News Cast 2/23
News Cast for February 23rd:
Okeechobee teacher locked up
The Sheriff’s Office arrested 26 year old Paige Leduc who is charged with unlawful sexual activity with a child.
It is alleged she met a minor child at a school event and began a romantic relationship with the child.
The district self-reported the complaint to law enforcement on Feb. 21.
Leduc taught at Central Elementary School and has been reassigned out of the classroom as investigations are underway.
Glades County Schools presented their plan to replace Moore Haven Elementary School at a recent workshop meeting with the Glades County Board of County Commissioners and Moore Haven City Council.
They are seeking $34 million this year from the state.
The 1968 building has problems with plumbing, sewer, handicapped accessibility, fire suppression and parking, school officials said.
Assistant Superintendent Brian Greseth said there is no modern fire protection at the school.
“At most schools when there is a fire the sprinkler system will come on. This school has no sprinkler system.”
The schools also have spent $90,000 this year on security fencing.
They also received grant funds to purchase 13 electric school buses.
A ground breaking ceremony was held on Wednesday for the Everglades Agriculture Area reservoir.
The project underway already is a 6,500-acre storm water treatment area.
The reservoir is another 10,500 acres.
The water will be 23 feet deep at completion.
The projects scheduled to cost $3.9 billion.
Director of Public Works for the US Army Corps Michael Conner said this project connects Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades once again.
“The EAA reservoir is foundation, fundamental, cornerstone of what we think is the most critical of the South Florida ecosystem restoration goals which is getting the water right.”
Congresswoman Debbie Washerman Shultz said a lot of great work was done with this project.
“Two decades of planning, two decades pushing, pulling and lobbying, all to secure the funding needed to restore this amazing habitat.”
The prosecution of Matthew Flores in North Carolina was halted on Wednesday.
The defense filed a motion to have his mental competence examined Wednesday.
Flores was indicted this week in Hardee County on first- degree murder charges for a shooting death on January 24th.
He’s considered a person of interest in the death of 74 year old Gary Levin of Palm Beach Gardens.
Flores will be examined at the Central Prison Hospital in Raleigh which could delay the case.
He’s facing charges related to a high speed chase in North Carolina.
A 43 year old Brighton woman charged with being intoxicated when she injured other people in a car crash on 70 at 721.
Selina Harvey was arrested in Okeechobee on Highlands warrants charging her with DUI causing serious bodily injury.
She was held on $3,000 bond.
Florida Highway Patrol Troopers said her blood alcohol content in the November 18th crash was .258.