News Cast for January 2nd:
Video leads to animal cruelty arrest
An Indiantown teen, age 16, was charged with stabbing to death a pit bull dog.
Martin County Sheriff Deputies said the obtained key evidence from social media and a video that was posted about the death.
The arrest report said a resident of the property where the incident occurred said they received a text message with the video. It showed the wounded and bleeding animal, a bloody knife, and a person’s hand. The witness said they recognized the voice on the video of the teenager.
Deputies secured the knife with the blood and dog hair. They said after an initial denial, the subject admitted to stabbing the dog and killing it.
He bragged about keeping the skull of the dog as a trophy.
Highlands County Commissioners agreed to draft an ordinance that prohibits sleeping in public places. It was prohibited by the Florida legislature in 2024.
County Attorney Sherry Sutphen said there have been lawsuits filed on this issue. She said the U.S. Supreme Court found that it is not cruel and unusual for you to be removed from sleeping on public property by means or arrest or other penalties.
Sutphen said the county must take the homeless situation serious from a legal liability standpoint.
“This is so dangerous. Say you have an individual sleeping on a bench in the right of way in front of a business. If we do nothing about it, a business owner can file suit against the county.”
Glades County hired a new county manager after interviews in December.
June Fisher announced in November she would retire at the end of the year. She agreed to stay on until the end of January to train the new person.
The commission December 10 agreed to interview three finalists, Gary Blake, Paul Carlisle and Stanley Hawthorne.
They interviewed the three finalists on Dec. 17 at a special meeting at the Emergency Operations Center.
On December 23, the BOCC voted 5-0 to hire Carlisle. He had previously served as Glades County Manager. His most recent job was the manager for the City of Sebastian in Indian River County.
The State House Committee assignments were announced and it will be a busy session for Kaylee Tuck, ® who represents Highlands, Glades and Okeechobee County.
Tuck will serve on the health care budget committee, the state budget committee, the housing, tourism and agriculture subcommittee and the health and human services subcommittee in 2025.
The session begins in March.
The Florida legislature in 2024 prohibited both counties and cities from enacting any worker protects related to heat that included shad, and more water breaks.
The Florida Immigrant Coalition opposed the legislation.
Executive Director Renata Vozzetto said this leaves workers in the agriculture industry and the construction industry with few options.
“Our local workers are not protected by laws and strict enforcement other than OSHA guidelines.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that between 2011-2021, an average of 43 workers died each year due to heat related illness suffered on the job in the United States
“Farm workers are many more times likely to die or suffer heat stress than any other worker.”
She said they have begun a campaign to educate those that work out doors to be more careful. She said the workers have been very receptive of the information on how to remain safe.
“How to get water, shade and rest an dhow to recognize the signs of heat stress and how to protect each other.”