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for LaBelle, Clewiston, Moore Haven and the Lake Okeechobee area
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May 27, 2012
Hendry Deputies Recover Kilo Of Cocaine Kilo Of Cocaine Falls From Pants Of Suspect - Victim Alleges KidnappingCLEWISTON, FL. -- On Friday night, May 19, 2012, Hendry County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Cape Coral Police Department requesting Deputies respond to the area of McDonalds, located at 905 W. Sugarland Highway in Clewiston. Cape Coral Officers received a complaint from the mother of 29 year old Amy Newkirch reporting that Amy contacted her saying she had been abducted and was in the parking lot of that McDonalds. She went on to describe the vehicle as a silver in color Toyota. When deputies arrived on scene they located the silver Toyota along with two male subjects. When Hendry County Sheriff’s Deputy M. Thomas attempted to make contact with one of the subjects, later identified as 43 year old Francklin Mirtil, Mirtil fled on foot from the Deputy. During the foot chase, Deputy Thomas witnessed Mirtil fall into a ditch, regain his footing and continue to run. As Mirtil continued to flee, Deputy Thomas witnessed a brick type object fall from Miritil’s pants. Deputy Thomas deployed his Taser, ending the foot chase and Mirtil was taken into custody. The brick type object dropped in the ditch was recovered and tested positive for cocaine. It weighed 1,166 grams equivalent to just over 1 kilo (a kilo is 2 pounds, 3 ounces) with a value of approximately $50,000.00.
Also found on Mirtil were two sandwich type bags, one contained white rocklike substance, which tested positive for crack cocaine weighing 4 grams. The other bag contained mixed narcotics, some of which, were identified as Alprazolam (Xanax).
Amy Newkirch was located by D/S W. Hainley and turned over to Cape Coral Police Department who will proceed with their Kidnapping Investigation.
Mirtil was transported to the Hendry County Jail and charged with Resist Officer without Violence, Possession of Cocaine with intent to sell, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Controlled Substance without a prescription. He is currently being held on a $275,500.00 bond.
Hendry's Brenda White Spotlighted LABELLE, FL. -- In the Fall Issue of the Florida Crime And Intelligence Analyst News, Brenda White, Hendry County Sheriff’s Office Analyst/Investigative Assistant received recognition by the FCIAA and was spotlighted for her accomplishments. Brenda began her career with the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office on April 1, 1998 when she was hired as a Misdemeanor Secretary for the East District Office. Shortly after that time, she advanced into the Felony Secretary position and for five years was the only CID Secretary for the East District Office. In April 2005, after Hurricane Wilma, she was transferred to the West District Office where for several years she was the only CID Secretary for the Sheriff’s Office. Brenda began her goals to becoming an Analyst in 2004 when she attended a Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training and became a certified Analytical Investigative Technician. Brenda attended and completed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Basic Analyst I and Basic Analyst II courses and received certification for both. Brenda is the first Crime Analyst for the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office and at times finds herself overwhelmed in researching and compiling data.
Brenda is passionate and compulsive in her role as Analyst/Investigative Assistant and doesn’t call it a day until every task on her desk is completed. Brenda has served as Board of Director to the Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit for the past three years and as the Florida Ag Crime Counter Terrorism Network Coordinator for twelve years.
Brenda has been married to Charles White for thirty years who is also employed with the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office as the Agricultural Crimes Unit Sergeant.
Congratulations, Pack Your Bag Cruise ScamPostcard Offers "Complimentary" 8-Day Caribbean CruiseLABELLE, FL. -- The latest "free" travel opportunity scam comes in the form of a postcard offering a "Complimentary 8 Day Cruise," in what is described as a limited time offer, "one cruise per household."Personalized, the offer says "Congratulations, Pack Your Bags!" with the recipient's first name inserted.(photo: back of the "Complimentary Cruise" postcard. Note the photo-shopped "Caribbean Dream" on the ship's bow!)The postcard says if you "call within 48 hours you will also be eligible to receive" 2 roundtrip airline tickets plus a $100 dining certificate.The small print says "call for complete details of rebate participation." Also, it notes customer will be responsible for "minor taxes and processing fees."You can be sure the fees and requirement to apply for a rebate will not make this "complimentary" offer much of a good deal, let alone a free deal.This cruise offer in past years came from a Sarasota company called License to Travel LLC. They went out of business in September 2009. The owner Donna J. Doyle later moved from Arizona to Florida and started Focus Ten of Tampa, Inc. and Focus Ten of Florida, Inc operating four Arby's restaurants in the Tampa area. The four stores filed for bankruptcy in 2010.The postcard shown above is mailed from Tampa, Florida, permit #78.Calling the toll free number (855)-878-4054 one will find you will be required to make a reservation to view a presentation at a local hotel. Expect to sit through a high pressure sales pitch to buy into a travel "Club." The "Club"will cost you several thousands of dollars.If you ask the person on the phone about who exactly the company is, expect an incomplete or no answer, and some reports says the salesperson will even hang up on you.After the travel presentation at the hotel, you will be presented with a complimentary "certificate" for which you mail in with a check for "fees" to theoretically get the "free" cruise.Although there is no company name whatsoever mentioned, or address on the postcard, for several years this type of "travel club" operated out of Sarasota, FL, owned by Donna J. Doyle of Scottsdale, AZ. Doyle now shows a Tampa area address of 28705 Bennington Dr., Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
How Moral Are You? Quiz Gives AnswersTake A Morality Quiz - Liberal And Conservative Views Differ
LABELLE, FL. -- A new book, "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided By Politics And Religion" says people's morality values vary across cultures and political parties and suggests there are six "moral foundations" to which all people adhere to a lessor or greater extent.
