Harold Dwayne "Doc" Weaver Dies At 80

Harold Dwayne "Doc" Weaver, 80, of Clewiston, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Doc was born on March 13, 1946, in Clewiston, Florida, and has spent his entire life here. He worked as an electrician for many years and, along with his wife, was a local business owner. He was in the National Guard as a young man, an auxiliary deputy for the Hendry County Sheriff's Office, and a volunteer fireman for the Clewiston Fire Department. He was also a member of the Clewiston Elks Lodge and the Lyons Club. He was an avid fisherman. A true horseman, he shared a special bond with his faithful horse, "Smutt," and treasured every moment they spent together.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Judy, and his three daughters, Cindy Clemons (Wayne), Karen Robinson, and Tracy Nesbitt. He has six grandchildren Megan Robinson, Justin Robinson (Amber), Daniel Clemons (Shawn), Matthew Clemons (Allie), Caitlin Troutman (Matthew) and Ryan Nesbitt (Taylor), seven great grandchildren Madison & Ashton Nodal, Aubrey J'Lyne Billie, Byrson and Greyson Clemons, Gentry and Hallie Troutman and one great great grandchild Oakley Mae Sheen.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Helen Weaver (Granny); father, Dilburn Weaver (Granddaddy); sister, Flora Mae Bash; brothers, Sam, Tim, and Butch; and a grandson, Michael Caleb McGee.

A Celebration of Life will be at a later date.

Know Your Candidate (Part 2) - Hendry County Judge

Antoinette Peck, on her page on the Hendry County Elections office says, "I began my career as a judicial law clerk and Assistant Public Defender, where I gained extensive courtroom experience early on. I later built my own successful law practice, striving to meet the needs of the community in Hendry County, representing clients in complex family law matters, including divorce, custody, support, adoption, and dependency cases, as well as land use and business disputes. As a mediator and arbitrator, I have also helped families and businesses resolve disputes efficiently and with dignity outside of the courtroom when possible.

"I am a past president of the Hendry-Glades Bar Association and have been actively involved with the Caloosa Humane Society, including serving on its executive committee of the Board of Directors and as pro bono legal counsel. I was the race director for the Caloosa Humane Society Swamp Stomp 5K for three years, doubling the number of race participants under my leadership. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the LaBelle Chamber of Commerce and the Caloosa Riders."

She personally gave $25,200 to her campaign. $3,525 came from donations outside Hendry County. She has a law office in downtown Fort Myers.

Sources:

Hendry County Elections (All Candidates): https://hendryelections.gov/running_for_office/candidate_bio_and_financial_reports.php

Fundraising Website: https://votetonipeck.com/

Know Your Candidates Part 1 - Hendry County Judge

Robert Ostrov, on his page on the Hendry County Elections office says, "Prior to being appointed by Governor DeSantis as County Judge, I served as Hendry County's General Magistrate for the prior six years, where I handled family law cases. My judicial experience also includes having served as a Hearing Officer for the 20th Judicial Circuit, an Administrative Law Judge, and an arbitrator for both the American Arbitration Association and FINRA."

From his fundraising website he says: "Judge Ostrov was vetted and selected by the Judicial Nominating Commission and chosen by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as Hendry County Judge. Judge Ostrov resides in LaBelle, Florida." 

From a news announcement of his appointment to Judge on April 24, 2025 by Governor Ron DeSantis, "Robert Ostrov, of Wellington, to serve as Judge on the Hendry County Court.

"Ostrov has served as a General Magistrate for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit since 2018 and has been the Managing Partner of the Law Offices of Robert L. Ostrov since 2007. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and his juris doctor from Fordham University. Ostrov fills the judicial vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Darrell Hill."

The Palm Beach County property records show a Robert L. Ostrov and Kathleen S. Ostrov own a homesteaded property in Wellington, Fl. at 13501 Chelmsford St.

Hendry Elections says so far he has $71,300 collected for his campaign, most all ($50,000) from a loan from himself to the campaign, and the balance mainly from out of the county donors.

A search of websites indicate some 2016 issues surrounding a race for Palm Beach Judge, and alleged structured settlement companies he may have been associated with but not mentioned in his biographies.

