WAFC Local News – April 23, 2026, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. The Florida Highway Patrol making an arrest in a fatal crash near LaBelle on County Road 78 that occurred last October. Gabriela Ledesma is charged with vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter. They say she was going between 70 and 75 miles an hour approaching Bonneville Street when the crash occurred. A 45-year-old man from LaBelle was killed in that three-vehicle crash. Troopers say lab tests determined Ledesma had a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit as high as 0.13 and also tested positive for THC. The Clewiston Elks Lodge have named Sergeant Jeffrey Nunemaker as the Hendry County Deputy of the Year. They had the annual First Responder Appreciation Dinner in Clewiston. Nunemaker is a devoted law enforcement professional with over 30 years of dedicated service in law enforcement. The Elk says he demonstrates unwavering commitment to the safety of the community and the development of those he supervises. He is over road patrol in Clewiston. The Hendry Correctional Deputy of the Year is Ulysses Granados Gomez. He was also honored at the Elks Lodge dinner. He was raised in LaBelle, is a graduate from LaBelle High School, and was involved with their criminal justice program. He has worked for the Sheriff’s Department for just over two years. Lee County arrested six individuals, including a 17-year-old in connection with a large theft of aluminum scrap metal worth thousands of dollars. Among those arrested is DeAndre Morrow of Hendry County. They think about $30,000 worth of aluminum was stolen. U.S. Senator Ashley Moody visiting with farmers and ranchers in the 18th Congressional District seeing the damage done by the freeze. Moody says she’ll work for the farmers in Washington to get disaster declarations. A lot of what we’ve been doing is talking to the USDA, talking to the secretary, examining on what I can do, what others of us can do on their behalf to push forward help for them and what’s available for them. There’s also been impacts to pastures around Clewiston and LaBelle. Rancher Nicholas Galisi says he’s had to use a lot of feed from the feed store this winter. This was the first year we had the supplement food. Food’s expensive, so there’s three months of feed. So it does cut into your margins, but again, it’s the long view here. LaBelle Commissioner has approved a permit to allow alcohol sales at the recent Southern Swamp Gala, but it did not come without drama. Stephanie Diego says it’s an ego trip for the city. Okay, I’m not done talking. Stop making us do this every year. Let us do our deal. Like I said, if there’s gonna be a significant change, we will let you know, but there’s not gonna be. We just wanna do this for the benefit of the community, for these kids. She said she understands some conditions, but the city is going overboard. Substantial change, I will let you know, but to have to come and ask permission every year, I just think it’s silly. I think it’s an ego trip for you guys, to be honest. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).