ON A HIGH
Supporters of the legalization of medical marijuana may have been down, but they are not out. John Morgan, the Orlando attorney and chairman of People United for Medical Marijuana, says they have made changes to the language in the proposed constitutional amendment, and will have the measure back on the ballot in 2016. It was narrowly defeated in 2014.
Palm Beach County
BITE VICTIM
Mark and Aneth McCarthy operate a wildlife sanctuary in Palm Beach County. The couple has appeared on animal television programs and will be making another appearance soon. This time it will be on A&E to speak about Aneth’s experience of being bitten by a cobra while she was cleaning the snake’s cage this past June. Yikes!
HIRING PRACTICES
The Department of Children and Families is coming under fire over its clearance of convicted felon Judy Perlin, aka Judy Schelin to work at a daycare. Perlin was convicted of stealing federal funds from a program that was supposed to provide meals to low-income kids in daycare facilities. The DCF background check did not reveal the federal conviction and she was subsequently hired by Boca Raton-based Congregation B’Nai Israel. Perlin has now been fired after her past was detailed on the blog Boca News Now.
FAKE WORKERS
Palm Beach County Commissioner Priscilla A. Taylor and her colleagues are warning residents to be wary of people claiming to be workers with the county’s Water Utilities Department. Fraudsters have been impersonating utility workers to gain access to homes and/or yards. Anyone working with the county should have a visible ID badge and drive a vehicle that is clearly marked with county decals.
Broward County
LET GO
Chan Lowe, the iconic and award-winning editorial cartoonist has been let go from the Sun Sentinel newspaper. Lowe was included in the paper’s latest round of about a dozen layoffs. The job cuts weren’t a surprise, but Lowe’s inclusion in them has left newsrooms around the country in shock.
BANK SOLD
Pompano Beach-based Stonegate Bank CEO David Seleski has completed the acquisition of Dania Beach-based Community Bank of Broward. Stonegate paid $61.2 million; shareholders of both companies approved the deal. It’s another community bank that been either sold or shut down in South Florida.
Miami-Dade County
JAIL TIME
Stanley Fertil, 20, and his 19-year-old brother Steven Fertil both of Miami, have been convicted in a massive identity theft and unemployment scheme. They stole the identities of more than 4,000 people and applied for unemployment benefits in the names of more than 600 before being caught. Stanley is sentenced to nine years Steven will serve 12 years in prison. They must also payback over $815,000 in benefits they received and serve three years’ probation. Book’em Danno!
DOLPHINS ROONEY
The Miami Dolphins have hired Mike Tannenbaum as executive vice president of football operations. No black candidate was interviewed for the position. NFL officials say the hiring does not violate the league’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for senior football operations positions.
STILL HIRING
F&E Aircraft Maintenance is still trying to hire aircraft mechanics and technicians. The Miami-based company plans to hire over 200 workers over the next three years as it expands at Miami International Airport. Finding qualified applicants may be difficult. Father and son company owners Fred and Camron Murphy, say they are now looking to schools and technical facilities to collaborate on a training and recruitment plan.
Monroe County
TASERED TEEN
Roberto Fausto Ornelas, 18, died after being tasered by Monroe County Sheriff deputies. Ornelas’ father called 911 to report his son was acting erratic and smashing things inside the home. Deputies arrived and had to use a taser to control him. He was transported to a hospital where he died four days later. His cause of death is being investigated.
ATHLETE KILLED
88-year-old Domingo Veloso, of Sugarloaf Key is charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury. He is accused of hitting and killing Christopher Dyko, 48, who was riding a bicycle. Veloso kept going, but returned to the scene later and was arrested for leaving the scene and failing to render aid. Dyko, who was visiting from Bremerton, Washington, is a graduate of Washington State University. He was an offensive tackle and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1989. He also played in the Canadian and the World football leagues.
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