News Cast for March 6th:
Highlands County had a red flag warning today until 6 pm.
The county has been under a burn ban for the past two weeks.
Highlands County Fire Rescue said the conditions are dangerously dry and the risk of wildfires has increased.
They avoid residents to avoid open flames and sparks, do not burn outdoors, keep vehicles off dry grass and properly dispose of cigarettes and not just throwing them on the ground.
Motorists from Lakeport south were inconvenienced tonight after the road was closed for repair work on the railroad crossing north of Moore Haven Correctional.
State Road 78 East, was closed at 5 p.m. Wednesday and is expected to reopen at 10 a.m. Thursday.
The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the capital murder case of Michael Woodbury who is on Florida’s death row.
The appeal is based on his decisions to represent himself at trial and the security measures taken in the court room.
Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn ruled that Woodbury be required to have leg shackles in the court room in front of the jury.
He was not required to wear his prison clothing and could have worn street clothes but he chose to do so.
Defense Attorney Marie Louise Samuels said the decision was prejudicial.
“This is an egregious case where the defendant was made to appear before a jury that will decide whether he lives or dies, unconstitutionally shackled and with prison garb. The US Supreme Court has repeatedly told us, this is extremely prejudicial.”
She said the court must follow the law where a defendant is charged with a heinous crime.
“It is in cases like this that failures can happen because emotions run high, where failures can happen because of the desire for punishment.”
Assistant State Attorney Ashley Albright, who prosecuted the case, said he was confident Woodbury’s appeal will fail.
He said Woodbury has already been given an extremely fair trial.
“There is no reason for him to have another trial. Every defendant, who is convicted files an appeal and wants a new trial.”
Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady said Woodbury made some bad decisions like the one to represent himself.
He said the court just couldn’t let him walk around unrestrained.
“This is a man who was charged with brutal, and unspeakable violence. When the idea is not to restrain him appropriately, that seems to be farfetched.”
Judge Canady said the court made every attempt to resolve these issues before the trial began.
“You are trying to make the judge a bad actor, when the judge went out of his way trying to work through this with the man.”
Samuels said she does not contend the judge intentionally misled.
“I’m saying he did the best that he could and make a legitimate mistake.”
Woodbury brutally murdered his cell mate Antoneeze Haynes, 52, at Okeechobee Correctional Institution. The jury voted 12-0 in favor of the death penalty.
Woodbury barricaded the cell door and beat and tortured Haynes using a metal lock for more than two hours before he surrendered.
Woodbury was in prison for a triple slaying in Conway, New Hampshire.
He said he wanted to be transferred back to New Hampshire because his father was dying of cancer.
The Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners learned FDOT work projects on route 70 will be soon completed.
They expect the work on 70 west out to the Kissimmee River by the end of March. The timetable for work on 70 east from 441 to the overpass is expected to be completed in mid-spring.
Commissioners want staff to start looking to hire a full time grant writer.
The commission approved an employment agreement with GT Law Attorney Gemma Torcivia of West Palm Beach to become the county attorney.
The county also is searching for a new manager at the Ag Center.
A third family member has been charged with animal cruelty due to an animal hoarding case in Kissimmee River Estates.
Russell Hutchinson, 52, turned himself in on a warrant in late February, Highlands County Deputies said.
On November 19, deputies were on the property at 17215 to evict the family from the residence.
During the eviction they found the home in deplorable condition and 54 animals inside with a variety of ailments that include flea infestations, hair loss, and with a lack of water.
46 dogs and 8 cats were taken into custody by animal control for treatment.
Darlene Hutchinson, 66, and Arthur Doliver, 36, were arrested earlier for 54 counts of animal cruelty.