An Okeechobee man was jailed for two alleged incidents of drug trafficking this month.
The Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force said the investigation about Curtis Beachum dated back to January.
Beachum is held on $100,000 bond at the Okeechobee County Jail.
The task force said they were able to purchase two ounces, or 54 grams of methamphetamine from Beachum on Jan. 29 near a local convenience store.
The task force affidavit said they were also able to buy one ounce of 28 grams of methamphetamine from the subject for $250 at a residence on NW 11th Drive on Jan. 27.
Florida Senator Erin Grall who represents Okeechobee and St. Lucie County said she was upset by the traffic crash on the Florida Turnpike in her district August 12 that took three lives.
An illegal alien from India was driving the semitruck Harsinger Singh. He was attempting an illegal U-turn on a busy road.
The three victims were identified Tuesday as Herby Dufresne of Florida City, Faniola Joseph of Pompano Beach, and Rodrique Dor of Miami.
Grall said she thinks the state should mandate that all truck drivers be able to read English.
“It’s a requirement that you speak English. How can you possibly abide by and understand the rules of our roads if you don’t.”
Grall said she would look to introduce a bill or sponsor a bill that would require this in the 2026 session. She also wants to look at the truck driver schools in the state and their individual policies.
“I believe there are certain schools that offer truck driver training that don’t necessary follow all the same rules and guidelines that you would expect to be followed when you are able to drive that kind of vehicle on the road.””
Grall said illegal immigrants come into our system and threaten the lives of people in our communities.
“How did this go so wrong that this man was allowed onto the road and was driving a commercial vehicle that ultimately took the lives of these three individuals.”
The Okeechobee County Planning Board denied a request for a special exception for a private drift course at 1455 NW 160th Street. They also planned to have car shows.
Neighbors and other nearby residents were concerned about noise, additional traffic on the road, the gas and diesel odors, property values, and possible impacts on cattle and other livestock.
The applicant said agriculture is already filled with noises and odors and this project would not greatly impact neighbors. They placed the course at the corner of the property to minimize impacts.
The county was going to restrict the hours for the drift course to several hours on Saturday morning and afternoon.
Planning Director Bill Royce said a drift course is an asphalt track where motorists burn rubber, similar to a drag strip.
Applicant Luka Viera said the farm next to the property has an 18-wheeler hay business that is very loud and wakes us up. Everything is very loud and this will fit right in.
“Living in the country is very loud, dirt bikes, tractors, ATVs, and all the landowners have the right to use them 24 hours per day. There is no noise ordinance in Okeechobee.”
Resident Tyler Pew didn’t think this racing fit in a ranching area.
“I think we need to look closely as a community to the endeavors we bring to this town and whether they are going to benefit us and keep our heritage going, or are we going to end up like a St. Cloud and Kissimmee so far removed from the ranching and agriculture industry that it don’t even look familiar to anybody anymore.”
Rancher Suzannah Rucks felt this would impact her cattle and dairy herds. She also said it would lower property values.
“The noise, the exhaust, the development, would disturb our cattle disturbing our health, their productivity that is vital to our local ranches. Additionally the property values in the area could decline.”
A detour was in place Tuesday and Wednesday at least for the US 98 bridge in Fort Basinger. The west bound traffic is allowed through the repair zone but motorists are asked to lower speeds and be more alert. East bound traffic are being detoured onto county road 721 south to state road 70.
Drivers should expect delays, follow the detour signs, and use caution.
The FDOT did not say how long the bridge repairs would take.
A Sebring physician is charged with spanking the buttocks of two nurses he works with and improperly touching a patient.
Dr. Jorge Zeledon, 65, faces 10 counts of misdemeanor battery.
One of the nurses claimed she was struck so hard on July 18th that she had to lie down on the floor to get relief.
A patient on December 16, 2024 said she was getting an examination when the doctor inappropriately touched her breasts.
A nurse at HCA Sebring hospital said Dr. Zeledon slapped her buttocks seven times and squeezed a buttock one time between April and November of last year.
Both Sebring Police and Highlands County Deputies investigated these claims.
The sheriff is asking potential additional victims and witnesses to come forward with information.
You can call 863-402-7357 or email detectives@highlandssheriff.org