News Cast for September 23rd:
Verbal argument turns violent
An Okeechobee man facing attempted murder charges.
25-year-old Melvin Brown is charged with shooting a girlfriend in Sebring.
Police there said Brown was arguing with the woman inside a vehicle when he produced a handgun and fired one round into her head.
The wound was not life threatening. Sebring police said they recovered two firearms and other evidence at the scene.
September is Hunger Action Month in Okeechobee County.
The Treasure Coast Food Bank continues to work on the hunger problem with monthly food distributions around the county.
Commissioner Kelly Owens said hunger remains a problem.
She noted over 7,000 Okeechobee residents are having trouble making ends meet.
Okeechobee commissioners raised some concerns about sewer service as they approved a rezoning from a mobile home project to an RV park project.
The 18-acre parcel is located at 8275 US highway 441 southeast.
Commissioner Terry Burroughs said building a package plant there is contrary to what Okeechobee is trying to do.
He noted the county is often criticized by coastal counties for the nutrients going into Lake Okeechobee from septic tanks and sewer.
An Okeechobee business victimized by an alleged rental scam.
George Nathan of Opalocka is wanted in several jurisdictions including Kissimmee, Opalocka and Miami Dade.
Okeechobee deputies said Nathan rented some high value construction equipment in Okeechobee valued at $36,000 and then never returned them.
He claimed he got COVID and he left the equipment on his front yard and someone stole them.
He made the same claims in other jurisdictions.
He is facing charges related to fraud and grand theft.
A teenager from Hardee County was killed by a truck in Glades County this weekend.
The 19-year-old man was walking in the north bound lane of traffic at 4:20 am on Saturday when he was struck on US 27 near Boar Hammock Ranch Road.
The tractor trailer fled the scene. It is believed to be a semi-truck carrying a trailer.
Another north bound vehicle, a van driven by a 42-year-old Lithia man, also ran over the teen.
Anyone with information can call star FHP or southwest florida crime stoppers. 1-800-780 TIPS (8477).
Osceola County commissioners approved 117 percent increases in mobility fees as they seek to build more roads for growth.
County Manager Don Fisher says it is expensive to build roads in Osceola County. He said it now costs over $8 million per lane mile in Osceola County.
Opponents worry it will limit the development of affordable housing and also increase rents in the county.
The fee adjustments won’t go into effect until next June.