In the case against a former county worker accused of stealing more than $1.5 million from
Palm Beach County's Convention and Visitors Bureau. Donna Duffer pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft of more than
$100,000 and money laundering of more than $100,000. Duffer said she forged over 200 checks, then she deposited them into
her personal account or cashed them at a check cashing store. She also said she not only used the money to fund her gambling
habit in casinos and on-line, but to also to renovate her kitchen.
Duffer's husband and son spoke on her behalf saying
Duffer is not a thief but a gambling addict. They told the judge, if Duffer is sentenced to prison she won't be able to treat
her addiction. Duffer's attorney is asking for probation and treatment for gambling addiction.
July 30, 2007 - 12:04PM
Two people from our area, hope their 157-mile trek through Florida will help educate others
about preservation. Landscape artist Rick Kelly and writer Camille S. Yates retraced the steps of native americans for a new
book. Since March of 2006, they trekked through six counties from New Smyrna Beach to the Jupiter Inlet. Indian River Community
College Foundation's, "Pioneer River Press" will published the coffee-style book which comes out this winter.
July 30, 2007 - 4:00PM
Children with cancer face scary procedures, and to make them better, two local women are
making the treatment a little easier to handle. Paula Greco and her friend Sherry Wilce have made it their mission to provide
toys for these kids as a way to ease the pain of the treatment and give them something to look forward to. Paula helps the
children at Palm's West hospital, and says she was motivated after her mother died of cancer. Paula also enlisted the aid
of her friend, Sherry, who illustrated the children's books My Flying Grandma and From Zero to Hero. The money raised through
book sales, helps pay for children’s toys.
July 30, 2007 - 9:29PM
Water is being called the key issue for our community. A meeting of the minds at the South
Florida Water Management District took place on Monday to deal with our growing water crisis. The issue on the table is dealing
with a water system that was only designed to handle about two million users. Now there are seven million water users in South
Florida including businesses and farmers. Ordinary citizens showed up to make their voices heard about water quality and safety.
Water managers don't expect any major policy decision to come out of the meeting. However, they hope it will generate ideas
they can use to make plans for the future.
July 30, 2007 - 9:34PM
A local shelter that takes in thirty dogs in one day now has make tough decisions and decide
which animals will live, and which will die. The Humane Society of St. Lucie County Shelter took in almost 10,000 animals
last year. More than half were adopted out, but sadly the others, nearly 5,000, were put down. The shelter tries to hold on
to these animals for as long as they can, but for some time is running out. The shelter is getting rid of clutter to accommodate
all the newcomers. They're also looking for a new building and hoping to raise at least a $1 million to build it.
July 30, 2007 - 9:56PM
The developer is backing out of the Briny Breezes deal for now. Ocean Land is backing out
because Briny Breezes refused to give it a 45 day extension on its deadline for Friday. Ocean Land would have owed Briny Breezes
for $4.5 million in a non-refundable deposit by Friday, but the developer says that's not the reason it's backing out. It
wants more time to talk with Ocean Ridge and Gulf Stream, two neighboring communities voicing concerns about the size of the
planned development and its impact on the area and the environment. The developer wanted to build twelve 20 story towers of
condos and has already spent $5 million on planning. Bulldozers have also already cleared some of the land and the rental
residents have moved out. Lot owners were set to make an average of $1 million each from the deal. There has been speculation
that the developer was looking for a way to walk away in order to convince homeowners to come back and sell for less, if this
deal falls through, but the developer is denying it.
July 31, 2007 - 11:47AM
West Palm Beach mayor Lois Frankel is in the nation's capital to talk about the war in
Iraq. Frankel is one of four featured speakers at the conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. Her son has served in Iraq.
Frankel is expected to talk about how much the war has cost West Palm Beach taxpayers. Also, how the money could have been
used to help fund housing, schools, and increase the number of police officers patrolling the streets.
July 31, 2007 - 11:45AM
Florida is ranked number two for drive-by shootings. It's not a sight uncommon in our area,
you may remember in the beginning of this year when 8-month-old Tavaris Carter of Port Saint Lucie and five other people including
his mother were hit by gunshots in Riviera Beach. According to the Violence Police Center in Washington, D.C. There were 57
such incidents reported last year in a six month period.
Meanwhile, California was ranked number one, with 115 incidents
reported. While, Maine, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia were the only states that had no reported drive-by
shootings during this period.
July 31, 2007 - 11:53AM
A Jupiter man has pleaded guilty to conspiracy in a New York steroid investigation. 44-year
old Joseph Raich was the co-owner of the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center. Prosecutors say operators of the rejuvenation
center helped issue prescriptions for steroids through Signature Pharmacy in Orlando. As part of his plea agreement, Raich
agreed to pay $200,000 and cooperate against the remaining defendants in exchange for five years probation.
July 31, 2007 - 5:02PM
A Fort Pierce man suffered permanent injuries in a crash two years ago, when he was hit
by a car while riding his motorcycle. Now blind and partly paralyzed, he and his wife have decided to go halfway around the
world, to get controversial medical treatment that is not available in the U.S. At 48, Tim O'Connor feels he's got a lot
of years left, but a motorcycle crash two years ago when he was hit on U.S. 1 by a drunk illegal immigrant with no insurance,
left him totally blind and unable to use his arms. Tim believes he needs a medical miracle and he hopes he'll find that miracle
in China, where he's going in November for stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy is not legal in the United States, so
to get it he has to go to China, one of a handful of countries where doctors can legally do it. Doctors in China will inject
stem cells in his spine and chest. Tim and his wife have mortgaged their home, trying to come up with the $46,000 dollars
they need to cover the costs. Since the crash, Tim can no longer work. He can't dress, feed or bathe himself. His wife works
at an insurance company. She prays the stem cell therapy will restore Tim's use of his arms and maybe his eyesight. Tim
O'Connor and his wife are seeking donations to help cover the cost of going to China for stem cell injections. The cost of
their trip, including hospital, doctor's bills and everything will be about $46,000. If you'd like to help, a fund has
been set up at Riverside National Bank on Okeechobee Road in Ft. Pierce.
July 31, 2007 - 9:53PM
A local woman accused of mistreating and malnourishing nine people in her care was allegedly
profiting off them. Judith Leekin remains at the St. Lucie County Jail on over $4 million bond. The 62 year old is charged
with nine counts of child abuse. Police say Leekin adopted eleven people in New York from 1993 to 1996. Police believe she
was using handcuffs and zip ties to keep the victims inside her Port St. Lucie home. Police say Leekin pocketed almost $2
million over the years from state and federal checks that were supposed to be used to care for the five teens and four developmentally
disabled adults in her care. Leekin was able to get away with it for so long, by forging documents and using different aliases.
Police have tracked down ten of the eleven people she adopted. On Monday, they found a 19 year old man who took off from Leekin's
home two years ago. The teen is believed to be homeless, has the intelligence of a fourth grader, and has visible scars from
past abuse. Police are still looking for the eleventh person. They do know he is now 18 years old, but they have no idea where
he is.
July 31, 2007 - 9:58PM
Local water managers have extreme planting in Western Palm Beach County. A machine removed
plants from water, and then a Water Management District helicopter flew them to another spot so they can start growing there.
The plants are the key to removing harmful nutrients, and cleaning water headed to the Everglades. The helicopter speeds up
this process. Water managers are replacing plants destroyed by recent hurricanes in a system of man-made marshes.
July 31, 2007 - 10:20PM
Serious security problems have been uncovered with some of the voting machines that are
supposed to replace the controversial touch screen voting machines. In a new report Florida State University found 126 security
flaws with the voting machines made by Diebold. There are 31 counties in the state using the equipment. The two in our area
are St. Lucie County and Okeechobee County. They are also taking these security threats very seriously. The problems are so
severe, experts say someone with a computer background could basically change the outcome of an election and no one would
ever know it. In fact, the secretary of state is demanding that Diebold fix all of the problems by the end of the month. Two
other counties in the area, Palm Beach and Martin Counties, are looking to buy optical scan voting machines to replace their
touch screen voting machines. Both refuse to buy them from Diebold.
August 1, 2007 - 9:16AM
It's a strong message sent to all sex offenders in our state. Starting Wednesday, all offenders
must have a special marking on their driver's licenses. The number is in fine print-at the bottom of the license, revealing
their criminal pasts. The new law also requires offenders to register their E-mail address and instant message accounts.
Officials
hope it will help police, employers, school officials, and the public keep better track of sexual predators. Meanwhile, convicted
sex offenders will have until February 2008 to get a new license or be charged with a third degree felony.
August 1, 2007 - 9:21AM
Toll violators are costing the state more money than it collects. Each time a driver passes
through a toll lane without paying, the state pays $2.70 trying to recover that fee, which itself can cost from 25 cents to
$13.70.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida spent about $1,000,000 in its efforts to collect
more than $400,000 in unpaid tolls from January to May this year. About half the drivers who received the mailed violation
notices later paid the money they owed. That brought in about $800,000. Drivers are given 21 days to pay the toll before the
state starts issuing fines and citations.
August 1, 2007 - 10:38PM
A massive pile of manure is creating a big stink in a local neighborhood. State environmental
officials say they found 20,000 cubic yards of horse manure on the property of Walter Duque's house in Loxahatchee Groves.
To put it all in perspective, it is enough manure to fill about 1,000 averaged-sized dump trucks. A D.E.P spokesman says they've
been receiving complaints about the piles for years, and eventually the manure will have to be removed.
August 1, 2007 - 10:41PM
A local city cracks down on shopping carts. In some West Palm Beach neighborhoods, people
are fed up with people leaving stores with shopping carts and just abandoning them on sidewalks. Neighbors complained, and
this week city commissioners took action, backing a shopping cart ordinance. If approved in two weeks, stores in West Palm
would have 24 hours to retrieve a reported stray cart. Problem stores could be required to equip carts with devices that disable
the wheels when leving the property.
August 2, 2007 - 7:12AM
Authorities have formally charged Judith Leekin with 10 counts of child and disabled abuse.
She's also accused of spending $2 million of government money meant for the children. Investigators believe Leekin adopted
11 children from several New York City agencies in the 90's using various aliases. The victims told police they were handcuffed
and starved in her port st lucie home for years. If convicted, she could spend life behind bars.
August 2, 2007 - 7:17AM
Florida's top prosecutor and local lawmakers, announce major changes, aimed at stopping
gangs in their tracks. Attorney General Bill McCollum says, a statewide grand jury on gangs, should be in place by early next
week. Subpoenas were sent out, across the state, to find 18 jurors and 10 alternates, to work in West Palm Beach for one week
a month. The group will focus on how to indict organized gangs, and make recommendations on how to prevent them from forming
in the first place.
August 2, 2007 - 9:39AM
A toddler has drowned after slipping out of his house un-noticed Wednesday night. The sister
of the 17-month old was babysitting him and her other siblings. The little boy, somehow got outside and fell into the families
pool. The child was discovered face down in the pool at the home in Jupiter Farms. According to the Palm Beach County
Medical Examiner, the boy died at Saint Mary's Medical Center. Initial reports indicate the boy was missing for about half
an hour. The parents, Steve and Anne Shirley were at a business meeting in Miami. Detectives say there is not a proper fence
around the pool.
August 2, 2007 - 11:56AM
Parents of teenage drivers can now check out their teen's driving record through a website.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced that parents are able to log onto their website and enter
their teen's drivers license number. The website will show whether the teen has any driving violations. Officials say
the website is secure and you don't have to worry about identity theft.
August 2, 2007 - 12:07PM
The aftermath of the devastation caused by the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis has
raised the issue about bridge safety in Palm Beach County. According to the State Department of Transportation, there
are more than 780 bridges in Palm Beach County. Moveable bridges, such as those around the intracoastal, are inspected every
year. Non-movable bridges are inspected every two years. Most of the bridges that are constructed over Interstates are
about 26 years old. The Flagler and Southern Boulevard bridges are both expected to be replaced in the next 5 years.
August 2, 2007 - 9:09PM
The holocaust was a dark time in world history where millions died at the hands of Nazi's.
Now the stories of those who survived won't be forgotten thanks to an inspiring program right here in our area. Florida Atlantic
University hopes to use survivor’s stories as teaching tools. The testimonials originally produced by award winning
film director Stephen Spielberg compiles thousands of hours of what happened before, during, and after the murder of millions
of Jews. More than 300 of these holocaust survivor testimonies are available on computer here at the FAU library. This is
part of the on going effort to teach people about this dark time in history.
August 2, 2007 - 9:15PM
Deputies arrest a man they say shot at them. That shooting led to a neighborhood search
with canine officers, a helicopter as well as state and federal officers. Ismael Morisma was wanted by West Palm Beach police
for shooting a man and several home invasions in Riviera Beach. On Thursday, the joint Fugitive Task Force heard Morisma was
in the Northwood Hills area of West Palm Beach. When they went to try and arrest him, he fired four shots at police. No officers
had to fire their weapons and were able to arrest Morisma. As this all went down, traffic was shut down, stopping several
people in their tracks. Morisma is also wanted for fire bombing a suburban West Palm Beach Apartment last week. Deputies say
his brother was shot and killed there a few days back.
August 2, 2007 - 9:18PM
A new group is hoping to keep kids out of trouble with music. Two Lake Worth residents
are behind a local branch of the national group called Guitars not Guns. The Guitars not Guns group reaches out to foster
kids, at risk youth, and other deserving children by giving them guitars and lessons. The Florida chapter of Guitars not Guns
started June of this year, and they are hoping for more volunteers to expand their vision.
August 3, 2007 - 12:44PM
Researcher William Gray releases a revised forecast for hurricane season. Now, he's calling
for 15 named storms, with 8 becoming hurricanes, and 4 becoming intense hurricanes. That's a slight decrease from his previous
forecast on May 31st which called for 17 named storms and 9 hurricanes, 5 of them intense. Gray revised his predictions because
he says sea surface temperatures have cooled across the tropical Atlantic in recent weeks.
August 3, 2007 - 12:48PM
Crews are busy improving a the Blue Heron Bridge. It's the same bridge where two women
were killed last year while out for a morning jog. Workers are finishing putting up the cement barriers between the road and
the walkways. Back in September, Cynthia Andrews and Linda Taylor were hit and killed by a car while walking on the bridge.
Police say Adam Gaillard was behind the wheel and took off after the crash. He was later charged with leaving the scene of
a deadly crash and driving with a suspended license.
August 3, 2007 - 10:26PM
A vital service for senoirs and the disabled is making a comeback. Congressman Tim Mahoney
passed emergency legislation in the House, in Washington, that would restore funding to the community coach systems in Martin
and St. Lucie County. The bus service takes senoirs to doctors, stores, and the disabled to work. Community Coach had to fire
more than a dozen of their staff and cut it's routes in half after U.S. census deemed the Treasure Coast a metropolitan area,
and not eligible for funding. The cutbacks affected more than 4,000 local senoirs. The bill promises to restore the bus service,
but still must pass the Senate.
August 3, 2007 - 10:33PM
They chose to paint rather than pick oranges in the 1950's, but one of the Highwaymen artists
has died. Hezekiah Gibson died after painting thousands of landscapes along the Florida coastal highways. Gibson was one of
the original 20th century African American highwaymen landscape painters that Fort Pierce artist A.E. Baccus taught to paint.
The men were named highwaymen in the 1950's since black artists were not allowed to show their work in galleries at the time,
and had to sell from the art from the back of cars.
August 3, 2007 - 10:39PM
Police say a Riviera Beach convenience store is a haven for crime, but getting enough evidence
to shut it down hasn’t been easy. In a search warrant obtained by News 12, police say Sam's Discount Food Market at
the corner of West 29th Street and Avenue S amounts to an open-air drug market. Police say they've had numerous complaints
of drug transactions occurring inside and outside of the store, and they've made a number of undercover Marijuana purchases
there. The store manager at Sam's Discount Food Market says none of his employees deal drugs, and if he sees someone doing
it outside the store, he calls police. A police spokeswoman says they'll try to get the city's nuisance abatement board to
shut the place down.
August 3, 2007 - 12:34PM
A double murder with an unlikely suspect. Sheriff's deputies say a local teenager, first
calmly admitted to killing his parents, then led police to the crime scene. Now investigators are asking why? Sixteen-year-old
Jacob Brighton is making his first appearance at noon on Friday. Deputies say the teen called a relative to tell them he had
just shot his parents.
As St. Lucie County Sheriff's deputies were driving to the house Brighton flagged them
down and calmly surrendered. Deputies then went inside the Brighton family home, which just happens to be very close to the
St. Lucie county jail, and found Penny and Richard Brightons' bodies lying between the kitchen and the living room. Police
think Brighton used a 9 millimeter hand-gun found in a car parked in driveway of the family home. Right now Jacob Brighton
has not been charged as an adult but that could change when a grand jury meets on this case.
Your beaches. Your parks. Your tax dollars at work. But in the natural beauty of it all
is a dirty little secret. These public lands are magnets for sexual deviants. Men looking for men and young teens to fondle
and gratify. They meet places like the Peck's Lake Park parking lot in Hobe Sound.
"If a child were to walk up on
something like that it would be really traumatic." said Martin County Sheriff's office Deputy Dan D'Agostino, who poses
undercover as bait. during stings. He says the men arrested do not defend their sexual actions."They tell me that its
a sickness."
How do the men proposition others in broad daylight? "That gentlemen would walk out of car into the bathroom
and I would follow a little ways behind him, "D'Agostino says."Once we're both in the stall, he on one side--- me on the other--
and there's hole between the two stalls...once sex organs are exposed...it is a crime."
The current public lewd exposure
statute charge is only a misdemeanor that can send you to jail for a year with a one thousand dollar fine. But it's not just
happening behind closed doors...deputies are busting public gratifiers on public park walkways..even the beach boardwalk and
always in broad daylight. Each sweep nets dozens of men and most don't come back to the parks where they were busted.
One
exception is Palm City's Tommy Lamb, who was arrested in April for exposing and gratifying himself to a deputy and then rearrested
this month for the same exact thing in a public park.
Lt. Jenell Atlas says they do not try to stop men from meeting
men in Martin county, "but we step in when its illegal activity, and men masturbating in the park in the daytime is illegal
activity."
