WAFC Local News – October 14, 2026, 8:06 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting a teenager murdered in LaBelle, 18 years old. Another 18 is behind bars, charged with the crime. Henry County deputies say the shooting took place in the area of El Faro Assembly of God on Bryan Avenue. The victim identified as Angel Kua Kua Vasquez of LaBelle. The victim and three friends were walking in the neighborhood. Another juvenile in a truck with a passenger got into an argument and there were several gunshot heard. It’s alleged the shooter also attempted to shoot witnesses who were running from the scene. He’s been identified as 18 year old David Luis Martinez Reyes of LaBelle. He’s facing charges that include one count of homicide and three counts of attempted homicide. He was held with no bond at the Henry County jail. Henry County schools have announced a construction delay in the new LaBelle high school. They won’t be able to open the new school until after the 27, 28 school year. There was a change in the design of the high school causing the delay. The target opening date is August, 2028. Superintendent of schools, Michael Swindles, says graduates in 27 and 28 will be disappointed in the delay. I told them you will graduate here. That’s not going to be easier for me when we go back into that, you know, this year I’ve got to go in front of them and say, well, the senior high school is not going to equate anything except for, you said that, right? You said, but that’s okay. It’s part of my job and I’ll do it. But, but you’re right. It’s not easy to buy in this one. The school board had a 6% increase in their general fund this year and the budget they approved included over 47.6 million in capital project spending. A social media influencer in Glades County was sentenced to 60 days in jail and $205 in court costs for breaching the peace and annoying Glades electric workers and linemen on the job. He pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge. On May 27th of this year, Glades County deputies claimed Tony Navarro caused a disturbance on old Lakeport road. His workers tried to restore power. The workers claimed Navarro was yelling at them while working from a bucket truck on a 14,000 volt power line, causing them to be distracted and stopping work due to safety concerns. The workers say it’s very dangerous to be working on high voltage lines when they’re constantly being distracted. Navarro’s action resulted in a delay in restoring power to Glades electric customers that day. Once they got out of the bucket truck and reached the ground, Navarro rode away on a bicycle. The LaBelle commission discussed utility budgets. They have over a hundred million in grants coming for sewer and water plants. They’ve taken out a $20 million loan, say they’ll have money to pay for invoices while they wait on grant dollars. Public works director Mitchell Wills says they’ll put out the money and wait for it to be reimbursed. You got awarded $40 million, but you don’t have $40 million. Right. A lot of this with a grant, it takes eight months, a year, sometimes longer to get all your reimbursements. So what we’re, what we’re into the growing pains you’re feeling right now in the process of where we have to front the money in order to do it. The interest will cost the city about half a million. Finance director Lily Lett, finance director Lily Davenport says fuel and utilities are all going up in price. So there is a budget shortfall in the sewer. We don’t, we’ve never generated enough from rates to cover operations ever. She says the city should hold consultants feet to the fire to get this money. We know that we’re not giving you the level of service that you need, especially given your financial situation. You know, we have national resources committed to help us do that. I’ve had that call twice and still things are falling through the cracks. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC news.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).