[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6223216,"mediaKeyId","3576809-7f4d79d33b488438f1543491535d2b7b","parentId",3576809,"title","LaBelle livestock club urges county to stop 'bumping' event dates; commissioners propose calendar meeting for 2026","audioSeconds",1362,"startMs",1938000,"endMs",3300000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3576809-7f4d79d33b488438f1543491535d2b7b&start=1938&end=3300","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3576809-7f4d79d33b488438f1543491535d2b7b/thumbnail_1938000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223216/Hendry-County/Florida/LaBelle-livestock-club-urges-county-to-stop-bumping-event-dates-commissioners-propose-calendar-meeting-for-2026","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223216-139d238c9e2ecd6ae4764ac792ec2d51/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175203&Signature=ohtOfQgScI0wNgPjTaNnfLpMv8fjm6E8nnnwcQjD398J3v~GcNokThinWqZCsDxDSSAd6WdiulF5gLLyuTDqWtkrHEgCiq79vbRrgSaU9QHZdL6Ui68RIzQjb8SS4nrBmoY8mon34E7OAM9Aln168KoKH3eR4fWQxrmLTg~19Qw-8rEaYrVLdeZjYcCPVXSgbbcKnjaseyXxl00Ep8gL2G55ruAn3k1WN2NaGKqQmAx60CxFcxU8EoyNiDZ8FR0sxqzmeMzsvwUtZxIjkpnaP0gb~jk7pX71BH50CMzZC0xBd37gXTppLDwMZtj4CYWGOK2KUnFXvIVMJOAb03uc4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hendry County, FL ","date","2025-05-28T11:20:02Z","article","Multiple members of the LaBelle Family Livestock Club told the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners on May 27 that the club’s one-day barrel-race dates have been repeatedly bumped in favor of three-day junior rodeos, disrupting volunteer scheduling, insurance sanctioning and local economic benefits.

Sherry Walker, president of the LaBelle Family Livestock Club, described the club as a 501(c)(3) that relies on volunteers to maintain the arena and run events that benefit youth and local charities. ‘‘We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization…Our main focus is to do our part to help keep kids off the street, have family oriented events, and put back into our community,’’ she said.

Other speakers — Alexandra Williams, Andy Bridal and Laura Carruthers — said their events require months of scheduling with sanctioning organizations (IBRA, WPRA and similar groups), securing insurance and preparing the arena surface. Andy Bridal said the club averages 60–100 riders per show and that riders typically patronize LaBelle businesses after events. The speakers asked that the county adopt a first-come, first-served booking policy or otherwise prevent last-minute date substitutions.

County staff and commissioners said the matter had been discussed at a WestRec meeting and that a policy change process is under way. Staff proposed that the current year remain as scheduled and that, for 2026, the county implement a calendar process: notices in November, a date-certain scheduling meeting in December at the special-districts venue for all user groups to coordinate, and a finalized calendar effective Jan. 1, 2026. Staff also said they will allow arena use on holidays except Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and that, after the 2026 calendars are set, future additions would be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Commissioners and users discussed alternatives including shared weekends and staggered start times, but speakers raised logistical obstacles (insurance differences, parking and long-stay trailers for multi-day events). Brandon Lin, president of LaBelle Youth Livestock and AG Show, asked that the annual fair and swamp-cabbage events remain fixed on the calendar.

No formal county ordinance or code change was adopted at the meeting. Staff said they will convene the scheduling meeting and return proposals to the board for finalization; commissioners invited organizers to attend an off-hours planning meeting and work with staff to resolve conflicts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hendry County BOCC Commission Meeting 5/27/25","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the LaBelle Family Livestock Club and other users told the board that county staff have allowed three-day junior rodeos to bump previously scheduled one-day barrel-race events. Commissioners proposed a planning meeting and calendar process to resolve conflicts for 2026.","taxTitle","Hendry County, Florida","taxId",27816,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223222,"Hendry County adopts 'Move Over for Ken' resolution and urges stronger state penalties",419,1049000,1468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3576809-7f4d79d33b488438f1543491535d2b7b&start=1049&end=1468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3576809-7f4d79d33b488438f1543491535d2b7b/thumbnail_1049000.jpg","/articles/6223222/Hendry-County/Florida/Hendry-County-adopts-Move-Over-for-Ken-resolution-and-urges-stronger-state-penalties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223222-99a363e238462342e28bbe07ec11490a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175203&Signature=BdX0n~EFvuyTnmdLVWtxTcSIrW82sN1MlClvHRhoFYtIUAC1~Rdl3VHhzbqQZjs45WYdYHLWbNUqma7xEcQbts9joqQxeFglG3L0clyp0PsNeegVjXdNxtAqaqi3R1iHMI5weifpmTGb1m4pzMtg0DcA8-OJbIOgxCCrjot8RWg6NxHUskQDOCCWcUKpGusxaktTAcnaQ-X1YPEt7N6vw7Lm~6ES-4lesL4G0D0KKeT0MeSTWit6lSEzgBhk-C9bj9KN6im55KQvzgt0ibBK2LQZYmbV8b98HYaBpOlWjB5buGBtLQp0TkHt9Q1iru7E8mQpTCOcr3QIc93gGVic~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners on May 27 adopted a resolution supporting the Move Over for Ken campaign and urged the Florida Legislature and state agencies to increase outreach and strengthen penalties under Florida’s Move Over law.

The resolution cites Florida statute 316.126 and statistics cited in the resolution from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for February 2024: more than 17,000 citations statewide for move-over violations and 205 crashes attributed to failures to obey the law, resulting in 17 serious injuries and one fatality.

