2021-09-07 News Article�ptember 15, 2021 Lake OkeBChobee News - merger of Okeechobee News Clewiston News Glades Counry Democrat, and The Su� �i 1�
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S��s . I oil��� �- i .nl �.4ewn/L'�Irti,s
Awnswan�. ��i!C.�r, Famil;� oF Coir�panias
Yolice Chie# Donald �layan v�as �evorn
in during tho Sopi, 7 city councii meat-
f�g.
$y Cathy Womble
Lal;e �keech�.>bee News
OKEGCH06E� — i)1!eechobee City
Police Chief Bub Pcterson passed the
torch lo his right-hand-man Donald Fl2gan
tl�is wcelc Hagan was oificialty s�vorn
in as chie( of prilice during ihe Sept. 7
Olceectiobee City Council meeling, anci last
weel;. Petersnn w�s presented ovith a certifi-
cate o( appreciatiun fur his years o( service
to U�e ciry.
Although he had luiown Ihe day was
coming (or ycars, Hagan said it siill dnes
nr�l Yeel real and he wcvs very I�iumbled'oy
the ceremony lasl night.
An Okeechobec native, Flagan has
been in law enforcement (or most oi his
adul[ lifc. Immedialely after graduating
irom Olceechobee High School in 1988, he
moved to Orlandc to tiy his hand in Ihe
world of higher learning. II did not talce
long though for him to realize it was not
(or him, and he joined the Army. '9 hated
college. It was Icind of like high school all
over again."
Allhough he signed up for a seven-year
enlistment, it did not wodc out that way,
and he was disthar�ed a(Ier serving only
about a month. "I have a proGlem with one
of my eyes. ICs kind of a birth defect," he
saicl. 9 am just aboul blind in that eye, but
they did not catch it when I eniisted." Once
he an�iveA in Porl Dix, Mew-lcrsey (nr basic
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�r�inin�. he svas exvninrd more ihorough-
y ar�d the doctor told �iim he could rot
bclieve he had made it that far. Thuy,^,ent
i�im hume right away.
Not even 20 yca� s old }�et, he c.?me
�ome to Okeechobee �monderin� wliat to
do wi±F� himsalf A i�Pf�hbor ad;ed him �f
h���ouic' be intF�rc;ted in w��kin � I�e
.i.ui�� - �.
�, 7�il he �ias ch�• li�uten�i�t i e �ail
ai i i t rn md b� ou�h !�i rt in ->>rr �
i ons o�fice� fu he ne iff s oific�
�1te> >o �ang f.,r h- ne*3tf� .t io
,..�er�1�- ,rs Fl�;cr cic_ided�e roant�;d4o
.;o oi� ro i�i �alu I and p�t hini„elf u ou jh
r�ss eve ct »I. Ti e.e lasses dl i.- Ine
n�ssin� pi., z; tor th�: s:. Hmc r..�e;.dy have
som2!aw z�tio;ce�n=�d training.
Berausc he was still living a[ h,me, he
was able to maltc do by cufling Ia�Nt�s and
mowind grass while he pui liimself through
schoo!ing.
A([en c� completed his training, his
firsi job wcjs with the Seminole Police
Departmerit in Nullywood. It was ri,ht in
the middle uf Nultywood, and a very husy
policz force. He was ihere for aboui a year
and a half but reaily wanted to get back
cbser to horrie.
He wcnt to worlc (or the Glades CounN
Sheriff's Office, and that was wl�u�.re iie met
Peterso�, who later became Okeechobe� s-
police chi�t. He was fhe undersherift in
Glades County when Hagan rriet hirn.
About a year a(ter hi�an tooir L iat po-
sition, in 199f,, ari upening came up in
OIceechobee. and he was hired at tne
Ol:eechobee City Police DeoartrrienL In
November, he will celebrate 25 yexrs on the
(orce.
Petersou Full�,wed him a month later.
The sheri(7 in i;lades ,Cnunty bst his elec-
tion, and the new sherift brought in tiis own
second in command, leaving Petersun to
seek a new position.
Peterson prornoted up a little faster
than Hagan because of all his years in law
enforcement, bul he brought Hanan up
through the ranlcs right behind him. hi
'100Q malcing sergeant znd in 2006, rnaking
IieutenanL Finailly, in ZOI6, he was �>romot-
ed to major.
F'or the lasf five years, if has been
unofficially understood that Hagan would
be appointed chief when Pzterson retired,
and h? spent ihai lime Iraminq c;very
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the batan
immerse himsel( in the community so they
sec him as one of their own. Fle has served
on the board at Martha's House for several
�eais and enjoys it very much. .
Tl�e�e are no plans to malce any big
changes �n the department ri�h[ away.
ThFre are approximately 40 people v✓orking
(ur the police deoartment and they prid=
themcelves tn wodcing tog=iher like a welt-
oiled machmP.
