News Cast for February 27th:
Okeechobee Police said they are trying to revive the Kelley Sherman missing persons case. Sherman went missing on May 10, 2020 in the 600 block of NE Park Street near Taco Bell and the car wash.
Police detective Brandi Drapal has been assigned the case to get a fresh perspective and perhaps renewed energy into the investigation.
The Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers and the victim’s family have posted rewards in the case.
“Our team is working with various agencies to maximize our resources. We have gotten some new leads come in that we may or may not have known about in the past. We are hoping some positive comes out of this.”
Drapal said there are people that know something in the community that might be helpful.
“No tips can be so small. There are so many people out there that love here and we do understand the concern the community has for Kelley. We just want any information that will give this family some answers to find out what happened to Kelley or where she is at.”
She said her father has been very supportive of the police investigation and he wants some answers.
“This case has always been a top priority for this department. We are determined to find out there truth and give Kelley’s family the answers they deserve.”
Florida wildlife officials said a second Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle this year.
The latest death was in Hendry County Monday as a 10 year old female panther was struck as they tried to cross County Road 833 near Clewiston.
36 panthers died last year in Florida.
Nearly a dozen people suspected of entering the country illegally are in federal custody following an operation on the Treasure Coast. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said it was involved in its first operation with ICE agents in Indiantown last week.
Eleven people were turned over to the agency, two of whom had criminal histories.
The state continues to have over 1,000 open cases for people just dumping or leaving derelict botas in state waters.
Lt. Rob Rowe said they are ready to remove 579 of those vessels today.
The Fish and Wildlife reported a few open cases in Okeechobee, Glades and other interior counties. They do have 20 in St. Lucie County and 35 open cases in Palm Beach County.
State officers have cited 1,268 derelict vessels in the past five years.
A fatality on State Road 78 outside of Lakeport Wednesday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the three vehicle crash occurred just south of Roberson Drive.
Troopers said a south bound SUV crossed the center line and struck the rear of a sedan and then collided head on with a north bound tractor trailer.
A 59-year-old Okeechobee woman driving the SUV was killed.
The other drivers, a 21-year-old woman from Naples driving the sedan, and a 54-year-old man from Hialeah driving the tractor trailer, suffered minor injury.
The truck suffered extensive damage and portions of the road were closed for nine hours last night.
Favorite son Scott Martin self-reported a violation and was disqualified from this weeks Bassmaster Elite Series Event on Lake Okeechobee.
He won the Bassmaster Open tournament last year on the lake.
Martin called tournament officials and told them he had talked with someone not connected to the tournament to discuss current conditions on the lake.
The tournament is out of Scott Driver Boat Ramp with weighins each afternoon through Sunday at 3 pm.
A couple of Venus residents complained about an expansion of the Compost USA plant.
The company wants to expand the intake of trash from 50 trucks per day to 150.
The residents requested the county oppose a renewal of the state permit for the facility.
Code enforcement has also been looking into odor and other issues.
Residents were also concerned about the increase in truck traffic on rural roads.