News Cast for July 28th:
Three people are dead after an incident in Brindaban Forest on Sunday afternoon.
Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies, Okeechobee City Police, the Martin County Sheriffs Office and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s bomb squad all played a role in the incident.
Chief Deputy Michael Hazellief said the suspect, yet to be named, was wearing all black clothing. He said the man engaged deputies as they arrived. He eventually was shot multiple times and died on the way to the hospital.
Hazellief said they are also investigating the deaths of two people that were neighbors to the shooter.
The bomb squad also handled several devices found by law enforcement that presented a threat to the officers who responded.
The city police and sheriff reached a deal on school resource officers at public schools located in the city limits. County Commissioners raised some questions about the changes at a recent meeting. The freshman campus will be moving to the high school next year and out of the city limits. The police department also lost their officer at Central Elementary who retired.
The city agreed to pay $15,000 to the sheriff along with a patrol car to fulfill their contract for the 2024/2025 school year.
The Okeechobee County School Board honored the top readers at the elementary level. The list included Claire Butler from North Elementary, Monsurat Hernandez of Seminole, Richer Soto of Central, Kaiden Sandefur of Everglades and McKenzie Stanley at South Elementary.
Florida remains the lightning capital of the world. Meteorologist Caitlyn Gillespie spoke on the Glades Public Safety Facebook page about the dangers present to people outdoors. An average of 25 people die each year due to lighting strikes in the United States.
Gillespie said you should keep an eye on darkening skies and thunder and find shelter immediately if you hear even distant thunder. 60 percent of those struck are doing recreational activities outdoors when they are struck.
Highlands County Commissioners reviewed a proposed seven percent hike in fire assessments.
Staff said the rate hike is needed to provide current services. They note that residential and commercial uses would not see an increase this year. They expect to collect just over $11 million.
Nursing homes would see the greatest increase, of 159 percent. Church buildings would see a 17 percent decrease.
Nursing homes paid 94,000 in 2024. The county expects to collect $225,000 from them in 2025.