WAFC Local News – September 11, 2026, 8:06 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. A GoFundMe account was apparently defrauded in LaBelle. 28-year-old Megan Gollum allegedly created the account to help a man over 65 with his cancer treatments. She was able to raise nearly $4,500. The cancer patient, though, claims that Gollum never gave him the money. The investigation dated back to February and resulted in charges last month against Gollum of defrauding someone of under $20,000 when the victim is 65 years or older. They allege that the money was spent on retail purchases, entertainment-related transactions, food purchases, transfers, and approximately $2,900 loaded into a debit card. It is a third-degree felony charge. Not giving up on Farm Bill Our Congressman Scott Franklin thinks it’s still possible the Farm Bill passes Congress this year. The House approved the measure over the summer and it’s stuck now in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Franklin says Congress has still done things this year to better farms and ranchers across Florida. A number of features in the One Big Beautiful Bill or Working Families Tax Cut Act that had impact on farmers, but we’ve got to get this Farm Bill done. It’s been kind of kicked down the road for too long now, so I’m confident we’re going to get this done soon. Florida Attorney General James Oothmeyer pushing tougher penalties against poachers in the state. He gave this example of a poacher at a recent press conference. A family in a rural area in the dining room at night at the dinner table, a bullet comes through the window. You can imagine if you’re there with your kids what a horrifying experience that would be. Suddenly everybody hits the deck, they’re not sure what’s going on. Supporters of the new bill say the changes would help protect both Florida’s natural resources and public safety. Supporters of wildlife and law enforcement are supporting the bill. Alberto Raza says he thinks they’ll be able to stop poaching in Florida. FWC takes poaching serious. Increased penalties would create significant consequences for poachers who will willfully endanger families while stealing wildlife from Floridians and would be a meaningful deterrent to those who would even consider these irresponsible and dangerous actions. A South Bay woman is facing disorderly intoxication charges in Okeechobee. Jalixa Johnson was reportedly yelling and screaming, making verbal threats towards several other subjects in the parking lot of 301 North Parrott Avenue. Police told her to leave, she refused and she went to jail instead. Glades County Commission Chair Tim Stanley urged the Sheriff’s Department to beef up patrols in Buckhead Ridge. He says there’s been a recent increase in crime that may involve teenagers. You got some thieving going on up there in Buckhead. There’s batteries missing and gas being stolen. Tell the sheriff to start watching around bicycles. It’s got to be probably a kid, but they’re hitting quite a few houses. A Palmdale man is facing charges of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer two counts in DeSoto County. It dates back to July 19th. Demetre Minich was arrested at a county warrant in Highlands County and was transferred back to DeSoto County. He was spotted speeding on Highway 17 at 70 miles an hour in a 50 mile per hour zone. He allegedly ran several red lights and refused to pull over. He spotted the vehicle also on Highway 17. It pulled over for a second and then pulled out again, driving away. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).