News Cast for August 8th:
Shooter remains at large
150 people were gathered at a party in the woods when shots rang out on Saturday morning.
A 16 year old Okeechobee boy and a 19 year old Sebring woman were seriously injured. They are now in stable condition at regional trauma centers.
The incident occurred near Leisure Lakes in Lake Placid.
Highlands County deputies said they are hot after the shooter.
Sheriffs Spokesperson Scott Dressel said detectives will figure this out.
“There were a lot of people there so we know a lot of people saw this happen. We just need those people to reach out to us.”
You can contact Highlands County Deputies at (863) 402-7200 and talk to a deputy. You can also provide anonymous tips to Heartland crime stoppers I-800-226-TIPS.
The Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners agreed to settle a lawsuit over a ranch holding weddings.
It was cited as a code enforcement violation.
State law now allows weddings as a tourism activity in agriculture.
County Attorney Wade Vose said there were expensive legal fees for the farm, Cattle Ranch Holdings.
“The plaintiff incurred about $160,000 in attorney fees thus far. This settlement agreement resolves this matter with each side paying their own attorney’s fees and resolving the matter.”
Vose said evidence came out during a recent court hearing that led him to ask for notices from the building department and fire department to be rescinded and then flush out the legal and practical positions for the property.
The Okeechobee City Council began their budget workshops.
Highlights include a raise in fire and EMS bills from the county to about $800,000 per year.
The tentative tax rate was set at 6.8 mills.
They also discussed many options to increase the pay of employees.
The staff also want a human resources director position.
City Clerk Lane Gamiotea said she is not the city human resource director.
“There are many, many functions that I’ve had to pick up and assume to make sure we are complying with federal guidelines.”
Councilmember David McCauley supported that position.
“It is going to be more and more necessary. We are not at the tipping point, we are past the tipping point. We are lucky we haven’t been tipped over. I don’t see any option except to bite the bullet and get somebody to do the work properly.”
Police dispatchers might also get a raise. The starting pay of dispatchers is the lowest paid position in the city. The proposed budget includes $100,000 for the Primitive Baptist Church museum and $60,000 for a paved parking lot.
Vice Mayor Monica Clark said she worries city businesses will pay a lot more in city taxes.
“We are talking about a couple thousand dollar increase for businesses, that is a lot for small business.”
The state law limits property tax hikes on homestead residential land to three percent.
From the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office:
Sheriff Noel E. Stephen announces that earlier in the week, the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force members arrested multiple individuals for Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine and found $25,000.00 in cash during the arrests.
During the investigation, K-9 Deputy Karson Reno and his partner, K-9 Ricco, conducted two traffic stops.
During the first stop, K-9 Ricco showed a positive “hit,” indicating something inside the vehicle. Inside that vehicle, three (3) kilograms of Cocaine and $25,000.00 of U.S. currency were found in a hidden compartment.
Shortly after, K9 Ricco alerted on another vehicle owned by Baldemar Medrano JR. Inside that vehicle were three men, Medrano, Harvey Spells, and Jose Romero Jr.
During a search of Medrano’s car, an M&P pistol and 19.2 grams of Marijuana were located.
After obtaining a probable cause narcotics search warrant, a search was conducted immediately after the stops at 203 NW 6TH Street, Okeechobee, Florida.
Inside that home, the following items were located.
- A plastic shopping bag containing two individually brick-shaped packages of suspected Cocaine
- A zip-lock bag containing Cocaine was under the couch in the living room. The total weight of the Cocaine is 2,160.22 grams.
- 657.70 grams of Marijuana on the table next to the couch in separate bags.
- 1247.37 grams of Marijuana in a blue backpack next to the couch in separate bags.
- Four 1-ounce containers of T.H.C. resin are in the top drawer of the table next to the couch, and a medical container with Medrano’s name.
- Numerous Psilocybin candy bars in separate packaging
- Numerous pre-packaged T.H.C. resin containers were found in the fridge.
- Paraphernalia included vacuum seal bags, a vacuum seal machine, and a scale. *
- A Hungarian 9MM pistol loaded
During interviews and investigation, the following persons were arrested for Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine:
Vladimir Romero Espinoza (67), Norma Nelida Sepulveda (62), Baldemar Medrano JR. (26), Harvey Leroy Spells III (33), and Jose Guadalupe Romero JR. (33).
All were arrested and transported to the Okeechobee County Detention Facility for booking without incident.