By taking a Morality Quiz questionnaire developed by social psychologists, one can see how his or her sense of morality compares to other groups. The theory and book, by University of Virginia Associate Professor of Psychology Jonathan Heidt says political liberals subscribe to a great sense of fairness and caring along with political conservatives, but conservatives also care much more about loyalty to the group, and deference to authority and respect for traditions. Heidt has found six "moral foundations" believed to be innate and universal across all people that guide individual and group behaviors and opinions. Heidt and other social and cultural psychologists, trying to understand why morality varies so much across cultures, created what they call a Moral Foundations Theory from their studies. What they found, helps explain why moral values vary so tremendously in people around the world, and between political parties, yet exhibit so many similarities. Heidt says people adopts a particular set of moral values and then "Each culture then constructs virtues, narratives, and institutions on top of these foundations, thereby creating the unique moralities we see around the world, and conflicting within nations too." Heidt says, "The current American culture war, we have found, can be seen as arising from the fact that liberals try to create a morality relying primarily on the Care/harm foundation, with additional support from the Fairness/cheating and Liberty/oppression foundations. Conservatives, especially religious conservatives, use all six foundations, including Loyatly/betrayal, Authority/subversion, and Sanctity/degradation." You can find out your own "moral foundations" profiles, and compare them to liberal and conservative views by taking a Morality Quiz short questionnaire for Southwest Florida Online readers at www.YourMorals.org. Heidt lists the six moral foundations as:1) Care/harm: This foundation is related to our long evolution as mammals with attachment systems and an ability to feel (and dislike) the pain of others. It underlies virtues of kindness, gentleness, and nurturance. 2) Fairness/cheating: This foundation is related to the evolutionary process of reciprocal altruism. It generates ideas of justice, rights, and autonomy. [Note: In our original conception, Fairness included concerns about equality, which are more strongly endorsed by political liberals. However, as we reformulated the theory in 2011 based on new data, we emphasize proportionality, which is endorsed by everyone, but is more strongly endorsed by conservatives] 3) Liberty/oppression: This foundation is about the feelings of reactance and resentment people feel toward those who dominate them and restrict their liberty. Its intuitions are often in tension with those of the authority foundation. The hatred of bullies and dominators motivates people to come together, in solidarity, to oppose or take down the oppressor. 4) Loyalty/betrayal: This foundation is related to our long history as tribal creatures able to form shifting coalitions. It underlies virtues of patriotism and self-sacrifice for the group. It is active anytime people feel that it's "one for all, and all for one." 5) Authority/subversion: This foundation was shaped by our long primate history of hierarchical social interactions. It underlies virtues of leadership and followership, including deference to legitimate authority and respect for traditions. 6) Sanctity/degradation: This foundation was shaped by the psychology of disgust and contamination. It underlies religious notions of striving to live in an elevated, less carnal, more noble way. It underlies the widespread idea that the body is a temple which can be desecrated by immoral activities and contaminants (an idea not unique to religious traditions). List Credit: MoralFoundations.orgBuy The Book At Amazon:
Drummond For Elections Supervisor
“Hard worker”, “dedicated”, and “caring of his community” are some of the statements you can hear about Kevin Drummond around Hendry County.
Kevin is currently a candidate for Supervisor of Elections. The Hendry County native cares about the opinions of the county’s residents and wants to hear what you have to say.
Kevin states, “In Hendry County, there are approximately 40,000 residents. Not even half of these residents are registered to vote. I feel that this is unacceptable, and I encourage all residents to become active voting citizens.
I promise to work with our community encouraging all residents to register and cast their votes when the polls begin”. As he makes his way through the area, please feel free to stop and talk to him expressing any possible concerns about voter participation in Hendry County.
Kevin took the initiative to create a new Third Party Organization Campaign entitled “Get Out and Vote”. The movement is a non-partisan organization intended to promot residents to register, cast ballots, and become contributors to the election process.
The “Get Out and Vote” Campaign will be conducted throughout the county at various locations working with local businesses to register residents. Kevin invites Hendry County residents to contact him by phone or email at anytime. He can be reached by phone at: 863-234-3480 and by email at: Kevin@electdrummond.com.
He also encourages the public to view his website www.electdrummond.com for updates and information as the election approaches. Kevin reminds us, “Together we can grow. God Bless”.
Paid and approved by Kevin Drummond, Republican Candidate for Supervisor of Elections.
