What used to be an empty lot at Lake Shore Middle School in Belle Glade is now buzzing with life and learning. Students are getting their hands dirty in a garden that's teaching them lessons you can't find in any textbook.

Thanks to funding from the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, the school's "Agriscience Adventure" program is giving kids real-world experience in farming. Students are growing everything from cabbage and radishes to bell peppers and tomatoes.

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But it's not as easy as it looks. These young farmers are learning to deal with bugs, unpredictable weather, and even Florida's surprise freeze earlier this year.

"We are training these kids to understand the job market and skills they can carry with them one day," said James Gavrilos, president of the Education Foundation.

Gavrilos points out that 60% of Belle Glade residents work in agriculture.

For seventh-grader Heidi, the garden means everything.

"This garden changed my life," Heidi said. "Farming connects me with my family roots and can connect me with my ancestors."

Teacher Rachel Lutz says watching students plant, tend and harvest their crops teaches them something valuable: where their food actually comes from.

"The students were outraged at how long it took the bell peppers to grow," Lutz laughed.

Eighth-grader Imani learned that lesson firsthand.

"Planting takes lots and lots of time to grow," she said. But, she's invested in the long term "This garden will still be here when I graduate."

Once harvest time comes, students get to enjoy the fruits and vegetables. They taste-test their crops, create salad bars, or take fresh produce home to share with their families.

The program is part of the school's 4H club, and Lutz has big expansion plans, including teaching students how to cook with the food they've grown.

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in the August 2024 crash near Belle Glade, killing nine people including six children.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday by the family members' estates and lone survivor Jorden Hall, blames Hatton Highway for creating the deadly crash and seeks damages from Palm Beach County, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and five private companies for their alleged role in creating "dangerous" conditions for drivers.

WATCH: Families of crash victims sue county, state

Seth Pajcic, the attorney representing the victims' family and the lone survivor, said Hall is continuing to work and trying to live life even though he was involved in a crash where nine of his family members died.

He said the toughest part has been trying to answer questions about the crash, including if there were problems with the Ford Explorer SUV from the rental company and if there were ways to prevent the crash, which they hope to answer by receiving materials from discovery during the lawsuit.

"I think right now we're sort of the tip of the iceberg as far as the information," said Pajcic. "We're gonna learn a lot more information once we get into the lawsuit and discovery gets underway. We'll learn a lot more about the various factors in the case, especially with regard to the guardrail and the detour itself."

According to the lawsuit, FDOT had requested to use Hatton Highway as a detour in August 2022 for a repaving project on State Road 700. It alleges FDOT, Palm Beach County and an engineering firm in Jacksonville called RS&H failed to properly review the route before selecting it as a detour, because officials would have seen multiple safety defects.

"These engineering firms in the state and the county have a duty to the public to make sure our roadways are safe and travel-worthy," Pajcic said. "And this roadway was not. This roadway had a defective guardrail, didn't have the proper warning signs and it didn't [have] the striping on the roadway. So this is about public safety."

The lawsuit further alleges that a critical sign warning drivers of a 90-degree turn had been missing from the area for more than a year, and that it was later discovered under vegetation behind the crash site.

"Unlike SR-700, Hatton Highway is a poorly maintained rural roadway with sharp compound curves, missing warning signs, narrow shoulders, missing roadway striping, visual obstructions, canals adjacent to the roadway, and a documented history of crashes," the lawsuit said.

A National Transportation Safety Board report from September 2024 confirmed that the SUV, owned by Payless Car Rental, was driving westbound on Hatton Highway when the driver approached a 90-degree left curve and departed the roadway. The car impacted a metal beam guardrail and entered the canal, coming to a rest on its roof and becoming partially submerged.

The crash report stated no one in the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt.

According to the lawsuit, there had been 26 crashes on Hatton Highway within a mile of this incident while 19 crashes happened at this exact curve. WPTV spoke with residents who live in the area after the crash, who said the highway is known to be unsafe.

Both U.S. Sugar and New Hope Sugar, a subsidiary of Florida Crystals, are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

New Hope is accused of slightly obstructing the road because of the height of their crops on land near the crash site. U.S. Sugar is accused of owning a nearby road, which attorneys believe contributed to the crash becoming deadly because guardrails didn't encircle the curve. Neither company, nor FDOT, responded to WPTV's request about the allegations by publication.

Palm Beach County says it cannot comment on pending litigation and will not comment until the National Transportation Safety Board finishes its investigation into the crash. Another defendant, Florida Roadway Guardrail & Signs Inc., said it only worked on the road after the crash, after we informed the company it was accused of improperly installing guardrails.

Pajcic said he expects to remove and add defendants as the case moves through the legal process, but he had to file the suit before a state statute deadline of two years after the incident.

The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial.

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A driver hit in a wrong-way crash in August has died from injuries sustained in the accident, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

Jorge Fermin, 57, was pronounced dead on Dec. 31.

According to the accident report, Fermin was driving westbound on Southern Boulevard in Belle Glade on Aug. 10 when another driver, 24-year-old Lon'quinten McFadden, was improperly driving eastbound and failed to yield, striking Fermin's vehicle.

McFadden was pronounced dead at the scene. Fermin was transported to St. Marys Medical Center with critical injuries.

A Palm Beach County School District employee was arrested by the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office after, deputies say, he sent sexually explicit images and videos via text message to a 16-year-old girl.

Lake Shore Middle School basketball coach Javian Dennard Golphin, Jr., 25, of Belle Glade was arrested on Wednesday and released on Thursday just after 1 p.m.

