Okeechobee residents with a concern on their minds they’d like to address with the city council will now have their chance. Councilmembers will host a town hall meeting tonight for residents to voice their concerns on what’s important to them. Councilmember Bob Jarriel came up with the idea during the council comments portion of the February 5th meeting, believing there are many people he didn’t get the chance to speak with during his campaign and he wants to give them that opportunity to speak on issues of concern. Jarriel says the format of this special meeting will have just residents speaking. Each person who wants to speak will have about three to five minutes to do so. Jarriel believes that the city taxes, millage rate and traffic are likely to be subjects most commonly brought up tonight for discussion. The town hall meeting will take place at six o’clock tonight in the auditorium at the Freshman Campus.
Speaking of meetings, the local chapter of the Republican Party met last night at Cowboys BBQ and they had as their guest speaker Christian Ziegler, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Ziegler’s purpose was to get feedback from the attendees and help plan for the re-election of President Donald Trump in 2020. Ziegler says he believes that was accomplished at this meeting last night. Of the 45 or so attendees, one of them was Okeechobee County Commissioner Bryant Culpepper. Culpepper says while the meeting delved into the issues facing Okeechobee, notably Lake Okeechobee, he believes that didn’t deter the purpose of the meeting because he believes the root of how you get support for a candidate is by addressing these issues. Ziegler, a Philadelphia native, is a White House surrogate for President Trump and spent the last 20 years as advocate for conservative principles such as limited government and protecting unborn children.
Okeechobee County Sheriff’s deputies have a local man in custody on some very serious charges involving two underage girls. Deputies say 35 year old Rodolfo Martinez reportedly touched a thirteen year old girl in a sexual manner as she slept at her cousin’s home Sunday night. Deputies say Martinez had also been touching another thirteen year old girl in a sexual manner, also while she slept, over the course of three to four months, beginning in November. Investigators interviewed both victims and found their stories to be believable while Martinez came in to the sheriff’s office voluntarily in an attempt to clear his name. He was later arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious molestation on a child between the ages of twelve to sixteen and custodial sexual battery on a child between the ages of twelve and eighteen. He’s currently being held without bond at Okeechobee County Jail.
Okeechobee County firefighters had a report of a grass fire on their hands Saturday evening but were not burdened with the task of having to put it out. Crews were called to a home on the 20 thousand block of NW 266th Street a little after 8:30 and found a debris burn pile measuring about 25 by 25 feet had gotten out of control. Firefighters told the homeowner to burn the remainder of the debris and then overhaul with equipment and they then left the scene. No one was hurt and no damages reported.
An Immokalee woman is dead following a vehicle accident early yesterday morning in Lee County. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officers say 23 year old Magan Raynor was driving a GMC Terrain SUV east on Corkscrew Road in Estero at around 1:20 when a Honda Fit sedan was approaching from the opposite way. Raynor somehow lost control of her vehicle, causing her to travel into the path of the Honda Fit, resulting in a head-on collision. Both Raynor and the Honda Fit driver were pronounced dead at the scene. FHP is investigating the accident.
42 year old Jack Billie of Okeechobee was arrested by sheriff’s deputies for drunk driving after a traffic stop and subsequent field sobriety test. His bond is set at $25 hundred dollars.
32 year old Gerardo Garcia of Okeechobee was arrested for driving on a suspended license after a traffic stop. His bond is set at five hundred dollars.
30 year old Joseph Roy Powell of Okeechobee was arrested for child abuse and battery during a domestic dispute. His bond has not been set.
43 year old Michele Elaine Mixon of Okeechobee was arrested on a warrant for violating probation on undisclosed charges. She’s being held without bond.
43 year old Christopher Michael Barney of Okeechobee was arrested for obstruction without violence stemming from a report of domestic violence. He was released after posting bond.
51 year old Kendra Marie Cutcher of Okeechobee was arrested for violating probation on previous charges of retail theft, battery on a law officer and resisting arrest. She was released after posting a $25 hundred bond.
21 year old Oneisha La Rae Brown of Okeechobee was arrested for contempt of court during her hearing on past charges of driving without a license and failing to appear in court. She’s being held without bond.
61 year old Jorge Isaac Martinez Junior of Okeechobee was arrested for failing to register his vehicle with the DMV after a traffic stop. He was released after posting a five hundred dollar bond.
32 year old Anthony James Downing of Okeechobee was arrested for driving on a suspended license and driving a vehicle in an unsafe condition. He was released after posting bond.
46 year old Lisa Aguilar Garcia Cardena of Okeechobee was arrested for violating probation on past charges of cocaine possession. She’s being held without bond.
26 year old Shawn Clyde Johnson of Okeechobee was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop. His bond is set at five hundred dollars.
29 year old Terrelle Cameron Harriell of Ft. Pierce was arrested on a warrant from Okeechobee County for violating probation. He’s being held without bond.