Atlas says the profile for these men is that all are over 40, white and most are married. In fact,
a former Martin County Sheriff's Captain and current State Representative Bill Snyder proposed a bill to stiffen penalties
for lewd exposure in parks, beaches, and near schools this year. House Bill 269 would have made lewd public exposure a felony
punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Snyder says the bill was shut down by the nudist lobby, but he will reintroduce
the bill since the numbers of men exposing themselves is alarming. To find out how bad it is out here..we send out a decoy
at Bob Graham Beach in Jensen Beach, Chad takes a hidden camera and sits on the bench. Within 5 minutes, in plain view on
the boardwalk, he's approached and asked to perform oral sex...and this man we won't identify asks our decoy Chad bluntly,
"You looking for some action? I'd like to touch your %^&*. I love $%^&*." Chad identifies himself part of a News
12 crew..and his new friend runs off. A second man approaches Chad 5 minutes later...With little provocation the man takes
off his shirt, and asks if our decoy will perform a sex act on him. The man's only concern is the police will see him.
News
reporter Jana Eschbach then confronts the man with a camera before he takes any more clothes off. "You wouldn't want to say
anything?" our decoy asks. "I am not interested," says the man who just propositioned Chad. Jana then asks, "Sir what was
that about? why would you ask him to perform oral sex on you?" The man, now running away, answers "I didn’t. I didn’t
ask him that." Jana says, "Actually you did sir."
Our decoy Chad could sit out here all day wearing a polo shirt and
cargo shorts, but after being propositioned by 2 men in 10 minutes..you get the picture and you wouldn’t want to walk
up on this.
Deputy D'Agostino agrees, "That is why the sheriff's office is strongly working the parks and beaches
where parents would come with their young kids."
July 30, 2007 - 6:57PM
Most of us have a list of the things we would do or see before we die. But what makes you
start doing the things on that list? From adversity to exhilaration News 12's Jana Eschbach beats a cancer scare.
Diagnosed
with multiple breast tumors last fall, she braved biopsies, then a lumpectomy. When she was finally better, Jana began to
make a list of things she always wanted to do. Then she set out to start checking those things off the list. She said "if
I get through this, I will... Well it’s a list of many things, but we begin with number one: A skydive jump from 13,500
feet.
Jana says "It sounded like a good idea, if that makes any sense in the world." Her last words before the
jump? "Every now and then you have to do something you are afraid of. If I can stand in a hurricane, I can jump out of a plane."
That’s when Jana made a freefall, with cameras rolling, through clouds at 128 mph, falling 1 mile every 29 seconds.
Jana did her jump with “Skydive Sebastian.” You can read more about the organization at www.skydivesebastian.com
July 30, 2007 - 11:56AM
The developer who planned to turn Briny Breezes into a waterfront resort has backed out
of the deal. According to Vice President Logan Pierson, Ocean Land Developers asked the Briny Breezes board to push back the
45 days Friday's deadline, where Ocean Land's non-refundable deposit would increase from $500,000 to $5 million, but the board
declined. Residents had voted in January to sell to the developer, who wanted to build a 12 story tower that included more
than 900 condos, 300 timeshares, and a luxury hotel.
July 27, 2007 - 11:09PM
A local apartment goes up in flames with a mother and her two children still inside the
burning building. The smoke damage to the Stonybrook Apartment in Riveria Beach was extensive. That's where Crystal Wan lives
with her two young children. But if it weren't for the quick thinking of a person passing by, those children, ages three and
one, would not be alive. A fire alarm sent crews scrambling to saturate growing flames, just after 7 p.m. Friday night.
A mother and father are thankful their kids got out alright, but the humble hero wouldn't even say his name. Fire officials
say they are still looking into the cause of the blaze, but Wan believes somehow her son's blanket caught fire. Thankfully
no one was injured. The American Red Cross is helping out as many as six families, because there was some damage to neighboring
apartments.
July 25, 2007 - 6:27PM
Many divers like Eric Gill waited all year for these 2 days where they can hunt for lobsters.
Lobster mini-season began at midnight. Gill, Public Information Officer for Saint Lucie County, went out on Wednesday and
his group caught 19 lobsters all together. The divers in our area are allowed to take home 12 lobsters per person per day.
However the Spiny lobster must be larger than 3 inches measured in the water.
A recreational saltwater license and
a crawfish permit are needed for harvest. One diver we spoke with says it is a ton of fun but admits it can be tough. Lobster
diver Justin Wargo says "It's a challenge. We go in about 60 feet of water and we use our snares and try to get the back end
of it and put them in our bags." Florida Fish and Wildlife officials are warning divers to take all the necessary precautions
to make this a safe lobster mini-season. So far, a 58 year old man from Venice, Florida died Wednesday morning while diving
in the Keyes.
July 25, 2007 - 7:52AM
Lawyers say Florida's effort to shift Medicaid patients into private and managed care plans
may illegally deny benefits to some children and pregnant women. Lawyers at the federal Government Accountability Office made
this warning Tuesday. GAO General Counsel Gary L. Kepplinger wrote about these concerns letter to U.S. Health and Human Services
Secretary Michael O. Leavitt and congressional leaders. State officials who are in charge of overseeing the Medicaid experiment
say they were only beginning to study the GAO letter. HHS approved Florida's five-year Medicaid overhaul plan in 2005. The
effort has begun with tests in the Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale areas.
July 25, 2007 - 11:50AM
Officials say water is finally trickling into Lake Okeechobee, which shrunk to record lows
during the long drought. Officials say weekend storms over the Kissimmee River produced above-average rainfall. The Army Corps
of Engineers were able to open water control gates at the lake's northern edge. It was the first time in 250 days that there
was enough water in the river to open those gates. Officials say the water is really just trickling into the lake, but it's
better than nothing. Lake Okeechobee is still three to four feet below normal water levels.
July 25, 2007 - 11:51AM
State leaders are calling for a special session to cut Florida's nearly $72 billion budget.
They blame the drop on tax collections has coincided with a slump in the state's housing market. Days before the new budget
year began, lawmakers asked state agencies to come up with plans to cut their budgets by up to ten percent if revenue collections
continued to fall below estimates. The special session would begin September 18th.
July 25, 2007 - 3:22PM
Innocent prank or sexual assault? That's the question surrounding two middle school boys
who ran down a hallway and spanked some female classmates. The boys were questioned by police following the incident at a
Portland, Oregon school. Both boys ended up spending five days in juvenile jail, and now they're charged with felony sex abuse
and harassment. If convicted, the boys could face ten years in juvenile jail or be given a sex offender status. Prosecutors
say they've been flooded with calls with people who think the charges are too harsh. The trial begins next month.
July 25, 2007 - 7:03PM
Just as he was rebuilding his house and his life after a devastating death and a house
fire a local reptile educator suffered another loss. He finds one of his pets dead and others went mysteriously missing. Fred
Spector's Port St. Lucie home looks fine on the outside but walk inside and it's a whole different story. The home was gutted
after fire ripped thru four months ago. It wasn't just the blaze that got people's attention the animals that Spector kept
at his home were the talk of the town. There were one hundred twenty non-venomous snakes, a huge tortoise in the backyard,
and exotic birds in the aviary. In the last few days, some of those pets have disappeared. The retired police officer knew
something was strange when he found a lifeless tortoise a few days later. Tortoises can live to be 100 years old and this
one was only 12. Spector also discovered that some mounted fish were swiped off the wall. He believes he was burglarized.
Spector filed a police report and is offering a reward, hoping his prized pets and possessions will one day be returned to
him. For now, Spector is moving the few animals that are left to a secret hiding spot to keep them safe. Spector is a herpetologist.
He takes his reptiles to area schools and libraries, so that kids and adults can learn about snakes. He continues to educate,
and is living in a rented home, until his house is move-in ready. His wife died of cancer in December, just five months before
the fire.
July 25, 2007 - 10:24PM
A scholarship fund is set up to remember a local softball player found strangled to death.
Jason Shenfeld is accused of raping and killing Amanda Buckley. He was previously accused of raping two other women, but those
charges were later dropped. Police believe there may be other victims out there that they don't know about. The detective
in the case says he cannot go into detail about Buckley's relationship with Shenfeld, but he does believe the two were friends.
Now her family has set up a scholarship fund in Amanda's name. If you would like to donate to the Amanda's scholarship
fund, you can make checks payable to:
Amanda J. Buckley Scholarship Fund
MAIL TO: Wachovia Bank 4480
Northlake Blvd. Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(Or take cash/check donations to any Wachovia Bank branch)
July 25, 2007 - 10:57PM
It's in its 6th year but this Saturday may be the biggest annual Back 2 School Blast ever.
At the Dream Center in West Palm Beach, kids will be given more than 3,000 fully loaded back packs, 700 haircuts, 300 immunizations,
and 150 pairs of shoes. All of the giveaways are on a first come first serve basis. Everyone who stops by can also enjoy food,
bounce houses and puppet shows from 7 a-m to 2 in the afternoon. Ronald McDonald will also be making a guest appearance. Bill
Hobbs, President of Urban Youth Impact, says, "It's a joy to give to kids in need and to see single parent moms be blessed
and have their kid go back to school with some new stuff and then we introduce them to continuous services." Donating just
$10 will give one child one of those loaded back packs.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 222592 West Palm Beach,
FL 33422 Phone: 561-832-9220 Fax: 561-832-9245
July 25, 2007 - 11:17PM
Local Republicans believe they have proof of people voting twice in the same election.
The Palm Beach County GOP paid $2,000 for a computer analysis of voters. They came up with 60 Palm Beach County voters this
past November who match the exact names and birth dates of New York State voters. One person on the list, Shirley Miller of
the West Palm Beach area, insists she's not the New York voter. Republicans also made the list of suspected double voters.
The state elections division says it has already reviewed the complaints and forwarded them to the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement.
July 25, 2007 - 11:22PM
Extra security was supposed to be added to Dunbar Village after a mother and son were brutally
attacked by ten teens, but all day the housing complex was unprotected, with gates open and no security around. But at night
that changed. Two armed security guards were at the front, and several more were on foot. People who live in the housing project
say the security is a welcome sight. The exact number of armed guards in Dunbar Village is not known, and the only person
who could answer that question is West Palm Beach Housing Authority Director Laurel Robinson. Repeated calls to her were not
returned.
July 26, 2007 - 6:58AM
The investigation of a local city commissioner is now in the hands of the State Attorney's
office. The controversy is surrounding Boynton Beach city commissioner Ron Weiland and allegations that he told a developer
to pay a lobbyist to get a project off the ground. The lobbyist is former City Commissioner David Katz. Boynton Beach police
handed over all the information, they've collected, to State Attorney Barry Krischer's office.
July 26, 2007 - 6:59AM
New tougher laws against cigarette companies. A Senate panel is expected to vote to add
harsh warnings to cigarette packs that illustrate the health risks of smoking. Identical bills in the House of Representatives
and the Senate would grant the Food and Drug Administration, the same authority over tobacco it has over drugs, medical devices
and many foods. The agency would also be allowed to regulate the levels of tar, nicotine and other harmful ingredients in
cigarettes and smoke. The warnings would mimic those already used in Canada and elsewhere.
July 26, 2007 - 7:06AM
A Martin County high school teacher who had sex with a student is heading to prison. Shawn
Trotter, 35, has accepted a plea deal, that will send him to prison for the next ten years. Trotter taught at South Fork High
school. Last month, DNA evidence from Trotter's classroom, linked him to his 16-year-old accuser, who said the two had sex
in Trotter's classroom and closet in January.
July 26, 2007 - 11:26AM
Dozens of local workers may soon get their pink slips. One of the companies that runs Palm
Tran's vans may shut down. If this happens, they'll have to lay off 150 employees. M.V. Transportation has been negotiating
with the county to raise fees. A spokesperson says they can't stay in business if they continue to lose money. Palm Tran officials
say they're working on a plan to cover some of the trips, in case the company closes.
July 26, 2007 - 12:31PM
As the wheels of justice turn, dozens of people mourned the life of a young woman, whose
life was cut short. Friends and family of Amanda Buckley gathered into Saint Mark's Episcopal Church in Palm Beach Gardens,
to pay their final respects. According to her friends and high school softball coach, Amanda Buckley was popular. Amanda had
a full ride scholarship to play ball at Saint Leo's University this coming year.
Instead of sending flowers, Amanda's
family has asked people to make a donation to a scholarship fund that's been set up in her name. You can make contributions
at Wachovia Banks.
July 26, 2007 - 11:27AM
Officers will no longer be on some school campuses in our area, to make sure your kids
stay safe. Saint Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara says, he has to cut the amount of school-based deputies in half. The sheriff
now plans to have deputies float from school to school. This plan will save county taxpayers $1.5 million.
July 26, 2007 - 10:28PM
Tears flow for a young woman whose life was tragically cut short. Friends and family of
Amanda Buckley crowded a Palm Beach Gardens church on Thursday to say good bye. An estimated 7,000 people attended Amanda's
funeral. People who attended describe it as an emotional service, but it offered support to Amanda's friends and family. Amanda's
senior class softball teammates were her pall bearers. Amanda's coaches and teammates say she had a quirky sense of humor
that people enjoyed. The 18 year old had a full scholarship to play softball in college.
July 26, 2007 - 10:38PM
The local man, who beat the Nigerian scammers and came out $51,000 richer, is now $51,000
poorer. Palm City Realtor Jim Weix was notified his so called winnings have been returned to sender by credit card companies.
Scammers wired Weix money to launder to New York but he shut down the accounts. Weix never gave them any personal information,
but they found him anyway. Weix is hopeful the rightful owners have their money back and not some scam artist from Nigeria.
July 26, 2007 - 10:41PM
For nearly a decade, Pods containers have stored supplies in regions ravaged by hurricanes,
but now the company wants to provide shelter to storm victims. Pods unveiled its new portable shelter this week in Clearwater,
Florida. The emergency unit comes with a generator, bathroom, and kitchen, and can sleep a family of five for up to a month.
The PODS Company is talking to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Florida Emergency Management Officials about ordering
some units to have on hand.
July 27, 2007 - 12:07PM
Miami International airport announced that after keeping lost luggage for two months, the
unclaimed belongs are going on the auction block. The items, left behind by passengers passing through the airport's terminals,
includes about 28 laptops, almost 100 cameras and about 150 bags of cell phones.
For as little as $30 you can take
home a suitcase with everything in it. The catch is you won't know what you bought until you open the suitcase. The
auction will be held this Saturday, July 28th at 9:30 am on the third floor of building 845 at 5600 Northwest 36th street
in Miami.
July 27, 2007 - 12:11PM
It will soon be easier for cops in Florida to identify convicted sex offenders. Starting
August first, sexual predators and offenders must get new driver's licenses that clearly show their criminal past. The designation
will appear as "numbers" in black and white, opposite of their photo. The goal is to alert police, schools and employers of
someone's sex offender status instantly. There are more than 35,000 registered sex offenders and predators in Florida.
On Sunday family and friends are riding their custom cars around West Palm Beach as a final
farewell for Bruce Rivera. The greenacres man was killed earlier this week when he slammed into a semi on the turnpike. On
Saturday, hundreds of people gather at a Royal Palm Beach funeral home, to remember a 33-year old man who died last week in
a car wreck on the Turnpike. Bruce Rivera was an air conditioning tech and bar bouncer, whose hobby was creating custom cars.
Mourners from all over the state and country, have come to say good-bye.
We are told Rivera knew many of these folks
from the car clubs he was involved in. Rivera's friends say he used his ties as president of the "local mini's" car club
to promote safety on the roads.
He also organized fund-raisers to raise money for local blood banks, that are often
in desperate need of blood. Rivera understood the importance of giving blood first-hand, after he was in a serious accident,
and needed blood a few years ago.
He was killed when he slammed his car into the back of a semi. He was not wearing
his seat belt.
If you would like to make a comment in Bruce's memory please scroll down below.
July 17, 2007 - 6:20PM
Palm Beach County is down one commissioner and the search is on to find a replacement.
Former County Commissioner Warren Newell's stuff still sits in his office but when he comes to pick them up from the County
Administration Building he will be treated just like any other member of the public. As far as the public what do they have
to say about another Palm Beach County public official admitting to corruption charges? As Newell prepares to admit to federal
corruption charges there's no doubt some voters have grown tired of political scandals involving local politicians.
Voter
Alan Minors said, "I'm not terribly surprised. These kinds of things don't surprise me anymore because I've seen it happen
time and time again. It's not that I don't believe there are any honest people. But people in a position of power very often
will take advantage of it."
Voter Fransico Patino said, "I just think that personally, I think that politicians have
for too long, they are centered on profit, making getting ahead for themselves."
On Wednesday, Newell's office sits
dark a day after he resigned his seat but his picture still hangs high outside the commission chambers but from on he'll no
longer have the power he once did. Gone are his $80,000 salary and his state pension after serving 15 years on the Palm Beach
County Commission. Newell's been under investigation for months but says he's now ready to admit his guilt. He's accused of
failing to disclose his connections to the Palm Beach Yacht Center before he voted to give the marina 14 million dollars in
taxpayers' money. Now Newell's former colleagues say the County Commission will have to work to earn back the trust of its
constituents.
County Commissioner Burt Aaronson, "We've gone through a lot of tough times up here and a lot of the
public has many questions about the politicians."
On Tuesday, Newell sent a letter of resignation to Florida Governor
Charlie Crist. In the letter he says he takes "full responsibility" for his actions and apologized to the community. Newell
is not ready to open his front door and talk about his pending plea deal with the feds.
July 17, 2007 - 6:20PM
Palm Beach County is down one commissioner and the search is on to find a replacement.
Former County Commissioner Warren Newell's stuff still sits in his office but when he comes to pick them up from the County
Administration Building he will be treated just like any other member of the public. As far as the public what do they have
to say about another Palm Beach County public official admitting to corruption charges? As Newell prepares to admit to federal
corruption charges there's no doubt some voters have grown tired of political scandals involving local politicians.
Voter
Alan Minors said, "I'm not terribly surprised. These kinds of things don't surprise me anymore because I've seen it happen
time and time again. It's not that I don't believe there are any honest people. But people in a position of power very often
will take advantage of it."
Voter Fransico Patino said, "I just think that personally, I think that politicians have
for too long, they are centered on profit, making getting ahead for themselves."
On Wednesday, Newell's office sits
dark a day after he resigned his seat but his picture still hangs high outside the commission chambers but from on he'll no
longer have the power he once did. Gone are his $80,000 salary and his state pension after serving 15 years on the Palm Beach
County Commission. Newell's been under investigation for months but says he's now ready to admit his guilt. He's accused of
failing to disclose his connections to the Palm Beach Yacht Center before he voted to give the marina 14 million dollars in
taxpayers' money. Now Newell's former colleagues say the County Commission will have to work to earn back the trust of its
constituents.
