News Update for 7/15/24
On Friday, two Avon Park men were charged with a host of drug related charges. Len Schlotter, 62, and Timothy Scott, 60, were each charged with the sale of methamphetamine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, knowingly rent structure to sell drugs, and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. The charges stem from an April undercover drug buy. Reportedly, Undercover buyers made arrangements with both men to meet them at their residences for the purchases via social media. Presumptive field tests revealed positive results for methamphetamine.
County officials plan to move the Highlands County’s fuel site to the west side of the road in order to gain more room. A budget of $1 million dollars from the Capital Financial Strategy plan will be utilized for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to start work on closing the existing site and opening the new one, which will include digging up tanks and moving them to the new site.
Two Florida State University baseball players are each a step closer to their big-league dreams. FSU outfielder James Tibbs and third baseman Cam Smith were selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft yesterday. The San Francisco Giants took Tibbs with the 13th pick, and the Chicago Cubs took Smith one pick later at 14. This marks the first time ever that two Seminoles were taken in the first 15 picks.
The U.S. Secret Service is facing intense scrutiny following the assassination attempt on former President Trump. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are asking how a sniper was able to get on a rooftop about 400 feet from the stage and fire shots at Trump. There are also questions about the size of the rally security perimeter and what efforts agents took to sweep the shooter’s building. President Biden said Trump had heightened Secret Service protection, and a full review of the event will take place. But Florida Congressman Michael Waltz says he was told Trump had the same type of coverage given to former President’s Obama and Clinton, and that wasn’t enough.
The City of Sebring has been awarded the court costs from a Dinner Lake property owner who filed a lawsuit in August 2022 against the City and Duke Energy. The amount totals $7,269.50, and will be recovered from the plaintiffs Douglas Bennett and Karla Bennett, trustees of the Douglas Bennett and Karla Bennett revocable trust. The Bennetts’ complaint alleged that due to a City of Sebring fence, a Duke Energy distribution easement, and safety issues, that there was no reasonable access to the property from Sunniland Drive and that a permit cannot be obtained for access. The Court entered an order finding the City to be the prevailing party mid May and in accordance with Florida Statutes, must award costs to the City per an order signed by Judge Peter Estrada on June 13th.
A 29-year-old woman has died while working at the Mosaic plant in Polk County in what they are calling an industrial accident-related death, according to Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies. The employee, identified as Jameka Williams, worked as a process operator at the plant located south of Mulberry. Friday night, officials said Williams was on a piece of machinery, and for unknown reasons slipped and fell into it. The moments leading up to that fall are still being investigated. An autopsy is expected to be conducted sometime this week.
Rick Scott is donating to what he calls a great cause. Senator Scott announced yesterday he’s donating 50-thousand dollars to a GoFundMe page for the victims of the shooting in Pennsylvania Saturday. One person was killed, and two are in critical condition after a gunman opened fire at a Donald Trump rally. Scott also posted on X that he’s formally demanding a full investigation by the Senate Homeland Security Committee into the massive security failure at the rally.
State officials say a hack of Florida’s health department files exposed data of Floridians’ recent HIV test results. They say the information was posted on the dark web last week. Information released online included more than 20-thousand files with some of the most sensitive information belonging to Floridians. This included lab results and COVID-19 diagnoses. The information also included patients’ names, Social Security numbers and date of birth. Florida health officials say they’re notifying patients whose personal information was released.