PBSO deputies said Golphin knowingly texted the 16-year-old girl sexually explicit images and videos after meeting the girl at her job.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Golphin sent the girl videos of himself masturbating on numerous occasions from Sept. 9 to Oct. 20 and asked the girl what was the oldest person she's talked to.

Golphin faces numerous charges, including soliciting a child for unlawful sexual conduct using computer/device, transmission of material harmful to minor, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

Below is the message the school district sent to parents on Thursday:

Palm Beach County deputies shot a man Thursday morning in Belle Glade after he allegedly attacked and severely injured a woman while she was unloading groceries from her car, according to the sheriff's office.

The suspect, later identified as Bernstorffer Anulysse, was shot in the 900 block of Southwest Avenue G Place at about 10:45 a.m.

WATCH BELOW: Enraged man shot by deputies after suspect attacked woman, sheriff says

During an afternoon news conference, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said they received a call from residents that a man had assaulted a woman and she was "on the ground, bleeding heavily with a severe head injury."

"The suspect, unprovoked, struck the victim with a large rock," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "A neighbor across the street witnessed the attack and attempted to retreat into her home. The suspect then turned his attention to the neighbor and attempted to forcibly enter her residence by throwing an object through a window."

When deputies arrived at the scene, they encountered Anulysse, who the sheriff said was holding a large rock along with some type of sharp weapon.

WATCH BELOW: Deputies forced to shoot man after he attacked woman, sheriff says

Bradshaw said the deputies told the man to "drop the weapons" repeatedly, but he refused to comply.

Anulysse then started to walk toward the deputies, who began to retreat, while still asking him to drop his weapons, according to the sheriff.

"At that point, they tried to Taser the individual. It did not work on him. He got hit twice with it. They tried to deploy it three times," Bradshaw said.

The sheriff said that while this was happening, Anulysse was still trying to come at the deputies.

After telling the man again to drop the weapons, Bradshaw said the suspect threw the large rock at one of the deputies and then came up in a "threatening fashion" with the other weapon.

"That's when the deputies shot him (in the lower abdomen), and he fell to the ground," Bradshaw said.

The sheriff said the woman was attacked while unloading her groceries had to undergo surgery at a hospital after suffering a "pretty severe head injury." Despite the injury, Bradshaw said she is expected to "be OK."

PBSO said Anulysse wound was not a life-threatening injury and he is currently receiving medical care at a local hospital.

"It's obvious this guy was pretty hopped up on something, either narcotics or he's got a really bad mental problem," Bradshaw said.

The sheriff's office said no deputies were injured in the shooting.

Bradshaw said two deputies were involved in the encounter, and they have been placed on administrative leave.

Anulysse now faces numerous charges, including attempted murder, sexual assault with a weapon or force, three counts of armed burglary of a dwelling/structure/conveyance and aggravated assault on specified personnel.

Glade View Elementary School, which is located nearby, was placed on a brief lockdown as a precautionary measure due to the incident.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

An unmarked Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office vehicle was involved in a deadly pedestrian crash Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

The incident happened at around 6:25 a.m. in the 200 block of N. Main Street when a man was walking across the road and lost his footing at the median curb, falling into the path of the car.

The 34-year-old victim was pronounced dead on the scene. According to FHP, there were no crosswalks or traffic signals where the man was attempting to cross.

The incident is still under investigation.

The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office is investigating after human remains were discovered inside a vehicle that was pulled from the Miami Canal on Wednesday afternoon.

According to deputies, a Jeep Compass was being recovered from the water in the 950 block of Miami Canal Road in unincorporated Belle Glade at around 1:26 p.m. when crews found the remains inside.

Authorities say the dynamics of the crash are still unclear, but foul play is not suspected at this time.

The remains were taken to the Medical Examiners Office for further examination.

Newly released documents from the National Transportation Safety Board are shedding light on the fatal crash last year near Belle Glade that killed nine members of the same family.

All of the victims drowned when their SUV overturned into a canal at a sharp turn on Hatton Highway. Among those killed were three adults and six children, ranging in age from 1 to 14 years old.

WATCH WPTV'S COVERAGE BELOW:

Cellphone records show the driver who died was on the phone with the rental car company just nine minutes before the crash. Investigators said the 2023 Ford Explorer had no active recalls. However, the NTSB said the family had reported multiple times that the SUV was making a clanking noise and had even tried to exchange the car in Fort Myers.

According to the report:

The NTSB said 10 family members were inside the SUV on Aug. 5 of last year, despite the vehicle only having seating for seven people. Only the driver and front seat passenger were wearing their seat belts; no child restraints were found. Investigators also learned the driver was wearing a medical walking boot on her right foot at the time.

The family was traveling from Cape Coral back to Palm Beach International Airport when they had to take a 12-mile detour. The closure of Connors Highway sent them onto Hatton Highway, where the SUV overturned into the canal along a sharp curve.

Jordan Hall, 26, was the lone survivor. Hall told investigators the driver navigated the first turn without any problems, but at the second turn they heard the clanking noise again and the vehicle would not turn, causing it to go over the divider and into the water.

The NTSB report noted the road sags at that sharp turn, and county data shows more crashes have happened there than anywhere else along the roadway. Palm Beach County has since hired a consulting firm to make roadway improvements to the curves near the crash site.

These new findings are all part of a more than 400-page NTSB report. The investigation is still ongoing, and probable cause will be determined at the conclusion of the investigation.

