WAFC Local News – June 03, 2026, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. The National Child Protection Task Force located 21 missing and endangered children in Southwest Florida last week, some of them located in Hendry County. 14 agencies and 145 people and investigators were involved in the month-long operation. Lieutenant Wade Williams is with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. He says they were very busy. We will not stop until the children are safe and anyone who exploits them is behind bars. He says in the past year, there have been 177 victims of trafficking and 95 arrests made by the task force. Children are usually running from something or running to something. And those that are missing usually have complex issues that make them exceptionally vulnerable. This vulnerability makes them immediate targets for offenders looking to exploit them. Belgrade City Commission reelected Steve Wilson as mayor and selected Robert Reese as the new vice mayor. They congratulated Brenda Bryant, recently named manager for the city of Pahokee, and the commission approved a proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month, this councilwoman Tequila Collins. However, we just lost three residents within our community within the last month due to mental health, and it saddens me at times. They also approved a request to rename a portion of a certain right-of-way known as Northwest 12th Drive to Horace Harris Drive, and Palm Beach Sheriff deputies reporting a recent uptick in burglaries in Belgrade. Hendry County Commissioners honored the Harlem Community Association and U.S. Sugar for helping develop the first amphitheater in Hendry County. This chairman of the commission, Raymond Iglesias. The first amphitheater in Hendry County marks a historic milestone in the cultural and civic development of the community. And whereas this amphitheater, located at Janet B. Taylor Community Tree Park, stands as a symbol of unity, progress, and opportunity. The board approved just over 2 million in bids to expand Force Main Sewer further toward Airglades. The low bidder is CACU Utilities. Remaining funds could get a mile to a mile and a half closer to Airglades. 10 miles of line is needed. The Florida House and Senate approved a property tax measure yesterday. It’ll be on the ballot in November. It would increase the homestead exemption to 150,000 in the first year and 250,000 in the second year. House Speaker Daniel Perez supported the measure. I think the victory potentially is for Floridians that have homestead exemptions that could increase up to $250,000 over two years. I mean, those are the true victors, assuming that this were to pass in November. A 20-year-old Belle Glade man is held on charges after a shooting in LaBelle near Rick’s Mini Mart. Clytevia Shepherd faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, shooting into a dwelling, vehicle, building, or aircraft, and firing a weapon in public. Henry County Sheriff Deputies say the victim was driving in a 1996 Lincoln Town Car on Northeast Eucalyptus Boulevard when an unknown vehicle approached him from behind and fired four rounds into the vehicle. The victim then returned fire with a Glock handgun, about six to eight shots. Residential and business surveillance cameras appeared to back up his story. They also spotted a silver BMW on that footage, and were able to trace that to the registered owner, Mr. Shepherd. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).