NEWS BRIEFS

Okeechobee schools were in compliance with the Florida Department of Education class size compliance regulations according to a report released last week.

The Okeechobee freshman campus had a class size of 19.59 students.

In grades K-3, Central had 17.61 students per class, South 17.91 per class, North 16.96, Everglades 16.32, and Seminole 16.26 last year. This year they Central had 17.69 students, South 16.09 students, North 16.23, Everglades 17.24 and Seminole 17.5 students.

In grades 4-5, Central had 18.9 students per class, South 19.77 per class, North 20.75, Everglades 17.11, and Seminole 19.11 during 2005-06. This year Central had 20.72 students per class, South 21.41, North 17.87, Everglades 18.72, and Seminole 20.46.

In grades 6-8, Yearling had a class size of 23.13, and Osceola 19.44 last year. This year the levels were 20.92 at Yearling and 20.39 at Osceola.

The high school, grades 10-12 had a class size of 22.63. This year the sizes decreased to 21.45 students per class.

Glades County had one school out of compliance in grades 4-6. Moore Haven elementary had 31.05 students per class which was much higher than last year. They had 19.71 students per class last year. Other schools saw slightly smaller class sizes this year.

A prison guard at Okeechobee Correctional Institution (OCI) was himself arrested after the report of a domestic problem at 3262 S.W. 4 th Avenue on November 29, Okeechobee County Deputies reported.

Alvin White, 39, was charged with aggravated assault and battery after the incident.

A female reported that White forced his way into the residence after a verbal argument, pushed her against the wall and stuck a knife to her throat.

White was held on $3,000 bond immediately following his arrest.

His employment status was not known. It is state prison policy to terminate employees who are arrested on felony charges.

A 15 year old Osceola County girl was killed in an all terrain vehicle mishap on a dirt road near Canoe Creek Road last week.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that Analisa DelSonno was killed after the ATV she was on collided with a cow on a dirt road near Kenansville on November 29 th.

The operator of the vehicle, Taylor Rae Bronson, 15, suffered minor injuries.

FHP reported that a cow apparently ran into the road and was struck by the SUV.

POLICE BLOCKER

A 23 year old Okeechobee woman, Patricia Darius, was hospitalized November 25 th after an accident in Indian River County, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

Darius was a passenger in a vehicle operated by Donald R. Hrossowyc, 34, of Clearwater. He was apparently passing in a no passing zone along State Road 60 several miles east of Yeehaw Junction when the accident occurred. Hrossowyc, was driving a 1989 Lincoln and collided with a 2006 Toyota operated by Christopher J. Roussea, 26.

Darius was originally admitted in critical condition after being flown to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. However her condition was upgraded to fair on November 27.

An elderly Glades County man has been missing since November 3 rd and authorities are asking for the public’s help in an effort to find him.

Melvin K. Zehntner, 56, was last seen by his brother in a remote part of Glades County, authorities noted.

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers and the Glades County Sheriff’s Office sought the public’s assistance last week in an effort to locate him.

Zehnter was last seen wearing khaki pants, a white or tan pullover shirt, and a yellow ball cap. He is 5’11” tall and weighs between 200-230 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call crime stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS. All callers are anonymous and will be eligible for up to a $1,000 cash reward.

An argument inside a local nightclub resulted in at least one shot being fired from a pistol outside the establishment on Thanksgiving night, Okeechobee City Police reported.

Jose Rodriquez, 27, was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and discharging a firearm from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person. He was held on $100,000 bond.

Arrest reports from Okeechobee Police noted that Rodriquez got into an argument inside the bar. The report said Rodriquez asked the victim to approach his car and when he did, he produced a handgun. The victim claimed he grabbed at the gun to prevent being shot. In the struggle at least one round was fired. The victim apparently was dragged by the vehicle as Mr. Rodriquez attempted to flee the scene.

The vehicle also sustained damage to it’s under carriage as it ran over two parking curbs as it left the parking lot.

An alert was sent to area law enforcement agencies after the shooting, and Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies were able to locate the vehicle on State Road 70 west headed into Highlands County. They stopped the vehicle near the intersection of 721 and 70 west moments later.

A 27 year old Okeechobee man was charged with trafficking in cocaine after a joint investigation by the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Tinajero Santiago, of N.W. 42 nd Avenue, allegedly sold 29 grams of cocaine to an undercover officer in Okeechobee County on October 19. The alleged transaction was caught on audio tape and video tape. He was arrested on November 22. Santiago may face a federal indictment for illegal re-entry into the United States. He was deported in 2003 in another criminal case.

A 19 year old Stuart youth was killed in a single vehicle wreck on State Road 68 east in Okeechobee County on November 26, Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies said.

Kyle Chase Smith was headed east bound near the St. Lucie County line when he lost control of a 1992 Isuzu SUV, and it flipped over.

Smith was not wearing a seat belt and he was thrown from the vehicle when it flipped over.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Okeechobee County Fire Rescue. The wreck occurred at approximately 2 a.m. Deputies were unsure if alcohol was involved.

An Okeechobee man died from injuries he sustained while working at the Louis Dreyfus Citrus Plant in Indiantown.

Robert Rogers, 53, took a turn for the worst last week after some encouraging news that he might survive serious burns to over 70 percent of his body.

Rogers died at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami on November 25, according to various sources.

Rogers was working at the plant fixing a pump when a vat of water failed and scalding water of about 200 degrees struck the man. Two other men were injured, but not as seriously.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the accident that occurred on November 15 th. They expect their investigation to take six months to complete.

A 50 year old Belle Glade man, Miracia Simeus, died after an accident while working at U.S. Sugar in Canal Point on November 30, Palm Beach County Sheriff Deputies reported.

Simeus was riding on a John Deere Tractor when the operator took his eye off the road and the tractor drove into a canal.

Simeus was killed when the tractor overturned on top of her and she was submerged in water. Efforts to revive her failed.

Simeus and several other workers had been planting sugar canal on the property before the accident occurred.