 211 grams of mushroom and 1,080 grams of marijuana.
Akia Spivey Williams was jailed by Okeechobee Police officers after a reported shoplifting incident at Walmart. The store employees got a description of the vehicle the suspect left the parking lot in, it was pulled over on route 70 east, and the officer contacted the sheriff for a K-9 unit.
The canine alerted to the vehicle and officers said they located a bag on the front seat that contained four grams of fentanyl.
An Indiantown man faced drug trafficking charges in Stuart.
Stuart Police said Lee Simpson, 24, was caught selling narcotics to an undercover officer.
The arrest report stated Simpson arranged to sell 50 morphine pills, 25 ecstasy pills and five Percocet pills to the detective outside a convenience store.
When officers tested the drugs, they did not test positive for narcotics and were determined to be Tylenol, Midol and gummies.
Police noted Simpson faces two criminal cases and charges that include trafficking in morphine, sale of oxycodone, sale of methamphetamines, possession of oxycodone, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful use of a two way communications device and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Okeechobee County Commissioners honored Samantha Johnson who was state champion in free style swimming in the Special Olympics. They also honored Carol Marker for outstanding achievement in the competition for bowling, tennis and swimming.