Sunday at around 6:39 a.m., Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR) units responded to the 33000 block of State Road 80 in Belle Glade for a reported vehicle accident with fire.

Upon arrival, crews did not observe any flames coming from the vehicles. They noted heavy damage had occurred to both vehicles.

According to the crash report, a vehicle was improperly traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Southern Boulevard when the collision occurred.

The second vehicle was headed westbound in the correct lanes when the wrong-way driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic, striking the front of the westbound vehicle. Both vehicles rotated before coming to a stop.

The wrong-way driver, identified as 24-year-old Lon'quinten McFadden, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other driver was taken to St. Marys Medical Center with critical injuries.

A tragic incident unfolded last Friday in Belle Glade when a mother was shot and killed, with her children in the home. Investigators have arrested the woman's ex-boyfriend, who is also accused of attempting to kill her current boyfriend.

WATCH BELOW: 'She was scared. She wasn't expecting it,' neighbor tells WPTV's Kayla McDermott

Witnesses reported hearing the gunfire that night. One neighbor, who requested to remain anonymous for safety reasons, described her experience after her son alerted her to the sounds of the shooting.

He said, 'The door still open.' So, I started walking over there, the neighbor said.

Upon entering the home on State Road 715, she encountered Little Mack Williams, the shooting suspect, and briefly spoke with him as he was leaving.

I asked him where she was at. He said she was dead, she recounted.

Deputies identified the victim as Shantay Butts, the mother of Williams' children. The neighbor, upon entering the home, recalls finding six children inside who informed her of their mother's whereabouts.

I said, 'Where your mama?' They said, 'She in there,' she said.

Determined to keep the children safe, she kept them out of the room, then the neighbor located Butts' boyfriend, whom she initially feared was dead. Then she turned and found Butts.

"She was gone, she was gone. I can't shake that part, she added, reflecting on the traumatic scene.

You can't shake what part? asked WPTV's Kayla McDermott.

"Her eyes, how she looked," the neighbor said.

Hearing a gasping sound, she realized the boyfriend was still alive, she attempted to assist him.

I can just remember 1722, 1720, because I was counting the seconds between his breaths, she said.

Medics rushed the boyfriend to the hospital, where he is currently in stable condition.

Palm Beach County deputies stated that Williams broke into the home through a window, began fighting with the boyfriend, and then fired multiple shots. The scene revealed signs of a struggle, according to the neighbor.

He had gashes and it's like scratches, like they had been fighting, she said.

Court records indicate Williams has a lengthy criminal history, including a guilty plea for domestic battery by strangulation, felony battery, and drug charges.

The neighbor expressed disbelief at the violence and said Butts appeared shocked as well.

She was scared. She wasn't expecting it. The look on her face was like she wasn't expecting it, she said.

Deputies said Williams had a warrant for his arrest on a burglary charge just days before the shooting but was not apprehended in time.

He is now in the county jail facing a first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges.

Palm Beach Sheriff's Office responded to the 100 block of State Road 715 in Belle Glade at around 11:47 p.m. on July 11, after receiving a call reporting a domestic dispute. The caller was a young male who said his stepfather, Little Mack Williams, 46, had broken a window and was attempting to enter the home.

According to PBSO, the 911 dispatcher recalls hearing a man's voice stating, "Where is your mother?" The caller then said his mother was shot.

The caller described what the suspect was wearing. When deputies arrived, they saw someone matching that description down the block. Without instruction, the suspect surrendered and lay on the asphalt with his hands behind his back. The individual was confirmed to be Williams.

Deputies say they immediately recognized Williams from his previous run-ins with the law.

When they entered the home, deputies located one male and one female victim. Both were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

The female, identified as Shantay Butts, was found unresponsive on the bed. She was declared dead at 11:58 p.m.

The male suffered one gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to St. Mary's Medical Center and is in stable condition.

While searching the remainder of the home, deputies found two additional adults and six children. In the bedroom, there was a black handgun magazine and multiple shell casings.

Williams told deputies he did not know where the gun was.

Little Mack's previous arrests include domestic incidents, with Butts being the victim. He also had an active felony warrant for burglary of a dwelling and grand theft.

Due to his felon status, he is unable to possess any firearms. During the investigation, detectives say Williams was suspected of stealing a firearm from Shantay's vehicle at this address.

When speaking to the other people who were in the home, detectives learned that the caller, Shantay's son, was playing video games in his room when he heard 'a loud smacking noise'. When he exited his room, he saw his siblings huddled up. He instructed his siblings to go into another room.

The caller says Little Mack is his mother's ex-boyfriend. The two had split up recently, but had been together since the caller was six. Mack is the biological father of some of Butt's children.

He described Little Mack as straddling his mom, said he appeared to be strangling her and could hear her gasping for air.

Detectives also spoke with Shantay's niece, Jasmine. Jasmine says Little Mack had stated in the past that he would kill Shantay.

The other person in the bedroom with Butts was her current boyfriend. When Williams entered the home, he stated, "I told you don't bring your a** over here."

In a post-Miranda interview, Williams says he entered the home through the front door and immediately got into an altercation with a male. He says he did not know who the man was, but he was carrying a firearm. Williams denies shooting the gun, and says he is unsure of how Shantay and her boyfriend were shot.

Little Mack Williams has been charged with one count of First-Degree Murder with a firearm, one count of Attempted First-Degree Murder with a firearm and one count of a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Environmentalists opposed to plans to construct a rock quarry in western Palm Beach County now have a federal agency expressing some of their same concerns.

We have been pushing for answers on the mine's impact when the plan was announced.

