McVoy Wins Big: Defeats Stafford With 57 Percent of the Vote

Lake Worth City Commissioner Christopher McVoy was re-elected with more than 58 percent of the vote, beating back an aggressive challenger in Jim Stafford, who got 42 percent.

With all 17 precincts reporting, the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections had 4,419 votes for McVoy versus 3,242 votes for Stafford.

Double Shooting on South C Street

Two 18-year-olds were shot Saturday evening at a house on South C Street in Lake Worth. Names: Jefty Joseph and Diamond Garrett. Both are in critical condition at Delray Medical Center. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office says "multiple suspects" began firing at the two shortly after they arrived at the home on the 1000 block of South C. They fled in a Honda Accord, but crashed it a few blocks away.

Murder on South L Street

The human remains found in a garbage bag in the front yard of an abandoned home on the 1300 block of South L Street on October 29 have been identified as those of 20-year-old Tiffany Nelson, who lived at 628 South L Street.

The victim had a history of drug arrests, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. She was last arrested in late September and charged with one count of possession of drug equipment.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has ruled the death a homicide, and is asking for the public's help in identifying possible suspects. Anyone with information about the murder of Tiffany Nelson is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

Florida Still Number One in Mortgaged Homes in Foreclosure

The number has gone down, but Florida is still number one among the 50 states in the percentage of mortgaged homes in foreclosure. The Miami Herald has the story here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/31/3076329/florida-still-no-1-in-share-of.html

Body Found in Bag on Front Lawn of South L Street Home

Human remains were found this morning in a garbage bag in front of an abandoned home on South L Street in Lake Worth, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

Neighbors had called reporting a suspicious odor, and when detectives arrived, they found the remains. An autopsy will be performed to try to determine the identity and the cause of death.

Anyone who knows anything, or might have seen anything suspicious in or around the 1300 block of South L Street, is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

 

Murder on South J Street

A Hispanic man was found shot to death in the backyard of a home on the 700 block of South J Street in Lake Worth last night. Witnesses told police that there had been an altercation between a group of men, and that shots were then fired. The Palm Beach County Sherriff's Office found the man dead in the backyard of the home at 2:40 a.m.

Lake Worth Gay Leader Arrested, Charged With DUI

Tony Plakas, head of the Lake Worth not-for-profit gay community group, COMPASS, was arrested on October 11 after running a stop sign, almost hitting another SUV on North Dixie Highway, weaving into oncoming traffic, and running up on the curb on Forest Hill Road at Norton Avenue.

"Upon initial contact, the driver appeared to have a blank stare, as if looking through me," the Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy wrote in his report. He described the driver's eyes as "glossy" and "bloodshot red" and unable to focus. He also noted a strong odor of alchohol.

"The driver appeared very confused and advised that he was on his way to pick up his brother caused (sic) he received a call."

Plakas fumbled pulling out his driver's license and handed one to the deputy that wasn't his. It turned out to be his partner's. The deputy asked for the correct driver's license, which he had seen in the wallet, and after he had it in hand, proceeded to arrest Plakas for DUI, or Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs.

Plakas, age 40, is the so-called CEO of COMPASS, a not-for-profit organization that has a large community center in a bright blue building at 201 North Dixie Highway, just across from the new Publix.

"Compass Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Lake Worth and the Palm Beaches aims to diminish stereotypes by challenging long-standing misconceptions about the character of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community," it says on the organization's web site.

Plakas was processed and released on his own recognizance.

Robbery at El Presidente Supermarket

A man grabbed money from a cashier at El Presidente supermarket on 10^th Avenue North yesterday around 7 p.m. and fled, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

The cashier was collecting money from registers and attempting to drop the money at the customer service office when a black man in his early to mid 20s, about 5’9” with a thin build, grabbed the money and ran out of the store. Witnesses say he was wearing a red polo shirt with white stripes, dark blue jeans and white sneakers. The sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help in identifying him.

If anyone knows who he is, they are urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

Lake Worth High Homecoming Parade Today

Lake Worth High School's homecoming parade is today at 1 p.m. The parade will start at the high school, and proceed east on Lake Avenue to F Street, then turn around and head back west on Lucerne. Residents of the city are encouraged to park on side streets and watch.

The high school's homecoming football game is tonight at 7 p.m. when the Trojans meet Boca's Spanish River High School.