News Cast for February 14th:
Okeechobee County Schools improved the graduation rate by over nine percent during the 2023-2024 school year.
The 80.4 percent graduation rate included the final year of juvenile justice education programs.
Okeechobee High School had a graduation rate of over 85 percent.
The rate last year was 71.7 percent.
Okeechobee High School had 86.9 percent of white students, 85.7 percent of black students, and 84.5 percent of Hispanic students graduate in four years.
Assistant School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Stanley said career and technical education plans have been one factor in improving the graduation rate, encouraging more kids to stay in school and earn an industry certification they can use in the job market.
Dr. Stanley credited staff and teachers for their hard work and dedication to students.
“We were very pleased with the increase. We are up about 10 percent which is about five times the improvement that the state made overall.”
He said it takes a family commitment to get many kids through high school on time.
“When they enter ninth grade that is when the journey begins. We really make sure we talk to the students and their parents about graduation from day one.”
Glades County schools had an 87.8 percent graduation rate, Highlands County 83.6 percent, Osceola County 88.8 percent, St. Lucie 94.3 percent and Martin County schools 92 percent.
A suspect was in custody Thursday afternoon for killing Palm Beach Corrections Deputy Basil Powell, 39, in Belle Glade.
Kevin Bennette, 32, was believed to be waiting in ambush for the deputy as he returned home Monday night.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Bennette is charged with first-degree murder. He said the motive was jealousy.
Powell was dating Bennette’s former girlfriend.
Bradshaw said Bennette had a violent past with numerous arrests including ones for domestic violence.
The Orange County Sheriff released body camera footage of interviews with the suspects and witnesses of their investigation into the disappearance and murder of 13 year old Madeline Soto.
Her body was found between Kenansville and St. Cloud last fall.
Stephan Sterns is facing first-degree murder and other charges in the case.
Officials state Sterns molested his girl-friends daughter and also had many photos of child pornography on his cell phone.
The state attorney indicated they will seek the death penalty in the case.
The girl’s mother was questioned extensively in the case but has not faced criminal charges.
Sterns case was continued until at least April after a short hearing this week.
He claims he dropped Madelline at school and never saw her again.
A bunch of loud, obnoxious and abusive first-amendment advocates invaded the Okeechobee County Court House Thursday.
The outbursts disrupted the Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners meeting and caused a brief recess.
As per long standing tradition, the commission chair asked the men to remove their hats in the commission chamber. The men also violated the county policy that dictates public comment for each person is three minutes.
They directed numerous insults and derogatory statements at the chairman in an effort to disrupt the meeting. One used the F word and called commissioner David Hazellief a parasite.
The group argued they have a first-amendment right to cuss and state whatever they want in a public place.
Warren Sapp who was arrested last year for interrupting deputies trying to issue a traffic citation, was also in attendance. He has sued the county for alleged violation of civil rights.
The state attorney later dropped the charge of obstruction.
The group alleged the county commission has a problem with the constitution and people’s rights.
They stated they wanted all law enforcement officers in Okeechobee to be better trained and educated on constitutional rights.