Reyna Hernandez Dies At 59

 Reyna Hernandez age 59, of Clewiston, Florida passed away at Jackson Memorial on July 30, 2024. 

Reyna was born on September 2, 1964 in Mexico to Martimino and Oliva Santander Maldonado. Reyna married Tranquilino Hernandez.

Reyna was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend to everyone who loved and cared for her. She will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her. She was a God fearing woman who always had time to talk about Jesus Christ. 

Reyna leaves fond memories with her husband, Tranquilino Hernandez of Clewiston, her children; Oscar Hernandez and his wife Graciela, Armando Hernandez and his wife Irene, Dora Contreras and her husband Cesar, Danny Hernandez and his fiancé Julissa Hernandez, seven grandchildren, her brother and sisters; Juan Maldonado, Antonia Vargas, Dorotea Maldonado, Yolanda Maldonado along with all of her church family and close family friends. 

Reyna's life will be celebrated on Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 11:00 am at Akin-Davis Funeral Home - Clewiston, where visitation for family and friends will held on Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 1-3 pm. Reyna will be laid to rest in Ridgelawn Cemetery.

Natividad Escalante Dies At 62

Natividad Escalante, age 62 of LaBelle, Florida passed away on July 23, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida.

Natividad was born on September 8, 1961 in Guatemala to the late Aurelio and Mercedes Ventura Escalante. He worked most of his life as a landscaper. He immigrated to the United States at a young age.

Natividad leaves fond memories with with his children; Bryan Escalante (Lorena Contreras) of Lehigh Acres, Florida, and Gladis De Santiago Escalante of LaBelle, Florida, his siblings; Puirino Escalante, Pedro Escalante, Hilaria Escalante, Felipa Escalante, his grandchildren; Stephanie De Santiago, Edgar De Santiago, Adriel De Santiago, Brylee Escalante and one great grandchild; Aislynn Corona and many extended family members and close family friends.

Celebration of Natividad's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 9, 2024 at Akin-Davis Funeral Home - laBelle, where visitation will be held one hour before the service also at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fort Denaud Cemetery.

Huge Florida Monkey Farm Sues Competitor Over Land Purchase

Florida Monkey Farm Lawsuit Reveals Allegations of "Feces-Filled Canals"

(LaBelle, FL) -- A civil lawsuit ("BC US vs. Panther Tracts") filed in Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court has raised disturbing allegations of water pollution from one of the largest monkey farms in the country.

BC US is the U.S. arm of Mauritius-based Bioculture Group, and operates a facility in southern Hendry County for the quarantine, holding and breeding of monkeys imported from the island nation. BC US sells monkeys for use in research and testing.

The lawsuit centers on BC US' desire to purchase property that it has been leasing since 2012. BC US alleges that the property owner, Panther Tracts LLC, is refusing to honor a purchase option in the lease agreement. In response, Panther Tracts argues that BC US is in default of the lease, "by violating environmental laws and improperly disposing of animal waste."

BC US holds close to 2,500 monkeys in dozens of outdoor pens at the property, located on the northern boundary of the Big Cypress National Preserve.

Florida and Hendry County is thought have the largest monkey breeding facilities in the U.S.

On July 8, 2024, Panther Tracts filed a motion for temporary injunction to stop BC US from "unpermitted disposal of animal waste (monkey feces) at the leased premises." The motion alleges, "BC US is not disposing of massive amounts of animal feces by the strict land application required by the ERP [Environmental Resource Permit, issued by the South Florida Water Management District]." The motion describes canals, "filled with floating solid animal feces, algae, and scum resulting from overloading of nutrients."

"The importation and breeding of monkeys for use in laboratory experimentation causes horrible suffering. The thousands of monkeys who are closely confined in concrete and wire enclosures in Hendry County's monkey farms produce enormous quantities of urine and feces and wastewater," said Nanci Alexander, President, Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF). "This lawsuit reveals how the monkey farms are a threat to the Big Cypress National Preserve, and to the water resources that are essential to a healthy ecosystem and the clean water that Florida's people, animals and plants depend upon."

