Church Robber Nabbed In Clewiston

CLEWISTON, FLORIDA -- Sheriff Ronnie Lee reports that quick work by Sgt. Herman Blendsoe and Deputy Jesus Olvera resulted in sound equipment that had been stolen from the New Beginners Ministry Church at 1808 11th Terrace and Della Tobias in Harlem being recovered and returned to the Church. According to Sheriff Lee, witnesses were able to give Deputies information that was used in their investigation that led to the arrest of Jackie Johnson, age 49 of 928 Alabama Avenue, Clewiston, Florida.

Johnson broke into the Church and stole sound equipment and later sold it. When Johnson was arrested he was also found to be in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine as well a device used for smoking cocaine. Johnson was charged with Criminal Mischief for Damage to Property, Burglary of a Structure, Dealing in Stolen Property, Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Narcotic Equipment. He was booked into the Hendry County Jail with bond set at $35,000.00.

Man Charged With Exposing Self At Family Dollar

LABELLE, FL. -- On June 2, 2006 at approximately 8:20 p.m. Hendry County Sheriff�s Office Deputies responded to a call concerning a male exposing himself in the Labelle Family Dollar Store at 250 West Hickpochee Avenue. Upon arrival Deputies were advised that a black male wearing a red cap and a blue Taco Bell uniform shirt had been exposing his genitalia to store patrons. According to Sheriff Ronnie Lee within minutes Deputies detained an individual matching that description in the parking lot of Popeyes Restaurant.

An eye witness traveled to where the suspect was being detained and positively identified Edward Triplett, Jr., as the person exposing himself in the Family Dollar Store. Based on information provided by witnesses that a person under the age of 16 was in close proximity to Triplett as he committed his illegal act, he was charged with Lewd and Lascivious Exhibition In The Presence of Person Under The Age of 16. Triplett was booked into the Hendry County Jail with bond set at $100,000.00.

Burglary Suspects Nabbed Dragging Cash Register

LABELLE, FLORIDA (June 5, 2006) -- As Deputies were responding to a
Burglary Alarm call from the Hall Street Florist and Collectibles at
70 Hall Street at approximately 3:07am on June 2, 2006 they noticed a
light blue in color Mercury run the stop street at Hall Street and
State Road 80. Inasmuch as the vehicle was hastily leaving the area
of a possible burglary, Deputies followed the vehicle south on
Martin Luther King Boulevard where the vehicle without regard to
possible oncoming traffic ran through the stop sign at Cowboy Way and
proceeded southbound on Barbara Street. The fleeing vehicle attempted
to turn to the west onto Mary Street and slid into the ditch where
the passenger exited and fled on foot.

The driver of the vehicle, 56 year old Leotis Chris Troutman of 320
Martin Luther King Boulevard LaBelle, Florida was attempting to exit
the vehicle while holding a cash register. Deputy Perry Short
instructed the driver to stop and show his hands which he refused to
do and began resisting. Sheriff Ronnie Lee stated that Troutman was
charged with; Fleeing/Eluding Police with Disregard to Safety of
Persons or Property, Burglary of Structure Conveyance, Possession of
Burglary Tools With Intent To Use, Petit Larceny, and Resisting
Officer W/O Violence. Troutman was booked into the Hendry County Jail
with bond set at $22,500.00 Investigators discovered that the
fleeing passenger and accomplice to the Burglary at the Hall Street
Florist was Nathan Yelling, age 27 of 4047 East Sunflower Circle Port
LaBelle . Yelling has been arrested with bond set at $68,000.00.

Grower's Research Fund Meeting Wednesday

IMMOKALEE, FL. -- Gene McAvoy, Hendry agricultural extension agent reminds area growers that the general meeting of the SW Florida Vegetable Research and Investment Fund will be at the UF/IFAS SW Florida Research and Education Center, 2686 Hwy. 29 N, Immokalee on Wednesday June 7 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.  Since its inception in 2000, over 50 growers and industry partners have joined the fund and contributed more than $120,000 to fund vegetable research in SW Florida. Through in-kind contributions from participating growers we have been able to leverage this into nearly half a million dollars of research targeted at addressing problems faced by growers in southwest Florida.

New Home Sales Slowing?

Port LaBelle New Home Sales Lacking

LABELLE, FL. (June 4, 2006) -- Latest home sales recorded in the LaBelle area in the last several weeks didn't show any Port LaBelle new constructed homes sold but did  include: in LaBelle a sale for $239,000 on 6th Ave, $315,000 on 7th Ave, in Port LaBelle Country Village $146,000 on Anchor Ln, in Unit 4  $125,000 on Bishop Cir, $265,000 on Caloosa Estates Dr, $92,000 on Clipper Ct, $160,000 on Dolphin Cir, $185,000 on Hardee St, $184,000 on Lakewood Rd,, $120,000 on Palm Ave, $130,000 on Prow Terr, $194,000 on Quebec Rd, $155,000 on Rainbow Cir, $140,000 on Rainbow Cir, $155,000 on School Cir, $130,00 on Schooner Dr, $175,000 on Teak Cir, $335,000 on Turtle Ln, $195,000 on N. Edgewater Cir,  $140,000 on S. Edgewater, $280,000 on Springview Cir..  New construction home sales have slowed considerably in the Port LaBelle area and none were reported in this latest period. The average Hendry home buyer seems to be looking for homes under $200,000 as interest rates steadily increase causing monthly mortgage payments to rise as well.