County Commissioner Burt Aaronson, "We've gone through a lot of tough times up here and a lot of the
public has many questions about the politicians."
On Tuesday, Newell sent a letter of resignation to Florida Governor
Charlie Crist. In the letter he says he takes "full responsibility" for his actions and apologized to the community. Newell
is not ready to open his front door and talk about his pending plea deal with the feds.
July 19, 2007 - 6:02PM
A local woman is behind bars accused of abusing four children and five mentally handicapped
adults living in her home. Police were tipped off when 62 year old Judith Leekin dumped an 18 year old disabled boy at a St.
Petersburg Publix Supermarket, and just left him there. Police then tracked her down to her Port St. Lucie home and arrested
her for years of neglect and abuse. Police say Leekin possibly paid to care for the four children and five disabled adults.
Many had bruises and scars from being burned. All of them had a common condition called failure to thrive, which means they
were starving to death. The abused were also home schooled and held captive. Police say Leekin used handcuffs and plastic
ties to control them while in her home. The most grotesque part of it all is while the children starved, Leekin thrived driving
a SUV and living in a very nice upscale five bedroom home. Police are also trying to figure out how Leekin was able to have
these children and adults in her home.
Palm Beach County Sheriff's office and U.S. Marshals are investigating the the death of
18-year-old Amanda Buckley. Police say the Palm Beach Gardens teen was found dead at her neighbor Jason Shenfeld's house.
Shenfeld, 26 was arrested late Saturday for her murder. Police say Shenfeld raped, then strangled Buckley in his home.
Buckley's
softball teammate and friend, Carol Torre, says Buckley was a generous friend, who would go out of her way for everyone. "Last
week we had our softball banquet. She calls me and says: Carol I'm going to be late. I just saved a turtle in the middle of
the road."
Shenfeld faces first degree murder, sexual battery and false imprisonment charges.
For more than 30 years---my entire television career---I’ve been asked one question
more than any other: how tall are you? 6’4” is my answer and, yes, I know I look much shorter on TV and, no, I’m
not sure why. This year, the question became: how much weight did you lose? And how did you do it? The answer is 60 pounds.
It took 9 months to lose and I’ve stayed at 200 pounds for 8 months.
Here is the CURT Plan:
C stands
for Curtailing Calories. Studies indicate that various animal species on calorie-restricted diets live longer and are generally
healthier. So how do you restrict calories? I did it by adopting a foodstyle. Whenever I consider what I am about to eat,
I look for foods that are low fat and high fiber with no added sugar. Any food that meets those criteria, I allow myself to
eat as much as I want. Anything else, I eat less. This means eating fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains until I’m
full. I also drink lots of 100% fruit juices and skim milk. For snacks, I munch on pretzels and raw vegetables. One guideline:
foods aren’t evil, portions are.
U stands for Uplifting weights. I have two 20 lb. dumbbells, two 5 lb. ankle
weights and two 5 lb. hand weights. I keep them in my closet and work out with them for ten minutes daily at a pace that will
leave me
exhausted. Ten minutes, that’s it. My exer-style. We need regular resistance training or our bodies
lose muscle tone and bone density. Using weights, for me, is the quickest, most convenient method for getting
my heart
rate up and building strength. Always, pace yourself. There are plenty of excuses not to exercise: bad weather, takes too
long, gym membership and exercise equipment are too expensive, embarrassment about your body. Working out daily with weights
is fast, cheap, efficient and done in the privacy of your home. Hint: play a tape something you like, e.g., David Letterman’s
monologue, so you will look forward to your work-out.
R stands for Reflection and Reinforcement. Prayer helped me
find the strength to make the right choices about my weight and fitness. Perhaps meditation is a better form of reflection
for you. Whatever, you need to deal with the issues about why you over-eat and under-exercise. Second, as you ‘grow
out’ of you fat clothes, give them away and buy new clothes. (You’ll be able to afford it because, believe, this
foodstyle is cheaper than your current diet.) Treat yourself, reinforce your success. Be proud of yourself.
T stands
for Telling The Tale. During social situations, politely inform your companions that you are trying to get fit. So, you’ll
have only a couple bites of the birthday cake, and no butter and sour cream on the baked potato. This does two things: 1)
if you are serious, people will sympathize and help you; and, 2) making the public declaration makes you accountable.
So,
that about covers all the bases: food, exercise, internal issues and external influences. Good luck with the CURT Plan. Give
it a chance for two weeks. And, of course, always talk with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise plan. Feel free
to e-mail me with your questions, comments, frustrations and successes.
July 24, 2007 - 10:26PM
Veterinarian Dana Juillerat with the Tri-County Animal hospital has examined 30 pit-bulls,
who were rescued from the home of an unlicensed breeder. Most of them have skin problems and bite marks, said Juillerat.
Officer
removed the dogs from the home of Nahume Bevilius, 29, in Fort Pierce last week. Investigators say they were used as bait
to train attack dogs in fighting rings. The dogs are now in the care of the humane society of Saint Lucie County. Once they
are fully recovered they will be available for adoption.
July 25, 2007 - 6:27PM
Many divers like Eric Gill waited all year for these 2 days where they can hunt for lobsters.
Lobster mini-season began at midnight. Gill, Public Information Officer for Saint Lucie County, went out on Wednesday and
his group caught 19 lobsters all together. The divers in our area are allowed to take home 12 lobsters per person per day.
However the Spiny lobster must be larger than 3 inches measured in the water.
A recreational saltwater license and
a crawfish permit are needed for harvest. One diver we spoke with says it is a ton of fun but admits it can be tough. Lobster
diver Justin Wargo says "It's a challenge. We go in about 60 feet of water and we use our snares and try to get the back end
of it and put them in our bags." Florida Fish and Wildlife officials are warning divers to take all the necessary precautions
to make this a safe lobster mini-season. So far, a 58 year old man from Venice, Florida died Wednesday morning while diving
in the Keyes.
July 20, 2007 - 6:24AM
Former City Commissioner James Exline heads to to a federal prison in Georgia. That's where
he'll serve his 10-month sentence for tax evasion. Exline resigned in January, after being charged by federal prosecutors
with failing to report $50,000 on his income tax return. He told authorities he'd been trying to hide the income from his
wife during their divorce. Prosecutors say he funneled the money through fake purchases at a jewelry store.
July 20, 2007 - 11:44AM
Florida Power and Light annouced Friday morning its plans to build a power plant that would
convert citrus peels to ethanol. The power company signed a letter of intent with Boca Raton based Citrus Energy, to develop
the plant, which would be the first of its kind. The plant will be based at an unidentified Florida citrus producer.
July 20, 2007 - 4:06PM
Looking for a good deal on a small piece of a local luxury hotel? Check out the sale at
the Crown Plaza Oceanfront on Singer Island.
It's selling everything but the building, from furniture to fixtures
and carpeting to cutlery.
The sale started Thursday.
It runs from 12pm to 6pm this weekend until the last
item goes.
Then, the building comes down to make way for a Marriott Vacation Club.
July 20, 2007 - 10:07PM
A Fort Pierce convenience store owner has made headlines twice in two weeks, first as a
hero, then as a crime victim. Last week, Vincent Barnett was hailed as a hero after he rushed into a burning home across the
street from his store and saved the life of an elderly woman in a wheelchair who couldn't get out. He slipped and fell as
he carried her to safety and injured his arm. Then on Wednesday night, Barnett became a crime victim when four thugs came
into the Tastie Food Mart store, that he owns, and robbed him at gunpoint. Barnett says he gave them all the money in the
register and they left without anyone getting hurt. As for the fire, he says he rushed into the home because he heard her
screaming and felt someone had to do something.
July 20, 2007 - 10:15PM
Was it a pay to play over big development in Boynton Beach? That's what investigators are
trying to figure out, as one city commissioner is facing an allegation of misconduct. City Commissioner Ron Weiland is under
police investigation after allegations he told a developer to pay a lobbyist to get a project off the ground. The lobbyist
is former City Commissioner David Katz. The project is called the Heart of Boynton. It's supposed to be a mixture of homes
and shops to revitalize Boynton Beach. The developer is Intown Development Company. Company President Samantha Simons claims
she got an email from lobbyist Katz saying her company's project was being delayed because they wouldn't pay off anyone. Commissioner
Weiland would not comment on the investigation. Boynton Beach Police would only confirm there is an investigation, but they
wouldn't say anything else.
July 20, 2007 - 10:24PM
Police believe a local woman was pocketing government checks, that belonging
to abused victims, to fund her lifestyle. Police say Judith Leekin, also known as Judith Johnson, abused and neglected the
four teens and five adults that she allegedly adopted. Inside her home, police found handcuffs and zip-ties that she allegedly
used to restrain them. Port St. Lucie Police are working with social services in New York to unseal documents, including birth
certificates, to figure out where these nine people came from, and why Leekin had them in her home. Neighbors also wondered
how Leekin, a single woman, was paying the bills all by herself. Police say 62 year old Leekin took off to avoid a DCF investigation
in 1999, and it appears she did that again earlier this month, when police started their investigation. Leekin remains at
the St. Lucie County Jail on over $400,000 bond. The abuse victims are in state custody.
Accused Dunbar Teen Was Trying To Better His Life
July 20, 2007 - 10:43PM
Exclusive from News 12: One of the teens accused in the brutal attack was
actually getting help and trying to turn his life around just a year ago. Jakaris Taylor said he had lost his dad and had
been getting into trouble, but a local youth program was piquing his interest. Taylor credited a sprucing up of the Dunbar
Village basketball courts and the West Palm Housing Authority's Community Relations Director Lawrence Knight, who played pro
ball for the Chicago Bulls. But in spite of all the good Knight was doing helping kids like Taylor, he lost his job with the
Housing Authority. Sources say some in the police department warned against losing Knight and were disappointed to see him
go. They wonder if he had stayed, if things would have turned out differently. Taylor, now 15 year old, appears in adult court
facing charges that could send him to prison the rest of his life.
July 23, 2007 - 7:13AM
Another sign of the state's soaring insurance costs. Half of Florida's mobile
homes are no longer covered by homeowner's insuance. According to the Office of Insurance regulation, 400,000 trailers are
not insured. Mobile homes are harder to cover since they're not as strong as regular homes. Insurers are exceptionally wary
of older mobile homes, because they don't have some of the wind protection required after Hurricane Andrew, which scattered
mobile home debris up for miles.
July 23, 2007 - 7:14AM
Police have arrested two people accused in an armed robbery at a Riviera Beach
business. According to police, last month Ebonee Lastson, Raphael Acker and another man walked into the Motorwerkes asking
about a car service. That's when police say Acker and the other man pulled out their guns. The trio took off with $1,800 and
the victim's credit cards. As the men ran off, the victim pulled out his gun and fired, hitting an innocent bystander. Acker
and Latson were found in Georgia by police.
July 23, 2007 - 12:04PM
Scary moments on the job as a local woman is robbed at gunpoint. The victim,
was leaving "Any Kind Checks Cashed" in Stuart, when two robbers confronted her. One of the suspects was armed with a semi-automatic
handgun. They ordered the woman to open the safe, the pair took off with the money and her wallet. The suspects said they
were going to keep her address in case she told police.
July 23, 2007 - 12:06PM
The Department of Probation in Boston is breaking its silence about a former
police officer who killed his girlfriend and himself in Florida. Probation officials acknowledge that Helder "Sonny" Peixoto
was on probation in May when he killed Amity Kozak, before killing himself May 30th. According to published reports, Peixoto
had not completed his 100 hours of community service, before moving to the area. Making matters worse, the department never
notified police here. Peixoto moved south shortly after pleading guilty to a motor vehicle homicide charge in 2004.
July 23, 2007 - 12:07PM
A local man is behind bars charged with beating and starving dozens of dogs.
Fort Pierce police charged Nahume Belvilus with nine counts of animal cruelty. He's being held at the Saint Lucie County jail
on nearly $2,000 bond. Neighbors called police after hearing dogs barking behind the Belvilus' house on 24th street. When
officers arrived there were close to 30 dogs in the back yard, two of them were taken to the humane society. The officer says
he saw Belvilus use a stick to beat three dogs that were chained up. Some of the dogs will be euthanized, because they are
in such bad shape.
July 23, 2007 - 8:28PM
A man volunteers his time to make a difference and help a local family with
a special need teen. Dana Glass has had to deal with a lot more than most mothers. Her 14 year old son Casey has Mitochondrial
Disease, which causes serious damage to his brain, heart, and kidneys. Three years ago, Casey and Dana's life got a little
easier when Pierre Czernowski came to their rescue. A fireman for 21 years, Pierre started a charity six years ago called
Hand of Mercy. Hand of Mercy helps families of sick children with money, transportation, treatments, and whatever else they
need. Pierre's passion for helping others starts with his own family. His daughter had skin cancer at a young age and
his wife is still fighting breast and bone cancer. He has been helping the Glass family since he heard Dana on the radio three
years ago, trying to raise money for her son. Since then, Casey has improved. He's eating some solid food and has been making
sounds. But Pierre isn't done helping yet. His next mission is to raise money to repair the family's van. The repairs will
cost about $2,500 and without it, they're left without a way of getting to the grocery store or doctor's office. Until then,
Pierre is giving them rides whenever he can.
If you'd like to help the Glass family, you can send donations to:
Steve
and Dana Glass 5022 Michigan Ave. West Palm Beach, FL 33415
July 23, 2007 - 10:53PM
Smoking in public places in West Palm Beach could soon be outlawed. West Palm
Beach City Commissioner Molly Douglas says it's time West Palm Beach joined the list of cities where smoking in public areas
is banned. Under her proposal, in the city limits of West Palm Beach there would be no smoking on public sidewalks, in city
parks, and at city events such as SunFest and Fourth on Flagler. Violators could be fined from $25 to $100. Douglas says she
has asked the city staff to research the issue, and she hopes she'll have a proposed ordinance for the city commission to
vote on in January or February.
July 23, 2007 - 11:12PM
Police catch a man torturing dogs in his care. Fort Pierce police charged
Nahume Belvilus with nine counts of animal cruelty. He's being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on almost $200,000 bond.
Neighbors called police after hearing dogs barking behind the man's house on 24th Street. A police officer peered behind the
tall wooden fence and saw dozens of pit bulls chained, and living in filth in the back yard. With no visible food, and very
little water, some of the dogs were down to skin and bones. Police also say they saw Belvilus use a stick to beat three of
the frightened dogs. Neighbors say they had a feeling the animals were being abused. Two of the sickliest dogs were taken
to the humane society, but the prognosis is not good. They will probably be put down. Fort Pierce Police are checking on the
other dogs twice a day, and they hope to find them a better home.
July 23, 2007 - 11:12PM
Police catch a man torturing dogs in his care. Fort Pierce police charged
Nahume Belvilus with nine counts of animal cruelty. He's being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on almost $200,000 bond.
Neighbors called police after hearing dogs barking behind the man's house on 24th Street. A police officer peered behind the
tall wooden fence and saw dozens of pit bulls chained, and living in filth in the back yard. With no visible food, and very
little water, some of the dogs were down to skin and bones. Police also say they saw Belvilus use a stick to beat three of
the frightened dogs. Neighbors say they had a feeling the animals were being abused. Two of the sickliest dogs were taken
to the humane society, but the prognosis is not good. They will probably be put down. Fort Pierce Police are checking on the
other dogs twice a day, and they hope to find them a better home.
July 23, 2007 - 11:15PM
West Palm Beach Police say City Commissioners are expected to approve new
security cameras to keep an eye on crime on the city's streets. But plans for the cameras are nothing new. West Palm Beach
Police first talked about the cameras back in November of 2005. They said it would take six to nine months to install the
cameras. But police officials say the original camera supplier could not get the cameras to work properly. So they've been
looking for a new supplier, but police admit that search has taken longer than they hoped. West Palm Beach Police say they
have chosen a new camera supplier, and they will ask city commissioners to approve that contract as soon as next week's commission
meeting.
July 24, 2007 - 7:54AM
A sigh of relief in a local neighborhood, as cops catch a pair of suspected
car burglars. Port Saint Lucie police started patrolling neighborhoods on bikes after a recent string of burglaries. They
solved case a few days ago, when they rode by a Sports Utility Vehicle parked in a driveway. They saw two teens in that SUV,
cleaning it out. Police say the quiet bikes allowed the officers to sneak up on the suspects. Cops arrested and charged the
14 and 16 year olds with burglarizing about 20 cars and trucks.
July 24, 2007 - 7:55AM
The winner of Saturday night's $33 million jackpot has claimed his prize.
Ezequiel Perez from West Palm Beach held the only ticket with the six winning numbers. It was sold at the Sedano's Supermarket
on North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. Perez opted to claim his money in one lump sum. The store will receive $40,000 for selling
the winning ticket.
July 24, 2007 - 7:56AM
A local city holds off on a decision to protect a threatened species. State
law allows developers to pay a fee for each gopher tortoise, removed or destroyed, from land they want cleared. The Port Saint
Lucie city council was supposed to vote on a new law, banning the destruction of gopher tortoises by builders or road crews.
However, council members decided to hold off on the measure, so they can gather more information.
July 24, 2007 - 12:02PM
Disturbing new details about the man accused of strangling a star athlete.
The suspect's parents were the ones who reportedly found Amanda Buckley's body. According to the police report, Jason Shenfeld
parents said their son was acting nervous, locking his bedroom door every time he left. They discovered the Buckley's body
stuffed in their son's bedroom closet, among his sheets and clothing.
Making matters worse, before calling 911, Shenefeld's
father and uncle left his mother at their Ardel Drive home with Buckley's body. The two drove to an attorney's house to bring
him back to the scene. An autopsy revealed Buckley was strangled. Shenfeld remains behind bars without bond.
July 24, 2007 - 12:03PM
Palm Beach County Commissioners approved a new deal between Palm Beach International
Airport and Frontier Airlines. Starting in August, Frontier will offer one daily non-stop flight between PBIA and Denver International
Airport. There will also be connecting flights to 17 other cities once you arrive in Denver. Frontier Airlines will offer
the flights year around.
July 24, 2007 - 4:18PM
Below is the list of locations that the Palm Beach County Health Department
will be offering immunizations during the months of July and August.
