News cast for July 8th:
Okeechobee deputies helped to break up an Indian River County drug ring.
Jardon Jackson, 34, sold 442 grams of methamphetamine in Sebastian last summer for $1,600. Two months later he sold 53 grams of fentanyl in Fellsmere for $2,000.
Okeechobee assisted Indian River, Highlands County deputies and the Drug Enforcement Agency in the operation.
Undercover detectives from Okeechobee were used to assist in the drug transactions that included one at a Publix parking lot.
Jackson pled guilty to the charges in federal court. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of probation on drug trafficking charges.
The city of Pahokee had to give back a grant the state awarded them to do upgrades at Martin Luther King Junior Park because they didn’t use the money in time.
A new survey found Pahokee was the worst place to live in Florida for families in 2024-2025.
The survey found that Pahokee is considered one of the worst towns in Florida due to its high poverty rate, unemployment rate, and crime rate. The town has limited job opportunities, and most of the available jobs are seasonal, which makes it difficult for locals to find work outside of the harvesting season.
The town’s infrastructure is also inadequate, and there are no recreational facilities or entertainment options for citizens to enjoy. The town’s population has been declining due to the lack of economic activity, and many people have left the town in search of better opportunities. However, Pahokee has a rich history and culture, and residents are proud of their community.
An Okeechobee woman has a court date in Marion County for allegedly acting up at a youth softball game in the Dixie Youth state championships in Belleview.
Belleview Police arrested Leaha Boles, 33, on charges of trespass on property and resisting arrest without violence.
The probable cause affidavit said the incident began as a verbal disturbance among fans in the stands on June 29.
Two females were cursing at each other and the yelling halted the game. One woman said a man threatened to pistol whip her for her dirty language.
The tournament organizers asked Boles to leave the facility, but she returned and ignored directions to leave from the police.
Boles allegedly refused to exit the vehicle and would not cooperate in being handcuffed.
Jail officers said the woman did not cooperate with them as they attempted to get her to step through a scanning machine that checks for possible contraband. She also would not allow her booking photo to be taken.
Glades County commissioner Tim Stanley said he remains concerned about the push to end property taxes on homestead property in Florida.
The legislature could act on the proposal in the 2026 legislative session.
“I’ve got letters from people asking them to consider not charging property taxes in Glades County. I don’t know where these people come from because if we don’t have any property taxes we don’t have any income.”
An estimated $155,836 in property damage was done after a fire at 6378 NE 11th Way in Four Seasons.
Firemen said the triple wide was fully involved as they arrived and the roof was 90 percent collapsed.
The mobile home was vacant and the owner is deceased.
The fire report said 20,000 gallons of water was used to put out the blaze.
The cause of the fire was undetermined due to the severity of the structural damage.
There were no injuries reported.
The State Attorney filed a notice of Nolle Prosequi meaning they won’t pursue charges against Emerson Billie of lewd and lascivious battery.
Billie was charged with the rape of a woman in August, 2021. That case is now closed.
The woman claimed she had been attacked inside a parked vehicle at the Nubbin Slough Boat Ramp.
The victim and family didn’t want to cooperate with the investigation, the arrest affidavit said.
DNA evidence found on her clothing was tested and according to court records showed the analysis provided a strong support for the proposition that Billie was a contributor to the DNA profile found on her item of clothing.
An argument over an easement issue landed a 66 year old Lorida man in the Highlands County jail.
Lonny Tucker was charged with snatching the cell phone out of the victims hand while the victim video taped the interaction near 275 Doe Run.
Tucker alleged was armed with an item similar to a wooden baseball bat and allegedly approached the victim aggressively and pointed the piece of wood at him a few times.
The cell phone is valued at $1,200.
The charges include strong armed robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Okeechobee Schools remained a C district this year. All of the local schools earned a C grade. The only change was the Okeechobee Virtual School improving from a B to an A grade. South Elementary went from a B school to a C school.
Around the area Glades County Schools improved from a C to a B district. Moore Haven Middle High School remained a C, Moore Haven Elementary improved from a C to a B. West Glades and Pemayetv Emahakv Charter Schools remained A schools.
In Martin County schools earned an A grade. South Fork High School remained a B school, Indiantown High School improved from a D to an A, Indiantown Middle improved from a C to a B, and Warfield Elementary went from a D to a C.
Highlands County was a B district. Lake Placid Middle School remained a C. Sebring Middle remained a C. Lake Country Elementary went from a B to an A, Fred Wild Elementary School went from a B to a C, Sebring High and Lake Placid High remained C schools.
Osceola County schools were a B district. Harmony High, Harmony Middle, Gateway High School and Harmony Community School all had A grades.