Sources:

Palm Beach County Property: https://pbcpao.gov/Property/Details?parcelId=73414409010070050

News Articles: https://structuredsettlements.blog/category/robert-ostrov/

Fundraising Website: https://www.keepjudgeostrov.com/

News Article: https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2025/governor-ron-desantis-makes-one-judicial-appointment-0

Hendry County Elections (All Canidates): https://hendryelections.gov/running_for_office/candidate_bio_and_financial_reports.php

Hendry County Sheriff Arrests - Drugs, Probation Violations, DUI

ARREST BLOTTER

06/29/2026 – 07/05/2026

Felony/DUI Arrest

Rodrigo Garnica Trejo, 24, LaBelle was arrested on June 29, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff S. Farraj on charges of Battery and Possession of Controlled Substance without Prescription

Lorenzo Atonio Andrade, 53, Lake Worth, was arrested on June 29, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff J. Crawford on charges of Felony Probation Violation

Johnkevius Rivers, 19, Clewiston was arrested on June 30, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff R. Gosa on charges of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell or Deliver, Carrying a Concealed Firearm, Possession of Firearm during the Commission of a Felony and Resisting Officer without Violence

Marcos Rene Argudon Cruz, 40, Lehigh Acres was arrested on June 30, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff F. Mazzella on charges of Driving While License Suspended – Habitual Offender and Attached Tag not Assigned

Miguel Angel Colon, 63, Clewiston was arrested on June 30, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff R. Angelo on charges of Felony Battery

Ronald Sheridan Berry, 45, Clewiston was arrested on June 30, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff R. Gosa on charges of Felony Probation Violation

Sheniya Iasia Ray, 29, LaBelle was arrested on July 1, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff A. Bell on charges of Battery on LEO, Tampering With or Attempted Destruction of Evidence, Trespass and Resist Officer with Violence

Benjamin Jay Carpenter, 38, Clewiston was arrested on July 1, 2026, Deputy Sheriff D. Givans on charges of Felony Probation Violation

Lucas Ray Humphries, 43, LaBelle was arrested on July 1, 2026, by Sgt. J. Olvera on charges of Battery by Strangulation

Amanda Leigh Razo, 45, Naples was arrested on July 2, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff D. Givans on 4 Outstanding Warrants for – 2 counts of Possession of Controlled Substance without Prescription, Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Cocaine

Mark Wayne Richards, 32, Clewiston was arrested on July 2, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff D. Givans on 2 counts of Felony Probation Violation

Jeannie Marie Jones, 45, N. Ft. Myers, was arrested on July 2, 2026, by K9 Deputy M. Elsaid for Possession of Methamphetamine

Alex Lamarkus Nard, 31, Pahokee was arrested on July 2, 2026, by K9 Deputy L. Rodriguez on charges of Possession of Marijuana under 20 grams and Driving While License Suspended – Habitual Offender

Miguel Michael Vigoa Sanchez, 35, Clewiston was arrested on July 2, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff J. Conley on charges of Felony Failure to Appear

Robert Hernandez, 33, Cape Coral was arrested on July 3, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff P. Overbee on charges of DUI

Takoda Lee Howard, 19, Clewiston was arrested on July 3, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff A. Gojon for 2 counts of Possession of Controlled Substance without Prescription and Possession of Marijuana

Yoandry Primelle Primelle-Rivas, 41, Clewiston was arrested on July 3, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff D. Blanco on charges of Aggravated Battery by Person Detained in Correctional Facility

Adam Fernandez, 29, Clewiston was arrested on July 4, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff R. Road on counts of Felony Violation of Probation

Jer’Zavian Deont’e DeMarui Pope, 20, Clewiston was arrested on July 4, 2026, by Deputy Sheriff R. Gosa on charges of Possession with Intent to Sell/Manufacture or Deliver Controlled Substance and Use of Display, etc. of Weapon During a Felony

A Lodge Called Folkestone by Bob Kranich

A Lodge Called Folkestone

The Dream, The Challenge, The People
by Bob Kranich

(Excerpt 25)

“The Lodge Called Folkestone”. You may wonder why the first half of the book is about my many adventures throughout the USA. Well, this first part explains just why my interests changed from hot rodding cars to backpacking. How the idea of a lodge came about, and just how the lodge came to be in North Carolina and next to the Smoky Mountain National Park, Deep Campground to be exact.

Following are our experiences and adventures over the next five months, in some sort of order as they happened.

“Nice to meet you sir. My name is Bob Kranich. I am staying the next four months on East Deep Creek Circle, trying to learn about the Smokies. I have a request of you, if you own the land that is a field on Lackey Hill on east Deep Creek?”

“Yep, I do. That must be at the old Taylor house you are living in. Her nephew owns it now. What do you need?”