'!t's Inimbling I feel �zry, very honored
bv the �vhoiF -rpe� ience Lve:i though 1
� n�w it �.✓as ominq, it still doesn't hit you
antil i! actuaily happens.' ��
pa�ses
aspect of �he department. '9Cs been a
building process There is so much io
learn •.vhen you ma:ce sergeant and then
lieutenant n� major."
Because tla;an �s unly 51, he will most
liltely serv��, a, ch�ef fo� :0 years When he
reaches the fivn ye�: m�il:, he will be�in
�roomii i; his suc�essor just as Petcrsun
d,d r r i,
o u,�. T:;is ruai•:es (or a�.
,moother
vansll ou. "It i; eps tt �Ni?hm ihe agency
�and m�l:es Fot a F.i�id change. I� 3ives those
in th�= ranks a;>_n;e %iiey have a chance to
moUe up an�l i nayi�e make chicf one uay
;hemselvea"
Hagaii bei�eves it is importani tr,
NOgT�IC�g�E �Ly�DF C^S�-�pA,ig��,G�E/S� 7w'Ow� �TyH�
f9�Y�DQ� ! 6.'6J�Etl 1 � �P�i1ti0J
DEVELOPMENT C�DE I(�CLIJDINC�
�E�r�zrr��� (.e��i�i-rioNQe.. AND
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PItOHI�ITED l�SES �IVITHIN
M�NTIiItA RANCF! ES`TATES
Hendry Cowiry proposes to adopt the (nllowing by ordinance:
Ordinance TiUe: AN ORDINANCE OF THE 80ARD OF COUMfY
COMMYSS€O(VEPtS OF HENDRY COUNTY, FLORIDA,
AMENDING THE PiEfidDELY �COUN7Y CODE OF
ORDINANCES, CHAP'fE3t 1-53, ZONYNG,
SPECIF3CALLY, SECTIOP➢ i-S3-2.2, 1_AND USE
C�LRSSIFICATEONS AfVD SECTIOIV i-53-6.7,
AGP2YCUlTU62'E IN NOFlA6R%CULTURALLV ZONED
DYS7RICTS; AND CR�ATYNG A NEW SECTION
1-53-3.9, RURAL RESIE+EfJ77AL - FARM (RR-F)
ZONEfVG DIS7RICT; PROVIDYNG FOR
SEVERABYLt3Y; DROVIDIIP7G FpR CONFLICTS OF
LAW PROVTDYWG FOR CODiFICATION, INCLUSION
IN CODE, APoD SCRNEPIER'S ERRORS; AIND
PROVIDENG FOR AN EF�ECTLVE DAYE.
A public hearing on adoption of the ordinance will be held before the 6oard of County
Commissioners on September 28, 2021, at 5:05 p.m., at the Hendry County Court-
house, Commissiun Chambers, 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., LaBzlle, Florida.
Interested parties ma� appear and Ix heard with respect to the proposed ordinance.
Orel and written comments will be accepted. A copy ot the proposed ordinance is avail-
able for Inspection at the Hendry County Planning and Zoning Deparhnent, 64� S. Main
St., La6elle, Fl 'oetween the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday,
and at the Clerk io ihe 6oard of County Commissioners' office, 25 E. Hickpochee Ave.,
LaBelle, FL `uehve2n the hours of 8:;0 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
If a person decides to appeal any decision made by tlie board, agency, or commissiun
with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he or she will need
a record of the proceedinys, and tl�at, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure
that a verbatlm record oi thc prcxeedings is made, which record indudes the testimony
and eviderice upon which tlie appeal is to be based.
Any questions pert�inin to this matter should be directed tn the Planning and Zoning
Dapartment, by phone �863-675-5240), email (Brenda WhiteheadCo�hencliyFla net), U.
S, mail (P. 0. Box 2340, LaBelle, FL 33975) or by fax (863-674-419�4).
If you have a disability that will require special assistance or aaommodation for your
attendance at the meetlng, please contact Hendry Counry Plznnin and Zoning at (8G3)
675-5240; Hearing Impafred: Florida Relay 7-i-1; or e-inail ���. �tei ��� ,
� �€t .
Hendry County Is an equal opportunity provider and ernployer.
Si neceslta la asistencia de un int�rprete que habie espanol Pan participar en esYa re-
unibn; poi� favor p6ngasz en contacto con 6��enda Whiteheaa al (463? 675-5240. �
sp<_cla� to ma laka r,i;-aacnonaz ��b:=v,s Run dates: LOM 9/15/2021
�aYired �o1lca +CnfaF Bob pe3orson was preaeMad wlYh a cer�;;i�aai:e a" U��,��r���V�- Co 9/io/2021
tion by Yhe Okeechobee Ctty Council.
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