July 26th School Outreach Crestwood Middle
School 64 Sparrow Dr. Royal Palm Beach 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
July 27th Lake Worth Service Center Dept.
of Children & Families Work Force Development Center 4220 Lake Worth Rd. Lake Worth 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
July 28th Jamaican of Palm Beaches Health Fair West Palm Beach Health Center 1150 45th St. West Palm
Beach 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
July 31st St. Paul AME Church 3345 Haverhill Rd. West Palm Beach 9:30
am to 11:30 am 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm _________________________________________________________ August 1st School
Outreach Osceola Creek Middle School 6775 180th Ave. N Loxahatchee 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
August 2nd Holy
Name of Jesus Catholic Church 345 S. Military Trail West Palm Beach 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
August 3rd
Salem Community Church 3200 Roberts Lane Lake Worth 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
August 6th Division of
Youth Affair 4210 N. Australian Ave. # B West Palm Beach 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
August 7th St. Paul AME
Church 3345 Haverhill Rd. West Palm Beach 9:30 am to 11:30 am 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
August 8th Lake
Ida Church of Christ 1300 Lake Ida Rd. Delray Beach 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
August 9th TBA
August
10th Lake Worth West Community Center 4730 Maine St. Lake Worth 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
August 11th Redemptive
Life Fellowship Church 2101 Australian Ave. West Palm Beach 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
August 14th Lake Worth
Service Center Dept. of Children & Families Work Force Development Center 4220 Lake Worth Rd. Lake Worth
9:30 am to 1:30 pm
August 15th Caridad Health Clinic (Count & Countess de Hoernle Pavilion) 8645
W. Boynton Beach Blvd. Boynton Beach 9:45 am to 11:30 am 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
August 16th School Outreach
Conniston Community Middle School 673 Conniston Rd. West Palm Beach 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
August 17th
School Outreach Odyssey Middle School 6161 Woolbright Rd. Boynton Beach 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
August
18th School Outreach C. O. Taylor/Kirklane Elementary School 4200 Purdy Lane Palm Springs 9:30 am to 1:30
pm
August 21st West Riviera Beach Beacon Center 1057 W. 6th St. Riviera Beach 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
August
22nd United Methodist Church 900 Brandywine Rd. West Palm Beach 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
August 23rd Victory
Baptist Church & Preschool 4601 Forest Hill Blvd. West Palm Beach 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
August 24th Our
Savior Lutheran Church & School 1615 Lake Ave. Near Lake Worth High School 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
August
25th Grace Episcopal Church 3600 N. Australian Ave. West Palm Beach 10:00 am ¡V 2:00 pm
August 28th
St. Paul AME Church 3345 Haverhill Rd. West Palm Beach 9:30 am to 11:30 am 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
August
29th Lake Worth Service Center Dept. of Children & Families Work Force Development Center 4220 Lake Worth
Rd. Lake Worth 9:30 am to 11:30 am 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
August 30th Abundant Life Ministry Stonybrook
Apartment 1555 Martin Luther King Blvd. Riviera Beach 9:00 am to 12:00 pm _______________________________________________________________
PALM BEACH COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE:
Jupiter Auxiliary Health Center 6405 Indiantown
Road Jupiter, FL (561) 746-6751 Appointments (561) 746-6751 Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 11:30 am 1:30
pm to 4:00 pm Walk-ins (Limited Numbers will be seen) and *Appointments No afternoon clinic first Thursday of each
month
West Palm Beach Health Center 1150 45TH St. West Palm Beach, FL (561) 514-5300 Appointments
(561) 514-5500 Monday through Friday No walk-ins will be seen *Appointments only No afternoon clinic first Thursday
of each month
Lantana/Lake Worth Health Center 1250 Southwinds Dr. Lantana, FL (561) 547-6800 Appointments
(561) 547-6800 Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 11:30 am 12:30 pm -3:30 pm Walk-ins (Limited numbers will be seen)
and *Appointments No afternoon clinic first Thursday of each month
Delray Beach Health Center 225 South Congress
Avenue Delray Beach, FL (561) 274-3100 Appointments (561) 274-3126 Monday through Friday *Appointments only:
No afternoon clinic first Thursday of each month
C.L. Brumback Health Center 38745 State Road 80 Belle
Glade, FL (561) 996-1600 Appointments (561) 996-1618 Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Walk-ins and
*Appointments No afternoon clinic first Thursday of each month
Pahokee Health Center 1200 East Main Street
Pahokee, FL (561) 924-0184 Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Walk-ins (Limited numbers will be seen)
and *Appointments No afternoon clinic first Thursday of each month
Palm Beach County Childhood Immunization
Requirements 2006-2007
Florida Certificate of Immunization, Form DH 680 is the only document that the schools are
permitted to accept as proof of immunization.
Pre-K, Kindergarten,1st,2nd,3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade: ƒ}
Varicella ¡V 1 dose, or provider verification of chickenpox disease history on Form DH 680 ƒ} Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
(DTaP) ¡V 5 doses ƒ} Polio (OPV or IPV) ¡V 4 doses ƒ} Measles ; Mumps ; Rubella ¡V 2 dose; (usually given
as 2 doses MMR) ƒ} Hepatitis B (Hep B) ¡V 3 doses
7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade (if not given
previously): ƒ} Tetanus/Diphtheria booster (Td) ¡V 1 dose ƒ} Measles ; Mumps ; Rubella ¡V 2 dose; (usually
given as 2 doses MMR) ƒ} Hepatitis B (Hep B) ¡V 3 doses
Child Care or Preschool Programs: ƒ} Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
(DTaP) ¡V 4 doses ƒ} Polio (IPV) ¡V 3 doses ƒ} Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) ¡V 1 dose ƒ} Haemophilus
Influenza, type B (Hib) ¡V 1- 4 doses ƒ} Varicella ¡V 1 dose for children 12 mos. of age or older or provider documentation
of chickenpox disease history on DH Form 680
July 24, 2007 - 4:58PM
The head of Florida's prison system says his agency is doing all it can to
make sure no more executions are botched. Those comments come after a judge ruled that a Florida inmate cannot be put to death
until the state revises its lethal injection procedures. This all started with the execution of Angel Diaz. He took more than
30 minutes to die after needles inserted into his arm punctured his veins. Officials say their execution teams are getting
professional training to make sure things are done right. James McDonough FL Corrections security says, "It's always been
our approach to ensure a humane and dignified death. And anyway we can improve that approach - we plan to do it." The ruling
also could affect the execution of another inmate set to die in November for kidnapping, raping and murdering a child
in 1992.
July 16, 2007 - 10:26AM
Wireless internet access has become the norm for people wanting to log online
anywhere they can sit down and open up their laptop. It's available at coffee shops, fast food joints, the airport and even
some car washes.
But the more places you use wireless internet, the more access you give hackers to steal your money
and your identity.
Experts say you are never 100 percent safe from hackers.
And most people don't even take
the simple steps to protect themselves.
At the United States Secret Service field office in Miami, Deputy Special
Agent-In-Charge John Large says the convenience of Wireless Internet or “wifi" works two ways: more accessibility for
you and easier access for hackers.
“It really hides their true location at that point and that makes it hard
to pinpoint where exactly that system was compromised. So it's additional challenge to investigators today”, says Special
Agent Large.
Most of South Florida's financial or identity theft cases are investigated at the Secrete Service's computer
forensic lab.
Large says, “Today there's not a crime that we investigate that doesn't involve the use of computer
or any other electronic media in some fashion.”
Agent Large says cases of identity theft using “wifi”
are increasing.
“The challenge to law enforcement today is to keep up with technology because it's evolving
so fast. And organized criminal groups are going to use technology to their fullest advantage,” says Large.
Security
experts like Paul Henry say too many people are making it too easy for hackers.
“Most people will simply turn
on their wireless access point without implementing any encryption whatsoever”, says Henry.
Henry has more than
20 years of experience as a computer security expert, but says in the last few years, hackers are way ahead of the game.
In
about ten minutes with software available for free on the internet, Henry says most hackers can easily breach networks even
with security features in place.
“Connecting to your bank downloading email, having a chat conversation, is
all in the clear. Anyone that can get within a reasonable proximity of your residence can view that information”, he
says.
That’s why Henry says everyone needs to take some simple steps to decrease the chances you'll be a victim
of "wifi" hijacking.
“Absolutely, you really have to be on your guard today,” says Henry.
Everyone
who uses wifi at home must turn on its security features. Use something called W-P-A or "Wifi protected access." It requires
a 20 character password and gives you the best protection. You can find it in your network connection menu. Also in your network
settings assign a static I-P address to your computer. This will make it tougher to hack into your network. It's also important
to keep all your computer's operating system is up to date and make sure you have the latest firewall and antivirus software
installed. The most simple step, perhaps, is simply turning off your pc, your cable modem, and your access point.
The
bottom line if you are using wifi in a public place, don't do anything you don't want others to get a hold of.
And
if you don't think you can turn on the security features yourself, there are several local services that can do for you for
between $25 and $50 an hour.
A small price to pay, considering what's at stake.
If you want to learn more,
you can watch a special “web-exclusive” about wifi hijacking by clicking on video stories.
Lawyers say Florida's effort to shift Medicaid patients into private and managed care plans
may illegally deny benefits to some children and pregnant women. Lawyers at the federal Government Accountability Office made
this warning Tuesday. GAO General Counsel Gary L. Kepplinger wrote about these concerns letter to U.S. Health and Human Services
Secretary Michael O. Leavitt and congressional leaders. State officials who are in charge of overseeing the Medicaid experiment
say they were only beginning to study the GAO letter. HHS approved Florida's five-year Medicaid overhaul plan in 2005. The
effort has begun with tests in the Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale areas.
July 25, 2007 - 7:51AM
A new study from Harvard University says about one in three people in southern
coastal areas say they would ignore government hurricane evacuation orders. The most common reasons given for not evacuating
is many believe their homes are safe and well-built, and roads would be too crowded and that fleeing would be dangerous.
July 24, 2007 - 10:38PM
People in one local city will not see Christmas decorations lining the streets
come December. Port St. Lucie city council members voted to do away with Christmas decorations lining city streets and holiday
productions to save taxpayer money. The decorations are funded through the roads and bridges budget which is facing a one
million dollar budget deficit. The mayor says it is better to fill in potholes and fix traffic lights, than line the streets
with tinsel. The annual decorations cost the city about $70,000 a year.
Hundreds of years of history is sitting beneath the waters of Lake Okeechobee
which were revealed during this year's drought. Fearing looters the locations of hundreds of newly found relics had been kept
under wraps. A crew from News 12 became the first T.V. journalists to get a look at the sites. We went with Boots Boyer who
made the first discoveries as the Lake O level started plummeting.
Since then, Boyer and archaeologists have found
artifacts from Native Americans as well as items from more recent history. Boyer showed News 12 some of the discoveries including
pre-historic pottery, a conch shell made into a tool, arrowheads, spearheads, a motor with a fly wheel, an old catfishing
boat, two stacks from a steamship, and a piece of a sailing vessel likely 150 years old. Boyer said, "We're just here a speck.
You're talking four thousand years of history, just right here. It makes me appreciate every breath I take." Boyer hopes the
artifacts can stay in the Glades as part of a museum.
July 24, 2007 - 5:54PM
Starting next month you'll have another option out of Palm Beach International
Airport if you're heading to the Rockies. A new airline will have flights to Denver from West Palm Beach. Palm Beach International
Airport has been working a long time to get non-stop service to Denver and now they have it. Frontier Airlines is the newest
airline flying at the airport. Palm Beach County Commissioners approved a deal between the airport and Frontier. Starting
November 15th, Frontier will offer one daily non-stop flight from Palm Beach International to Denver and back. In Denver you
can connect to 17 other cities where Frontier flies.
July 24, 2007 - 5:41PM
Saint Mary's emergency service designed to save divers with decompression
sickness re-opened on Tuesday. Last month, the hospital dropped emergency hyberbaric services because the chamber is not used
frequently for divers with decompression sickness and staffing it is difficult. That sickness also called the Bends is caused
by nitrogen gas bubbles that can form in a diver's lungs and bloodstream as the diver moves from deeper water toward the surface.
July 24, 2007 - 5:26PM
About a local pawn shop owner found dead inside his store, authorities now
say, it was murder. They don't know who killed him or why. Sheriff's detectives say Barrie Peebles,62, was shot at least once.
They believe he was murdered between 7:00 and 10:00 Saturday morning. Customers called 911 when they noticed the front door
of the "B and B Pawn Shop" on US1 near Port St. Lucie was unlocked. The interior gate was pad locked shut and there were some
keys left in the door. Deputies found Peebles on the floor behind the counter. He was already dead. Now investigators
are hoping the public can shed some light on this case.
July 13, 2007 - 6:51AM
A local island has just been sold at an auction for a breath-taking price. It's the piece
of land in the Saint Lucie Inlet, near Sailfish Point. A local real estate investor, placed the winning bid for the three
and a half acres at $965,000. But, he's going to have to share the island, because the state owns the other six acres
July 13, 2007 - 6:51AM
Palm Beach County has shut down its water complaint hot line. Officials set it up after
water managers imposed the mandatory water restrictions. But, Code Enforcement officials say fewer people are calling to complain.
July 13, 2007 - 6:50AM
Giving blood may put you face to face with your favorite rockstar. For the next two days,
Florida Blood Centers are giving donors free backstage passes to the Vans Warped Tour concert. The concert is set for July
21st at Bicentennial Park in Miami at 11:00 am. There are several locations in our area where you can donate blood, including
Lake Worth, Boca Raton and Royal Palm Beach. Last year, the center gave away about 500 free tickets to Sunfest and ran out.
Click on Links on the News12now.com homepage for a complete list of locations in our area.
July 12, 2007 - 10:35PM
Two local elderly residents are pulled from a home engulfed in flames. Janice Spikes heard
the explosion off Avenue D and 26th Street in Fort Pierce, and ran in to drag out the two wheelchair-bound seniors living
inside. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but the couple says they were cooking with propane when the explosion
happened. A local store clerk helped the good samaritan get the couple out, and it was the clerk who ended up with a burned
hand and possible broken wrist. The 84 and 94 year old couple got out of the burning home without any injuries. They were
transported to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center for shock. The store clerk also went to the hospital for burns to his hand.
July 12, 2007 - 10:30PM
A ten year old is attacked by a pack of three Rotweilers, and now the dogs’ owner
is apologizing. Former Fort Pierce City Commissioner Reggie Sessions says he kept the dogs under lock and key, with reinforced
pens and two sets of chain link fences, but the Rotweilers still managed to dig out and escape. They made their way to a neighbor's
yard where the girl was mauled form the waist down by the dogs. The girl is out of the hospital and expected to make a full
recovery. Sessions takes full responsibility. He is surrendering his three dogs to the humane society. The dogs will be taken
to a Rotweilier Animal Rescue League if they are determined not to be vicious. Sessions dogs have escaped before, and now
another local man steps forward to say he's filing a lawsuit against the dogs’ owner for a past attack. Sessions denies
the dogs attacked anyone in the past.
July 12, 2007 - 10:24PM
A third suspect in the heinous and heartbreaking attack of a local mother and her son,
will appear before a judge Friday morning. Police say the mother was gang raped and her son was forced to watch and participate.
Jakaris Taylor, only 15-years-old, smiled as police led him in handcuffs. They questioned Taylor last month shortly after
the June 18th attacks, but didn't have enough evidence to arrest him. Now, three weeks later, police have fingerprints that
linked Taylor to the crime scene. Police say he, along with Avion Lawson,14, and Nathan Walker,16, were part of a group of
ten in the vicious gang rape at Dunbar Village in West Palm Beach. Police say the teens forced their way into the woman's
home, took turns raping her, beat her 12-year-old son and forced him to participate in the attack.
July 12, 2007 - 12:18PM
Charges have been dropped against a woman charged with vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter
for killing a 9-year-old girl. Engel Schroeder died in a Boca Raton car accident in May of 2000. She was killed when Brigitte
Hartwig plowed into Schroeder's car. Police charged Hartwig, but she then fled to Germany, where she was prosecuted and fined
$2,800. She couldn't be extradited because of her dual citizenship. More than six years later, the State Attorney's office
says there was insufficient evidence that Hartwig was actually under the influence.
July 12, 2007 - 12:18PM
Governor Charlie Crist is in South Florida addressing the global warming crisis. Crist
is expected to sign executive orders that will reduce greenhouse gas emission, over the next few decades. This is Florida's
first ever summit on Global Climate Change. Crist says it's time for Florida to start setting an example. He's calling for
tougher emissions standards for cars and power plants. The governor also says he wants the state to produce more alternative
fuels like ethanol from citrus and sugar waste.
July 12, 2007 - 7:03AM
A new report about drug use in Florida's high schools contains some alarming news about
one school here in our area. In it's year, Seminole Ridge High in Loxahatchee reported more incidents of illegal substance
use than any other high school in the state. The school reported 122 incidents of alcohol, drug, or tobacco abuse during the
2005-2006 school year. That's according to the Florida School Indicators Report. No other high school in the state reported
more than 100 incidents.
Royal Palm Beach High had the second highest number of incidents in Palm Beach County with
64. Western Pines Middle in Royal Palm Beach reported 25, more than eight times the middle school averag
July 12, 2007 - 6:58AM
Upset and frightened neighbors will meet Thursday evening to discuss concerns raised by
a brutal act of violence. The housing authority blocked off the main entrance to Dunbar Village, which is a public housing
complex. Now the only way to get in is through the side entrance. Residents will also get parking permits, plus surveillance
cameras will go up. The security boost comes after a group of teens gang raped a woman and beat her son inside their apartment.
Dunbar Village residents will gather to discuss their concerns.
July 11, 2007 - 6:46AM
Local officers were given a first-hand look at new technology that could help cops solve
cases much faster. West Palm Beach police credit the sheriff's office crime lab for quickly processing DNA in the recent brutal
rape case in Dunbar Village. The turn around in that case was just two days. Investigators say with the new mobile DNA lab,
it could take as little as eight hours.
However, it could take some time before the new technology could be used in
a real crime scene. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's office is working with scientists from the University of California to
perfect the technology.
July 10, 2007 - 10:21PM
Pet owners in Palm Beach are facing new tougher restrictions. The town council has just
passed a new animal control ordinance that's supposed to give the town of Palm Beach greater control of aggressive dogs. The
new ordinance says any dog that attacks a person or domestic animal just one time, will be considered dangerous. The owner
will then have to keep the dog muzzled and on a leash or in a cage or pen while at home. Plus they must carry $100,000 worth
of insurance, and put a sign on their property warning others that a dangerous dog is present. The ordinance is the result
of a deadly attack last January, when a doberman killed a small dog in Palm Beach on a residential street. Violators of the
new ordinance in Palm Beach face a possible $500 fine.
