Kids Day At Park Scheduled October 19

LABELLE, FL. -- Kiwanis Club of LaBelle will present Kiwanis Kid’s Day on Saturday, October 19th in the Barron Park. The Kiwanis Club of LaBelle has sponsored this event for over 20 years.

Kids can jump in bounce houses, play games, get a stuffed animal, and eat popcorn and sno-cones. The Showtime Cloggers will show off their talents and Mary the clown will give out free candy and free smiles. 

Everyone is encouraged to dance and have a great time! There will also be lots of non-profit agencies, businesses and community partners set up in the Barron Park to provide fun things and educational information for kids and their families.

Meth House Bust Nets Four Arrests

OKEECHOBEE, FL. -- The Okeechobee Sheriff's department arrested four people at an alleged meth house at 1742 SW 24 Avenue in Okeechobee, FL.

Those arrested were Tracy Dan Cook, age 44, Nicholas R. Seigfried, Jr., age 39, Christine Mae Seigfried, age 39, and Layla Nicole Huff, age 20

All individuals were charged with Manufacture Meth within 1000’ of Church, Child Abuse, Possession of Listed Chemicals, and Use of Dwelling to Manufacture Meth With Child less than 16 years of age.

The Gathering Church is 193.5” from the house where the four were arrested to the church front door.

One 2 ½  year old child was turned over to the Department of Children and Families. Three dogs were taken by Okeechobee County Animal Control.

Bond will be set at a later date by the county judge.

(Photo courtesy Okeechobee Sheriff's Department: cleanup of hazardous materials at crime scene)

Man Dies In Crash In Avon Park

AVON PARK, FL. -- 1998 Ford Model Explorer, driven byRobert L. Durham III, 59 of Avon Park crashed at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday killing the driver.

Durham was traveling south on N Lake Ave in Avon Park when for an unknown reason, lost control causing his SUV to travel over a cement curb and onto the western grass shoulder.

The right front collided with a light pole on the west shoulder, then traveled back into the roadway and began to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and began to overturn. While overturning in a southeasterly direction traveled into the northbound lane of N Lake Ave where the driver was ejected.

The vehicle came to final rest facing a northeasterly direction in the northbound lane with its front wheels on the eastern grass shoulder. Durham came to final rest just south of the vehicle in the roadway.

Helicopter Crashes At ATV Park

Helicopter Crashes off State Road 82
LABELLE, FL. -- On September 29, 2013, at approximately 11:10 am Hendry County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of Lazy Springs ATV Park, off of State Road 82 in southwestern Hendry County near the Lee-Hendry border, after receiving reports that a helicopter had crashed.

When deputies arrived on scene they found the pilot, 60 year old Donald Purden of Fort Myers, conscious and alert. Purden appeared to be suffering from what was believed to be non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital.


Witnesses reported the pilot had attempted to land when it began to auto-rotate. The helicopter lifted approximately 30-40 feet into the air and after losing power, the aircraft dropped to the ground.

The reported crash is being investigated by FAA.

One Dead In Three Vehicle Early Morn Crash Scene

MOORE HAVEN, FL. -- One person, not yet identified is dead after a crash involving three vehicles near midnight Tuesday.

Update: The deceased driver has been identified by the FHP as Kenneth Peters, 54.

A 2007 Chrysler Town and Country mini-van was traveling eastbound on State Road 78 at 12:42 a.m. Tuesday morning approaching Tomato Grade Road when for unknown reasons, it crossed over the westbound lane in a northeasterly direction, causing the left side to collide with a guardrail on the north side of State Road 78.

The vehicle was redirected toward the southeast and began to rotate counter-clockwise while crossing over the eastbound lane, entered the south grassy shoulder and struck a tree stump, causing it to change direction, rotating clockwise, then tip onto its left side as it crashed into a tree and arrived at final rest facing south.

The unidentified driver exited and walked to the north shoulder of State Road 78 while a 2005 Kenworth truck, driven by Ricky Lynn Mattox, 53 of Avon Park was traveling eastbound on State Road 78, approaching the initial crash scene.

The minivan driver walked south, into the eastbound lane and into the truck's path, causing the
front of it to collide with the pedestrian who was thrown into the westbound lane.

A 2003 Chevy Trailblazer driven by Thomas Lee Miller 51 of Okeechobee was traveling eastbound on State Road 78, approaching the crash scene. The Kenworth truck had stopped on the south paved apron of State Road 78, east of the crash scene with its hazard lights flashing as the Chevy was steered into the westbound lane to pass. The front of the Chevy collided with the pedestrian, who was prone within the center of the westbound lane.

The Chevy continued past the scene, stopped and then returned, stopped again in a protective position near the pedestrian, within the westbound lane. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased by Paramedic Shannon Gagliardi of Okeechobee Fire Rescue.

Charges are pending investigation.