News Cast for March 17th:
The American Red Cross assisted a Treasure Island family of four that was displaced by a fire this weekend.
The Disaster Action Team from the Palm Beach Treasure Coast Chapter said the fire occurred in a mobile home on SE 22nd Court.
There were no injuries reported in the fire.
The Red Cross assisted the family with emergency financial assistance, health and mental health services, and one on one support.
The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Award Banquet this year honored Connier Finney as volunteer of the year, Jackie Huffman for Detention Support employee of the year and Chad Cox as Detention Deputy of the Year.
Chief Deputy Michael Hazellief also honored an IT employee who helped located two wanted alleged killers in Kentucky.
Deputy Missy Escobel was honored for making 18 DUI arrests in 2024.
Adrian Rogers was honored for his work on a fatal crash in the Viking Property for the way he kept the family informed of the investigation.
Three people were killed in a head on collision Sunday afternoon on 441 north of Kenansville, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The report said a Ford F 150 pickup truck driven by a 30 year old Jensen Beach man was travelling south bound in the north bound lane on the two lane road and collided head on with a north bound Toyota SUV.
Three passengers in the SUV were killed including a 54 year old woman, a 34 year old woman and a five year old boy from Orlando.
The SUV left the road and overturned after the impact.
Both drivers suffered minor injuries. A nine month old infant in the pickup truck also suffered minor injury.
The crash occurred near Yates Ranch Road.
Troopers said the investigation is ongoing.
A 31 year old Sebring man was charged with making a false report to law enforcement over a leg injury.
Joseph Francione was allegedly shot in the lower leg on September 23 in Lorida. The bullet entered his calf and exited out his ankle.
Francione claimed he was riding a lawnmower at 1801 Varsity Lane when he heard a pop and thought the lawnmower had hit something.
He went to the hospital where staff became suspicious and contacted law enforcement.
Deputies said the injury was not consistent with something flying off the ground and they also inspected the lawnmower that showed no damage.
Francione was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has 52 current Florida Forever Projects planned this year.
They amended the boundary to the Fisheating Creek to conserve a ranch in eastern Highlands County.
Ranches under consideration for conservation and or outright purchase this year in our region include the Big Bend Swamp Holopaw Ranch, the Adams Ranch in St. Lucie and Osceola, the B Bar Ranch in Martin, the Blue Head Ranch in Highlands, the Bombing Range Ridge in Highlands, Polk and Osceola and the Fisheating Creek ecosystem in Glades and Highlands County.
Many of the properties are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
There’s a high risk of fire across South Florida today. The National Weather Service has a Fire Weather Watch that’ll be in effect this afternoon through tonight. Winds are expected to reach 15 miles an hour with gusts up to 30 miles an hour. Relative humidity could be as low as 25 percent. The NWS warns any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.