Wildlife Habitat Program Offers Assistance

Financial And Technical Assistance For Restoration Of Wildlife Habitats

LABELLE, FL. (Nov. 9, 2005) -- State Conservationist Niles Glasgow with
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service announces December 15 as the
cutoff date for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. WHIP offers
financial and technical assistance to install structural and management
practices on eligible non-federal lands to address restoration of declining
habitats of South Florida. Conservation treatment activities approved
under WHIP are carried out in accordance to a conservation plan that is
developed with the landowner or manager.

Priorities for WHIP include habitat restoration on declining habitats of
South Florida: South Florida Rockland (Pine Rockland/Everglades
Flatwoods and Tropical Hardwood Hammock), Scrubby Flatwoods, and Dry
Prairie. Final ranking will be based on the presence of declining habitats,
management for declining species (including bobwhite quail), and removal
of exotic, invasive species (including Old World climbing fern,
Brazilian pepper, Tropical soda apple, Melaleuca, Cogon Grass and Downy
rose myrtle).

Sign-up will occur in the following counties ONLY: Polk, Osceola,
Brevard, Highlands, Miami-Dade, Collier, Hendry, Martin, Broward,
Glades, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Indian River, Monroe, and Palm Beach.
Workshops will be held in LaBelle on December 7th at 6:30 pm; and
Kissimmee on December 8th at 6:30 pm to inform landowners of program
participation. For additional details on the WHIP program, specific
eligibility requirements to participate and further information on
scheduled workshops, contact the LaBelle Field Office, 1085 Pratt Blvd.,
phone 863-674-5700.

Pioneer Burglars Arrested

LABELLE, FL. (Nov. 8, 2005) -- When Oscar Villanueva returned to his home
at 2250 Panama Avenue in Pioneer Plantation on October 23rd. at
approximately
6:10 pm he discovered Matthew Gronberg age 21 hiding in a closet. Mr.
Villanueva called 911 to report the intruder. Hendry County Sheriff's
Office responded and placed Gronberg in custody. Sheriff Ronnie Lee
stated that as a result of the follow-up investigation, Bronberg also
confessed to a previous burgulary at 2250 Panama Avenue as well a
burgulary on October 20, 2005 at 2231 Panama that involved the theft of
musical instruments and firearms that were sold/traded for crack
cocaine. The investigation also revealed that Omer Rotelli age 21 was an
accomplice in the burgulary at 2231 Panama.

Gronberg was charged with
two counts of Burgulary of a Dwelling, one count of Burgulary of an
Occupied Dwelling, one count of Grand Theft of a Firearm and one count
of Dealing in Stolen Property. Rotelli was charged with Armed
Burglulary, Dealing Stolen Property and Grand Theft of Firearms. Both
men were booked into the Hendry County Jail.

Another Drug Youth Arrested

LABELLE, FL. (Nov. 6, 2005) -- Hendry County Sheriff's Office Investigators
have arrested James Pender age 19 for possession of marijuana. According to
Sheriff Ronnie Lee. Pender was arrested during the serving of a search
warrant by the Hendry
County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 506 Martin
Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in LaBelle. Pender was booked into the Hendry
County Jail.

Real Estate Sales Slow After Hurricane

LABELLE, FL. -- In the last three weeks of October, there were only 2 homes
sold the LaBelle area for an average price of $250,000. A home sold for
$90,000 on Robb Rd. and a $410,000 sale on West Cowboy Way in LaBelle.

Bush To Visit Pahokee and Belle Glade

PAHOKEE, FL. -- Governor Jeb Bush will visit schools in South Florida
impacted by Hurricane Wilma on Monday. The Governor will be joined by
school officials, educators and students. The visits will take place at:
8:35 a.m. at Gove Elementary School, 900 SE Avenue G, Belle Glade and at
9:35 a.m. at the Pahokee Elementary School, 560 E. Main PL., Pahokee.