More Local Hendry-Glades News From Recent Weeks:
Hendry Restaurant Food Safety Inspections - Still Many Dirty KitchensOnly One Restaurant With Zero Food Safety Violations In Hendry CountyLABELLE, FL. -- In the latest survey of 48 LaBelle and Clewiston restaurants, only one was found with no food safety violations after the most recent inspections in November by the Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants. The only Hendry restaurant having no violations during the latest inspection was Abbie's Deli in Port LaBelle. Abbie's opened in July and has steadily improved it's food safety history. In our restaurant food safety rating survey in February, 2011, Flora and Ella's and Rodeo Grill were included, now both have gone out of business. The Country Place Restaurant took over the Flora and Ella's building and had numerous problems with food safety issues starting in August with 14 critical violations found. A follow up inspection was required and made October 10, with 2 critical violations. A Country Place follow up was required and made Oct. 20 with 7 violations found, including 3 repeat violations. Many of the violations found dealt with storage and cooking temperature violations. It appears LaBelle's fast food franchises seem to be cleaner than Clewiston's, with about half or less as many food safety violations found compared to LaBelle's. McDonald's in Clewiston had 10 total violations in November, compared to three at LaBelle's Mcdonald's. The area eatery with the worst food safety history continues to be LaBelle's Fortune Cookie restaurant, now with 12 follow up inspections having been required since June 2010 due to the number of critical violations found. However, Dixie Fried Chicken in Clewiston, had an inspection showing 10 critical violations. And in Clewiston the most problematic eatery is the Florida Cafeteria with a warning issued on September 7 for 25 safety violations, 23 being "critical." It was later discovered the cafeteria had no current restaurant license nor had filed plans for a remodeling extension into the space next door adding 28 more seats and a bar. The Florida Cafeteria had the same problem with no license and remodeling without permission on an October 7, 2010 inspection when 17 violations were found. A warning was also issued and an administrative complaint recommended by the inspector. And the only eatery with no violations in October, LaBelle's Chalkboard Deli, unfortunately during a November 17th inspection, found were 3 critical violations. No Clewiston restaurant had zero violations on first inspection. The LaBelle and Clewiston, Florida restaurant list below includes the name, date of last inspection and number of violations found by inspectors. (Unless noted, restaurants are in LaBelle.) Abbie's Deli 11/17/2011 none (9/21/2011 1 critical, 4 critical on 7/20/2011 1st inspection) Palateria Los Mayas 6/30/2011 1 critical Nuttin' Fancy Cafe 11/3/2011 1 critical (10/20/2011 2 critical) Update: out of business Top Draw Bar & Grill 11/19/2011 2 total, 1 critical including plumbing Riverbend Motorcoach Resort 3/8/2011 2 critical including raw food stored over cooked food Chalkboard Deli 11/17/2011 3 critical incl. no employee training (10/19/2011 None, 8/11 warning issued for no food manager or employee training) Update: out of business Port LaBelle Inn (Oxbow Grille) 5/13/2011 3 critical incl. metal shavings and crusted material on can opener Log Cabin BBQ 11/19/2011 5 critical, warning issued, unable to determine employee training, manager certification, fire prevention compliance (10/4/2011 3 total, 2 critical) Burger King LaBelle 10/19/2011 2 critical - hand washing issues Burger King Clewiston 8/31/2011 2 total, 1 critical Wendy's LaBelle 9/12/2011 2 critical Wendy's Clewiston 8/17/2011 4 total, 2 critical Little Caesar's LaBelle 8/29/2011 2 total, 1 critical Little Caesar's Clewiston 8/30/2011 4 critical Subway LaBelle 10/4/2011 3 total, 1 critical (consumer complaint filed) Subway Clewiston 11/14/2011 3 critical (9/9/2011 4 total, 2 critical) McDonald's LaBelle 9/21/2011 3 critical - hand washing issues McDonald's Clewiston 11/14/2011 10 total, 5 critical incl. handwashing and slime in machines (8/1/2011 8 total 3 critical, 5/3 warning issued for flies, slime on shake dispenser Hungry Howie's 8/29/2011 3 total, 2 critical Hungry Howie's Clewiston 8/17/2011 1 critical Popeye's LaBelle 10/4/2011 3 total, 1 critical Popeye's Clewiston 8/17/2011 8 total, 2 critical Big V 9/21/2011 4 critical
El Tarasco 10/13/2011 4 critical including employees not washing hands
China Buffet Clewiston 10/26/2011 4 total, 2 critical
Jones EZ Food 10/3/2011 3 total, 2 critical
Vicky's Lunch Box 10/19/2011 3 total, 2 critical