WATCH BELOW: Army Corps voices 'concerns' about proposed rock mine

Now, Col. Brandon Bowman with the Army Corps of Engineers wrote to U.S. Rep. Brian Mast to voice his concerns about the proposed project, but stopped short of opposing the mine.

The proposed rock mine doesn't sit far from the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) reservoir, a $4 billion public works project that is under construction.

The reservoir is designed to take overflow from Lake Okeechobee and restore the Everglades with clean water.

Environmentalists told WPTV they fear the proposed rock mine sits on land less than a quarter mile from the reservoir.

The proposed site owned by U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals said it will be used to mine limestone, which will then be crushed and used to build roads.

We interviewed Mast last month about the plans for the mine.

"Does it make sense to have a quarrying operation where they will be doing explosive quarrying, explosions to blow dirt and rock out of the ground, and do that directly next to a reservoir?" Mast said. "That's a very important question."

Bowman is heading up the ongoing reservoir project for the Army Corps of Engineers.

In his letter to Mast, he said the Corps "does have concerns about the proposed project's impacts on Everglades restoration."

The colonel expressed concerns over how the mine could affect water management and potential seepage of mine water into the reservoir and the Everglades.

On a Zoom call Friday, members of the Army Corps showed how far the EAA reservoir has progressed. That reservoir is still at least four years away from completion.

Engineers behind the rock mine, known as the Southland Water Resource Project, promised Palm Beach County commissioners that the plan is environmentally safe.

Commissioners unanimously approved the plan in May, but it still needs approval from other agencies.

A proposed limestone mine in southwestern Palm Beach County is receiving stiff opposition from a local U.S. congressman.

WPTV continues to press for answers about the controversial Southland Water Resource Project.

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., called the project "premature" after the Palm Beach County Commission approved it in May.

The proposed project near Belle Glade is roughly half the size of Manhattan.

The project calls for 34 years of mining before it's converted to store runoff water from Lake Okeechobee.

Mast has sponsored bills that have brought millions to help restore the Everglades over the last few years.

He wrote to the Army Corps of Engineers, saying the project represents "substantial risks to taxpayer-funded Everglades restoration infrastructure."

Mast also added that he wants, "to continue progress towards a healthy Everglades system free from destructive mining operations.

The congressman fears mining will pollute a large reservoir that is set to open in 2029 next to Lake Okeechobee.

"Does it make sense to have a quarrying operation where they will be doing explosive quarrying, explosions to blow dirt and rock out of the ground and do that directly next to a reservoir?" Mast asked. "That's a very important question."

The project's director said the stormwater treatment areas near the site of the proposed mine will keep water in the Everglades and the reservoir near Lake Okeechobee clean.

Meanwhile, community leaders near the site said they support the project because it can create jobs in an area that needs them.

Read more of WPTV's coverage of the proposed mine:

In the wake of a devastating car crash that claimed the lives of nine family members in Belle Glade last August, stories of bravery and sacrifice have emerged.

For the first time, members of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) are speaking out about their harrowing efforts to save those trapped in the vehicle and the emotional toll it has taken on them.

Deputy Phillip Berlingo described the scene as one that continues to haunt him. Its a catastrophe; its a horror, he remarked, reflecting on the tragic night.

Having previously served with the New York police during the September 11 attacks, Berlingo considers this incident one of the most traumatic experiences of his career. At this point, what still stays with you about that night? asked WPTV's Joel Lopez.

His solemn reply: The bodiesthe kids.

The accident involved a family whose vehicle crashed into murky, gator-infested waters, resulting in the death of nine individuals, including six children.

The terrifying screams of the only survivor, who desperately called out that the kids were still inside, echoed in the ears of the first responders.

"A passenger of the car he kept screaming that the kids are still in there, the kids are still in there," said Deputy Jody Certain.

"The scene was so chaotic and just looking around everywhere all you saw was just bodies, it was very tragic for me," said Certain.

She jumped into the water to try and smash through the car window with her baton and rescue the people inside the car.

I still swam to get them, holding my leg in place, Certain recalled, revealing that she broke her leg during the rescue attempt.

With a limited number of paramedics available, she insisted on remaining in the water to assist the children.

There werent enough paramedics, so I told them, leave me here, and help the kids, she stated firmly.

Certain's courageous act came at a significant cost. She has undergone nine months of surgeries and recovery. Certain was forced to sell her farm as she was unable to care for her animals.

Her future on patrol remains uncertain. I mean, no one thought Id go into work on August 5 and come home in a wheelchair. It was tough for me, but I would do it again for those kids, she emotionally reflected.

As she continues to recover, Certain feels uplifted by the support she has received from both her PBSO colleagues and the Belle Glade community. When the heroes go down, who helps them? she questioned, acknowledging the importance of community backing in her healing journey.

To me, theyre the true heroes. This is our job; were not heroes, Certain humbly concluded as she questions if her efforts were enough the day of the rescue.

WPTV did reach out to the family of the victims for comment but are working to get a response.

A man who was recently released from prison after serving time for murder is back behind bars, after being accused of threatening and violently attacking a teenager in Pahokee.

25-year-old Lintavious Johnson was arrested on Saturday, May 16. The arrest comes after a 19-year-old man told the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office about a frightening incident that happened in April.

According to the victim, on April 24, he had just returned from a trip and was unloading his car when Johnson approached him. The victim says he did not know Johnson, and immediately started threatening him, pulled out a gun, and warned him, You cant live out here. If I see you, Im going to kill you.