News 12
July 8, 2007 - 10:19PM
There was an unusual crash in Jupiter. A semi-truck hit the back of a boat being towed
on the Turnpike just south of Indiantown road. The boat got pushed up over the pick-up truck that was pulling it. No one was
hurt but traffic was backed up for at least 10 miles going into Martin county Sunday afternoon.
July 9, 2007 - 7:06AM
Lobster Mini-season kicks-off in just a few weeks and scuba divers fear the big event will
turn deadly. Now that Saint Mary's Medical Center is no longer staffing its hyperbaric chamber. The Lobster Mini-season takes
place July 25th and 26th, that's just two and a half weeks away. It brings out thousands of divers, eager to snag the tasty
crustaceans.
But, there is always the risk of the bends, when a diver stays down to long and comes up too fast. The
Palm Beach County Health Department has asked the state to investigate. Divers are watching and hoping Saint Mary's reconsiders
its decision, at least for the upcoming Lobster Mini Season.
July 9, 2007 - 11:53AM
It's summertime and fire fighters are issuing a warning to parents. Saint Lucie county
firefighters are urging parents to beware of leaving children in hot cars. Since January, the fire department has responded
to 86 incidents with children locked in cars. Officials say temperatures in a car can rise as much as 29 degrees in 20 minutes.
That means on an 80 degree day, a car can reach 109 degrees within a half hour.
July 9, 2007 - 5:05PM
The Tax Collector's branch in Lake Worth will be closed temporarily due to remodeling
beginning on Monday, July 30th. The office is located at 3551 S. Military Trail.
During that time, customers can visit
the following other Tax Collection Agencies:
Delray Beach at 501 South Congress Avenue
West Palm Beach at
301 N. Olive Ave, 1st Floor
Royal Palm Beach at 200 Civic Center Way
North Palm Beach at 3188 PGA Boulevard
Belle Glade at 2976 State Road 15
All offices are open from 8:15 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
July 9, 2007 - 10:56PM
West Palm beach City Commission considers adding a Cityplace to its citywide curfew. If
approved, the current downtown curfew would be extended into CityPlace as part of an Entertainment District Curfew. No one
under 18 would be allowed there after 11 p.m. without adult supervision. City leaders say too many parents drop off their
kids off and allow them to stay there for hours. The commission will get its first look at the proposal next week.
July 10, 2007 - 7:04AM
Palm Beach County Commissioners are set to discuss Palm Tran cuts Tuesday morning. The
cuts would effect thousands of people who rely on Palm Tran to get work, school or appointments. The proposed cuts also would
include no more free rides for low-income people who qualify, higher over-all fares, and fewer busses in some low-ridership
areas.
Back in June, Governor Crist signed the first portion of the state's new property tax plan. County Commissioners
announced in order to meet its new tighter budget, it would have to make cuts. In anticipation of the cuts, Palm Tran already
eliminated some routes, but commissioners may also consider slashing several more. This comes at a time when ridership is
at an all time high, up more than 50 percent in six years. If the cuts are approved they would go into effect on October 1st.
July 10, 2007 - 7:06AM
Grab the insect repellent, recent rains are giving way to swarms of mosquitoes. Mosquito
control workers are out setting light traps, to help determine which areas are hit the hardest by this pesky problem. Workers
are spraying pesticides on all the standing water they find. But, won't begin aerial spraying until the numbers begin to peak
July 11, 2007 - 12:15PM
Thousands of people trying to take advantage of the My Safe Florida Home Program may be
upset by what they find. State officials are no longer helping homeowners pay for roof work that would help prepare their
homes for hurricane season. When the program first got underway, homeowners could be reimbursed up to $5,000. Lawmakers ordered
the changes, despite all the roof damage to homes during the 2004 and 2005 busy hurricane seasons. They also ordered the Florida
Building Commission to come up with statewide guidelines by October 1st to renovate roofs.
July 11, 2007 - 12:17PM
A driver is recovering after he crashed through a guardrail in Royal Palm Beach and into
a canal. Police say the driver kept going straight on Seminole Pratt Whitney, instead of turning onto Southern Boulevard.
The driver was able to get out of his pickup truck and swim to safety.
July 11, 2007 - 12:17PM
The number of freshman admitted to public universities in Florida is now frozen for at
least the next three years. Governor Charlie Crist recently vetoed a five percent tuition increase. Without that money, university
officials say if students continue to flood their schools, they won't get the classes or advisors they need to graduate. The
freeze will be effective Spring 2008 at all 11 of the state's universities, including Florida Atlantic University in Boca
Raton.
July 12, 2007 - 6:58AM
Upset and frightened neighbors will meet Thursday evening to discuss concerns raised by
a brutal act of violence. The housing authority blocked off the main entrance to Dunbar Village, which is a public housing
complex. Now the only way to get in is through the side entrance. Residents will also get parking permits, plus surveillance
cameras will go up. The security boost comes after a group of teens gang raped a woman and beat her son inside their apartment.
Dunbar Village residents will gather to discuss their concerns.
July 12, 2007 - 7:03AM
A new report about drug use in Florida's high schools contains some alarming news about
one school here in our area. In it's year, Seminole Ridge High in Loxahatchee reported more incidents of illegal substance
use than any other high school in the state. The school reported 122 incidents of alcohol, drug, or tobacco abuse during the
2005-2006 school year. That's according to the Florida School Indicators Report. No other high school in the state reported
more than 100 incidents.
Royal Palm Beach High had the second highest number of incidents in Palm Beach County with
64. Western Pines Middle in Royal Palm Beach reported 25, more than eight times the middle school averag
July 10, 2007 - 2:37PM
A child killer will soon learn whether or not he will be released from prison and into
a work release progrma. News 12 will be there for today's hearing in Tallahassee. Angel Halstead of Vero Beach was just four
years old when she was murdered in 1979. Her neighbor, Brooks Bellay, 14 years old at the time was - convicted of the crime
and sentenced to life in prison.
Bellay lured the girl from her front yard, and into the woods of what is now a nearby
park, where he sexually assaulted, beat her, and left her for dead. A few days later, he led police to her body.
According
to the Department of Corrections, the supervised work release program is designed to gradually bring the offender back
into society. Angel's father says Bellay remains a threat.
Angel’s family will testify at the parole hearing
and will ask that Bellay not be released.
Drivers doing high speed donuts and drag racing up and down the avenue is enough to scare
homeowners nearby. It's all part of the Sunday night routine on Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach. Hundreds of cars and
thousands of people line up the road. The cars are all parked alongside and even in the road. Police sent up the helicopter
and in recent weeks had to break up the crowd. They even had to shut down roads to break up the street races and fast cars
doing donuts.
Homeowners are demanding police to do more to control agggressive drivers out there on what is simply
called The Avenue. Sunday night police and depuites saturated the area and ticketed heavily all along the avenue. Gregory
Hobbs, who enjoys The Avenue crowd, says, "They don't want us to hang out no where, we come to the park and they run us away.
What do they want? I understand that-not blocking traffic but you gotta give us somewhere to go." However, Sherry Williams
had a car crash into her yard. She says, "It's dangerous to even be out for a walk on the sidewalk because the traffic is
very active and aggressive." Wiliams is just one of many homeowners along Australian who had the unfortunate awakening when
these cars race and one driver hit the median, spun out and ended up plowing into her front yard. Drivers say they are just
out there to have fun but police say its one thing to show off cars and quite another to block traffic, race and do dangerous
donuts. However, members of the car crowd say they'll be back next Sunday night just the same.
July 11, 2007 - 6:49AM
Martin County's plans to create affordable housing could land them in a legal battle. Commissioners
want to require developers to include workforce housing in upscale residential communities. But, developers in other parts
of the state are already suing over a similar requirement. Martin Commissioners say they will wait to see how that case turns
out before trying to pass their own building code.
July 11, 2007 - 6:44AM
For months, people in Palm Beach County have been watering one day a week. South Florida
Water Managers are expected to vote Wednesday afternoon to possibly ease the restrictions. Water managers report Lake Okeechobee
is still at a record low. They say there's only a 10 percent chance Lake O will hold onto a good amount of water at the end
of this rainy season.
Earlier this week, Palm Beach County's Administrator, Mayor Lois Frankel and Seacoast Utility
officials called for the phase three water restrictions to be eased, because of all the recent rain we've received.
July 11, 2007 - 6:46AM
Local officers were given a first-hand look at new technology that could help cops solve
cases much faster. West Palm Beach police credit the sheriff's office crime lab fore quickly processing DNA in the recent
brutal rape case in Dunbar Village. The turn around in that case was just two days. But, with the new mobile DNA lab, it could
take as little as eight hours.
However, it could take some time before the new technology could be used in a real
crime scene. The sheriff's office is working with scientists from the University of California to perfect the technology.
July 10, 2007 - 10:33PM
Martin County Commissioners voted for height restrictions in downtown Jensen Beach. The
new law limits buildings on the intracoastal waterfront to 24 feet, or two stories, and on the west side of Indian River Drive
buildings will be capped at three stories. This comes in light of recent furor over a Renar condo development that longtime
Jensen homeowners argued is paving the path for a concrete jungle along the scenic highway. Commissioners did voice concerns
the new height restrictions limit homeowners private property rights, but they did add a clause that will grandfather in taller,
existing structures.
July 10, 2007 - 10:27PM
Martin County's plans for creating affordable housing could land them in a legal challenge,
and have new home buyers crying. Commissioners want to require developers to include affordable housing condos and townhomes
inside their new communities of $300,000 and up single family homes. But developers in the state are already suing over what
is called the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. Martin Commissioners are waiting to see how a case pending in Leon County turns
out before trying to pass a similiar building code. They also approved funding to come up with solutions to the workforce
housing crisis.
July 10, 2007 - 10:21PM
Pet owners in Palm Beach are facing new tougher restrictions. The town council has just
passed a new animal control ordinance that's supposed to give the town of Palm Beach greater control of aggressive dogs. The
new ordinance says any dog that attacks a person or domestic animal just one time, will be considered dangerous. The owner
will then have to keep the dog muzzled and on a leash or in a cage or pen while at home. Plus they must carry $100,000 worth
of insurance, and put a sign on their property warning others that a dangerous dog is present. The ordinance is the result
of a deadly attack last January, when a doberman killed a small dog in Palm Beach on a residential street. Violators of the
new ordinance in Palm Beach face a possible $500 fine.
July 10, 2007 - 7:04AM
Palm Beach County Commissioners are set to discuss Palm Tran cuts Tuesday morning. The cuts would effect thousands of people
who rely on Palm Tran to get work, school or appointments. The proposed cuts also would include no more free rides for low-income
people who qualify, higher over-all fares, and fewer busses in some low-ridership areas.
Back in June, Governor Crist
signed the first portion of the state's new property tax plan. County Commissioners announced in order to meet its new tighter
budget, it would have to make cuts. In anticipation of the cuts, Palm Tran already eliminated some routes, but commissioners
may also consider slashing several more. This comes at a time when ridership is at an all time high, up more than 50 percent
in six years. If the cuts are approved they would go into effect on October 1st.
July 10, 2007 - 7:05AM
The embattled head of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Bill Proenza has been replaced by Deputy Director Ed Rappaport.
A spokesman at the Hurricane Center would not say if Proenza was fired or if he agreed to leave voluntarily.
Last
week, more than 20 employees there signed a petition, asking for his removal. One of the key officials involved in hurricane
preparations in Palm Beach County says he's not worried about a change in leadership at the Hurricane Center. Vince Bonvento
says he respected Proenza for his decision to speak up and voice his concerns about funding, even though that action apparently
cost him his job.
July 10, 2007 - 7:06AM
Grab the insect repellent, recent rains are giving way to swarms of mosquitoes. Mosquito control workers are out setting
light traps, to help determine which areas are hit the hardest by this pesky problem. Workers are spraying pesticides on all
the standing water they find. But, won't begin aerial spraying until the numbers begin to peak.
July 10, 2007 - 8:00AM
A tragic start to Tuesday's morning commute. A fatal accident shut down a stretch of the Florida's Turnpike in Palm Beach
Gardens. Florida Highway Patrol says around 4:30 am, a semi-truck carrying building construction materials slowed down for
a construction zone near the PGA exit. The lanes in this area were closing and shifting to one lane. That's when a 32-year-old
Greenacres man didn't notice the tractor trailer slowing down and slammed into the back of it. He was not wearing a seat belt.
July 10, 2007 - 11:50AM
West Palm Beach's newest Social Security office is now open. The new office, located in the 1600 block of Congress Avenue.
The facility was suppose to be open last week, but officials were forced to delay the opening due to an electrical problem.
A few glitches remain, a pre-recorded phone message from last week's opening that never happened.
July 10, 2007 - 11:51AM
Police have made an arrest in the deadly shooting outside a local hotel. Police have charged Garnett Coghiel, 21 with second
degree murder. The shooting happened last week at the In-Town hotel in Riviera Beach. The victim, 41-year-old Benoit Pothier
was shot and killed in his car. Cops think Coghiel was the getaway driver. They are still looking for the gunman.
July 10, 2007 - 11:50AM
A Boynton Beach mother is in trouble with the law. Cops say she left her two young children in the car, while she went
into a sale. Police say Cecilia Beck, went into the Rag Shop store in Boynton Beach for about ten minutes, leaving her 10-year-old
daughter and 1-year-old son inside the running car.
July 8, 2007 - 3:04PM
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Some say speeding is bad and getting worse on Summit Boulevard near I-95 in West Palm Beach. The road has turned into a
racetrack at times, they say, with some drivers doing double the 35 mile an hour speed limit. Bill Bader says he's sent a
number of e-mails to city officials, including one to the police chief and two West Palm Beach city commissioners asking for
help. Bader is keeping an eye on traffic near his house on Summit Boulevard. The problem he says is speeding and from 4 to
6 each afternoon he says Summit is more like a dragstrip.
Bader says, "Sometimes they're going 60 to 70 miles an hour
by the time they hit the zoo."
Summit runs past the Palm Beach Zoo. In an e-mail to the police chief and city commissioners,
he says there's so much speeding that Summit is quote: "a real zoo." A few houses down the street, Virginia Harvey, a woman
who's lived on Summit for 54 years, agrees they need some help.
Harvey says, "I think it's bad. I think speeding is
very bad, I think they need to do more about it. We need to have more patrols on this street. I think they need to be here
later in the afternoons around 6."
She says motorcycles fly down Summit and she can hear them from her living room.
Harvey says, "It's terrible, it scares me, sometimes I cringe because I hear 'em going so fast I think oh my word,
are they gonna make it?"
News 12 went to see the city commissioner who got Bader's e-mail. Commissioner kimberly Mitchell
says that there's speeding on Summit Boulevard, she's seen it for herself.
Mitchell says, "Even though they've become
accustomed to having to deal with it, that doesn't mean they should have to."
The West Palm Beach Police Chief told
News 12 they've checked Summit Boulevard with radar, and have found that most drivers are obeying the speed limit. However,
Commissioner Mitchell says that police need to come back out here at other times of the day, to get a more accurate picture
of what's really going on.
July 8, 2007 - 3:28PM
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The embattled director of the National Hurricane Center says he won't step down unless his bosses ask him to. For more
than a week Bill Proenza has refused to resign. His latest comments come after more than 20 of the center's employees including
senior forecasters publicly called for his ouster. Half of the center's staff rose up in revolt against new director Proenza
this week, signing their names to a statement urging the Commerce Department to replace him.
The statement says, "The
effective functioning of the national hurricane center is at stake."
On the list is four of the five senior hurricane
forecasters and Proenza's own secretary.
Sr. Forecaster James Franklin says, "He's divided the staff and its hard
to see how we can come together again with him still here."
The dispute started because of an aging weather satellite
called QuickScat. It has a lifespan of three to five years, but has now been in orbit for eight. Proenza launched a public
battle with the federal government to have it replaced arguing that losing it would hurt the center's ability to accurately
forecast hurricanes, an argument his own senior scientists say is misleading.
Scientist Analyst Bryan Norcross says,
"The problem is it is more then the satellite, and the scientists got concerned that there was not attention being paid to
the things that they thought were more important."
For example, hurricane hunter planes which allow forecasters to
see inside a storm in the crucial few days before landfall. With the height of the hurricane season drawing closer, the feud
is making emergency managers skittish.
However, Bill Proenza says, "The Hurricane Center is fully capable to deliver
its mission to the American people."
The commerce department is investigating the Proenza situation with the final
report due out July 20th.
July 8, 2007 - 10:08PM
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Residents are living in fear and are locked in their homes at Dunbar Village following a brutal rape but police say they're
ready to take action. According to our partners at the Palm Beach Post they've blocked off the main entrance to Dunbar. Now
the only way to get in is through the side entrance. Residents are also getting parking permits and electronic openers and
a surveillance camera will be set up in a few weeks. The security boost comes after police say a woman was gang raped and
she and her son were beaten inside their apartment. Two teenagers have already been charged in the case. Police hope to make
more arrests soon.
July 8, 2007 - 10:16PM
The 2006-2007 Water Shortage & The Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades System
Q&A
Q: Finally,
it's started to rain, which should help the drought. So, why is water being released to the ocean? Shouldn't we be saving
every drop? A: We are storing as much rain from storm water runoff as possible, but there are limits. Why? Because there
is NOT a lot of surface water storage available in most coastal communities, particularly areas east of I-95. That's why you
may see water being discharged: to prevent rainfall-related flooding in some neighborhoods.
Flooding can happen very
quickly because most of South Florida is relatively flat, and in heavily developed areas, natural lands that could absorb
excess water are in short supply. Sudden, heavy rainfall also doesn't sit long enough on the soil to be well absorbed. In
addition, most storm water systems in older communities are not designed to handle more than a few inches of rain without
some flooding. Those neighborhoods, as well as larger city or county systems, all feed into our regional system. So, even
if it doesn’t look as if your neighborhood is in danger of flooding, many communities upstream or downstream of your
neighborhood may need to drain excess water into the regional system.
In short, we simply do not have enough places
to store all the rainfall we receive during the wet season, and there is no way to move water all the way back to Lake Okeechobee.
Without the storage capacity to capture additional rainfall, the SFWMD must make periodic discharges of water to tide for
flood protection. Without these discharges, streets and homes would be flooded.
As we head into the peak of the rainy
season, additional rainfall likely will trigger the need for additional flood protection discharges to tide.
Q: How
can you still claim there’s a drought when my lawn is green and it’s raining every day? A: Central and northern
portions of the SFWMD remain critically dry, as wet season rains have been highly localized over much of the southern third
of the District. Over the past 30 days, for example, Lake Okeechobee, a primary backup water supply to five million South
Floridians during the dry season, received less than five inches of rain, while portions of Miami-Dade and Broward counties
received more than 12 inches over the same period. In Central Florida, this is still a drought.