Rodeo Grill 2/23/2011 9 critical (incl. slime in ice machine) - Out of business Flora And Ella 2/23/2011 4 critical - Out of business. Update: Replaced by A Country Kitchen & Bakery, out of business; replaced by The Front Porch. Holiday Inn Express Hotel Clewiston 7/5/2011 5 total Taco Bell/KFC LaBelle 10/10/2011 5 total, 4 critical including toxic item stored by food. Warning issued 8/16 for flies and cooler temps Kentucky Fried Chicken Clewiston 8/26/2011 8 total, 3 critical Clewiston Inn Dining 6/15/2011 4 total, 2 critical (200 seat restaurant) Contrera's Restaurant 10/12/2011 5 total, 4 critical La Margarita Tex-Mex 9/12/2011 5 total, 4 critical (no certified food manager - given 30 days to get one) Taqueria San Juan 10/13/2011 6 critical Purkeys BBQ 10/26/2011 6 total, 4 critical Clewiston Country Club 7/18/2011 6 total, 4 critical, "stop sale" notice due to adulterated food (120 seats) Best Western Of Clewiston 8/31/2011 7 total, 4 critical (180 seats) Suzy B Lounge Clewiston 11/7/2011 7 total, 4 critical Sonny's Real Pit Bar BQ Clewiston 7/12/2011 7 total, 4 critical incl. slime in ice machine A Country Place Restaurant & Bakery 10/20/2011 7 total, 6 critical including 3 repeat violations, 8/11 warning issued - Update: Closed Beef O Brady's LaBelle 10/19/2011 7 total, 5 critical including 1 repeat violation Beef O Brady's Clewiston 10/25/2011 7 total, 5 critical Don's Restaurant 8/17/2011 7 total, 5 critical Forrey Grill 10/19/2011 8 critical, warning issued, re-inspection 10/20 none Fortune Cookie 8/29/2011 5 critical (previous history includes a "full complaint" inspection and 12 follow up inspections have been required here since June 2010) Cely's Canteen Clewiston 11/9/2011 10 total, 4 critical including "stop" sale order Dixie Fried Chicken Clewiston 9/9/2011 11 total, 10 critical, warning issued, "stop sale" notice for "temperature abuse", 9/15 Re-inspection None Florida Cafeteria Clewiston 9/9/2011 4 total, 3 critical, no restaurant license ( 9/7 25 total, 23 critical - warning issued) Also read for comparisons 2009-2010 Sunday Morning News/Southwest Florida Online Restaurant Safety Ratings: Hendry Food Safety
"Free" Round-trip Airfare/Cruise Birthday ScamMailings From Florida Promises "Gifts" of Airfare, Computers, and CruisesLABELLE, FL. -- A Florida telemarketing company is attempting to lure consumers with "gifts" of computers, free cruises and air travel to call 1-877-547-7302 so as to sign up the unwary for a 90-minute vacation sales presentation.Thousands of mailings are made to households offering an "8 - Day/7 - Night Cruise for 2 with an outside cabin, leaving from any major port in the U.S." Additionally a "bonus gift" is offered of "2 round-trip airfares."On the back of the letter it says the "certificate is valid for two aboard Carnival Cruise Lines for eight days, but the disclaimer says "certain travel dates apply" and "some restrictions apply" and noting the recipient pays for "port charges, deposits, government taxes, custom fees and agency fees."That seems to be the catch, according to those who have tried to cash in on the telemarketing offer. The "fees" assessed by the company amount to as much as one would pay for the cruise in any standard direct booking. And one has to endure a high pitch sales presentation as well.Note the company does not actually use the word "free" anywhere on the solicitation letter, only using the word "gift" many times, and the phone number to call to "find out how to claim this special gift."The company behind it seems to be out of Illinois and uses the same 877-547-7302 phone number for all of it's letters. On the face of the mailing, a U.S. Postage Paid permit from Tampa, Fl, permit #78.Although there is not any person's or business name or address on the mailing, the company reportedly operates out of a "rent an office" space at 22 West Washington Street, Suite 1500, Chicago, Il. 60602. Office phones are (312) 854-8000.Sub-contracted Florida telemarketing offices are apparently used to pitch the vacation sales offers when customers call. When asked, the telemarketing company will not clearly reveal who they work for.The telemarketing offer is varied, many letters say "Congratulations, you were verified and as a result of this offer your name and ticketing number have been issued!" In the same mailing is a "Bonus Gift" of 2 round-trip airfares "leaving from or going to any major airport in the continental U.S."The face of the envelope may say "FINAL NOTICE" and "Verification of Reservation Information Required" or "Happy Birthday."Other consumers report receiving offers from the unnamed company promising free computers and airline tickets. Some report letters that include other popular brand names like Expedia, Marriott, Walmart, Costco, Target, Kroger, Giant Eagle, US Airways, and others.The key to which "gift" is being offered is the tracking number or "offer" number at the bottom. Callers to the toll free number are asked the offer number. The "gift" cruise and airfare ticket offer may be offer #17NP1107SA.Some offers come as a "Happy Birthday" letter. Other recipients say while not printed as the Happy Birthday offer, they coincidentally arrive in the mail around the time of a family birthday. The company may be using a mailing list that includes customer birthday dates.The offer also apparently is valid only for couples, although the mailing doesn't clearly indicate it. The couples must attend a sales presentation where they will be offered various expensive vacation packages. Once purchased, there's no backing out or money back guarantees.