Johnson then reportedly pointed the gun at the victim and punched him in the face, breaking his jaw.

The victim later identified Johnson in a lineup at the sheriffs office. Deputies say Johnson was convicted of murder in 2019 for a crime he committed in 2016 and had only been out of prison for 5 months.

After gathering evidence and taking the victims statement, deputies issued an arrest warrant. Johnson was taken into custody on May 16 and is now being held at the Palm Beach County Detention Facility without bond.

One person is dead following a dirt bike versus vehicle accident in Belle Glade on May 3.

According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO), Joel Trfoya, 27, was driving his Yamaha dirt bike westbound on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and approaching SW 8th Street, when a vehicle going eastbound on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard entered the path of Trfoya when attempting to make a left turn onto SW 8th Street.

Trfoya was ejected from the bike and was transported to the hospital for injuries where he died on May 6.

Changes are coming to the western communities to improve the quality of healthcare for people living in the Glades.

WPTV's Joel Lopez is digging into a new partnership by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County and Tampa General Hospital (TGH) to help run Lakeside Medical Center in Belle Glade.

Lakeside Medical is the only public hospital of its kind serving the Glades community for miles that has been under the care of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County for 15 years.

WATCH: 'They don't have everything people need,' Samantha Fowler says

"The services are awesome but they don't have everything people need when they come here, so it's like limited," said Samantha Fowler.

She was born and raised in Belle Glade and said she relies on Lakeside Medical for minor health issues, but has to leave town for more complex medical needs.

"Where are people having to go if they can't get services here?" asked Lopez.

"Palm Beach, or Wellington, it's a long way," said Fowler.

A big issue for people in the Glades who may be limited on transportation.

The Health Care District of Palm Beach County along with TGH hosted a town hall where nearly 200 residents attended to ask questions about the partnership.

We worked to find solutions and Lopez sat down with vice president and administrator at Lakeside Medical Center Ron Doncaster.

He wanted to clarify this is neither a merger nor an acquisition, it's a partnership, a collaboration.

"What was the issue that was happening here?" asked Lopez.

"So, there's a multitude of issues," said Doncaster. "We see things that should and can't happen and we're taking action now."

He said one conflict has been physicians who work with other hospitals and have been sending Glades patients there.

Doncaster said this has led to an issue with physician availability at Lakeside Medical Center, an issue he plans to address "aggressively" but "collaboratively."

"We want the folks that we are contracted with to practice here and keep the patients here," said Doncaster. "Everybody needs the opportunity for great access."

He said they are working to restructure physician contracts in efforts to solve the number of days they're at Lakeside Medical Center, but also ways to make their positions more competitive than other hospitals.

The partnership with TGH will provide staff and patients Lakeside Medical Center with a large network of resources.

They're analyzing data of patients that visit Lakeside Medical Center but are sent to other locations, what other markets are outsourcing resources and what services they can expand on to make Lakeside Medical Center a one stop shop of medical care for the Glades communities.

"Competitiveness in this and this effort comes second, what we're thinking about first is what do they need and how do we get it here," said Doncaster. "I think that will naturally make us competitive but the first thing we're focused on is how do we get them what they need."

The top three services they're planning on introducing and improving are neurology, urology, gastrointestinal.

"We have state of the art imaging equipment, we have MRI CT we have ultrasounds, we have a full-scale lab right here we have a great pharmacy on site, we have everything we need to do most things," said Doncaster. "And so to bring those together for the community in one place, I think it's going to make a really powerful impact.'

Doncaster pointed out Lakeside Medical Center is along a bus route, to help residents get access to the hospital.

They also have a cafeteria that helps to provide meals.

"I love it," said Fowler. "I just wish that you could do a little bit more, more doctors, expand it, open back up the maternity ward, that will help a lot."

A 19-year-old Palm Beach County man has a little extra cash to plan for his future after turning $5 into $1 million!

The Florida Lottery announced Friday that Derrell Ray, 19, of Belle Glade claimed a $1 million top prize from the 50X THE CASH scratch-off game.

Ray chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000.

Lottery officials said he purchased his winning ticket from a Chevron gas station located at 11711 Okeechobee Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach.

The retailer received a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning scratch-off ticket.

The 50X THE CASH scratch-off game launched in January 2024.

Players have a 1-in-3.96 overall chance of winning. However, the odds of winning $1 million are 1-in-3,023,910.

A celebration of football is now open in Belle Glade.

After two years, the ribbon was cut Thursday, opening the "Hall of Honor" inside the Lawrence E. Will Museum.

WATCH BELOW: "Hall of Honor" opens in Belle Glade

The building is filled with a collection of pictures, stats and memorabilia. It's all a tribute to the current and past football players from Belle Glade and Pahokee who've made their professional football dreams a reality.

"This is beautiful," Lawrence Chester, who played high school football in Belle Glade, said. "Before me, nobody had ever gone to the NFL."

Chester was drafted in 1967, the first year the Atlanta Falcons played in the league. At the Belle Glade museum is his rookie contract with Atlanta. He was paid $15,000.

He played a year in Atlanta and then played for the Detroit Lions. After retiring, he worked for the Ford Motor Company.

Being included in the "Hall of Honor" brings him great joy.

"I never thought it would be like this," he said.

Pahokee and Belle Glade have produced over 70 players who have gone on to play in the NFL or CFL.

"There was never any tribute to them that we knew of," Cheryl Stein of the Lawrence E. Will Museum said.