Think of a drought
as a climatological phenomenon where not enough rain enters the system; a water shortage is a community’s inability
to deal with a drought. While the Lower East Coast appears to be transitioning out of an 18-month-long, dry weather pattern,
it certainly is still experiencing a water shortage.
Q: When will the District lift the restrictions? A: It depends
on rainfall, Lake Okeechobee, water levels in the regional system and a variety of other factors. Because this water shortage
is the most severe and widespread since the 1930s, weeks or even months of constant rainfall will be needed. The District
will continue to monitor conditions daily, and when they improve, the SFWMD Governing Board will make the decision to modify
restrictions.
The water shortage will end only when enough rainfall soaks into our underground supplies, refills the
Water Conservation Areas and raises the level of Lake Okeechobee. One indicator of adequate water supply is a water elevation
of 14 feet in Lake Okeechobee, and computer modeling currently suggests there is only a 10 percent chance the lake level will
climb to this elevation by the end of the current wet season.
Q: Why are lower Lake Okeechobee levels a concern? A:
It is a constant and delicate balance: water supply for people and the needs of the environment. Low water levels do benefit
the lake ecosystem; for example, submerged aquatic vegetation receives more sunlight and thus tends to thrive, rejuvenating
fish and wildlife habitats and improving the ecology of the lake.
Habitat recovery efforts are underway to remove
harmful muck layers from the exposed lakebed. However, water levels that are too low can be detrimental and cause unwanted
drying of critical areas.
Q: What will it take for Lake Okeechobee’s water levels to rise again? The water
level in Lake Okeechobee remains extremely low for this time of year, and it will take above average rainfall – on and
directly to the north of the lake – to replenish the lake to normal levels.
SFWMD meteorologists anticipate
that it may be more than a month before flows into Lake Okeechobee from the Kissimmee Watershed are reestablished. No prediction
can be made at this time as to precisely when the lake’s water levels will return to their normal elevations.
Q:
What is the minimum water level Lake Okeechobee must reach before we can end water restrictions? A: That is hard to tell.
A variety of factors, not just the lake level, will be used to determine modifications to current water restrictions; these
include rainfall, groundwater levels, other surface water levels, soil moisture levels, salinity levels in coastal well fields,
etc.
Water levels in Lake Okeechobee are approximately four feet below their historic average for this time of year.
The levels will need to rise appreciably before any end to water restrictions can be declared, particularly within the Lake
Okeechobee Service Area, which relies almost exclusively on the lake as a primary water resource.
Q: Why did you drain
the lake last year? Isn’t this all your fault? A: The Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for managing
water levels in the lake, relies on the best, most current information available to guide water management decisions; this
includes long term weather predictions from the National Weather Service and others.
Water discharges were made from
Lake Okeechobee during the summer of 2006, in anticipation of what was expected to be a very active hurricane season and in
accordance with a complex regulation schedule, which helps direct water management decisions at specific water elevations
and times of year. These resulted in a water level reduction of perhaps 1.5 feet over the course of several months.
The
Army Corps of Engineers made these decisions in light of concerns over the structural integrity of the Herbert Hoover Dike
and the serious flooding threat that high lake levels pose to communities around the lake. The same occurred prior to the
active hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005.
Should a storm of even moderate magnitude damage the dike when water stages
are high, communities like Clewiston, Pahokee and Belle Glade could experience catastrophic flooding. As a matter of public
safety, the lake cannot be managed at high elevations during the wet season, and even if no discharges had been made, we would
still be in a severe, long-term drought and subsequent water shortage.
Q: How are local water levels in the Lower
East Coast? A: Above normal rainfall in June has replenished water levels along the Lower East Coast. In residential areas,
canals are full; local stormwater ponds are full; and groundwater levels have rebounded significantly. Water Conservation
Areas 1, 2, and 3 are all above their floor elevations and have been recovering steadily since the start of the wet season.
Central and northern portions of the SFWMD, however, remain critically dry, as wet season rains have been highly localized
over much of the southern third of the District. More than seven million people rely on an interconnected water management
system, and negative impacts to one geographic area can adversely affect the entire system.
Q: Why are water restrictions
in Martin and St. Lucie counties lower than they are in Palm Beach and Broward Counties? A: Geologically, the Martin and
St. Lucie County Service Area is different; residents here rely on different sources of water. These counties also house fewer
residents. Thus, the stresses on local resources are different, and in extreme weather events, such as heavy rains or droughts,
the resources here will respond differently relative to other areas of the District. All told, the SFWMD is comprised of five
geologically unique service areas.
Q: What about other areas of the District: Orlando/Kissimmee and Southwest Florida?
A: Phase II and III water restrictions are already in place in the Northern Indian Prairie Basin and Lake Istokpoga, located
just north of Lake Okeechobee.
Southwest Florida draws its water from ground and surface water sources that are not
connected to Lake Okeechobee. But because these levels are low, Phase II Restrictions are in effect in Southwest Florida.
These are stricter than the region's current year-round restrictions.
Although dry from recent low rainfall, the Kissimmee
Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee River and Orlando areas are currently not under mandatory water restrictions, as surface water and
groundwater levels there have remained just above their water shortage triggers.
However, as the dry season progresses,
the District will continue to monitor water levels, and if appropriate, may issue warnings or restrictions should conditions
indicate water resource problems in these areas. Voluntary water conservation efforts are encouraged across the South Florida
Water Management District year-round.
Q: Are there any other long-range plans to address water supply? A: Yes.
The District is proactively working with local communities to develop and fund alternative water supply sources. South Florida
residents now number more than seven million -- placing a huge demand on the region's water resources. Despite excellent freshwater
sources, South Florida's water supply is not unlimited, especially given limited storage. Alternative water supply projects
such as reverse osmosis, aquifer storage and recovery, and reclaimed water use, help create new sources to meet our long-term
needs and water conservation stretches our existing supply. Communities large and small are encouraged to explore alternative
water supplies and to apply for funding assistance. More information is available at www.sfwmd.gov.
The District,
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local governments and others are also implementing the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan (CERP). This is a monumental plan with 68 project components to build and manage a more efficient system that can capture
and store water that is now lost to sea. The project will help to restore the Everglades and replenish water supplies for
the environment and economy. The District has already jump-started eight CERP projects under its Acceler8 Everglades restoration
initiative, including three key storage reservoirs. For more information, visit www. evergladesnow.org.
Q: My water
doesn't come from a utility. It's pumped from my local lake, canal, or my private well. Do I need to follow restrictions?
A: In most cases, no matter where your water comes from, water restrictions apply to you. This is because surface and
groundwater are interconnected. Water in lakes and canals helps to protect private and public wells from saltwater intrusion,
and helps store rainfall to recharge groundwater resources including small wells and large aquifers.
100-percent reclaimed
water, or water reclaimed from water sewage treatment plants, is one of very few uses NOT restricted. Reclaimed water is water
that at one time would have been flushed away. It is heavily treated, not meant for drinking (non-potable), and used almost
exclusively for irrigation. It is often transferred through special purple pipes.
Groundwater sources (wells) in the
city of Okeechobee and a small portion of Okeechobee County within the Lake Okeechobee Service Area (communities around Lake
Okeechobee) also are not restricted, because these inland wells are not threatened by saltwater intrusion, but voluntary adherence
to the restrictions is encouraged.
Q: What is saltwater intrusion and why should I care about it? A: Saltwater
intrusion is a natural process that occurs in virtually all coastal areas, and involves the encroachment of saltwater from
the sea flowing inland, into freshwater aquifers. Coastal wells are the most vulnerable to contamination by saltwater. When
too much invades wells or aquifers, they may become unusable!
In South Florida, we rely on our aquifers for a substantial
portion of our regional water supply, and the salt and other substances carried by seawater are a huge detriment. The SFWMD
resists saltwater intrusion by maintaining prescribed levels of freshwater in the system and by making appropriate freshwater
discharges via our canal system.
Thus, by helping to keep more water in the system, this year's water use restrictions
actually help reduce the detrimental impacts of saltwater intrusion on our water supply resources. Area residents should also
be concerned about saltwater intrusion because it could eventually hit them in their pocketbooks. When utilities must pay
for necessary upgrades and facilities to treat saltwater before it is deemed safe to drink, they must pass those costs to
consumers.
ENID, Okla. -- A pair of pre-teen sisters are accused of kidnapping an infant in Enid on Thursday, police said.
The 10-year-old and 12-year-old girl allegedly broke into a neighbor's home Thursday morning about 5:30 a.m., taking a
1-year-old baby while his mother, Sheila Wells, slept, police said. A ransom note was left. According to police, they were
accused of kidnapping for extortion and first-degree burglary.
Officers said the girls not only took the baby boy, Brandon Wells, from a crib in which he was sleeping, they also took
assorted baby items, $20 in cash and left a ransom note telling the mother of the baby that "if you want to see your son again,
then you won't call police and report him missing, and you will leave $200,000 on the sofa tonight, and we will return your
son back safe."
Police said the note was signed "the kidnappers."
The mother of the suspects told investigators that she noticed the baby with the girls, who told her that they had "found
the baby on the corner," police said.
The mother recognized the baby as belonging to the victim, who lives about a block away. The suspects' family and the victims
are acquaintances.
As girls' mother tried to find Sheila Wells' telephone number, the 12-year-old returned to Wells' residence and told her
it was the younger sister who was responsible for the abduction, police Capt. Dean Grassino said.
Wells immediately retrieved her child from the girls' home and police were called, Grassino said.
Wells said she knew the girls and had banned the 10-year-old girl from her home a few weeks ago, but did not say why.
Neither of the juveniles allegedly would give detectives any explanation as to why they took the baby, police said. The
girls were transported to the Enid Police Department's Community Intervention Center.
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Police asked anyone with information about the offense or the robber to call the Dallas Police Department’s Robbery
Unit at 214-671-3584.
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Monikka said she didn’t want to be identified because the culprit is still at large, but she wanted to spread her
story to as many people as possible.
"Especially women if they're traveling alone at night," she said. "They need to know what's going on."
Dallas police said the incident is disturbing to them.
"If someone is out there impersonating an officer, it's certainly a public safety issue," Dallas police Lt. Vernon Hale
said.
Hale said real police officers will have a badge and even unmarked cars have red and blue lights, not just searchlights.
"If there's no red and blue lights on that police car, please don't pull over," he said. "Call 911, follow to a public
place or a substation or something like that."
Police said they don’t mind if people drive a little farther to a well-lit area when being pulled over, especially
single women at night.
FORT WORTH -- Police said the victim of a shooting at a Dallas apartment complex died on Friday.
Police said they responded to a shooting call at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of Argentina Street at about 5
p.m. and found a 24-year-old black man. The man was transported to Methodist Central Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Investigators said the victim was shot at least once but they don’t know the location. A second shooting victim is
also at the hospital but police said they’re not sure if the victims are connected. The second victim is in stable condition.
Investigators said they don’t know the motive for the shooting and no arrests have been made.
June 27, 2007 - 12:21PM
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Voters in Saint Lucie County voted against raising their property taxes, to fund the Treasure Coast's only trauma center.
It was one of the largest voter turnouts in St. Lucie County history, with more than 21,000 people voting. An overwhelming
74 percent voted "no". Since the trauma center was voted down, critical patients on the Treasure Coast will still go to West
Palm Beach or Melbourne for trauma care. Taxpayers in Palm Beach County will continue to foot the bill for some of those patients.
June 28, 2007 - 12:30PM
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After being on the run almost a week, the man wanted in connection with kidnapping his infant daughter, turned himself
in and appeared in court. Marco Nocent faces charges of kidnapping, grand theft auto, and battery. On Thursday, the judge
ordered Nocent to be held without bond, and told him not to contact the victims; including his three month old daughter. The
kidnapping happened last week at Nocent's home in Palm Beach Gardens. The arrest report says there was a disagreement between
the two families. The police say Nocent hopped into the car of the baby's mother, and drove off, pushing the baby's aunt out
of the car. The aunt's injuries were not serious. Nocent did not have custody of little Markilah, and has prior convictions.
Recently, the baby was missing for about ten hours. An Amber Alert was issued before someone dropped off Markilah at the home
of her mother, Traci Keyes. Marco Nocent was also wanted on a warrant for a robbery charge. Now Nocent is behind bars, with
no bond.
June 29, 2007 - 9:54AM
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The judge called it a sad day for Palm Beach County, when former county Commission Chairman Tony Masilotti is sentenced
to five years in a federal prison. Despite getting the maximum sentence, the judge did give Masilotti some leniency giving
him 45 days to report to prison. Masilotti's sentence came after he plead guilty earlier this year to honest services fraud,
which is a felony. Masilotti arrived at court with friends and family members who were there to support him. Inside the
court room several friends, including Pahokee's Mayor J.P. Sasser and a priest, spoke about the good that Masilotti had done
in the western communities during the last ten years. Masilotti even spoke to the judge apologizing, and accepted full responsibility
for what he did. But ultimately the judge says no matter how much good Masilotti did, his previous actions do not excuse the
fact he broke the law. The sentence did not come as a surprise to the Masilotti camp. The federal prosecutors say they
are disappointed the judge did not immediately order Masilotti to prison. Masilotti was pushing and shoving people as he left
court. He did not speak to the media, and neither did his family. Masilotti cannot appeal his sentence, and is expected to
serve the full five years, or 60 months. Masilotti will also have two years of federal probation.
June 30, 2007 - 10:57PM
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The officers were called out to a Winn Dixie parking lot to investigate a car crash but little did they know it would escalate
to this magnitude. Two offciers were injured but police are not saying how they got hurt at this time. Thick smoke brought
shoppers, like Johnny Clark outside.
A pick-up truck was stuck on a curb in front of the Winn Dixie in the Gardens
Park Plaza after hitting a tree and plowing down a sign. Once Palm Beach Gardens Police arrived, several officers went up
to the car with their guns drawn. The 21 year old driver, and owner of the pickup truck didn't want to listen and tried to
get away. When that didn't work he ditched the truck and ran inside Winn Dixie. Police chased after him and that's when a
sergeant and an officer both got hurt. Employees and shoppers nearby said the driver had a gun. Invetsigators say a shot was
fired but didn't specifiy who fired it. Meantime,Clark, had gone back to his shopping inside Winn Dixie when he beat police
to the punch.
"I got all the family I got people standing them into safety I stopped him me and another guy stopped
him at door so he wouldn't hurt anybody."
He ended up tackling the driver.
"I didn't care if he got hurt I
didn't care if I hurted him I just wanted to take him down." Both officers are going to be okay. One of the officers injured
has been released from the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and the other is still there being treated. Investigators are
still trying to figure out why that 21 year old driver was in such a hurry to get away. At the very least, police say
he could be charged with resisting arrest and battery on an officer. He's being held at the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department
right now.
July 1, 2007 - 7:14PM
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Be ready to wait if you're traveling out of Palm Beach International Airport. The terror activities in England and Scotland
have lead to random checks of cars and trucks. There is greater awareness in our area and all over the country. Workers with
the Transportation Security Administration have checkpoints set up on the main roads leading into the airport terminal. TSA
workers are pulling people over at random to have a look inside the vehicle.
Some travelers say they were expecting
this after what happened in the U.K. while others say the checkpoint took them by surprise. The delays at the checkpoints
seem to be brief, only a minute or two. However, at peak periods the delay could potentially be more than a couple minutes.
Palm Beach County's Department of Airports are urging traveler's to give themselves extra time, before heading to
the airport. There's not only the checkpoints to contend with, but also a higher state of awareness in general.
July 2, 2007 - 11:12PM
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Police have charged a local maintenance worker with breaking into a woman's apartment and raping her. Bobby Broomfield
III faces a slew of charged that include rape, kidnapping, burglary, and robbery charges. Broomfield worked in maintenance
at the Sanctuary Cove apartment complex in North Palm Beach.
The arrest report says Broomfield had been in the victim's
apartment recently, fixing her air conditioning. The report also says Broomfield brought a machete with him. He's accused
of raping the woman and forcing her to withdraw money from ATMs. Police say Broomfield had no serious prior arrests. Sanctuary
Cove declined comment. Broomfield remains in jail without bond.
July 3, 2007 - 11:12PM
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A middle school student has been charged in one of the most brutal crimes police in our area have seen. Avion Lawson, 14
made his first court appearance Wednesday. He's charged with home invasion and rape. Lawson remains in custody. Police are
still searching for nine other young attackers.
On June 18th, police say the group attacked a woman and her son in
their West Palm Beach home. The suspects, beat and raped the mother, but not before they forced her son to participate in
the attack. Police say "DNA" evidence links Lawson to the crime. More arrests are coming.
July 7, 2007 - 11:35AM
July 7, 2007 - 11:35AM
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Palm Beach County Sheriff's office needs your help to find the suspect of a June 25 robbery. It happened at the Papa John's
pizza restaurant at 8135 South Military Trail, near Boynton Beach. A sheriff's spokesman says the suspect entered the restaurant,
pointed a gun at the cashier, then took off with $200. They say the same suspect is wanted for robbing that same Papa John's
three weeks earlier. Anyone with information about these robberies should call Detective Weissman at 561-644-7263 or Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS. All tips can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward.
Charges Dropped Against Masked Voter
AP - 7/7/2007 1:59 PM - Updated 7/7/2007 2:01 PM
SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) _ A man charged under a decades-old law for wearing a mask to a polling place no longer faces charges
in the case.
Pottawatomie County District Attorney Richard Smothermon says the misdemeanor case against 28-year-old Christopher Dale
Nichols was dismissed Thursday because a new law has been enacted by the state Legislature.
Nichols, a journalism student at Oklahoma Baptist University wore the mask to a polling place last November 7th.
He says he was trying to convey an anti-authoritarian message with humor by wearing the mask, which resembled one worn
by the hero in the movie ``V for Vendetta.''
Nichols has been required to apologize in writing to both Election Board Secretary Diana Knight and school Superintendent
Mickey Maynard.
Smothermon had charged Nichols under a 1923 law that barred the wearing of masks in public. Smothermon says the law likely
was passed to curtail intimidation by groups like the Ku Klux Klan and made it mandatory for him to file the charge against
Nichols.
Novel Program Seeks To Reduce Recidivism For Serious Felons
AP - 7/7/2007 1:56 PM - Updated 7/7/2007 1:59 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Hardened criminals often walk out of prison in Oklahoma unsupervised, with $50 in their pockets and
bus tickets to cities where they last broke the law.