Southwest Florida Online Joins Facebook
Facebook Users - Where To Find Southwest Florida OnlineLABELLE, FL. -- Many are Facebook users, conveniently keeping all their friends and favorites on one handy site. Southwest Florida Online/Sunday Morning News now has a convenient Facebook page where readers may check in, "like", add stories, comments, and have a bit of fun. Ustream.tv Live video will be available from time to time. (Click "Ustream Live" at the left side of the Facebook page.) Past recorded video is playing at this time including the LaBelle Swamp Cabbage Festival Parade. Link: Southwest Florida Online On Facebook
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Clewiston Sugar Festival And Classic Car Show
Music And Entertainment In Clewiston
Clewiston, FL – The City of Clewiston is hosting its Annual Sugar Festival. Festival events usually begin on the last Friday in April at 9 am and continue Saturday at 8 am. The Sugar Festival has been a celebration which takes place at the end of sugarcane harvest each year. Musical performances will be taking place on both Friday and Saturday. Admission and concerts are free of charge. Sugar Festival will also feature the Rotary BBQ, Seminole Chickee Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Seminole Tribe of Florida Entertainers, Alligator Wrestling, Car Show and Rod Run, Arts and Crafts vendors, Sugar Festival Street Dance, 5K run, Tennis and Basketball Championship Games, Gospel Concert, Fishing, Horseshoe and Cornhole Tournaments, Sweet Taste of Sugar Recipe Contest, the Hendry Regional Medical Center Hospital Bed Races and the Sugar Festival Street Dance. The Raising Cane Rodeo and Dance will take place at the Hendry County Fair and Livestock Show Arena. This free event begins with the Youth Rodeo on Friday. Adult Teams compete for title of Raising Cane Rodeo Champion Saturday at 7 pm followed by a dance at the fairgrounds. All concerts will take place on the Main stage at Sugar Festival Field. Located one block off of Highway 27 and behind The Clewiston Inn, Sugar Festival Field seating capacity is several thousand. Seating is based on a first come first serve basis. Reserved seating directly in front of the stage for a limited 100 guests is available for $10 a person.
LaBelle's McDonald's Restaurant
McDonald's - Remodel Means More Seating
LaBelle's New Modern Design A First For Area Popular Restaurant
LABELLE, FL. -- LaBelle's most popular restaurant, owned by the Nisbet family, staged a grand re-opening Saturday afternoon featuring Ronald McDonald, 29-cent hamburgers, and a new store design with more than twice as many seats after remodeling.
Steve Nisbet, Jr. said it's the first store to feature the new McDonald's outside facade, a new modern look for downtown LaBelle, at State Road 80 and Bridge Street. Nisbet said, in a few years, all the franchise stores will have a similar design.
A large crowd assembled for the re-opening specials of 29-cent hamburgers and 39-cent cheeseburgers. Ronald McDonald greeted kids and adults alike handing out "I Met Ronald!" stickers. Courtesy cups of McDonald's newest coffee drinks were served.
Nisbet said in the fall, Nisbet Enterprises will be opening a new store in Indiantown, bringing the total stores owned by the family to four.
Among local officials attending, greeted by Steve Jr., Steve Sr., and Amanda Nisbet were LaBelle Mayor Paul Puletti and Hendry Commissioner Darrell Harris.
(Click on video above to play)
Chalo Nitka Parade - 2011
Moore Haven Parade A Big Hit For Spectators
MOORE HAVEN, FL. -- Glades County's Chalo Nitka Festival and Frontier Days starts off with a bang, each March for the annual Saturday morning parade weaving through the streets of Moore Haven to the rodeo grounds, delighting happy viewers.
(Click on video to see parade scenes)
The annual festival features music, arts and crafts, entertainment, rodeo, and the parade each year on the 1st Saturday each March, with a youth livestock show and auction during the week before the Saturday parade day. The Chalo Nitka is one of Florida's oldest continuous festivals, dating back to 1949 when the celebration started commemorating the completion of the paving of Main Street (now called Avenue J) in Moore Haven. Chalo Nitka means "The Day of the Big Bass" in the Seminole Indian language. The festival continues on Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m. featuring live Spanish music, alligator wrestling, and midway rides.
More News From Hendry and Glades County
Swamp Cabbage Parade 2012
Swamp Cabbage Festival 2012
LABELLE, FL. -- Hendry county's largest parade and festival brings thousands of visitors each February, the weekend big- time in LaBelle, Florida. Held the last full weekend of February each year, the Swamp Cabbage Festival is scheduled to attract large crowds to the downtown area, and in the park.
The Festival Parade travels down Bridge Street (State Road 29) to Barron Park on the Caloosahatchee River at 10 a.m. Saturday. Festivities include music, dancers, and vendors packing the park, while thousands mill the streets of LaBelle.
(Click on video to see scenes from the parade)
Tens of thousands of people visit LaBelle each year for the festival. The cabbage palm, the state tree of Florida, is cut down for making decorations from the palm fronds for parade floats and booths, and the fleshy heart of the palm is cut out to make "swamp cabbage."
Tell your friends! Please read the Sunday Morning News / Southwest Florida Online, watch videos, and send news and community announcements. Thanks for your support!
Festival Month In Hendry
County - February
LABELLE, FL. -- February is probably the biggest month of the year to visit Hendry county and attend one of it's many festivals and fairs.
Here's some of what's on in LaBelle and Clewiston for February:
-Swamp Cabbage Queen and Princess Pageant - LaBelle High School
-LaBelle Youth Livestock & Ag Fair - LaBelle Rodeo Grounds. Click on video to see opening day 2011
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Alternative Lifestyle Resort Coming To Clewiston?
