News Update for 7/18/24
The state has rested its case against Johntravious “Tray” Perry after two days of grueling witness testimony. Perry is on trial for the murder of his cousin , 16-year-old Dre’Sean Charlie Williams at an Avon Park car wash on December 1st, 2020. According to reports, a friendly raw egg fight between Perry and the victim culminated in violence at the All-American Car Wash on Hal McRae Blvd. Witness testimony said that Perry took a gun out of his hoodie pocket and shot Williams in the head after a verbal altercation. Under oath, Perry admitted to leaving the scene of the crime and subsequently disappearing for 18 months before being arrested. Closing statements have been made and the jury is still deciding on a verdict.
Around 11:40 AM Wednesday morning, highlands county fire rescue crews and the Sebring Fire department were dispatched to an incident involving a patient in medical distress that was stuck in a tree. Crews from Station 14 set up a ground ladder and Station 15 was able to reach the patient to assist him to the ground. Rescue 17-2 evaluated the patient on the ground and transported him to a local hospital for evaluation.
A local Olympian could help grow tourism in her hometown. Sarasota’s Emma Weyant signed an endorsement deal yesterday with Visit Sarasota County. Weyant will swim for Team USA in the Paris Olympics this month. She won a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games. Visit Sarasota County President and CEO Erin Duggan calls Weyant a true hometown hero and the perfect ambassador. Weyant says she’s honored to represent Sarasota, and this partnership allows her to give back to the community.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is urging residents to check the state’s unclaimed property database to see if they can be reunited with their cash or property. Patronis says the state returned more than 26-million dollars in unclaimed property to Floridians in June alone. He adds that one in five Floridians has unclaimed property waiting to be claimed, with an average claim of 825 dollars. To search the database, go to FL-Treasure-Hunt-dot-gov.
Last Friday, a Florida man was shot and killed after he ran over his grandmother in Polk County. According to reports, Henry Maynard reversed his car over his grandmother after they argued over a Candy Bar. After seeing the melted candy bar, Maynard ran to his parents house, grabbed a bag and took a car before calling 911, telling the operator he was about to commit a crime. The responding deputy saw Maynard reverse the car knocking over his grandmother then accelerate and tbone the Patrol car. Maynard died at the scene. Both the deputy and Maynard’s grandmother were taken to the hospital with injuries.
The National Weather Service is planning to host a series of free hurricane prep courses for Floridians later this month. Meteorologists from the agency’s divisions in Miami, Jacksonville, Melbourne, Tallahassee, Tampa and Key West will work together for Florida Tropical Training Week. The online classes will educate people on the impacts and aftermath of when a hurricane hits their community. Multiple sessions will take place every day between July 29th and August 1st. Registration is open through weather-dot-gov-slash-Jax under the “news headlines” section.
The co-founder of the Orlando Magic has passed away. The NBA team posted a news release Wednesday announcing the death of Pat Williams, who helped bring an NBA team to the Florida city in 1986. Team Chairman Dan DeVos and CEO Alex Martins said in a joint statement that Williams “forever changed the sports landscape in Orlando.” In 2012, he was honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Pat Williams died peacefully Wednesday surrounded by his family old. He was 84-years old.
Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning Floridians about a rise in schemes involving sweepstakes. Moody wants residents to watch out for scammers trying to target victims with the promise of big winnings. She says fraudsters are calling, emailing and texting people about prize money. They will ask the victim to give their personal information and pay several fees before they can claim their reward. Moody says the Florida Lottery will never request a fee payment and wingdings will never be transferred through a wire transfer.