Around South Florida

State

REVENUE IN WAITING

In Oregon, $10.8 million worth of recreational marijuana was sold in just days – six days after the state legalized it. Some organizations expect sales to top a quarter of a billion dollars by year’s end. While that number may be wishful thinking, the state of Oregon and local governmental entities are smiling all the way to the bank. With huge revenue projections, some Florida politicians are waiting until it’s politically safe to put forth their prop
osals for full legalization here.

Palm Beach County

ARTIST ARRESTED

Brett Matheys, an artist with the Boca Body Art Tattoo Parlor, has been arrested and charged with several counts of sexual assault. A college student alleges Matheys hired her as a tattoo apprentice but ended up fondling her while he demonstrated some procedures on her. Matheys denied the allegations, but police did not buy his story and arrested him.

JOB OPENINGS

The School District of Palm Beach County’s Transportation Services department is hiring school bus drivers. The school district offers competitive pay, health insurance and other benefits; as well as free Commercial Driving License (CDL) training for those who qualify. For more information call 561-242-6515.

CRIME MONEY

The City of Delray Beach has received $34,500 in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice. The money will go towards the cost of deploying a special crime prevention task force during the holiday season. The task force requires extra officers and overtime pay for officers assigned to increased patrols at shopping malls and neighborhoods.

Broward County

GROCERY GIVEAWAY

Wayne Barton, CEO of the Wayne Barton Study Center, has partnered with Broward Sheriff Scott Israel to distribute free groceries to those in nee
d. Last week more than an estimated 3,000 thousand people were provided groceries at an event held at the New Golden Heights Church of Christ in Lauderdale Lakes. The next Grocery Giveaway is scheduled to take place 10:00 a.m., Nov 7th at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1321 N.W. Sistrunk Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale. Call 954-463-2192 for more information. Patrons must bring their own bags, boxes or carts.

NEW HOMES

The Pines at Crystal Lake affordable housing project construction is underway. The $19.2 million project is located next to Crystal Lake Middle School in Pompano Beach at 400 N.E. 33rd Street. The site was once the home of the Sunrise Mushroom factory.  The development is funded by public and private money and the 92 townhomes will have to be rented to the poor.

CHEERS FROM THE HOOD

If you recall the television program Cheers, it was set in a neighborhood bar. A recent study shows that in the last 10 years, more than 10,000 neighborhood bars around the country have shut down. But here in Florida they have increased. While the rest of Florida is flourishing, nightspots in black neighborhoods are disappearing. At the current pace, black-owned nightspots could be a thing of the past in Broward County in five years.

ROSENTHAL RESIGNS

Lynn Rosenthal resigned her seat on the bench after the Florida Supreme Court rejected a recommendation of a 90-day suspension from the bench over her arrest for DUI. Rosenthal was arrested after driving her SUV into a parked police squad car in the parking lot of the main courthouse. Rosenthal says she was on Ambien sleeping pills, but refused to submit to blood and urine test.

Miami-Dade County

FIRE DEATH

Miami Fire Rescue spokesman Ignatius Carroll confirmed an 83-year-old woman died in a fire at an apartment complex located at 1800 S.W. 25th Street in Miami. Witnesses reported hearing screaming coming from the home as flames engulfed the structure. Firefighters pulled the woman out of the apartment, but she died at the scene. A caretaker who lived with her was also rescued and taken to the Ryder Trauma Center where she was treated for burns to her hands. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

DOCTOR ARRESTED

Dr. Henry Lora, of Miami, is charged with two counts of fraud and conspiracy. Authorities say the charges are related to his participation in a $20 million Medicare fraud and kickback scheme. They carry up to a combined 25-year maximum prison sentence. Lora is accused of writing home health care prescriptions for Medicare patients that were unnecessary or never provided, in exchange for kickbacks and bribes at his Merfi Corp clinic.

Monroe County

CHARGED

Lori Pilotti, 47, of Summerland Key, is facing numerous drug and weapons charges after Monroe County deputies executed a search warrant at her home. Crack cocaine and marijuana along with several guns and ammunition were found. She was also charged with being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.

LOST CASE

Benito Lopez Gonzalez, 32, of Stock Island, has lost another appeal of his 51-month prison sentence. Gonzalez was convicted of fondling a 12-year-old girl in 2013. He has consistently denied the allegations but the Florida Supreme Court has rejected his latest appeal of the conviction.

PLEA DEAL

William Marques Dieguez, 26, of Miami has accepted a 25-year prison sentence plea deal in the murder of a Big Pine Key man at his home in 2011. Dieguez’ accomplice, Sean Roberts, is already serving time in prison and was set to testify against him at his first degree murder trial.