"Gay Sex Camp" For Clewiston?
CLEWISTON, FL. -- Rumors have started in Clewiston regarding the purchase of the former Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. land southeast of Clewiston. Some say the 269 acre parcel is to be used, as one anonymous email described it, as a "remote gay sex camp."
Hendry records indicate Bazu LLC, a Fort Lauderdale company, purchased the property by special warranty deed December 1st, 2010. Eckerd financed the purchase taking back a mortgage for $1,202,227.96 which includes and assignment of rents according to the 20-page document. Steven McCloud signed the mortgage on behalf of Bazu. The sale price is a reported $1,600,000.
(Photo: Headquarters Building At Camp)
The Hendry property appraiser says the property is worth $1,552,030 and zoned listed as A-2 for homes on 5 acres or more and recreational use. If so, and the purchase price was $1.6 million, it would appear this might not be such a financially stable business plan for Bazu LLC using the remote land as camping grounds.
Eckerd owned the out-of-the-way, rural 269 acre tract at 28280 Etumakee Way, off of County Road 835, 20 miles south of Clewiston since 1985, using it as a county approved non-profit home and residential treatment center for youthful offenders and behaviorally impaired youth with a capacity of 54. It closed several years ago.
According to the building officials many of the structures were built by the residents and it is yet unclear if permits were applied for or issued in the 80s and early 90s when many of the buildings were assessed by the Hendry Property Appraiser.
There are approximately 22 outbuildings including a store, a main office building with a commercial kitchen and dining room, a dormitory, a shop building with an attached duplex, a library an RO water system, and 6 campsites among other amenities.
Reports received by the Sunday Morning News says work has begun at the property, although building permits apparently have not been applied for or issued
Vitambi Springs Resort is a fictitious name owned by VSR Development Corp., formed on May 13, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale. VSR Development was set up the same day with Steven W. McCloud as president, Martin C. Ruddock, vice president/treasurer, and Antonio P. Barone, vice-president. The three also own Bazu LLC, the property owner of the site.
The three-man owners group set up websites for the Vitambi Springs Development Corporation advertising the "Vitambi Springs Resort" at http://www.vsrdc.com/
and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vitambi-Springs-Resort/107160142686223
A pre-building permit application meeting was held with Hendry building officials in November 2009 concerning using this 269 acre site for 250 RV hookups with campground and cabins. On February 26, 2010, real estate broker Sherri Denning, real estate agent Julie Wilkins, and building permit applicants met with Hendry staff to discuss a variation of the use from the November meeting.
In October 2010 the group and Engineer Scott Morrisson met with zoning officials to propose 50 RV sites, and 30-40 cabins along with the existing primitive camp sites. The county gave them requirements for submitting paperwork but nothing has been received as of this date.
At this time, the property and nine main buildings located there, can be used for campers and RV use at the existing sites. Because the new owners have not applied for a use change to increase the camping spaces to 50 (or 250), they are currently allowed to only use the currently existing spaces which appear to be only six spaces for campers.
Dog and Cats Looking For Homes
Pets And Animals For Adoption Featured At Festival
LABELLE, FL. -- LaBelle's community of animal lovers comes together in January for the Pet Fest in Barron Park along the Caloosahatchee River.
(Click to see video)
The days starts with the Blessing of the Animals, followed by a pet parade around the park, music, food, and entertainment. In the video, The Showtime Cloggers from LaBelle demonstrated their dancing skills on stage while animal rescue groups showed displays around the park.
Urgent News:
Friends of Animal Rescue, helping LaBelle's no-kill animal shelter, were looking for families to foster care or adopt their many cats and dogs. The shelter also needs volunteers help at the facility.
The Talking Monkeys Project needs donations to help take care of abandoned monkeys, S.E.A.L. Exotic Animal Foundation from Charlotte County takes care of abandoned wild animals, and Caloosa Humane Society brought along some of their animals needing homes.
-Video by Don Browne
Martin Luther King Jr. Day In Hendry
LABELLE, FL. -- Hendry county and the city of LaBelle celebrates the third Monday of January for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with a parade and day in the park in LaBelle.
(Click on video to play)
The MLH Blvd. has been in bad shape for many years, and finally adequate sidewalks along the west side of the street, drainage culverts, and a vehicle turning lane have been completed on the nearly one-mile long road running from State Road 80 on the north of LaBelle to Cowboy Way on the south side.
Marchers, organized by community leader Nora Fagin Ned, proudly walked and sang along the new road beginning at Cowboy Way all the way to Miller Avenue, and ended at Alton "Kid" Jones Park in the Fordson-Sunset Park neighborhood, where refreshments by Jonesez BBQ and many musical performances were scheduled for the celebration.
Officials in attendance for the parade and day in the park included Mayor Paul Puletti, cutting the ribbon for the street opening, Sheriff Steve Whidden, Chief Deputy Kevin Nelson, Tax Appraiser Phil Pelletier, and Rev. Bill Maddox, Jr.
