WAFC Local News – January 12, 2026, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. The Clewiston City Commission honored Fire Chief Travis Reese, who’s retiring after 36 years of service. Reese said he enjoyed his time in Clewiston. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you. And it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve with you, my fellow firefighters. I’m honored to be a part of that and blessed. And that goes for current and past firefighters and commissioners and city managers, as you mentioned. Clewiston Fire Chief Kevin McCarthy says Reese made a lot of improvements for the Clewiston Fire Department over the years. Over the last seven years, he has moved the department forward with ever increasing training, equipment, and professionalism. We also have Travis to thank for the latest state appropriation of a new ladder truck worth over a million dollars and his brainchild of our own training facility for new firemen, which Len is working on a grant for. Henry County Commissioners agreed to repay $43,000 collected by the tax collector on unpaid garbage bills that dated back 25-30 years. The commission approved 10% pay hikes for the county engineer and county attorney. Palm Beach deputies investigating a shooting at 845 Palm Beach Road in South Bay. A male victim that was going into his residence was shot at around 5 in the morning. Police were not called right away. Police say 19 shell casings were found. The victim did not want to pursue the case and hung up on deputies when they tried to investigate. A Belle Glade female was injured when she rode her e-bike into a parked vehicle at 650 SW 4th Street. Palm Beach Fire Rescue treated Bree’Asia Wallace at the scene. She is 17 years old. A witness says Wallace was riding at a high rate of speed and struck the vehicle a Dodge Caravan. A Miami man was charged in a shooting and robbery in Belle Glade that occurred just before Thanksgiving. A drug deal involving $8,000 apparently turned violent. One man was hospitalized and three suspects facing serious charges. Palm Beach County deputies say the shooting happened November 18 near Northwest Avenue B. Investigators say 26-year-old Shane Billings was shot in the thigh during the attempted robbery and was trying to buy marijuana. He went to St. Mary’s Medical Center for emergency surgery and survived. Investigators identified the suspects as Derek Jenkins Jr., Antonio Guzman, and Brian Robinson. The arrest report said Jenkins pulled a rifle and demanded cash from Billings before he opened fire. All three then fled in a sedan that was later recovered in Delray Beach. Jenkins is also a convicted felon. His charges include attempted first-degree murder, robbery with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Robinson and Guzman were both accused of conspiring in the robbery. Authorities say the case remains active as they gather evidence in the shooting. Cleveland City Commissioners approved a conditional use permit for big-time power sports golf carts to have a business and repair shop. They’ll be located at 820 East Sugarland Highway and 815 East Sagamore Avenue.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).