News Cast for November 26th:
Okeechobee County unemployment dropped from 3.7 percent in September to 3.6 percent in October.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reported 674 Okeechobee residents collected benefits in October and 700 in September.
Okeechobee’s work force grew from 18,859 in September to 18,904 in October.
The state unemployment rose from 3.1 percent in September to 3.3 percent in October.
There were 369,000 Floridians out of work in October.
The state has gained 133,000 new jobs in the past year.
Around the area Glades County had 4.1 percent, St. Lucie four percent, Osceola 3.9 percent, Martin 3.4 percent, Indian River 4.2 percent and Highlands County 4.9 percent.
The two suspects in an animal hoarding and abuse case will face 54 felony charges apiece.
Darlene Hutchinson, 66 and Arthur Melvin Doliver, 36 had been living in the home for six years and had started out with just two dogs and one cat.
Highlands County Sheriffs Spokesman Scott Dressel said there will be one count for each animal, 46 dogs and eight cats.
They are all at the Highlands Animal Shelter and being cleaned and cared for.
The shelter asked for public donations of cash, cat litter and food for these animals.
Dressel said the neighbors on Broadland Lane knew the two suspects had animals but not to this extent, and were unaware of the squalor and filthy conditions inside the home.
“They were all covered in fleas. They were living on the floor of the cages covered in feces, none of them had any water, it was a pretty desperate situation those animals were living in and we are glad we were able to get them out of it,” he added.
Dressel said they are hopeful that the animals can one day be adopted by good homes.
“The best thing people can do to help right now is make donations to the Humane Society of Highlands County on their website or their Facebook page. They have a list of supplies needed to care for these animals.”
110 stolen tires were recovered after Okeechobee deputies watch an alleged crime of grand theft in Posey’s Corners.
Two employees from Liberty Tire Recycling in St. Lucie allegedly were arriving to sell used tires stolen from the company at 5050 NE 128th Avenue.
Deputies and detectives were watching as two vehicles arrived, a Ford F-250 pulling a flatbed trailer and a tractor trailer owned by Liberty. One suspect began loading tires from the back of the tractor-trailer onto the flatbed. Once the tires were loaded the tractor trailer pulled away and headed east toward St. Lucie County.
Yanior Figueroa-Varga, 47, and Julio Navarro, 52, were charged after a traffic stop. They will face one count of grand theft. Bond was set at $10,000.
The other party in the F-250 remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation. He said he purchased the tires for $14 apiece and paid them after he checked them and counted them.