-Video by Don Browne
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Memorial Day Commentary by T. W. Bill Neville I am old enough to remember when Memorial Day was called Decoration Day, and at our house that meant going to the graveyard. Ours was called Mount Hope and I still remember how the several hundred graves all had bouquets or live ornamental plants decorating them In a special section around a massive flag pole was the war Veterans plots, all bearing American flags flying in the breeze. This was in addition to the Veterans Memorial plaza with a massive Civil War statue and band stand where the Military band, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars all congregated for the laying of the wreathes, speeches, and band music. All timed to be over in time for all, who chose, to dash home in time for the Indy Five hundred race, opening with those stirring words, "Gentlemen! start your engines!!, on radio only, at that time.
So, as some of you might be wondering, what has "Looking Up" got to do
with a simple little 2 word expression we have all used to normally express a
feeling of optimism and pleasure on such a solemn, commemorative day, in an ever changing environment.
.
In my limited stay on this earth I have always had an affinity and curiosity for observing how various species handle change and manage to adapt to the changing environment.
To do this, you have to recognize the influence man's changes of the
environment have exacted on the species. For example, if you were to put a Vulture in a pen 6 feet by 8 feet, entirely open at the top, despite it's proven flight capabilities, it will an absolute prisoner. Why? Because it always starts it's flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet before taking off
Bats, one of our most mobile, swift and agile airborne creatures cannot fly from any level surface, but must find a surface with some elevation before being able to launch into flight.
The avionics of the bustling Bumblebee can be completely stymied by placing the Bee in an open topped glass container. It will, unless released, keep trying to fly through and down into the containers sides and bottom, until exhaustion and death claims it.
What can we, as people, learn from the Vulture, Bat, and Bumblebee, in
their "CHANGED" environments? Much like people, when threatened and
struggling against all of life's problems, frustrations, and changes? We must always remember, when all else fails, "LOOK UP!"
The "containment's" we are trapped in are too enumerable to count, and are emanating continuously from our elected officials. So without losing any of the true meaning of Memorial Day. Commemorate a vow of "Looking Up," As you vow to have not allowed all our valiant heroes to have died in vain, as you break the shackles of government regulatory excess, at the BALLOT BOX!
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Mr. Neville, born in Logansport, Indiana was very active in business and community activities; President of the local Jaycees, and spent 4 years in the Indiana National Guard during the Korean war as a First Seargent. At age 30, he moved family, wife and three sons with one more on the way to Buffalo where he lived for one year before accepting a plastics field sales position in Chicago where his fifth son was born. After opening up new sales territories from Chicago to the west coast, he accepted the regional sales manager position for the western half of the U. S. He retired from that position after 40 years in 1993, and built a home in Labelle, Fl.. "I've always enjoyed 'wordsmithing' and story telling, particularly when I feel that my words might either motivate or alleviate any of the many challenges that we each accept every day of our lives just by being here."
Alden A. Rumfelt, Attorney At Law
135 Riverbend Drive
LaBelle, Fl 33935
Phone (863) 673-0251 email Gold And Guns, Inc.
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123 Riverbend Drive, LaBelle, Fl. 33935
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Take this quick test: 1. What Auto Dealer In Cape Coral sells 1000 cars a month? 2. What carpet cleaner has a $99 offer? 3. What Hendry county online news site has more than 29,000 monthly visits?
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If you know the answers to the quiz you need to place an advertisement here on the Sunday Morning News for one low price. The reason you know two of the answers is because of advertising. Advertising that's constantly before your eyes.
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For only $97 your ad will run every day for up to 3 months.
Or mention this ad and run for the entire year of 2012 for $297.
Thanks for supporting your local Hendry/Glades Sunday Morning news and Southwest Florida Online! Now in our 16th year, the area's first and most read online news and information source. Be seen by more customers than all local print newspapers combined!
See More Daily Local News Stories on the Sunday Morning
News/Southwest Florida Online News Blog pages:
The page includes a searchable index for photos, videos, and archives of all stories published online since May, 2004.
Click on the video at left to see the last 50 videos, both news and personal video recorded by publisher Don Browne, stored on YouTube.
Local News Online Audio Feeds
The Way Back Machine - Searching News Archives
Look Back To 1999 Editions Of The Sunday Morning News
LABELLE, FL. -- Looking for a Sunday Morning News internet page from a decage ago? You can find many archived web pages from the past at the "Way Back Machine", a feature of Archive.org, keeping for posterity webpages from the past.
The Sunday Morning News is archived as far back at February 1999, and includes over 100 weekly editions of the Hendry and Glades area news pages. Most of the important editions of the Sunday Morning News/Southwest Florida Online pages can be found at the archive.
The "Way Back Machine" can search for any web address, just type it in and see what the web page looked like in the past.
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://members.aol.com/kq4ym/news.html - Sunday Morning News "Way Back" Archive from 1999
Over Three Million Views To LaBelle's Live Video Webcast
Browne's web camera page has added a new twist to social networking while promoting the Hendry county area. In mid-November 2007 the live video cast began to spread the word around the world about Southwest Florida, and the LaBelle/Hendry/Glades county area. In February 2009 a 3-D video camera was added.
A "featured producer" on Justin.TV, Don now broadcast primarily on the weekends and the web page has 10,000 to 20,000 viewers pass through each hour that he is broadcasting live. In October 2010, over 1,000,000 new viewers visited LaBelle online.
