WAFC Local News – June 18, 2026, 8:06 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. Mosquito activity picking up in Henry County due to the recent rains. This city councilwoman, Hillary Highslope. It’s crazy that we’re seeing these little tiny ones now when we’re still in a drought. But it’s just because what, like two weeks ago, we got a little bit of rain. You know, that’s it. And that’s all it takes. The city is discussing talking to the Department of Transportation to give more time for motorists trying to make left turns at red lights along U.S. 27. They’re also considering ways to regulate scooters, golf carts and e-bikes that are becoming a problem. Jason Williams, his parents are not setting a good example. We’re in the day and age of no accountability. Yes. Chief of Police Tico Salgado says his priority is safety in the city. There was a golf cart that actually tipped over and two of the kids got hurt pretty bad on the end of the hospital. So and the golf cart was completely destroyed. It was total. So these are things that we don’t want to see. He says the police may have to start writing tickets if the problem isn’t solved. Mayor Jimmy Pittman says he’s seen a lot of close calls with these vehicles. I would ask for a quick show of hands of how many people have almost run over one. So it is a concern. Emery Payne is settling in as the new city manager for the city of Belle Glade. He had been the commander of the Sheriff’s Glades Division in Palm Beach County. Belle Glade continued to ignore local news coverage with no notice of special meetings for the candidate interviews. He had a special meeting to consider the applicants, but didn’t post the notice online until the same day. They’re also bad at posting their agendas. Zaytek Marin announced she is resigning her position as deputy city manager. Bohegi has an ongoing problem at City Hall. It’ll be closed today and it will be on a holiday for Juneteenth on Friday. Termites have infested the city hall. Brenda Bryant, their city manager, says they were particularly bad in code enforcement. They hope to get everybody back to work at City Hall on Monday. It is really bad. They couldn’t even work in there for the last week. The closure of Alligator Alcatraz and the Glades has helped the Glades County Detention Center. Lieutenant Gary Johnson says they’ve been getting new detainees daily this week, between 100 and 150 in the past week due to the closure. Alligator Alcatraz now empty. They say it could be temporary as they’ve emptied out for the hurricane season. Ali Iacre’s father arrested after a street takeover involving his child on an ATV. Deputies in Sarasota say 29-year-old Jordinus Garcia rode the ATV recklessly and did wheelies with the eight-year-old son in his lap during the street takeover. The arrest on June 15th. He’s facing charges that include child neglect without great bodily harm and was also cited for racing on the highway and coordinating a street takeover. A Miami man was clock going 91 in a 35 mile per hour zone down the streets of Moorhaven on US 27 at 4th Street. Glades deputies pulled him over and they have charged Joe Malta Vanegas with operating a vehicle speed more than 50 miles over the speed limit, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of dangerous drugs and driving with a suspended license. There were three others in the car, but none of them were licensed drivers either. The harmful chemical was listed as a glass bottle containing isobutyl nitrate. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).