WAFC Local News – June 22, 2026, 8:06 AM
Transcript
Charles Murphy reporting, Henry County Commissioners recently approved over a million dollars in spending to improve their airports, $413,000 to Cobb Site Development to upgrade the entrance road at the LaBelle Airport, and $639,000 to design Taxiway A rehabilitation at Airglades in Cluiston. They also honored Marcus Jerry Jones for 15 years of service to the county and held a budget workshop focused on fire rescue. Fire Chief Amy Stafford would like a budget increase and wants to be able to recruit and retain good employees. I need something to recruit. I need something to get people here. She’d like to expand services, staff and paramedics and wants to free up her lieutenants to do more administrative duties. County Commissioner Rowdy Howard says he supports the expansion of fire rescue. Commissioner Rills, I’ll support that 100%. It’s time and I think the Chief has a good solid plan. The Commission talked about adding a mobile home in Flag Hole and a pole barn and ambulance unit in Montura. Her total budget would increase spending by $218,000. Henry County deputies identified the drowning victim as 47-year-old Donald Latham. The body was found around 11.45 a.m. Saturday. Latham was seen on State Road 80 at State Road 29 an hour before being located in the water. Latham apparently went under the bridge, took off his clothes and went swimming for unknown reasons. The cause of death is pending the results of toxicology reports. He had just been released from jail on Friday on a charge of disorderly intoxication out of Clueston. The City of Belgrade allowed a new racetrack to clear a hurdle with approval of a land use designation. Nearly 11 acres are being developed. About six will be used for the gas station and convenience store. The project includes 16 gas pumps and 6,100 square feet of retail space at the intersection of State Road 80 and State Road 15. They would like to start construction in the fall. The project would create up to 40 jobs. The Glades County School Board learned their new elementary school and bus garage project both came under budget. They received just over $52 million for the garage and school. The budget for the garage was $4 million. They assured the public that they have money to provide transportation and pay STAB. The state took over much of the district’s financial operations this spring due to a financial emergency as their fund balance dipped below 2%. They note they received grants for the new elementary school and electric buses and those grant funds can only be used for those purposes. Two female inmates allegedly got into a fight at the Henry County Jail. Nineteen-year-old Aaliyah Quintanilla is facing charges of battery by an inmate on an inmate. The two girls had been fighting over a tablet they were using. The one girl was struck in the head several times, allegedly by Quintanilla. The state attorney will review the charge and they think that they have video camera footage of the assault. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold a public meeting on July 8th to discuss the Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area 10-Year Land Management Plan. It will be held at the UF IFAS Extension Office in Henry County in LaBelle and starts at 6 p.m. The wildlife management area currently conserves some 37,000 acres in the heart of Henry County. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).