LaBelle's "lifecasting" video page attracts viewers from all around the world, even a surprise visit from a French man who was climbing Mourt Everest, the world's highest mountain. A map on the webcast's page shows from where the visitors are coming.
Watch any of hundreds of Don's recorded shows from the last several years, available from the clips section on the video channel at http://justin.tv/kq4ym/all
Stories written about LaBelle's live webcast:
USA Today - Article On Live Video Broadcasting mentioning Don Browne
Orlando,(Fl.) Sentinel YouTube Video About Don Browne and Florida's Live Video Bloggers
Indianapolis (In.) Star - Article About Don Browne And Live Video
How To Watch Free Streaming Sports and TV channels worldwide
Follow Don On Twitter
Watch Don's YouTube Videos
Contest (Clue - Near Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis)
Sunday Morning News - Spanish Translation - and Other Languages
Read The Sunday Morning News In Your Favorite Language
LABELLE, FL. -- A beta version of the Sunday Morning News blog is now available in Spanish and 10 other languages. Microsoft is trying out a new online translation service that will allow webpages to be read in 11 different languages. Click here to see this page in Spanish.
Although not a perfect translation, read your local news in Spanish, or use the translations boxes on the page to choose which language you prefer. Save the page to your bookmarks if you want to come back to the Spanish version at any later time.
This Page Translated To Spanish
Sunday Morning News Blog In Spanish
Local Events and Meetings
Daily/Ongoing-The CREW Marsh Hiking Trails are open to the public from sunrise to sunset every day. Trail maps are available at the trailhead located at 4600 Corkscrew Rd., 2 miles south of State Rd. 82 or 18 miles east of exit 123 off I-75
The Men's group has a weekly breakfast meeting and bible discussion every Thursday 7AM at Good Shepherd Church, 1098 Collingswood Parkway.
(Send your community announcements by email (with normal text formating, i.e. no bold, italics or oversized text, and no attachments except for a photo, as we do not open attachments)
 Letters
The Friends of the Library is now open for new members. The Friends of the Library is an organization that meets only 4 times a year to plan various events that are to be held at the library. In addition to the business meeting, there is always a presentation of interest for the members. The Friends of the Library also maintains the Historical Section at the Glades County Library. Interested parties should contact Mary Booher at the library. (863) 946-0744
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Monthly Rates: $1 per word ($10 minimum please) and your ad runs 24/7 online on the Classified Ad Page for 30 days. Send your classified ad to us by email, and pay securely online by credit card, debit card or check by either PayPal or Amazon. Thanks to our community of advertisers and readers for 10 years support of Hendry and Glades county first online area news and information!
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Hendry - Glades County Real Estate
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12 Port LaBelle Quarter-Acre Residential Lots - In sections 1 through 12, excellent location in west Hendry County in largest subdivision in county. $60,000. Call (863) 800-0010.
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Port LaBelle Banyan Village - Two nice very private lots: Olympia Cir. Unit 12, and Morning Lane Unit 10. Port LaBelle Water lines installed. Newest of Port LaBelle neighborhoods, rural setting, beautiful pine tree lined street setting eight miles east of LaBelle and south of State Road 80. Be the first to build in this great area. Email
Port LaBelle - 9012 Largo Cir. in quiet private area of Port LaBelle, cleared quarter acre lot in beautiful tall pine wooded neighborhood. Close to Labelle Middle School. Most convenient scenic location in Port LaBelle's great neighborhood. Email
Port LaBelle - 9045 W. Justice Cir. one mile south of Labelle middle school, buildable quarter-acre with utilities in quiet private section south of Cowboy Way. Email
Clewiston Harlem - -vacant lot zoned single family , build your home here or buy for investment! Buy your investment lots now while prices are low! Click here for map: 1130 Virginia Ave. Email
For Sale 1.29 Acre on State Road 80 east of Pioneer between LaBelle and Clewiston. Last of Joe B. Hendry's personal land holdings who held this lot since 1949. Lot is located just north of SR80 across from Everhigh Acres Rd on the Hilliard Canal. SR80 will be four-laned here in the next few years. Zoned Agricultural (A-2) Email.
See Hendry County Real Estate page for additional real estate details and photos
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Real Estate Services
Get a current photo of your Hendry county lot or real estate emailed to you within 48 hours. Low cost photo service for property owners. From $39. Email for info.
Advertise your property or real estate for sale or rent! From $20 monthly for 20 words on our classified ad page. See Classified Ads For information: email
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Internet access for LaBelle and Clewiston by StratoNet. StratoNet, serving Florida since 1992 offers the LaBelle and Clewiston communities a local internet access number. StratoNet has been in the internet business since 1992, and is one of the oldest internet service providers in the state, and now offers LaBelle and Clewiston area internet users a local phone number to access the internet. Rates include unlimited access to a local phone number to access the internet from the LaBelle area. StratoNet has unlimited free technical support for customers and free personal web page space. Call 888-382-8503 or go to for details.
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Need computer help? Contact Gary Peters by email or visit the website of Gary Peters Computer Services in LaBelle.
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