Obituaries - Larry Cardin, Jessiti Douglas-Chirila, Daniel Gallegos

Larry L. Cardin age 71 of Clewiston, Florida passed away at his home with his family at his side on March 8, 2023.

Larry was born on November 21, 1951 in Athens, Tennessee to the late Olie B. and the late Edna K. Hambey Cardin. 

He married Glanna Kay Fields, she survives. He and Glenna were married for 42 years.

Larry worked for many years as a mechanic then after he retired from being a mechanic he starting working as a maintenance man for Wal-Mart of LaBelle. 

Larry leaves fond memories with his loving wife; Glenna Kay Cardin of Clewiston, Florida, sons; Larry L. Cardin, II, and Jeremy Cardin, daughters; Vickie Colson, Teresa Carr aling with nine grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Larry leaves behind sisters; Shirley Grooms, and Henerietta Jankowski and many long time family friends.

Larry was preceded in death by his daughter; Rebecca Dupree, brother; Carl Cardin and sister; Betty Brane,

Larry's life was celebrated with a memorial service at his home on Saturday, March 11, 2023. For more information please contact his family for details.

Cremation arrangements are being handled by Akin-Davis Funeral Home - Clewiston.

Jessiti Aubra Douglas-Chirila 1-year old of LaBelle, Florida passed away on March 4, 2023 in Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Jessiti Aubre was born on August 29, 2021 in Belle Glade, Florida to Jessup Douglas and Faith Chirila. Jessiti Aubre was full of live, loved the outsdoors, loved music and dancing. She touched the hearts of everyone she came in contact with. A young life take to soon.

Jessiti Aubre leaves fond memories with her mother; Faith Chirla, father; Jessup Douglas, maternal grandparents; Wanda and Bob Chirila, paternal grandparents; Cheryl and Albert Herrera, also surrounded in love by many aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family. She is also survived by 3 siblings; Amaurion Carson Rivera (Brother), Aliyah Edwards and Jaylynne Douglas-Brooks (sisters).

Jessiti Aubre was welcomed through Heavens gates by many family members who went before her.

The family request donations be made to Akin-Davis Funeral Home for her services and headstone. We appreciate everyone's love and support in this difficult time.

Daniel Gallegos Funeral will be held at Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana De LaBelle, located at 3139 South Highway 29 LaBelle, FL 33935 on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Viewing: 10:00 am - 11:00 am. Service: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Burial Service will follow at: Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery, located at 820 north 11th Street Immokalee, FL 34142.

Glades Property Appraiser News - Ragen Mathis In Spotlight

NEWS FROM THE GLADES COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER

MOORE HAVEN, FL. --  March 1st application deadline has passed. However, if you failed to file a timely application as required by Florida Law, because of extenuating circumstances, you may be eligible to file a 2023 late application. Extenuating circumstances are events beyond your control that prevented you from making your application by the deadline date. Please call or email for more details.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Chief Field Appraiser, Ragen Mathis

Ragen, has resided in Glades County most of his life. He moved here when he was 2 years old, then moved to Clewiston where he attended middle school, and graduated from Clewiston High School in 1988. He moved back to Moore Haven, and married Laura. They have one son, Tanner, who attended Glades County Schools his whole life, and graduated from Moore Haven High School. Tanner also graduated from the University of Central Florida with his bachelor’s degree; something dad and mom are extremely proud of! Tanner now resides in Maryville, Tennessee.

Ragen loves to hunt and fish, but it pales in comparison with his passion to help local exhibitors by breeding and raising show pigs. He and his wife Laura have been Glades County 4-H Swine leaders for many years. They also have a non-profit organization called “Sweet South Swine Classic, Inc.” which benefits our area swine exhibitors with more show and clinic opportunities. It also provides scholarships for graduating seniors and monetary awards to help area 4-H clubs.

Ragen is the President of Glades County Youth Livestock Show, Inc., an usher at the First Baptist Church of Moore Haven and enjoys helping with the youth events. He also enjoys visiting different parts of our great state and nation to view God's amazing creation. He'll tell you, though, that it’s always great to come back to Glades County, his home.

