News Cast for June 3rd:
Man dies in crash near Reservation
A single vehicle crash claimed the life of a 26-year-old Okeechobee man on 721 early Sunday.
It happens just after 5 am near the Glades and Highlands County line.
The Florida highway patrol said an SUV was south bound, traveling at a high rate of speed, when the vehicle left the road, and struck a fence and a tree.
The driver was ejected upon impact and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers continue to investigate this crash and did not release the name of the driver.
A documented gang member is charged with beating a man as he sat in his vehicle.
The incident happens after an apparent domestic incident in Treasure Island.
Matthew Ramirez is a member of the South Side 13 gang.
Arrest reports showed charges include burglary to an occupied vehicle and battery.
A neighbor was Johnny on the spot after a 4-year-old autistic girl went missing from her home.
Okeechobee County sheriff deputies said the child was found standing in knee deep water in a canal north of the home.
The location was not released.
The sheriff has the Project Lifesaver program for autistic kids. They give out a tracking bracelet that parents and guardians can place on the arm of the autistic child which helps locate them quicker.
Another lost appeal for death row inmate Harold Lee Harvey. An evidentiary hearing held in May before Okeechobee Circuit Court Judge Laurie Buchanon to discuss his brain development.
The case now goes to the Florida Supreme Court.
Court records show 8 appeals have failed in the double murder case.
He confessed to killing a rancher Clarence Boyd and his wife, Ruby. on February 23, 1985.
Prosecutor Ashley Albright said the case has lingered for close to 40 years and agrees with those that state Harvey should have been executed many years ago.
“I would agree with them. At some point we have to say enough is enough and they need to receive the penalty that a jury, far too long enough, felt he justly deserved.”
Scott Stiteler, the co-defendant, is serving a life sentence in state prison.
The Okeechobee County Commission confirmed the appointment of Clint Sperber as the new Health department director.
They were assured the health department will continue to have a local office.
Sperber would also like to expand services at the community health clinic.
Another project will be continuing to monitor and test the presence of blue green algae in local waters.
They will also be permitting new nitrogen reduced septic tanks mandated by house bill 1379 signed into law.
National Dog Bite Awareness Week is June 2-9
USPS Releases Dog Bite National Rankings
SOUTH FLORIDA — Incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees rose to more than
5,800 cases last year. As part of the USPS 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, the
organization is offering crucial information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail
delivery and ensure the safety of our employees.
The campaign begins Sunday, June 2, and runs through Sunday, June 9. This year’s theme is “Don’t let
your dog bite the hand that serves you.” Spread the news of the campaign with the hashtag
#dogbiteawareness.
Letter carriers are exposed to potential hazards every day, none more prevalent than a canine encounter.
All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury. The U.S. Postal Service
consistently encourages responsible pet ownership. The national dog bite campaign is an effort to
promote dog bite awareness to keep our customers, their dogs, and letter carriers safe while delivering
the mail.
*****Dog Owners Can Help With Safe Mail Delivery*****
Letter carriers know all dogs can bite, even those perceived as nonaggressive. Dogs are generally
protective of their turf and dog owners have an important responsibility to control them to ensure safe mail
delivery.
Most people know the approximate time their letter carrier arrives every day. Securing your dog before the carrier approaches your property will minimize any potentially dangerous interactions. When a letter carrier comes to your home, keep dogs: · Inside the house or behind a fence; · Away from the door or in another room; or · On a leash. Pet owners also should remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier as the dog may view the carrier as a threat to the child. Stay Informed, See the Mail Before It Arrives By using Informed Delivery, a free USPS service, customers can digitally preview incoming mail and packages from a computer, tablet or mobile device. More than 52 million customers have enrolled since the service was launched in 2017. Sign up is at informeddelivery.usps.com. This service can help dog owners anticipate when their carrier will arrive. Consequences of a Dog Attack According to the most recent information available from the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost per insurance claim for a dog bite is $64,555. When a postal employee suffers an injury, the owner could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, uniform replacement costs, and pain and suffering for the employee. Staying Focused on Delivering Letter carriers are trained to observe an area where they know dogs may be present. They are taught to be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and to respect a dog’s territory. Letter carriers are trained to: · Make a non-threatening noise or rattle a fence to alert a dog if entering a yard; · Never startle a dog; · Keep their eyes on any dog; · Never assume a dog will not bite; · Never attempt to pet or feed a dog; and · Place their foot against an outward swinging door to prevent a dog from escaping. If a dog attacks, carriers are also trained to stand their ground and protect their body by placing something between them and the dog — such as a mail satchel — and to use dog repellent, if necessary. Letter carriers have tools to alert them to dogs on their routes. A dog alert feature on carriers’ handheld scanners can remind them of a possible dog hazard, and dog warning cards must be used during mail sorting to alert carriers to addresses where a dog may interfere with delivery. Holding the Mail When a carrier feels unsafe, mail service can be stopped. Until the carrier feels safe enough to restart delivery, the mail will have to be picked up at the dog owner’s local Post Office. If a carrier feels a house or neighborhood is unsafe to deliver the mail and there is no way to inform residents their mail service has been suspended, the residents will have to contact the supervisor at their local Post Office for more information. The residents would also have to pick up their mail at the Post Office until it is safe to resume delivery. If a dangerous dog issue is not resolved, owners can be required to rent a Post Office box to receive mail.
Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 167 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.