Most often they wind up back behind prison walls after committing another armed robbery or other serious offense against
the public.
Now the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, through a contract with Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel, is launching
a program to give hard-bitten inmates 90 days of intense attention before their release. The hope is to steer them away from
their criminal ways, thus increasing the public's safety.
Corrections Director Justin Jones says that under the novel program, so-called ``flat-liners'' will get help with mental
illness, substance abuse, reconnecting with their families, finding a job and a place to live and honing educational and technical
skills.
Flat-liner is a term used by prison officials to describe an inmate who serves out his or her full term and goes free without
any kind of supervision, such as requirements that bind someone who gets a parole.
Ninety-eight secure beds are being made available at the county jail in Oklahoma City for the pilot program. Inmates will
begin arriving this month.
``To us, this is a win-win,'' Whetsel said. ``They are going to hit the (Oklahoma City) streets, no matter what.'' He said
the help they will get at the county jail is something they would not have gotten during their last days in prison.
Jones said a team of specialists will assist inmates. ``If they choose, a mentor will be assigned to them from a faith-based
organization,'' he said.
Inmates with anger problems will get counseling and psychotropic drugs, if appropriate.
Jones said the program is unique because the usual emphasis is on helping low-risk offenders, such as those convicted of
minor drug crimes.
In Oklahoma, many of those inmates go to halfway houses, or community corrections centers or work-release centers, which
have been shown to reduce recidivism.
Some of the more hardened criminals choose to waive paroles and serve out their full terms so they can escape supervision,
Jones said.
``They are going to get out, whether we like it or not,'' Jones said. Why not try to use proven methods to reduce their
high recidivism rate? he asks.
``We believe one of the best ways to provide public safety is through successful re-entry of inmates into society. Therefore,
you don't have future victims. You don't have future increases in taxpayer money going to incarcerate someone over and over
again.''
He said evidence-based research shows things can be done to curb by 30 percent the recidivism rate of the type of criminals
who will be part of the project.
``I have to applaud Sheriff Whetsel. He has dedicated one full-time employee to help us reintegrate these offenders and
has given us office space to work out of so we can have case managers right on the site to assist these offenders in connecting
with community resources and their families and other aspects that have been proven to reduce recidivism with this high-risk
group.''
Under the contract, Jones said, the DOC will pay $32 a day for housing the inmates and there is leeway to help with extra
costs incurred by the sheriff's agency.
Jones said corrections officials would like to expand the program in the future to other populous counties where inmates
return after finishing their sentences.
He said officials explored such a program in Tulsa, but could not find a site deemed secure enough for the high-risk group.
He said group will include armed robbers, violent offenders, drug traffickers, sex offenders and inmates who were not convicted
of violent crimes, but had problems in prison with anger, mental health episodes or misconduct that prevented their possibility
of being paroled.
He said statistics will be kept on the program's success, using strict standards required by the federal Bureau of Prisons.
``It will be validated stuff,'' Jones said. ``It will be something the rest of the country can look at if we are successful.''
Governor Henry says he's pleased that Ottawa and Washington counties have been approved for federal disaster help, but
he says people in other parts of the state need help too. Henry says he's pushing for speedy federal aid for Pottawatomie
and Comanche Counties to be added to the disaster declaration.
"I don't think there is any question that other flood-damaged counties need and deserve federal help, and it's frustrating
that we haven't received definitive answers sooner," said Governor Brad Henry. "People are hurting, and they need help."
The governor says state officials are still assessing damage in other counties that might need to be added to declaration.
Washington County Residents Asked To Report Damage
Washington County Emergency Management is asking residents affected by the flood waters to call and report damage. So far,
it says more than 75 people have called, but it believes there are more than 300 homes and businesses affected.
The county has set up a special hotline. The call center is running Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The number
to call is 918-331-2710.
The city of Bartlesville is also providing a special collection for residents who need to get rid of flood damaged items.
You'll be able to set those items on the curb starting Monday. Items will be collected through Friday.
Lottery Raffle Winners Sought
AP - 7/7/2007 6:00 AM - Updated 7/6/2007 8:25 AM
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ More than 50 lottery winners have yet to come forward to claim $500 prizes in the Oklahoma Lottery's
first anniversary raffle. The deadline for claiming prizes is July 19th.
A list of the 54 winners who haven't claimed their prizes is available on the Oklahoma Lottery Commission's web site.
Prizes can be checked and claimed at any lottery retailer.
The heavy rain took a toll on many parts of Miami, washing out streets and homes. Now that the water is starting recede
the cleanup process is underway. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports some are cleaning up the soggy mess, but the road
to recovery will be a long one for many of them.
A few days ago the town of Miami was underwater.
"This is one of our major floods, second most major flood we've had," said Virgil Tarter with the City of Miami.
Now that the water is receding street crews are working extra hours in hopes of getting rid of any contamination. But they're
not the only ones trying to pick up the pieces. Homeowners are at work too.
"This is first time it's been in here since ‘51 that I know, so we was hoping it wouldn't get in the house but it
did," Miami flood victim Rod Callahan said. "It just got five inches in my house, but I guess it did some damage, structural
damage, in the house. A couple of floors caved in.
Rob Callahan is one of the lucky ones. Some people lost everything, and many of those who did went to the American Red
Cross for help. They say since July 3rd they've fed 300 people, and 54 people slept in the shelter Thursday night.
"I was in a first floor apartment and the water got all the way up the ceiling, so I've lost everything," Miami resident
Catie Meyer said.
Meyer, an NEO student, says without the Red Cross she would be homeless. Monday she will get to see if she can salvage
anything from her water logged apartment, until then she waits not knowing how she will recover.
"It's just one of those things," Meyer said. "I don't know what to think, I don't know what to do, I'm at a loss for a
lot of things right now.
Catie's story is not uncommon at the shelter. Many people at the shelter are in the same position, all of them in a waiting
game, and many don't have flood insurance.
Meanwhile, some streets are still closed, but the street crews say they should reopen by Saturday.
Folks in Coffeyville are concerned about the contaminated floodwaters. Thursday night hundreds of residents came to what
ended up being an emotional town hall meeting to find out the status of clean-up efforts. Also a cause for concern, the environmental
impact of the oil spill, the News On 6’s Heather Lewin reports the floodwaters that destroyed people's homes might actually
have helped fish and wildlife escape the worst of the spill.
Biologists say the massive flooding somewhat diluted the thousands of gallons of crude oil that invaded the wildlife’s
habitat, lessening the impact.
"The initial scare when you first hear about a spill is what got trapped in the immediate area," said Oklahoma Fisheries
biologist Brent Gordon.
Oklahoma Fisheries biologist Brent Gordon says while some were unlucky it appears much of the area's fish and wildlife
escaped. The spill, which began in Coffeyville, leaked into the Verdigris River and now may be seeping into Lake Oologah.
Surveying the scene Thursday, Gordon says he didn't see masses of dead fish like one might expect, but still there are signs
of poisoning.
"Some of the fish are attracted to the oil because they feed on things at the top of the surface, so certain things get
caught, so they'll go ahead and feed on that, they'll get the oil sheen on them and digest it and then the birds of course
see the fish, so then they'll hit it and the birds will get covered in oil," Gordon said.
Gordon is even more concerned about the damage you don't see, like the long term effects on the lake downstream.
"The bigger fish are gonna kind of move out of the area, but the smaller and the catfish are spawning right now so those
eggs are gonna get covered and probably won't hatch," said Gordon. He says those that have hatched won't survive the toxins,
so it could wipe out a year's worth of fish.
Early estimates put the spill at about 42,000 gallons. To help you visualize it that's the size of an average city swimming
pool full of oil.
Biologists say it could take two to three years to see the full environmental impact of the spill.
The flooding mess has now trickled down to the Port of Catoosa and the barge channel. The Port Authority reports a major
slowdown in operations because of all the high water. News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren reports it is a slowdown that could
deeply affect Oklahoma businesses.
"The heavy rains and high flood waters have brought shipping, barge shipping almost to a standstill," said Deputy Director
of the Port of Catoosa Dick Voth.
Voth says the barges aren't going anywhere anytime soon. It is because the Verdigris River is flowing too swiftly. He says
on a normal day the water moves at about 20,000 cubic feet per second, but now it’s moving at about 200,000 cubic feet
per second. That spells trouble for heavy barges trying to move shipments along the river.
"So it takes a lot of horsepower and a limited tow size to be able to navigate that swift water," Voth said.
Voth says they've had to lighten the loads on the barges and slow the traffic all together.
The view at the port is also very different. That’s because the water is about 17 feet above normal, and they say
they expect it to continue rising. As the water continues rising the Port's barge shipping will continue to slow down. If
this continues long-term it could be devastating to Oklahoma businesses that use the waterways for shipping.
"We have businesses in Oklahoma that depend very heavily on water transportation, and for the river system to be out of
business for a month is going to start to affect them," said Voth.
At this point Voth says the Port of Catoosa will continue to have high flows through the end of July. That means they'll
be slowed down at least through the end of July. He says they'll try to make up for lost business later in the year.
For more flooding information, check out our STORM ZONE web page.
Video Feature
FOX 35's Hurricane Season Guide
Your 2007 Hurricane Season Guide for Orlando, FL – Get hurricane news, your hurricane
season guide & access local county weather radars.
Here you will find resources to help you prepare as well as track storms from Orlando to Daytona,
Melbourne to Palm Coast & all points in between.
County by County
You can now access live weather radar imagery for your central Florida county. To do this,
use the My County drop-down menu on this page, and click "Go". You will also find local government information on hurricane
planning, shelters & evacuation routes.
New Mattress Guidelines Could Expose You to Toxic Chemicals
New Federal guidelines will go into effect this weekend to make your mattress more fire resistant.
But the chemicals used may also be harmful to your health. >>More
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The number of failing public schools in Florida nearly
quadrupled in 2007 while the number of schools that earned A or B grades fell more than 6 percentage points, the Education
Department said Friday.
Eighty-two schools received F grades compared to 21 a year ago. The total of D and F schools
more than doubled, increasing from 143 to 302 while 136 fewer schools received A or B grades.
Twenty-six of the F
schools were in Miami-Dade County. The declines can be attributed to more rigid standards, Education Commissioner Jeanine
Blomberg said. "We're right on target in terms of what we anticipated would occur this year," Blomberg said. "One of the major
messages here is that we have raised the bar. Three times since 2000.
That is exactly the intent in terms of increasing
student performance." The school grades are based on student scores from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. For the
first time this year, science was included and it also measured gains in math by the lowest performing 25 percent.
More
than two-thirds of schools received either As or Bs, compared to 75 percent that had the same marks in 2006. High schools
were eligible for the first time to earn 10 bonus points if at least half of the high school juniors and seniors passed FCAT
retakes in math and reading.
Blomberg said 61 schools earned the bonus points and that 21 were able to increase their
letter grade as a result. The schools that got an A are eligible for a $100 per student reward under the "A-Plus" school accountability
plan that began in 1999 under then-Gov. Jeb Bush.
But the system has been unpopular with Democrats since its origin.
They say it puts too much emphasis on high-stakes testing while the state's schools remain underfunded.
July 6, 2007 - 11:51AM
A man convicted of murder in our area, ten years ago is back behind bars for killing again.
Christopher Murray is facing charges of killing a 41-year-old woman in Iowa. In 1997, Murray pleaded guilty to strangling
a Delray Beach man. Murray claimed Robert Levy wanted to die and even paid him $2,000 to kill him. If convicted in this case,
Murray will be sentenced to life without parole.
July 6, 2007 - 4:55PM
Investigators go undercover to see if local convenience stores are selling alcohol to minors,
and many clerks were caught red handed. Five people were arrested and charged with selling beer or liquor to people under
the age of 21. Indian River County Sheriff's Deputies visited 22 stores, and seven of them broke the law. Listed below
are the seven stores that did sell alcohol to a minor.
A-One Discount, 758 21st Street, Vero
ABC Liquors
500 21st Street, Vero
7 Eleven 2296 US l, Vero
Drive Thru 735 27th Avenue SW, Vero
7 Eleven
210 Highland Drive, Vero
Shark Mart 9490 CR 510, Sebastian
Chevron 9497 108th Avenue, Wabasso
July 6, 2007 - 10:16PM
All the rain is bringing out some unwanted ants. Unfortunately for homeowners these ants
are difficult to control. They are called Caribbean Crazy Ants because of their erratic movements. From Palm Beach County
to the Treasure Coast, experts say more homeowners are having big problems with the little ants. Exterminator Steve De Mello
says even powerful insecticides can't control this crazy creature, but the chemicals can drive the ants away from their current
hangout.
You now have a chance to buy some of the belongings of a Powerball winner living in our area. David
Lee Edwards won $42 million from a Powerball drawing, and bought a home in Palm Beach Gardens for more than $1 million dollars.
Last year, he stopped paying his maintenance fees and the home was auctioned off. Now all of his personal property will be
auctioned off including sofas, paintings, and statues. The auction is Saturday July 14th.
Friday's Show
Inside the world's dirtiest jobs! From cleaning septic tanks to collecting roadkill. Meet the host of "Dirty Jobs" and
others who do the disgusting and dangerous work most would find unthinkable. Watch tonight, 9 ET.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- Temperatures reaching the 120s left millions holed up indoors Friday and made
leaders in the West nervous about the strain on their cities' electric grids.
Water misters aren't enough to attract afternoon patrons to a Palm Springs, California, eatery.
In Las Vegas -- which Thursday tied its highest-recorded temperature ever, 117 degrees Fahrenheit -- transformers overheated,
causing electrical pole fires as people cranked up their air conditioners, said Scott Allison of the Clark County Fire Department.
Several areas have lost power for a few hours at a time, he said.
Allison said such things happen each summer during the worst heat.
The city knows of no heat-related deaths, but there have been some emergency calls, some involving people who were drinking
alcohol and not staying hydrated, he said.
To the west, in Needles, California, Mayor Jeff Williams said the city was "trying to have people conserve" power. At 3:30
a.m. Friday, the temperature was a sweltering 94 degrees. The city expected to hit 124 degrees Friday afternoon, he said.
Needles is asking residents to keep their air conditioners up at 78 degrees "at least" and to hold off on such tasks as
laundry or vacuuming until evening, Williams said. Watch as the oppressive heat is overwhelming Westerners »
Seventy-eight degrees might feel frigid compared with outdoor conditions that have led the National Weather Service to issue excessive heat warnings for a swath of the West that includes Las Vegas and parts of southwest California.
"An excessive heat warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur," the weather service
says. "The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses
are likely. Drink plenty of fluids. Stay in an air-conditioned room. Stay out of the sun. And check up on relatives and neighbors."
Williams said the temperature on July Fourth reached 128 which, when officially registered, will be a record, beating the
city's highest recorded temperature of 125 two years ago.
Heat wave tips
• Drink lots of fluids. If you are exercising in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses (16 to 32
ounces) of cool fluids every hour. But pass on the alcohol and sugary refreshments. • You lose important salt and
minerals during heavy sweating, which should be restored. Sports beverages can replace your salt and minerals. •
Opt for lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting attire. Protect yourself from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses
and a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going out. • Limit outdoor activity to the morning and evening
hours. Stay in an air-conditioned place if possible. • Certain people are at high risk during heat waves, such children
up to 4 years of age and adults 65 or older. Children should not be left in cars unattended.
Source: CDC
The problem for much of the West isn't just the heat -- it's the humidity as well.
"We observed a 1 percent relative humidity last week, which is ridiculously dry," said Brian Fuis, a spokesman for the
Las Vegas weather service. "It's true. It is dry heat, but it's hot nonetheless."
Hot, dry conditions meant trouble for firefighters. Four firefighters battling a wildfire near Santa Barbara, California, had to be treated for heat exhaustion Thursday, The Associated Press reported.
"It's a matter of too much work and too much heat," Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Eli Iskow told the AP.
Many areas -- such as Clark County, Nevada -- which includes Las Vegas -- opened cooling shelters.
In Phoenix, Arizona, hydration centers have been opened, and firefighters and police are carrying drinking water to distribute
to the homeless, Mayor Phil Gordon said.
Forecasts suggest the 100-plus temperature readings will reach all the way up to Billings, Montana, on Friday.
"Once it gets that high -- 105, 107, 109 -- it just feels hot," Rick Overton, a copywriter for the digital marketing firm
in Boise, Idaho, told the AP, saying he and his colleagues went river tubing to beat the heat Thursday.
In Orofino, Idaho, a boy approximately 15 months old was discovered dead Wednesday night after being locked in a car amid
stifling heat, police said.
Meanwhile in Texas, heavy rain Friday left much of the eastern half of the state under flood warnings.
The National Weather Service warned people to avoid driving through drenched roads.
"Most flood deaths occur in automobiles. Do not drive through flooded areas," the weather service said. "Two feet of rushing
water can carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickups." E-mail to a friend
July 3, 2007 - 11:23PM
A family in Palm City tries to survive a storm, after their house was hit three times by
lightning. Rodney Rosado's home was struck by lightning Monday night. Many say lightning never strikes twice in the same spot,
but in this case that is not true. By dousing flames, Rosado saved his home and five acre ranch from any further damage. His
animals were also spooked by the lightning that was probably attracted to a metal weather vane. The lightning strike traveled
into a meter box, killing power to the house, and frying some valuable electronics and gadgets inside. Electricians worked
on restoring power and checked to make sure everything was working properly. Meantime, the family has learned the hard way
just how dangerous lightning can be. Firefighters responded to at least five other fires caused by lightning strikes Monday
night in Martin County.
As Independence Day approaches, many are getting their hands on last minute fireworks. The Fourth of July
and New Years are the two biggest holidays to buy fireworks. Right now, local fireworks stores are having super sales. But
their number one priority is to let everyone know that it's better to be safe, than sorry. Firework sellers say this year's
sales are neck and neck with last year, despite the water restrictions.
July 4, 2007 - 7:08AM
Fourth on Flagler is the biggest Independence Day celebration in West Palm Beach. Starting
at noon, a large section of the downtown area along Flagler Drive will be closed to traffic. The closures include Flagler
Drive from Banyan Boulevard to Fern Street, plus parts of Clematis Street, Datura Street, and Evernia Street will also be
blocked. The festivities will began this afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
July 4, 2007 - 3:50PM
In Jupiter: Live music, kids' activities and more 4-10 p.m. in Abacoa Town Square. Fireworks
follow the night game at Roger Dean Stadium.