So, Stein and a friend got to work, putting together a list of local players who played professionally. Next, they reached out to players and loved ones to get stats, memorabilia and pictures.

"A lot of the players on the wall still have family here, so the families were very helpful in getting any information we needed, photographs we needed," Stein said.

The room also has a coach's corner and has a section devoted to the area's "Muck Bowl" the annual game pitting rival Glades Central and Pahokee High School.

"It's something to be very, very proud of," Stein said.

The "Hall of Honor" is still growing. As more and more players hear about the tribute, they are sending more items to display.

The Lawrence E. Will Museum is located at 530 S Main St. in Belle Glade.

Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies responded to the Covenant Villas apartment complex in Belle Glade on Sunday after a 16-year-old was shot.

Sheriff's officials said they responded to the apartments shortly before 3 p.m. They said the teen was airlifted to a local hospital, underwent surgery and is expected to survive. On Monday, the sheriff's office said the teen was in critical but stable condition.

Its shootings like these that worry residents such as Rose Jean-Baptiste.

"Its tragic and very sad. I feel sad for this family," Jean-Baptiste said. "I have a 7-year-old daughter. As a mother, I think nobody should have to experience this."

Jean-Baptiste lives near the shooting scene and said gunfire in the neighborhood is, unfortunately, nothing new.

"It's not safe anywhere," Jean-Baptiste said. "You go to school, you go to church. It's not really safe."

She is seeking solutions to crime near her home and has installed cameras for security.

"We need more police officers," Jean-Baptiste said.

Other neighbors worry about the children who live and play in the area since the shooting happened across from Hand Park, a neighborhood park.

Detectives said they have identified all parties involved, and there is no threat to the community.

A funeral service was held Saturday morning for Palm Beach County Sheriff Deputy Basil Powell who was gunned down in his driveway on Feb. 10 in what police called an ambush in front of his own home.

Those in attendance had heavy hearts and teary eyes, but they came together to celebrate the life of someone who served and protected Palm Beach County.

WATCH: Family, friends and colleagues of Deputy Basil Powell attend funeral service

The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office, local law enforcement, friends, and family all shared their favorite memories of him at the service. One of Powells closest coworkers says they were sworn in together and says he cant remember a day or time when Powell couldnt make him laugh.

It is not easy to say goodbye to someone, especially someone who touched our lives in so many positive ways, his coworker said

Other members of the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office say Deputy Powell was a mentor to the incarcerated, a team player amongst his coworkers, always humble and respectful, and he always put his children first.

During the memorial service, members of the city say that Deputy Powells legacy will live on forever. Saturday, February 22 is now known as Deputy Basil Powell Day.

WATCH THE FULL SERVICE:

On Friday, a public viewing was held as tearful hugs and final goodbyes given to Powell, by his friends, coworkers and family.

Read more of WPTV's coverage below:

Dozens gathered at Camel Funeral Home in Belle Glade tonight to mourn Deputy Basil Powell.

There were tearful hugs and final goodbyes given to Palm Beach County Corrections Deputy Powell, by his friends, coworkers and family.

WATCH: Fellow law enforcement, friends and family gather to honor fallen deputy

Powell was gunned down in his driveway on Feb. 10 in what the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office called an ambush in front of his own home. In the process, however, were told he saved his 5-year-old daughter from the gunfire that ultimately took his life.

Powell's accused killer Kevin Benette is still behind bars, facing multiple charges, including first-degree premeditated murder and aggravated child abuse.

Investigators say they believe Benettes motive could have been jealousy over Deputy Powells relationship with Benettes ex-girlfriend.

But tonight, fellow law enforcement, friends and family gathered here for Deputy Powell's public viewing.

The Honor Guard with a group of PBSO Motormen gave the honors deserved by a fallen deputy.

Friends spoke with WPTVs Michael Hoffman off camera as their grief was too much for an on-camera interview. They tell me Basil Powell was a funny, intelligent and determined man, whose dream was to have a job with which he could support his family.

Deputy Powells funeral will be tomorrow starting at 11a.m. at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center.

WATCH: Funeral service for PBSO Deputy Basil Powell

Funeral arrangements have been made for Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputy Basil Powell who was shot and killed in a targeted attack outside his home in Belle Glade on Feb. 10.

A public viewing will be held for Powell on Friday, Feb. 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Camel Funeral Home, located at 725 South Main Street in Belle Glade.

A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center at 1977 SW College Drive in Belle Glade.

Read more of WPTV's coverage below:

After reading through a nine-page probable cause affidavit, WPTV is getting a clearer picture of the investigation and arrest of the suspect in the fatal shooting of a Palm Beach County deputy this week.

Kevin Benette, 32, faced a judge Friday morning, a day after his arrest in the shooting death of Deputy Basil Powell, 39, who was gunned down outside of his Belle Glade home.

WATCH BELOW: Deputy pulled 'daughter to safety' after he was struck by gunfire, report says

After a brief court appearance, a judge ordered Benette to be held without bond.

Powell, who was off-duty, was with his 5-year-old daughter when he was fatally shot in what the sheriff's office called a targeted attack.

The deputy was assigned to the West Corrections Center after being hired in October 2021.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Powell's girlfriend was the person who called 911 just after 7:30 p.m. Monday to report that her boyfriend was shot. The report said that she was on the phone with Powell before the shooting and heard gunshots "in rapid succession" resonating in the background.

In a faint voice over the phone, she told detectives that Powell uttered, "CALL 911, I BEEN SHOT."

