LABELLE, FL. -- Two pickup trucks crashed at the corner of SR80 and Birchwood Parkway this afternoon.
The FHP is investigating.
Photo credit: Mary Tyner
From LaBelle, Florida for Hendry and Glades County and the Lake Okeechobee region. Don Browne, editor.
The FHP is investigating.
Photo credit: Mary Tyner
CLEWISTON, FL. -- At 6:46 am Wednesday, A Pickup truck / sedan crash on 4/17/24, on County Road 833, Hendry County. Sedan driver was pronounced deceased on scene. The crash remains under investigation.
From the FHP report:
Vehicle 1 (sedan) driven by male, 39 from Clewiston was traveling north on Country Road 833 (Sam Jones Trail), north of Country Road 846.
Vehicle 2 driven by female, 36 from Sebring was traveling south on Country Road 833 (Sam Jones Trail), north of Country Road 846.
Vehicle 1 entered the southbound lane of travel / path of Vehicle 2. The driver of Vehicle 2 veered right in an attempt to avoid.
The front of Vehicle 2 collided with the right side of Vehicle 1.
Driver 1 was pronounced deceased on scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
LABELLE, FL. -- Hendry county's State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) provides funding yearly for owner occupied housing rehabilitation, and seeks licensed building contractors to remodel up to a dozen homes this year.
The maximum amount available for remodeling each home to building code standards is $50,000.
Rehabilitation may include electrical, structural, doors, windows, etc. to alleviate code violations, health and safety issues, and any disability access issues in the home.
Qualified contractors will bid for each home remodel. Bids will be reviewed and recommendations made based on the lowest responsible bid. The construction period is from 60 to 120 days.
To obtain more information about getting on the contractor list, contact Regina Singer at the Hendry County Housing Office at 133 N. Bridge St. (United Way Building) in LaBelle. or for any questions the Director is at 863-675-5297.
(File Photo by Don Browne)
PORT LABELLE, FL. -- Derek Evan Weber was arrested Sunday after driving an SUV through a Lee County Deputy's garage door in a Port LaBelle neighborhood on Springview Circle in Hendry county. Weber lived across the street from the victim's home.
An incident took place Saturday breaking patrol car windows and damaging the home owner's vehicle. The video above was possible after law enforcement secretly installed security cameras Saturday after the first incident in order to catch any illegal acts that might occur at the home, which then took place Sunday when the vehicle crashed through the garage door..
Among many felony charges, he was arrested for firing a 9mm handgun in a residential area and into the home during the incident.
Felony Charges filed against Weber today are:
Premeditated murderVideo: Courtesy Facebook and Lee County Sheriff's Office (the broadcast was cut off abruptly before the end from the Sheriff's office)
He faces charges of firing a weapon from a vehicle under Florida Statute 790.15.
His last known address is shown as 12047 Hawthorne Lake Dr. Fort Myers, Fl. 33913.
UPDATE: Mota was released on $15,000 bail Sunday.
Photo: Hendry Sheriff's Office
PORT LABELLE, FL -- This morning before noon several loud gunshots rang out on Springview Crcle in Port LaBells reportedly by someone possibly connected to a home across the street from a Lee County Deputy.
A news conference was scheduled by the Lee County and Hendry County Sheriff Monday morning.
Neighbors say they have noticed some mental health issues, and suspect he may be suffering from PTSD. Saturday, windows were broken and tires slashed in a 2023 Lee County Sheriff patrol car parked at the home on Springview Circle and two family car's tires slashed, but no action was taken by law enforcement at the time because of lack of a witness.
Weber was interviewed on Saturday but declined fingerprinting and DNA swabs. Weber claimed he was walking from 7 to 8 am and didn't see that tire were damaged at his neighbor's house.
Law enforcement installed security cameras and were able to get video of the Sunday crash into the garage.
UPDATE: Spent firearm casing indicate Weber fired 8 times, and the victim Deputy fired 7 times. In an interview Weber indicated confusion as he said a while tattooed male shot at him. But, when asked if that's who shot at him said no, and refused to answer more questions. Other neighbors interviewed said they had previously noticed confusion in his speech.