The resolution, read into the record, calls for increased state funding for an enhanced awareness campaign (billboards and social media) and urges the legislature to amend Fla. Stat. §316.126 ‘‘to strengthen penalties for violators in situations where individuals are seriously injured or death occurs.’’ It also directs the clerk to send a copy of the adopted resolution to the governor and the county legislative delegation.

A family member of Ken Spassato addressed the commission during public comment, describing Spassato’s April 14 death while working as a tow operator in Highlands County and urging commissioners to help push state action. ‘‘Ken did everything right, but it wasn’t enough,’’ the family member said. She urged a statewide publicity and legislative push, including an annual Move Over awareness day and stiffer criminal penalties for repeat or injury-causing violations.

Commissioners voiced support and reported coordination with statewide groups. Commissioner Mitchell Wills and others said they would pursue support through the Florida Association of Counties and the county’s legislative contacts.

The resolution was adopted by the board; the text on the record directs county staff to transmit it to Governor Ron DeSantis and the county’s legislative delegation.","The board adopted a resolution supporting the Move Over for Ken campaign, urging more funding for awareness and legislative changes to Florida statute 316.126 after a local tow operator, Ken Spassato, was killed while assisting a motorist.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223226,"Hendry County staff say limited SHIP dollars and long Section 8 waits constrain local housing aid",884,170000,1054000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3576809-7f4d79d33b488438f1543491535d2b7b&start=170&end=1054","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3576809-7f4d79d33b488438f1543491535d2b7b/thumbnail_170000.jpg","/articles/6223226/Hendry-County/Florida/Hendry-County-staff-say-limited-SHIP-dollars-and-long-Section-8-waits-constrain-local-housing-aid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223226-c2546df1719fee42ce05fa9e5869ee20/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175203&Signature=CzPJAPrlGfMNZC-l0GEDr0EfpCuhmzeVrSVmYHPEjUkBrGFBBmaopSihnz~Obi~pV2y0RUd1daBqxF5q4cLlPpTMn8bHXTs34-XxI814~L8TUZGrpdTxGkqX2NuCmHi2m5xYw7vSkHT9gAS8lmV1YBDfnaTkEOn-7GMMaKEWwcYyhUka0MlyJ-wbjNgcYZEBJ1S489z7Z~HJzcVpEdaooiQvGKNvM~lyOijEArGH-LZ8tn2mqr7rQC0W0aNEsejkV9c-1s7crtGZ1CzzmG2z777bFKh-zbcWxd1-beZJVXa5wtJW32p6yfrYzNaXnEJEtofZ0AMJr7p3FaKPjAPTeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adrianna Walker, the county’s housing and social services lead, told the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners on May 27 that county housing programs are stretched thin and that federal and state funding rules limit what local staff can do.

Walker summarized how the state SHIP program and federal Section 8 voucher program operate in Hendry County and gave counts of active projects, waiting lists and recent service levels.

The SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) allocation is typically about $350,000 a year, Walker said. ‘‘The rehab is up to $50,000, not to exceed more than $50,000,’’ she said, adding that emergency repairs can be funded up to $15,000. SHIP funds must be used for owner-occupied homes and for units that are substandard or present health and safety hazards, she said. Manufactured homes constructed after 1994 are generally ineligible for SHIP rehab because of condition and construction standards.

Walker said SHIP requires minimum set-asides for special-needs households (a 20% minimum), and that the county must spend a percentage of the allocation on homeownership set-asides and recaptured funds. ‘‘Currently, we’re not doing this there because I’ve only been in the position,’’ she said, describing work underway to meet program rules.

On current workload, Walker said the county has five SHIP rehab projects recently approved (three contracts awarded, two to rebid) and four emergency-assistance projects in Clewiston. She reported a wait list of 16 homeowners for rehab and 12 for emergency assistance.

On housing choice vouchers, Walker said Hendry County serves 64 total Section 8 participants: ‘‘42 are tenants, 8 are emergency housing tenants such as victims of domestic violence, and 6 are port-ins,’’ meaning vouchers that moved in from other jurisdictions. She said there are 8 port-outs and five vouchers remaining to assign. The Section 8 application wait list totals about 50 households and is currently a five- to six-year wait.

Walker also reported that for fiscal year 2024–25 the county handled nine indigent cremations and no indigent medical payments, and that the county contracts with United Way to help residents with rent, utilities, prescriptions and food.

Commissioners and staff discussed how HUD rules and state allocation methods affect local budgeting. Commissioner Emery Howard asked whether port-ins are reimbursed; Walker confirmed port-ins bring funding from the initiating housing authority and do not draw from Hendry’s voucher pool. ‘‘The port-ins don’t cost us anything,’’ Walker said.

The presentation did not include any board action; commissioners asked staff to continue monitoring allocations and program timing and to report back as needed.

The county administrator noted the housing office operates out of the United Way building in LaBelle and a satellite office in Clewiston to coordinate social services.","Housing staff told the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners that the county typically receives $350,000 a year in SHIP funds, currently has multiple active rehab and emergency projects, and faces a multi-year waitlist for Section 8 vouchers and SHIP assistance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

LaBelle livestock club urges county to stop 'bumping' event dates; commissioners propose calendar meeting for 2026

Hendry County adopts 'Move Over for Ken' resolution and urges stronger state penalties

Hendry County staff say limited SHIP dollars and long Section 8 waits constrain local housing aid