WAFC Local News – May 21, 2026, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News. Rick Dolan with the Florida Forest Service says the start of the summer thunderstorm season is going to increase the fire danger. Most of the fires we’ve had up to this point have been human caused, but here in the last week or so, it’s more lightning. And that’s just going to increase. Florida beginning the peak of its worst wildfire season in years, Ag Commissioner Wilson Simpson says communities could cut their 4th of July fireworks plans if it remains so dry. The Florida boating accident report for 2025 is out. 694 reportable boating accidents in 2025, 51 fatalities and 291 accidents injuring, 437 more. There was one boating fatality on Lake Okeechobee. 38 year old Nick Kaler died near the Clewiston Water Tower early 2025. Henry County at 3,016 registered vessels. Glades County had an increase to 1,513. An attempted murder during a shooting in Belle Glade at a store, the incident at 340 Southwest 6th Street. Facing charges is Joseph Oliver Lee Tucker Jr., a first degree attempted murder. The incident happened at Bobby’s Market on May 16th, just before 3 a.m. The victim had to be airlifted to St. Mary’s. There were eight shell casings found at the crime scene, along with a brown pizza box. The incident was caught on store video and was positively identified by a store employee. A Clewiston woman arrested in Martin County on drug charges, 39 year old Crystal Cypress was having difficulty at a 7-11 in Stewart and fire rescue was called to the scene along with deputies on State Road 76. Police say they found multiple prescription bottles in her purse. Cypress was treated at Martin Memorial South. A 28 year old Henry County man, Tommy Ray, is facing charges of battery on a jail inmate. He’s alleged to have struck a man on the telephone inside the jail over some kind of disagreement. The blow knocked the victim out. A Clewiston man, Nelson Billy, facing charges after a chase involving alcohol. He arrested by Seminole Police. They tried to make a traffic stop for speeding on Josie Billy Highway. Billy reportedly drove at a slow rate of speed, about 10 to 15 miles an hour for a distance before stopping. Charges include fleeing eluding police, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. A Pahokee man is charged with rape, 32 year old Richard Brown. Brown allegedly raped a 30 year old woman who had become intoxicated in Pahokee back in 2023. Deputies arrived and began knocking on the trailer for over an hour with no response. Deputies say due to her being incapacitated from ingesting cold medication and alcohol, she was physically helpless to resist or consent. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).