News Cast for November 8th:
Teenager pled guilty to manslaughter charge
A murder suspect captured in Okeechobee for a shooting in Palm Beach County, pled guilty to a lesser charge in the murder of another teen.
Benjamin Coreas also pled guilty to delinquent in possession of a firearm for a shooting October 7, 2022 at Cascades Mobile Home Park in Lantana.
The shooting claimed the life of Brian Guevara, a relative of Coreas.
The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office said the incident appeared to be a fight or an attempted robbery. Part of the incident was caught on surveillance cameras.
Nine shell casings were located at the scene.
Another man, Angel Ordonez Maldonado was also injured and hospitalized.
Jail phone calls recorded the voices of Coreas mother and brother admit “Benji did it.”
Coreas claimed he was in Okeechobee at the time of the shooting.
Okeechobee Deputies assisted in the arrest and seized a firearm that tested positive for the gun that fired the rounds in Lantana.
State Attorneys plan to seek a 20 year sentence. Coreas scored 140 months in prison.
The sentence hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13.
The Okeechobee Utility Authority Board extended the deadline through 2024 for customers to sign up for a payment plan for when they are by state law, required to tie onto water and sewer service.
In addition to the connect fees, some would have to hire plumbers to adapt septic tanks to the OUA system, adding to the costs.
County Commissioner Frank DeCarlo estimated some customers might have to pay around $12,000 and that would be too expensive for them.
The OUA Board had discussed payment plans for as low as $40 per month over a period of years.
Chairman Steve Nelson wants to reduce the financial strain on customers. He encouraged the county and asked the city to work together on this issue and other issues.
“There is no money tree out here in Okeechobee. The people that live here need all the help that they can possibly get,” he added.
The Indiantown Village Council will be selecting a new councilmember due to the retirement of Susan Gibbs Thomas.
She left office on Oct. 31.
Gibbs Thomas ran for Martin County Commission but was defeated.
She was the last member elected in Indiantown’s first election to leave office.
Thomas urged the council to continue to pursue the four lane widening of route 710 from Indiantown to Okeechobee.
Councilmember Vernestine Williams Palmer said some residents should not be considered for the position. She said unless they have shown an interest in village issues and actually attended council meetings, they should not be eligible to serve.
Suzanne Isaiah suggested the village appoint a young person to try and get more of the village involved.
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue will conduct a fire training burn this morning at 2106 SW 2nd Avenue.
The street will be closed between 10 am and 5 pm for through traffic.