News Update for 5/20/25
Aline McWhite Park in Avon Park will officially reopen at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 22nd, following four months of renovations. The park, located at 240 E. Hal McRae Blvd., received $50,000 in improvements funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency. Enhancements include a resurfaced basketball court with new poles, backboards, and rims. City officials regard the upgrades as a meaningful investment in community well-being, youth engagement, and neighborhood pride. Future plans include additional safety measures to further enhance the park experience.
A teenager is charged with murder in Polk County. Sheriff Grady Judd announced yesterday 18-year-old Moses Ojeda was arrested on Sunday. He allegedly killed his roommate at a group home on Blue Bird Ave in Bartow. Judd says Ojeda confessed to stabbing Patrick Benway over one hundred times because the 81-year-old was already dying. Judd says Ojeda has been Baker Acted six times.
The Highlands County Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a special exception request from Agriland, LLC to establish a 5.14-acre agricultural research facility at MLK Jr. Boulevard and Arbuckle Creek Road. The Miami-based father-son team behind Tropical Seeds, Eduardo and Aloisha Stern, will focus on regenerative agriculture—developing cover crops like sunn hemp to improve soil health and sustainability. The facility will support seed research, production, and distribution, with ties to academic and international partners. Phase one includes an R&D building and classrooms; a larger warehouse may follow in phase two.
A new law is designed to protect boaters in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Boater Freedom Act into law yesterday. It requires FWC officers to have probable cause to stop boaters. DeSantis says it also stops local governments from restricting the purchase of gas-powered boats. He writes on X reducing government overreach and maximizing time spent enjoying our waterways will ensure Florida remains the boating and fishing capital of the world.
Avon Park’s brand-new Farmers Market is set to launch Saturday, June 14, at The Hotel Jacaranda Arcade and its back parking lot, with food trucks and live music behind 126 W. Main St. The weekly market will run Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., aiming to boost foot traffic in downtown. Organizer Sara Pipal has spent months preparing, hoping to feature 30 artisan vendors, 10 farm stands, and 5–6 food trucks. Inspired by markets in Lake Placid and Mount Dora, Pipal wants to bring that same vibrant, community feel to Avon Park.
Lake Wales could soon expand westward as city commissioners consider a proposal to annex 1,202 acres for a major development called Stoneridge. The mixed-use project, bordering Lake Wales Municipal Airport, could bring nearly 3,000 new homes and add over 7,700 residents. A public hearing and first reading are set for May 20 at 6 p.m. Plans include residential, industrial, and commercial zones—plus a potential Chipotle along SR 60. The city’s planning board has already recommended approval, and final decisions will follow a second commission vote.
A Central Florida school district employee is facing charges in a murder case in Osceola County. Jessica Rivera is accused of tampering with evidence tied to last month’s shooting of 19-year-old Nekko Herrera. Rivera was arrested last week at Whispering Oak Elementary School in Winter Garden where she works in the cafeteria. Deputies in Osceola County say she’s also dating the man accused of killing Herrera at a mobile home park in St. Cloud. Orvill Osorio Ortiz allegedly shot Herrera while a group of teenagers were fighting over a girl. Ortiz and Rivera are being held without bond.
Nearly 20 people are under arrest after a major drug-trafficking bust in Central Florida. The Orange County sheriff’s office says 19 people are facing charges of trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine. The suspects are looking at a mandatory 20-to-25 years in prison for their involvement in the crime ring. The cocaine originated from Puerto Rico, while the fentanyl was sourced from Mexico and California. Law enforcement agencies from all around were involved in the operation.
The state must take more steps to protect manatees in Brevard and Volusia counties. A federal judge ruled yesterday the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has to do more to ensure the safety of manatees in the Indian River Lagoon. The DEP has to stop new septic tanks from being built nearby, establish programs to check on manatees’ health and provide more food for them. The judge also ruled the DEP must provide quarterly updates. The ruling was made in response to a lawsuit from an environmental group called Bear Warriors United.