The deputy's home is showing garage door damage and Sunday afternoon at 7 p.m., men were trying to board up the garage, while Lee county law enforcement and Hendry county law enforcement were still on the scene while police tape surrounded the home and blocked the street.
UPDATE: The victim's garage has been boarded up with help from friends and co-workers. The builder of the home has volunteered to install new doors without charge.UPDATE: Derek Evan Weber, 32 of 4553 Springview Cir., LaBelle has been arrested and booked into Hendry County Jail today. He is the apparent suspect of damaging the home of a Lee county deputy, and a shooting incident on Springview Circle involving a Lee county deputy living across the street from his home.
Weber was captured on video Sunday driving an SUV through his neighbor’s garage door. He also started shooting as he was backing out of the driveway, about 10 rounds with a 9mm handgun, allegedly at the victim.
Weber's name has been removed from public records such as Hendry county property appraiser's ownership records and his home blurred on Google maps. Usually, this is a request by those employed past or present in law enforcement, firemen, EMS personnel, judges, investigative personnel, or other categories such as victims of major crimes. It is not known at this time why Weber's name has been redacted.
Weber's home was recently put up for sale at $279,900 and a sale is pending. He lived there for two years. Records indicate it was built in 2006 and was bought two years ago for $300,000. Editor's Opinion: Weber may be in financial distress as he signed a $3000,000 VA no down payment loan two years ago, and presumably the lender is welling to accept less than the full balance to avoid foreclosing on the home.
Weber's dogs have been placed with LaBelle Animal Control.
Photo by Don Browne: Crime scene Sunday evening
PORT LABELLE, FL -- Hendry county deputies responded Sunday morning to reports of gunshots on Springview Circle in the Hendry county community of Laurel Oaks. The very loud sounds appeared to be from a shotgun one observer noted.
Information is sparse at this time, although it has been reported there is no danger to residents of the area and a suspect is in custody.
The Laurel Oak Property Owners Association voted in February to add a deed restriction of no firearm discharge anywhere in the community, although state law already prohibits that in residential communities.
MOORE HAVEN, FL. --Glades county voted on a no trucks allowed ordinance for various streets in Glades County at a meeting this morning. It appears this notice of meeting did not go out to media ahead of time for the public to get the notice. (While the law allows public meetings to be publicized in this case on the county website, we normally receive a courtesy notice at least a day ahead of each meeting.)
Glades County Board of County Commissioner’s meeting is every 2nd Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. and every 4th Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled for today, April 9, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. (Editor's comment: We received the notice by email at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday April 9. I am guessing this might be a controversial set of ordinances.)5. An Ordinance creating a new Section to Chapter 78 – Traffic and Motor Vehicles, authorizing the immediate establishment of a “NO TRUCKS ALLOWED ZONE” on Loblolly Bay Road in Muse, which runs from its intersect with Kirby Thompson Road to its intersect with Summerall Road.
6. An Ordinance creating a new Section to Chapter 78 – Traffic and Motor Vehicles, authorizing the immediate establishment of a “NO TRUCKS ALLOWED ZONE” on Everett Street in Muse, which runs from its intersect with Mitchel Avenue to its intersect with Crescent Avenue.
7. An Ordinance creating a new Section to Chapter 78 – Traffic and Motor Vehicles, authorizing the immediate establishment of a “NO TRUCKS ALLOWED ZONE” on Mitchel Avenue in Muse, which runs from its intersect with Wren Street to its intersect with Everett Street.
8. An Ordinance creating a new Section to Chapter 78 – Traffic and Motor Vehicles, authorizing the immediate establishment of a “NO TRUCKS ALLOWED ZONE” on Wren Street in Muse, which runs from its intersect with Fernwood Lane to its intersect with Mitchel Avenue.
