Local News 10-23-24

It was a short deliberation – about an hour – but the jury yesterday convicted Joseph Ables of first degree murder in the death of Sheriff’s Deputy William J. Gentry Jr. Gentry was responding to a dispute in Lake Placid in May 2018, when Ables shot and killed him. Ables, who was 69 at the time, shot and killed a neighborhood cat with a pellet gun, causing Deputy Gentry and a young deputy trainee to respond to the scene. Ables was also convicted of cruelty to an animal for shooting a cat to death, the act that led to Deputy Gentry being at his home. The penalty phase of the trial will begin tomorrow morning. Ables faces a potential death sentence.

If you’re an early voter, tomorrow’s an important day. Early voting for the November 5th General Election opens at 8:30am at three locations in the County. You can cast your ballot at the Penny Ogg Operations Center at 4504 Kenilworth Boulevard in Sebring, at the Avon Park City Hall Chambers on East Pine Street, or the Lake Placid Town Government Center on Highway 27 North. Any registered voter in the County can vote at ANY location during early voting.

Tomorrow is also your last day to request a mail-in ballot – the Supervisor of Elections Office reports almost nine percent of eligible voters have already cast their votes by mail.

If you live in one of the harder-hit neighborhoods from Hurricane Milton, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews are going door to door in affected neighborhoods in Highlands County to help people apply for federal assistance. DSA specialists carry federal photo identification and never ask for, or accept, money. DSA teams also help people check the status of an application, identify potential needs and make connections with organizations that can provide resources. They still suggest you use www.DisasterAssistance.gov first, or call 800-621-3362. No word yet on a physical disaster recovery center opening in Highlands County.

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