In Stuart: Flagler Park, under the Roosevelt Bridge, 4-9 p.m. Family
fun, food, Stuart Community Band concert at 7:30 p.m., fireworks at dusk. Free.
In Palm City: First Congregational
UCC Church, 560 S.W. 34th St., Palm City, 5:30 p.m., picnic. Free. (772) 283-4222.
In Jensen Beach: Independence Day
celebration for veterans. Live music by Glen. VFW Post No. 10066, Savannah Road, Jensen Beach, 2-6 p.m. (772) 334-9659.
In
Port St. Lucie: Parade at Midport Road and Lyngate Park, Port St. Lucie, 10 a.m. Starting at 9 a.m.: Family activities in
the park. Fireworks at dusk.
In Fort Pierce: "Stars over St. Lucie," Veteran's Memorial Park, 600 N. Indian River
Drive: 5-9:30 p.m. "The Original Family Stone" at 6:30 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m.
In Vero Beach: Riverside Park, just
over the Barber Bridge east, fireworks at dusk.
In Vero Beach: Fireworks after the Vero Beach Devil Rays game at Holman
Stadium. Free with game admission, $6.
In Sebastian: Parade begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at Riverview Park, on U.S.
1. Family festival (crafters, live music) all day. Fireworks at dusk.
In Sebastian: Ice cream and pie eating contests,
The Village Coffee & Ice Cream Shop, The Village Square, 925 Village Shops, 1000 block of U.S. 1. Ice cream eating contest
at 3 p.m.; pie eating contest at 4 p.m. $6 per contestant. Register: (772) 388-3528.
In Sebastian: Purple Heart Memorial
Dedication, Riverview Park Military Memorial, Riverview Park, 10 a.m. (772) 581-0228.
In Okeechobee: Okeechobee County
Agri-Civic Center, State Roads 710 and 70, fireworks at 9 p.m.
In Indiantown: Timer Powers Park, State Road 726, family
fun at 4 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m.
In West Palm Beach: Family fun, food, live entertainment, fireworks, rides. Sound
Advice Amphitheatre, South Florida Fairgrounds, 4 p.m
July 4, 2007 - 11:07PM
A holiday recreation turns deadly for a local family. A man was riding an ATV on 161st
Terrace in Loxahatchee. That’s when investigators say he lost control when he turned sharply. The man was thrown from
the ATV, and it landed on top of him. Family members ran to see what happened, and pulled the ATV off the man, but he was
unresponsive.
A convicted child killer could soon be released from prison. But not if the slain girl's
parents have any say. Angel Halstead was just four years old when she was murdered in 1979. Her neighbor, Brooks Bellay, 14-years-old
at the time was convicted of the crime and sentenced to life in prison. Bellay lured the girl from her front yard in Vero
Beach, and into the woods of what is now a nearby park, sexually assaulted, beat her, and left her for dead. A few days later,
he led police to her body.
According to the Department of Corrections, the supervised work release program is designed
to gradually bring the offender back into society. However, Angel's father says Bellay remains a threat. Bellay's parole hearing
is set for July 11th.
July 5, 2007 - 10:54PM
Employees of one local city no longer have to schedule an appointment with their doctor
and pay out of pocket. Port St. Lucie's Employee Health Care Clinic has only been open for three days, and already the medical
staff has seen dozens of patients. City workers can schedule an appointment during their work hours, without having to dip
into sick or personal time. Plus, the clinic is right behind the city's complex. The city opened this clinic to control expensive
healthcare costs for its 1,000 employees and expects to eventually save millions. The clinic is operated by a medical provider
called We Care, and is designed to help workers get fast treatment for common complaints. More complicated issues are referred
to a specialist. The clinic is only an option, and city employees can continue seeing their own doctors.
July 5, 2007 - 11:35PM
A vicious case of animal cruelty lands a small puppy in the hospital and its owner in jail.
Emergency dispatch workers in Pensacola took the call from a witness saying a puppy was being dragged alongside an SUV. The
puppy, a four month old Chihuahua named Bugsy, barely survived the ordeal. The witness followed the driver until he pulled
his SUV over. Veterinarians say Bugsy's condition is bad, but they won't euthanize him if someone comes forward to adopt him.
Police arrested a 51 year old man. He's charged with cruelty to animals and could face a year in jail.
For more information:
Escambia County Animal Shelter 200 West Fairfield Drive Pensacola, Florida 32501 Phone: 850-595-3075
July 6, 2007 - 8:08AM
Cops are investigating a deadly shooting at the "InTown Suites," in Riviera Beach. A 41-year-old
Palm Beach County man was found shot to death inside his car. Investigators say it happened shortly after 10:30 pm at the
hotel on Military Trail near 45th Street. Detectives believe the victim came to the hotel with his girlfriend, to drop off
some food for some friends.
After the victim's girlfriend, got out the car there was some type of confrontation, between
the victim and an unknown suspect or suspects. The victim was shot once. Detectives knocked on many doors last night to question
hotel guests. Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1(800) 458-TIPS.
July 6, 2007 - 8:10AM
The recent weather really points out how important it is to protect your home. In fact,
you have greater odds of sustaining damage to the electronics in your home during summer thunderstorms, than during a hurricane.
Any lightning strike within a two mile radius can find its way into your home via cable lines, phone lines, and your circuit
breaker. Experts say homeowner should make sure their surge protectors can handle up to 30,000 amps of a surge. A surge
protector for 45,000 amps of a surge can cost up to $150. Or an electrician can install a surge protection directly into your
circuit breaker for about $250 and up.
July 6, 2007 - 11:19AM
The 2006-2007 Water Shortage & The Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades System
Q&A
Q: Finally, it's started to rain, which should help the drought. So, why is water being released to the ocean?
Shouldn't we be saving every drop? A: We are storing as much rain from storm water runoff as possible, but there are limits.
Why? Because there is NOT a lot of surface water storage available in most coastal communities, particularly areas east of
I-95. That's why you may see water being discharged: to prevent rainfall-related flooding in some neighborhoods.
Flooding
can happen very quickly because most of South Florida is relatively flat, and in heavily developed areas, natural lands that
could absorb excess water are in short supply. Sudden, heavy rainfall also doesn't sit long enough on the soil to be well
absorbed. In addition, most storm water systems in older communities are not designed to handle more than a few inches of
rain without some flooding. Those neighborhoods, as well as larger city or county systems, all feed into our regional system.
So, even if it doesn’t look as if your neighborhood is in danger of flooding, many communities upstream or downstream
of your neighborhood may need to drain excess water into the regional system.
In short, we simply do not have enough
places to store all the rainfall we receive during the wet season, and there is no way to move water all the way back to Lake
Okeechobee. Without the storage capacity to capture additional rainfall, the SFWMD must make periodic discharges of water
to tide for flood protection. Without these discharges, streets and homes would be flooded.
As we head into the peak
of the rainy season, additional rainfall likely will trigger the need for additional flood protection discharges to tide.
Q: How can you still claim there’s a drought when my lawn is green and it’s raining every day? A:
Central and northern portions of the SFWMD remain critically dry, as wet season rains have been highly localized over much
of the southern third of the District. Over the past 30 days, for example, Lake Okeechobee, a primary backup water supply
to five million South Floridians during the dry season, received less than five inches of rain, while portions of Miami-Dade
and Broward counties received more than 12 inches over the same period. In Central Florida, this is still a drought.
Think
of a drought as a climatological phenomenon where not enough rain enters the system; a water shortage is a community’s
inability to deal with a drought. While the Lower East Coast appears to be transitioning out of an 18-month-long, dry weather
pattern, it certainly is still experiencing a water shortage.
Q: When will the District lift the restrictions? A:
It depends on rainfall, Lake Okeechobee, water levels in the regional system and a variety of other factors. Because this
water shortage is the most severe and widespread since the 1930s, weeks or even months of constant rainfall will be needed.
The District will continue to monitor conditions daily, and when they improve, the SFWMD Governing Board will make the decision
to modify restrictions.
The water shortage will end only when enough rainfall soaks into our underground supplies,
refills the Water Conservation Areas and raises the level of Lake Okeechobee. One indicator of adequate water supply is a
water elevation of 14 feet in Lake Okeechobee, and computer modeling currently suggests there is only a 10 percent chance
the lake level will climb to this elevation by the end of the current wet season.
Q: Why are lower Lake Okeechobee
levels a concern? A: It is a constant and delicate balance: water supply for people and the needs of the environment.
Low water levels do benefit the lake ecosystem; for example, submerged aquatic vegetation receives more sunlight and thus
tends to thrive, rejuvenating fish and wildlife habitats and improving the ecology of the lake.
Habitat recovery efforts
are underway to remove harmful muck layers from the exposed lakebed. However, water levels that are too low can be detrimental
and cause unwanted drying of critical areas.
Q: What will it take for Lake Okeechobee’s water levels to rise
again? The water level in Lake Okeechobee remains extremely low for this time of year, and it will take above average
rainfall – on and directly to the north of the lake – to replenish the lake to normal levels.
SFWMD meteorologists
anticipate that it may be more than a month before flows into Lake Okeechobee from the Kissimmee Watershed are reestablished.
No prediction can be made at this time as to precisely when the lake’s water levels will return to their normal elevations.
Q: What is the minimum water level Lake Okeechobee must reach before we can end water restrictions? A: That is
hard to tell. A variety of factors, not just the lake level, will be used to determine modifications to current water restrictions;
these include rainfall, groundwater levels, other surface water levels, soil moisture levels, salinity levels in coastal well
fields, etc.
Water levels in Lake Okeechobee are approximately four feet below their historic average for this time
of year. The levels will need to rise appreciably before any end to water restrictions can be declared, particularly within
the Lake Okeechobee Service Area, which relies almost exclusively on the lake as a primary water resource.
Q: Why
did you drain the lake last year? Isn’t this all your fault? A: The Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible
for managing water levels in the lake, relies on the best, most current information available to guide water management decisions;
this includes long term weather predictions from the National Weather Service and others.
Water discharges were made
from Lake Okeechobee during the summer of 2006, in anticipation of what was expected to be a very active hurricane season
and in accordance with a complex regulation schedule, which helps direct water management decisions at specific water elevations
and times of year. These resulted in a water level reduction of perhaps 1.5 feet over the course of several months.
The
Army Corps of Engineers made these decisions in light of concerns over the structural integrity of the Herbert Hoover Dike
and the serious flooding threat that high lake levels pose to communities around the lake. The same occurred prior to the
active hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005.
Should a storm of even moderate magnitude damage the dike when water stages
are high, communities like Clewiston, Pahokee and Belle Glade could experience catastrophic flooding. As a matter of public
safety, the lake cannot be managed at high elevations during the wet season, and even if no discharges had been made, we would
still be in a severe, long-term drought and subsequent water shortage.
Q: How are local water levels in the Lower
East Coast? A: Above normal rainfall in June has replenished water levels along the Lower East Coast. In residential areas,
canals are full; local stormwater ponds are full; and groundwater levels have rebounded significantly. Water Conservation
Areas 1, 2, and 3 are all above their floor elevations and have been recovering steadily since the start of the wet season.
Central and northern portions of the SFWMD, however, remain critically dry, as wet season rains have been highly localized
over much of the southern third of the District. More than seven million people rely on an interconnected water management
system, and negative impacts to one geographic area can adversely affect the entire system.
Q: Why are water restrictions
in Martin and St. Lucie counties lower than they are in Palm Beach and Broward Counties? A: Geologically, the Martin and
St. Lucie County Service Area is different; residents here rely on different sources of water. These counties also house fewer
residents. Thus, the stresses on local resources are different, and in extreme weather events, such as heavy rains or droughts,
the resources here will respond differently relative to other areas of the District. All told, the SFWMD is comprised of five
geologically unique service areas.
Q: What about other areas of the District: Orlando/Kissimmee and Southwest Florida?
A: Phase II and III water restrictions are already in place in the Northern Indian Prairie Basin and Lake Istokpoga, located
just north of Lake Okeechobee.
Southwest Florida draws its water from ground and surface water sources that are not
connected to Lake Okeechobee. But because these levels are low, Phase II Restrictions are in effect in Southwest Florida.
These are stricter than the region's current year-round restrictions.
Although dry from recent low rainfall, the Kissimmee
Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee River and Orlando areas are currently not under mandatory water restrictions, as surface water and
groundwater levels there have remained just above their water shortage triggers.
However, as the dry season progresses,
the District will continue to monitor water levels, and if appropriate, may issue warnings or restrictions should conditions
indicate water resource problems in these areas. Voluntary water conservation efforts are encouraged across the South Florida
Water Management District year-round.
Q: Are there any other long-range plans to address water supply? A: Yes.
The District is proactively working with local communities to develop and fund alternative water supply sources. South Florida
residents now number more than seven million -- placing a huge demand on the region's water resources. Despite excellent freshwater
sources, South Florida's water supply is not unlimited, especially given limited storage. Alternative water supply projects
such as reverse osmosis, aquifer storage and recovery, and reclaimed water use, help create new sources to meet our long-term
needs and water conservation stretches our existing supply. Communities large and small are encouraged to explore alternative
water supplies and to apply for funding assistance. More information is available at www.sfwmd.gov.
The District,
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local governments and others are also implementing the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan (CERP). This is a monumental plan with 68 project components to build and manage a more efficient system that can capture
and store water that is now lost to sea. The project will help to restore the Everglades and replenish water supplies for
the environment and economy. The District has already jump-started eight CERP projects under its Acceler8 Everglades restoration
initiative, including three key storage reservoirs. For more information, visit www. evergladesnow.org.
Q: My water
doesn't come from a utility. It's pumped from my local lake, canal, or my private well. Do I need to follow restrictions?
A: In most cases, no matter where your water comes from, water restrictions apply to you. This is because surface and
groundwater are interconnected. Water in lakes and canals helps to protect private and public wells from saltwater intrusion,
and helps store rainfall to recharge groundwater resources including small wells and large aquifers.
100-percent reclaimed
water, or water reclaimed from water sewage treatment plants, is one of very few uses NOT restricted. Reclaimed water is water
that at one time would have been flushed away. It is heavily treated, not meant for drinking (non-potable), and used almost
exclusively for irrigation. It is often transferred through special purple pipes.
Groundwater sources (wells) in the
city of Okeechobee and a small portion of Okeechobee County within the Lake Okeechobee Service Area (communities around Lake
Okeechobee) also are not restricted, because these inland wells are not threatened by saltwater intrusion, but voluntary adherence
to the restrictions is encouraged.
Q: What is saltwater intrusion and why should I care about it? A: Saltwater
intrusion is a natural process that occurs in virtually all coastal areas, and involves the encroachment of saltwater from
the sea flowing inland, into freshwater aquifers. Coastal wells are the most vulnerable to contamination by saltwater. When
too much invades wells or aquifers, they may become unusable!
In South Florida, we rely on our aquifers for a substantial
portion of our regional water supply, and the salt and other substances carried by seawater are a huge detriment. The SFWMD
resists saltwater intrusion by maintaining prescribed levels of freshwater in the system and by making appropriate freshwater
discharges via our canal system.
Thus, by helping to keep more water in the system, this year's water use restrictions
actually help reduce the detrimental impacts of saltwater intrusion on our water supply resources. Area residents should also
be concerned about saltwater intrusion because it could eventually hit them in their pocketbooks. When utilities must pay
for necessary upgrades and facilities to treat saltwater before it is deemed safe to drink, they must pass those costs to
consumers.
July 5, 2007 - 10:50AM
You are what you eat or, at least, that's how the saying goes. Which is why you may be
picky about where and what you eat. The News 12 I-Team pulls out the forks and knives to cut through the numbers and break
down some of the area's Dirtiest Dining. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspects each local
restaurant at least once every six months.
We picked out four restaurants in Palm Beach County with the highest numbers
of critical violations over the last two months. We checked up to see who's cleaning their plate and who's not. State Inspectors
found 21 critical violations including food stored at the wrong temperature, employees touching food with bare hands, and
live roaches.
Inspectors issued a warning. We asked India Garden manager about the roaches? India Garden Manager Preetam
Khokkah told us they've hired an exterminator and that's why there were still dead roaches on the floor during our visit.
He said, "Twice a week they are coming, they gave us a notice, they can shut the door you know we have to work on that, two
times a week they are coming.” But we also saw a live creepy crawler right near the condiment bar. The manager admits
the fridge thermometer wasn't working properly, but assures us, it is now. India Garden Manager Preetam Khokkah says, “It
was 43 to be honest with you.” He says they got the thermometer fixed.
We also asked about the employees and
Khokkah told us, “now they start wearing gloves, when they work quick, they don't... but now, under my supervision,
they have to do that.” The India Garden's been in business the manager says with happy customers for 17 years. The manager
told us, “It's taken care of, we have good customer service, so far, no complaints, everything is okay.”
Next
Stop is Mr. Chen's Hunan Palace on Linton Boulevard in Delray Beach. This restaurant had 23 critical violations including
a cooking ladle in dirty water, bare hands touching the drinking ice, and live flies in the Kitchen. Inspectors issued a warning.
The man in charge wouldn't talk with us on camera, but did show us how they've fixed the back screen door to make sure insects
wouldn't fly into the restaurant anymore. During the state inspection, the inspector also ordered the restaurant to immediately
stop selling some chicken because a plastic covering had melted onto the meat.
At the Picanha Brazil on State Road
7 west of Boca Raton. The state inspectors found 25 violations including cutting boards covered in grease or soil, employees
eating in food preparation areas, and live flies in the kitchen. Inspectors issued a warning. The manager here refused to
talk with us on camera, wouldn't show us inside and told our crews we would pay the consequences for doing a story on their
restaurant. The manager would only respond to the bug issue by saying people open the door flies come in.
At the Pineapple
Grille on Palm Trail in Delray Beach had 30 critical violations including employees touching food with bare hands, food stored
at the wrong temperature, and live flies in the dining room. But state inspectors did not issue this restaurant a warning.
The manager says that's because they were already in the clean-up process. Pineapple Grille Manager Paul Singh says, “you
can see the bathrooms, it was way dirty before.” The new management says when they first bought the restaurant in February,
the place was a mess. But since the inspector came in early May, they've cleaned up their act and their restaurant. The
manager wasn't afraid to show us around. Pineapple Grille Manager Paul Singh says, “so we fix everything, everything,
you see, I just showed you behind the bar, it's just an example”
In our Dirty Dining report next Thursday, we'll
show you which restaurants the state actually had to shut down to get rid of insects and rodents.
To find the inspection
record for a specific restaurant in your area go to just www.myfloridalicense.com then click on "search for food and lodging
inspections"
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