“Well, sir, that’s correct, the old Taylor house. I want to plant a small garden, and I need some land.”

“Tell you what, Bob. Go up there and stake you out a small plot, and what we’ll do is let you sharecrop it. At the end of the season, whatever you sell off of it, I get half.”

“Johnnie, that is interesting, I didn’t think of that.”

“Yep, a man has to think of making some money on everything he does. Well, what about it?”

“Yes sir. Thank you, Mr. Shuler.”

“Just call me Johnnie.”

To tell the end of this story, I planted corn, green beans, squash, and sweet potatoes up there. It was a lot of hard work. The corn didn’t do very well, but the beans and squash did amazing, and the sweet potatoes were ok. We used some of the vegetables for our eating, and I sold the rest of it to the A & P and the IGA. I made a grand total of $79. That meant I gave Johnnie Shuler $39.50. That was my grand adventure into sharecropping.
One day, I went around the back of Doc Gibby’s. He had what appeared to be a logging saw attached to a board, and he was filing the teeth.

“Hi Doc, what are you doing?”

“I’m filin’ this here logging saw. Got to keep the teeth sharp. You know, it’s a dull one that'll hurt a fella.”

“It sure is a big saw, Doc.”

“Yes boys, I cut a heap of logs out of the woods on our farms.”

“Those were the two farms you told me about earlier, Doc?”

“Yep, we decided to quit farming and buy this here little house on Deep Creek. But I still keep this here saw sharp. A body never knows when they will need one.”

We hadn’t seen Granny Gibby come out, and she added, “You’uns talking about our two farms, we were chased off of? As far as we know they could come right through, right here, any day, any time, with another big highway and chase us off again!”

Doc added, “That’s right, any day, any time!”

Then Doc said, “I’ve been thinking that I would go trout fishing up Cherokee way tomorrow. I need to take Bob here, and Irene, and teach them how to fly fish, and catch a mess of trout. Bob, if you and Irene want to go fishing, it will be real early in the morning. They will stock the river tonight, and we need to be up there early tomorrow.”

“What time, Doc?”

“We should leave here about five sharp tomorrow morning. We want to be there when they begin hitting, and beat the tourist fishermen.”

The next morning it was rough getting up at four, so we could leave at five. But Doc was ready, knocking at our door at five sharp. We drove up to Cherokee, and he directed us to a small creek that ran into the Oconaluftee River. In fact, the Oconaluftee runs right through Cherokee. Doc was right, the fish were biting. Since we only had one fly rod, Irene fished, and I took the photos. We got our limit that morning.

For my next adventure, it was mid-summer. One day I was visiting the small country store just before you go into the Deep Creek National Park Campground. The store was run by the Jenkins’ family, and Harold Jenkins had been the county sheriff at times. Mrs. Jenkins knew that I was staying on Deep Creek because I had been in there before. She asked me, “Mr. Kranich, Harold is looking for someone to help him and our son Johnnie to make hay. Would you be interested? It will pay five dollars an hour.”

“Yes ma’am’. What should I do?”

“Well, Mr. Kranich, be over at Johnnie’s house at seven tomorrow morning. It’s the house down here on the right before you get to the Camp Living Water. It’s right there on the hill. Johnnie will drive you over in the hay truck. Dress for warm weather. It’s hard work.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Jenkins. I’ll be there.”

I went over to Johnnie's house and introduced myself. Johnnie was an average height guy with lots of muscle from farm work. He was a very fine fellow. We drove downtown, and picked up another guy, and the three of us rode through Cherokee and up into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just a little ways up and around a big turn was a great field. All the hay was cut and was dry. It seems that Harold had a contract with the National Park to keep the fields cut and neat. This way, the farm museum just a ways up ahead would look nice.

Mrs. Jenkins wasn’t joking when she said that the work was hard! I sure earned my money that day. Johnnie drove the tractor and hay bailer. The other fellow drove the hay truck which had a loader hooked to the side of the truck. He would follow Johnnie’s trail of finished hay bales, and the loader would grab the bales. I would hear it coming up, click...clack, clack, clack. The bale would fall into the truck, and I had to stack those heavy bales neatly. When I went home that evening I was beat!

From the Author:

This is a new book. It is about the Lodge I built in the Smoky Mountains, near Bryson City, and Deep Creek campground, North Carolina. Having been from Florida, I know that a lot of Floridians love to visit the Smoky Mountains National Park. Therefore hopefully you will enjoy my story of the building of “A Lodge Called Folkestone”.