News Cast 2/3

ByTaylor

February 3, 2025

News Cast for February 3rd:

A 76 year old Okeechobee man was arrested for the second time in six months for alleged involvement in illegal narcotics.

James Stephenson allegedly tried to purchase six oxycodone and seven morphine pills during an undercover operation of the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force.

He faces two felony charges.

Officers said Stephenson was arrested in September, 2024 for allegedly selling narcotics within 1,000 feet of a school or business.

The ONTF also stated Mr. Stephenson had served a four year prison term in the Florida Department of Corrections for sale of cocaine charges between 2019-2022.

Sheriff Noel Stephen said he continues to target illegal drug activity and hold offenders accountable.

“Those who attempt to traffic or purchase illicit substances in our county will be met with the full force of the law.”

Murder Suicide Kills Family Of 3 (Sebring, FL) — Three members of a family are dead in a murder-suicide scene. Highlands County Sheriff’s Office says a woman shot her husband, ten-year-old son and then herself.

The incident was discovered Friday in a home on North Huckleberry Drive when they realized that they haven’t seen their neighbors in several days.

Officials want the public to know that there are free resources available when suffering from a mental health crisis. To speak to someone at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 988.

Three Okeechobee women were charged with possession of fentanyl after a routine traffic stop.

Stephanie Starcher, Faith Khan and Julie White were in a vehicle stopped for a blown tail light in the 2600 block of SE 40th Avenue.

Deputies said the women made movements in the vehicle in what appeared to be an attempt to conceal something.

The owner of the vehicle gave permission to search and lawmen said they located a green plastic bag that contained suspected fentanyl, and two empty capsules that contained suspected fentanyl residue.

Deputies said Starcher and Khan also admitted to having more fentanyl and items of drug paraphernalia hidden on their person.

Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen said his agency continues to emphasize active shooter training.

He took note of a recent active shooter incident in the city of Clewiston, at the Walmart on US 27.

“Were always planning for the worst and praying for the best.”

He recently bought new technology so that deputies can train in simulators that mimic highly volatile and stressful situations right there at the sheriff’s office complex.

‘We’re prepared for those things to happen whether it’s a hostile work environment or a domestic situation. It is not the gun it is the people that are causing the problems today.”

A plan is in the works to increase safety for wild animals along a busy Highlands County roadway.

The Florida Department of Transportation said they plan to use a $6 million grant to reduce the wildlife-vehicle collision on US 27 in Venus and points south.

The grant will pay for raising a portion of the highway to create a wildlife crossing underpass.

Crews will also install fences to guide animals to the structure.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports at least 36 Florida panthers were killed in 2024 on roadways. Half of the deaths were reported south of Highlands County.

You Tube sensation Mike Familant fascinated a room filled with wildlife enthusiasts and children with a presentation about his new career, Finding Bigfoot.

Familant is a field investigator and producer of Sussex County Bigfoot a new You Tube program. He goes around the country doing programs about the search.

He told the crowd that most of the sitings of Big Foot remain in the Pacific Northwest and here in Florida. Many of the reports come from the Ocala National Forest.

The breed in Southwest Florida has been called the Skunk Ape with many sitings in the Everglades.

Familant said a recent survey found 92 million Americans said they believe that Bigfoot exists.

Familant said one of his goals is to get more people into nature and the woods and to enjoy the outdoors.

He was a firemen/paramedic in Sarasota before he decided to make finding Bigfoot his career.

He told the crowd about an incident he experienced in North Florida. He was campaign at night when several large boulders were thrown at him and his friend. He said no human could have thrown the boulders that size. The incident happened at Torreya State Park. He also reported another incident at night when he spotted a creature with red eyes at Colt Creek State Park.

Familant estimates he camps out about 150 nights per year.

Somewhat surprisingly, 70 percent of the reports of Bigfoot sitings are at or near the side of roadways in the US.

Familant estimates that 2,000 bigfoots are living in North American today. He said the average siting is less than five seconds long.

He also said drones, heat radar and other technology will likely lead to confirmed sitings of bigfoot in the future.

“If I had enough money for a thermal drone, that is how you will find bigfoot. My drone is stuck on the highest tree of the Allegany National Forest.”

Familant said he expects bigfoots have family units and are in close proximity to each other.

“I think if you come close enough to their family group, just like you and I are very protective of our family, I would think bigfoots are the same way.”

He asked himself what happens if he actually finds a bigfoot or certain evidence they exist.

“If I were ever to get evidence of bigfoot, do I want to get the species classified? What is going to protect the species best, classifying them or leaving them alone?”

ByTaylor