WATCH BELOW: Suspect in deputy's killing appears in court

When deputies arrived at the scene, the report said Powell was lying on the ground outside of his home bleeding and "completely unresponsive" with multiple gunshot wounds to the front and back of his body. The sheriff's office said he was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center but died shortly after arriving Monday night.

"According to the medical examiner, all three gunshot wounds were potentially fatal," the affidavit said.

Detectives at the scene recovered about 12 expended cartridge cases from a 9mm firearm that were found clustered about 25 feet from the deputy's front door. The report said bullet holes were found near Powell's front door and windows.

WATCH BELOW: Sheriff Ric Bradshaw announces arrest of suspect in deputy's killing

Investigators determined that Powell was gunned down while exiting his vehicle and entering his front door with his young daughter, according to the affidavit.

Powell's girlfriend told detectives that she and the victim first met in 2016 and remained close friends even becoming intimate until about 2021.

The woman who the report only identifies as "cooperating witness #1" said her relationship with Powell dissolved, but they continued to be friends. She later met Benette but their relationship became "somewhat tumultuous and dysfunctional" and she rekindled her romance with Powell, according to the affidavit.

The report said that this "infuriated" Benette and it was "obvious" that he was "disenchanted" with her relationship with Powell. According to the affidavit, she and Benette were involved in a fight on Sept. 8, 2024, that prompted a call from neighbors about a report of a woman being battered by a man in a driveway.

After the fatal shooting, the affidavit said detectives reviewed surveillance cameras mounted on a business near where the shooting took place. The report said the cameras showed the suspect's Chevrolet Tahoe "driving from the general direction of the homicide scene" at about 7:34 p.m. Detectives also said that Benette's phone indicated that it was "in the approximate geographic area of the homicide scene."

Investigators said Ring surveillance cameras showed that Powell was about to enter the front door of his home with his daughter when he was shot by the gunman, who was standing about 25 feet behind the victim.

"After being struck by the gunfire, [Powell] falls to the ground and pulls his daughter to safety," the affidavit said. "When the shooting started, [Powell's] 5-year-old daughter was standing at the front door, directly next to him."

Powell's girlfriend told them that Benette was known to carry a black, semi-automatic pistol.

WATCH BELOW: Suspect arrested after deputy killed this week

When investigators, searched Benette's home on Thursday the report said they found a box of 9mm ammunition, rifle ammunition, a pistol holster and other firearm parts.

The affidavit said Benette denied any involvement in Powell's killing and told detectives that he was at home. However, investigators said the suspect couldn't explain the video surveillance and geolocation data that stated otherwise.

Despite the evidence gathered at his home, detectives said Benette denied owning or possessing a firearm, repeatedly telling them "I have never fired a gun in my life."

Benette faces charges of first-degree murder with a firearm, attempted second-degree murder with a firearm, aggravated child abuse and discharging a firearm into dwelling.

As of Friday afternoon, funeral arrangements have not been released for Powell.

Read more of WPTV's coverage below:

Detectives believe a domestic-related quarrel was the reason a Palm Beach County corrections deputy was gunned down in an ambush attack this week outside of his home in Belle Glade.

The suspect in the shooting, Kevin Benette 32, was arrested Thursday and will face a charge of first-degree murder, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw announced during a Thursday afternoon news conference.

Powells best friend says he's relieved a suspect has been caught

Booking documents from the Palm Beach County jail show that Bennette has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and firing a projectile into a dwelling.

The sheriff said Benette is "not a stranger to violence," outlining a past of arrests on charges of battery, aggravated battery, burglary, theft, aggravated domestic stalking, domestic violence by strangulation and false imprisonment.

WATCH BELOW: Suspect arrested after deputy killed this week

Deputy Sheriff Basil Powell was off duty when he was shot while returning to his Belle Glade home Monday night in what the sheriff's office called a targeted attack.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Thursday that Powell's killing was motivated by a domestic issue involving a woman.

WATCH BELOW: Sheriff Bradshaw announces arrest of suspect in deputy's killing

"The girlfriend of (Powell) is a prior girlfriend of the suspect," Bradshaw said. "I think that he was extremely agitated over that and upset and that's why decided to kill our deputy. ... The motive's not hard to figure out here."

This sheriff's office said earlier this week that Powell's death was not related to his role as a corrections deputy.

Powell was assigned to the West Corrections Center after being hired in October 2021.

Benette is scheduled to make his first appearance before a Palm Beach County judge Friday morning.

WATCH BELOW: Family, friends mourn loss of deputy

"I suspect he will have no bond," Bradshaw said. "We're going to ask for that, for sure."

The sheriff praised detectives for making the arrest.

"They worked around the clock," Bradshaw said. "A lot of them didn't even go to sleep. They got great forensic evidence."

When WPTV's Michael Hoffman broke the news of the arrest to Wessex Altidoor, Powells best friend since the first grade and godfather to his children, it came as some much-needed good news after days of questions and wondering who killed his best friend. He told Hoffman that hes very happy to see the effort that law enforcement put into this investigation and will continue to as it progresses.

Hoffman asked Altidoor if Benette's name and picture were familiar. He said yes, but didn't elaborate further. Hoffman is still working to learn how loved ones may know the suspect.

The sheriff noted that this is the fourth deputy that the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office "family" has lost in less than 90 days after three deputies were killed in November along Southern Boulevard.

Read more of WPTV's coverage below:

Investigators in Palm Beach County are following leads, hoping to make an arrest soon after the death of one of their deputies.

On Monday, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) said Deputy Basil Powell was ambushed right in front of his home in Belle Glade. Two days later, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his department are determined to catch the person who killed him.