Until recently, Panther Tracts was an independent corporation that also leased neighboring property to Worldwide Primates, another supplier of monkeys for use in experimentation. In 2023, Worldwide Primates acquired ownership of Panther Tracts, in effect making one of BC US' competitors also its landlord. Worldwide Primates confines 4,000 monkeys at the Hendry County property.

Previous Southwest Florida Online articles on Monkey Farming

Notes:
- "BC US vs. Panther Tracts", Case No.: 24000015CAAXMX
- Websites: Bioculture Group (www.bioculturegroup.com), BC US (https://bcus-llc.com), Worldwide Primates (http://wwprimates.com)
- Mauritius is the world's largest exporter of wild-caught primates.

Hendry Sheriff Arrests This Week

ARREST BLOTTER
07/22/2024 – 07/28/2024

Felony / DUI Arrests

Chance Blackmon, 18, Clewiston was arrested on July 22, 2024, Deputy Sheriff B. Dibernardino on charges of Possession of Firearm by Person younger than 21 years of age, Carrying Concealed Firearm, Delivery/Distribute Methamphetamine within 1000’ of Public Housing and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Devonte Jamar Davis, 19, Clewiston was arrested on July 23, 2024, by Det. Sgt. E. Morgan on charges of Carrying Concealed Firearm and Armed Trespass

Kelty Loranlo Miller, 46, Avon Park, was arrested on July 23, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff D. Givans on 2 counts of Felony Probation Violation

Jose Alexie Santiago, 23, Tampa was arrested on July 23, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff I. Cadena on charges of Grand Theft of Firearm

Vincent Latrell Fortune, 34, Clewiston was arrested on July 24, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff D. Givans on charges of Felony Failure to Appear and Contempt of Court

Martin Rojas, 56, Immokalee was arrested on July 24, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff S. Monteiro on charges of Illegal Harvesting of Palmetto Berries without Permission

Antonio Salas Bravo, 52, Immokalee was arrested on July 24, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff S. Monteiro on charges of Illegal Harvesting of Palmetto Berries without Permission

Glyne Adolphus Straker, Jr., 27, Belle Glade was arrested on July 24, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff D. Givans on charges of Felony Probation Violation

16-year-old female, LaBelle was arrested on July 24, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff K. Negron on charges of Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon without Intent to Kill

Dustin Shane Jordan, 39, LaBelle was arrested on July 24, 2024, by Sgt. J. Lock on charges of Driving While License Suspended – Habitual Offender

Izaiaz Galindo, 18, Immokalee was arrested on July 25, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff K. Negron on charges of Grand Theft

Shelly Lynn Stahl, 59, LaBelle was arrested on July 26, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff M. Bell on charges on 3 counts of Felony Probation Violation

Faydra Dawn Hernandez, 45 Ft. Myers, was arrested on July 27, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff J. Keith on charges of DUI and Driving While License Suspended

Victor Manual Govea, 48, LaBelle was arrested on July 28, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff M. Bell on charges of Aggravated Battery on Person 65 years of age or Older

Kevin Geovany Sanchez, 21, LaBelle was arrested on July 28, 2024, by Deputy Sheriff A. McCarty on charges of Aggravated Battery on Pregnant Person

Algae Alert For Lake Okeechobee Waterways

Clewiston, Fla. - The Florida Department of Health in Hendry County (DOH-Hendry) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in areas of Lake Okeechobee in Hendry County. The alert is in response to water samples taken on July 24, 2024. The public should exercise caution in and around various locations in Lake Okeechobee.

DOH-Hendry advises residents and visitors to take the following precautions:

Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercrafts, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.
Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have any contact with algae, or discolored or water that smells unpleasant.
Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid any contact with water. Waters where algae blooms are present are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should use an alternative source of water when algae blooms are present.
Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate toxins.
Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish thoroughly.
Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.