His career began in the citrus industry where he worked for 20 years. Even though he loved it, he wanted to spend more time with his son and become more involved with his sports and raising show pigs. So, he accepted employment closer to home with the Glades County Road Department. During those years, he gained vast geographical knowledge of the county which made him the perfect candidate for a vacant field appraiser position with the Glades County Property Appraiser’s Office. Larry Luckey, former Glades County Property Appraiser hired Ragen in March 2012. Ragen has worked for me for over 11 years. His overall knowledge of the appraisal process, combined with over 11 years of field appraisal experience is why he is a huge asset to my office and Glades County.
Thank you for allowing us to work for you!

-Lorie Ward, C.F.A., Glades County Property Appraiser,

Eliceo Hernandez Guilty In Murder Of Officer Julian Keen, Jr.

LABELLE, FL. -- Sentencing has been scheduled for March 30, 2023, for Eliceo Hernandez, after he was found guilty of Second Degree Murder with a Firearm and Attempted Second Degree Murder, for shooting and killing off-duty Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer Julian Keen Jr. 

The jury returned the guilty verdict just after 6 p.m. Thursday evening, following a three-day trial in Hendry County.

On June 14, 2020, the victim was at his LaBelle home with a friend, when they heard a loud crash. They looked outside and noticed a black truck leaving the scene of an accident. The victim and his friend both got into their personal vehicles and drove after the black truck. This continued along Hendry County Road 78, and through a convenience store parking lot, when the suspect turned north on Nobles Road.

At that time, the victim’s friend struck the black truck in the rear, causing it to go off of the roadway. The suspect maintained control and traveled north a short distance before the victim’s friend struck the black truck once again, trying to get it to stop. The suspect lost control and crashed into a ditch at Nobles Road and Apache Circle.

The victim then drove into the convenience store parking lot and continued on foot to the crash scene. The defendant grabbed his gun and jumped out of his truck, and got into a black Dodge Charger, driven by his girlfriend. They drove around the block and came back to the crash scene and then he got out of the car and shot at both men. One bullet struck and killed the victim.

Right after the shooting, the suspect got back into the car and left the scene. An investigation by the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office led to the location of the vehicle and the identification and arrest of the defendant for the crime.

Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner and Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller, both in the
Homicide Unit, prosecuted the case.

COVID Transmission Levels This Week At 87% For US Population

          

LABELLE, FL. -- CDC's latest maps as of Thursday afternoon shows most Florida counties are at "high" COVID transmission levels, as well as counties in the Eastern and Midwest U.S..

Transmission levels stay stubbornly high, with 87% of the U.S. population living in areas with substantial or higher transmission, slightly lower than last week. Rates are higher generally in the South, parts of the Midwest and the East Coast, with lower levels seen in the West, according to the People's CDC and it's weekly report.

Hendry now at "high" transmission rates along with Glades, Charlotte and Collier. Lee county is at "substantial." 

Positivity test rates were 6% in Hendry last week from 190 tests performed. 66 new cases were reported. 

Hendry County data from CDC.

What the CDC calls the "Community Transmission" levels are rated "high" or "substantial" for most of Florida counties. 49% of U.S. counties are at "high" levels and 27% are at "substantial" levels. And by population, 87% of the U.S. is at high or substantial levels this week.

High Transmission Level is defined as new cases per 100,000 persons in the past 7 days of 100 or more OR Percentage of positive NAATs tests during the past 7 day at 10% or more. 

 

To see "Community Transmission" levels click The community transmission map  

#YourTaskWearAMask

Editor's note: Click the links above to confirm the statistics, note the CDC website is not easy to search for information so the links will lead you to the information. The CDC pages are sometimes extremely slow loading and complicated, with many links to click to find information. 

Bi-Annual Yard Sale Saturday March 18 At Laurel Oaks In Port LaBelle

 

PORT LABELLE, FL. -- The Laurel Oaks Property Owners Association is holding it's Spring Yard Sale along Springview Circle Saturday, March 18. 

Homeowners will set out their various goods for shoppers to browse from 8 a.m. until noon Saturday.

Laurel Oaks is north of SR80 just off Birchwood Parkway in Port LaBelle. Look for the Laurel Oak sign and turn into the oak shaded community.