Sheriff says department working '24 hours a day' to find killer:

"We'll get the person who did it," he told WPTV.

Bradshaw said they are working around the clock to make an arrest.

"They got very little sleep," he said. "They are working 24 hours a day on this to get it solved."

Bradshaw believes that will happen soon. When asked if there are any suspects or persons of interest, Bradshaw said, "We have some ideas not too much longer, we are going to be able to figure out who did it."

Something that has been troubling to neighbors as well as the sheriff is that the person who he says fired multiple shots at Powell did so with his 5-year-old daughter watching.

"Just for her to be there and go through that trauma is going to be bad too," Bradshaw said.

WATCH: Friends and family mourn loss of Deputy Basil Powell

This tragic loss comes on the heels of three motorcycle deputies who were killed less than 90 days ago deaths the department is still trying to work through.

"When you look in their eyes, you can tell the pain that they're experiencing. That's a tough part for me, to look them in their eyes and know that there's nothing I can say to make it go away," Bradshaw reflected.

Deputy Basil Powell's home where he lost his life last night was illuminated in candlelight as his friends and family gathered in mourning to pay their respects to a fallen friend.

It was at Powell's home where he was fired upon and killed immediately after exiting his vehicle. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) confirmed that his young daughter was in the car when Powell was shot.

WATCH BELOW: Friends, family mourn loss of corrections deputy

Wessex Altidor was Powell's best friend since first grade and is the godfather to his children. When he got the call that Powell was shot, he rushed to the hospital from Orlando but was too late.

"Being a godfather you gotta step up," Altidor said. "Hey, I'm there forever."

Altidor was one of many at the memorial Tuesday evening in the very spot that was lit up by gunfire, as the candlelight cascaded over bullet holes marked by investigators.

He was a very endearing person, someone who really cared for his children and his family, and again, this is something that's just rocked the community," Jean Lestage, Powel's friend, said.

Those who gathered shared stories and laughs about their fallen friend who they remember as a funny, caring man driven to provide for his kids.

"He loves his kids, you know what I'm saying he loves his family. He loves his friends, you know, I mean, but his main priority was his kids, Altidor said. He's a great guy, and I'm really going to miss my friend.

As a lot of stories were shared and tears shed, it is clear that Powell will be missed.

WPTV reporter Joel Lopez spoke with Deputy Basil Powell's family a day after the Belle Glade native was gunned down outside his home.

Not only was he a corrections deputy for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office, but WPTV learned Tuesday that he was a father of two children.

Family tells WPTV reporter Joel Lopez the kind of man Deputy Basil Powell was

The family told WPTV that the shooting was a total shock. Lopez spoke with Powell's brother on the phone who said they're grieving and making funeral arrangements.

The fallen deputy's uncle stopped by the home on Tuesday morning.

Windell Powell said his nephew was a quiet guy who kept to himself. The family said they were very proud of Basil Powell for working as a corrections deputy. Basil has two children, a 15-year-old and a 7-year-old.

Windell Powell said he heard about the shooting this morning and drove in from Pahokee to check in on the family.

"I don't know who did it," Windell Powell said. "He didn't have a problem with anybody."

He doesn't know who the person responsible could be but said he hopes they are found and "put away for a long time."

"He is a good boy. ... He goes to work, comes home and stays in," Windell Powell said. "I don't know what to say. It impacts me bad. I feel it, very, very bad."

The family has asked for privacy and mentioned they recently lost another family member that they were preparing to lay to rest this Saturday.

An off-duty Palm Beach County corrections deputy was "targeted and ambushed" when he was fatally shot in Belle Glade on Monday night, the sheriff's office said.

The agency said Deputy Basil Powell was killed while returning home and immediately fired upon after exiting his vehicle.

A procession involving multiple law enforcement officers was held Tuesday afternoon to honor and escort Powell's body from the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office back to his hometown in Belle Glade.

WATCH BELOW: Off-duty corrections deputy gunned down in Belle Glade

The shooting occurred just after 7:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of Northwest Avenue D.

Powell, 39, was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach but died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

The sheriff's office said the shooting was not related to his role as a corrections deputy.

Powell was assigned to the West Corrections Center after being hired in October 2021.

The deputy's uncle told WPTV that Powell leaves behind two children ages 7 and 15. PBSO confirmed that Powell's daughter was inside the car when he was shot.

On Tuesday, WPTV reporter Kayla McDermott went to the scene of the shooting and spotted a least three bullet holes and more than a dozen evidence markers.

Longtime Belle Glade resident Carthia Greenwich told McDermott that shootings are common in the area, but she was still surprised when she heard who the victim was.

"I was kind of shocked because he's a good person," Greenwich said.

After knocking on just about every door in the area, neighbors all told McDermott that they didn't know who or why someone wanted Powell dead.

WPTV reporter Victor Jorges spoke to a woman who lives near where the shooting took place. The woman, who did not want to be identified, said she heard about 10 gunshots back to back Monday night.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

Powell's death comes three months after the sheriff's office lost three motorcycle deputies who were killed along Southern Boulevard in November.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has identified the corrections deputy who was shot and killed last night as 39-year-old Basil Powell.

The incident occurred at about 7:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of Northwest Avenue D in Belle Glade.

Investigators say it appears that he was targeted or ambushed as he was returning home. They say he was fired upon as he was exiting his vehicle.

The deputy was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Powell hired in October 2021 and was assigned to the West Correction center.

This is a developing story, stay with WPTV for updates.