9. An ordinance creating a new Section to Chapter 78 – Traffic and Motor Vehicles, authorizing the immediate establishment of a “NO TRUCKS ALLOWED ZONE” on C.R. 731 in Muse, from its intersect with C.R. 74 to its intersect with Walter Greer Road.
10. An ordinance creating a new Section to Chapter 78 – Traffic and Motor Vehicles, authorizing the immediate establishment of a “NO TRUCKS ALLOWED ZONE” on Pollywog Crossover Road in Muse, from its intersect with Fire Tower Road to its intersect with Walter Greer Road.
LABELLE, FL. -- A recent purchase from the LaBelle, Fl. Walmart store brough an unexpected surprise this week.
We bought a name brand product off the shelf at the local Walmart store west of LaBelle, a pair of Dr. Scholl's "Prevent Pain" shoe inserts expecting nothing out of the ordinary for a well known brand.
But, upon opening the package discovered what seemed to be a really shoddy product coming apart at it's glued seams.
Upon a closer examination of the package the inserts came in, found printed "instructions" for the product on the box and upon reading them were totally surprised to see a sentence that made no sense at all, and was clearly an obvious mistake by whom ever manufactured the packaging for this well-known product brand.
It reads, "If the insole doesn't fit without"
Photographs were sent and a phone call was made Dr. Scholl's main offices to inquire about counterfeit products and we were told only that Walmart is an authorized seller of their products but they would send our information to someone to check out.
Our conclusion: Either Dr. Scholls is manufacturing and selling defective products and packaging, or Walmart is selling a counterfeit product at it's store, cheating it's customers.
Photos by Don Browne - defective shoe insert and mistakes on printed packaging
Wayne LaViere Wilkins, age 74 of LaBelle, Florida passed away at Hope Healthcare Services in Lehigh Acres, Florida on April 1, 2024, after a courageous battle.
Wayne was born in Miami, Florida on November 14, 1949, to the late Mansol and Delores Moore Wilkins, he married Juile Craichy on July 17, 1995, in the LaBelle Assembly of God Church.She skipped out on bail of $50,000 for each of three Manslaughter counts and $20,000 for each of three Vehicular Homicide count on a pre-trial release bond.
Around The Clock Bail Bonds of Fort Myers received a March 19 notification from the court of the Bond Forfeiture since they couldn't produce her for the court appearance.
Originally arrested in March, 2021, she was released in June, 2021. She was recharged March 27, 2024 for failure to appear in court.
Her last known address was Brynwood Lane, in Fort Myers.
For a period of time, her case details were removed from online court records and her photo removed from the Hendry Sheriff's jail and arrest record, while law enforcement was searching for her armed with a fugitive arrest warrant.
In a January 20, 2021 crash, Lang was driving her 2011 BMW east on State Road 80, in the vicinity of Hendry County Road 78A, in excess of 100 mph.
Agness Creola King Tanner age 80 of Felda, Florida passed away at Clewiston Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with her family at her side on March 28, 2024.
Creola was born on December 9, 1943, in Immokalee, Florida to the late Joseph Sherwood and Agness Thelma Williams King. Creola married Trammel Eugene Tanner, he preceded Creola in death on September 17, 2022. Creola worked for many years as a Paraprofessional for the Collier County School Board. Creola was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister who will be dearly missed by her entire family and all of her friends.
Creola leaves fond memories with her son; Bruce Tanner and his wife Mona of LaBelle, Florida, five loving grandchildren, six adorable great-grandchildren, one brother; Michael King, two sisters; Estelle White of Felda, Florida and Judy King along with all of her church friends and family friends. Creola was also preceded in death by her daughter, Tammela Jean "Tammy" Tanner Ayala.
Creola’s life will be celebrated on April 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Fort Denaud Cemetery with Mr. Matt Howard officiating, visitation will be thirty minutes before the celebration of life also at the Fort Denaud Cemetery. There will be a celebration of Creola's life held later at her church - Felda Baptist Church. Creola will be laid to rest next to her loving husband Trammel in Fort Denaud Cemetery.
Celebration arrangements are being held by Akin-Davis Funeral Home – LaBelle.