CRIME BLOTTER A photo of the car and motorcycle after the road rage incident (Photo courtesy of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office) BY FRANK SUMRALL A driver hit a motorcyclist in Scott Lake during a road rage incident over the weekend causing the rider to hit the driver’s windshield the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) confirmed on Facebook The driver allegedly slammed on the brakes after the motorcyclist hit the windshield dragging the motorcycle a few hundred feet the driver left the vehicle and escaped on foot “K9 Asher and deputies tracked for approximately one hour but did not catch up to the suspect,” Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said on Facebook “K9 Asher remained in the area and continued searching locating the suspect running down the street I was on my way back from a community event and stopped to assist.” deputies found the driver and arrested them The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office shared the dashcam footage of the arrest They were also booked for a previous domestic violence case from a year ago Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here. The Minnesota State Patrol said the crash happened around 5:10 p.m in the southern portion of the county, in Cedar Lake Township driven by a 48-year-old Cedar Lake Township man driven by an 18-year-old Cedar Lake Township woman were both southbound on Highway 13 in the moments before the crash.  driven a 70-year-old Cedar Lake Township woman was traveling eastbound on 247th Street when her vehicle collided with the Ford Escape in the intersection the crash caused the Ford Escape to subsequently hit the Ford Explorer Both Ford drivers suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were not transported to the hospital Authorities have not yet released her identity The State Patrol has not indicated what caused the crash but says road conditions were wet at the time was last seen running into a wooded area nearly a decade ago and has been released from custody pending formal charges WCCB Meteorologist James Scott took a polar plunge in Lake Norman after it didn’t snow at least one inch in Charlotte on Friday James made a deal with his viewers that if it didn’t snow at least one inch which did end the streak of 1,076 consecutive days since the city last saw some flakes but it wasn’t enough to keep James out of the lake James partnered with the non-profit Valley Hope Foundation in Swannanoa to try and raise money for people affected by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. To learn more or to donate, click HERE You can watch James’ jump into Lake Norman in the video player above FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — A Lake City woman was arrested for armed robbery on Wednesday for an incident at a Bandit's Cash and Carry. of Lake City was arrested and charged by the Florence County Sheriff's Office Scott is a former employee at the Florence County Detention Center TRENDING: Man arrested, accused of burning trash amid burn ban it is alleged that Scott entered the Bandit's Cash and Carry in Scranton and was fully covered to avoid being identified She demanded money from the store clerk and appeared to be armed with a deadly weapon Scott is currently being held at the Florence County Detention Center Scott Matthew “Scooter” Delahant Scott grew up in Lake Placid and attended Lake Placid High School where he was a vibrant member of the school’s Drama Club Choir and several other clubs and organizations including four years on the yearbook committee Scott played a key role in the snow sculpture victories during the Winter Carnival festivities and served as Vice President of his senior class before graduating in 2000 he went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from SUNY Stony Brook in 2004 Scott returned home and eventually went back to work at the family’s store on Main Street “The Lake Placid Christmas Company.” Adamant that he would only work a very short time before moving on to something else Scott began to realize the potential this business might have Scott eventually took the reins of the Christmas store sleigh from his father and mother He filled his proverbial Santa sack with all his ideas and dreams to grow the company and with the help of his many “elves” over the years Scott productively ran the family business for over twenty years His business success was evident by the many return patrons who year after year They all knew they could count on him to produce their personalized ornaments or satisfy their fudge demands His relentless drive to perfecting his crafty ornaments and award-winning store window displays became an obsession His determination was often on full display for the Lake Placid Police Department’s midnight patrols as they would often spot him working in the windows late at night Greeting tourists and spreading holiday cheer year-round with his warm smile and welcoming spirit made everyone feel at home and he became a beloved fixture in the community Working alongside his nephew Alex for the past few years however were truly his most cherished moments in the store It is the family’s hope that Scott’s memory will carry on each time someone hangs one of Scott’s hand-painted ornaments on their Christmas tree certain things will always bring his memory rushing back the way he cherished shared moments with those he loved or simply by one of his many nicknames; “Smokes,”; “Scooter,”; “Bud,”; “Scott of Main,” or “Uncle Cott,” to name a few a source of endless laughter and had a one-of-a- kind personality He had a rare gift for making those around him feel valued and seen The playful nicknames he gave others reflected his ability to create meaningful connections and his infectious laugh and unwavering loyalty left an indelible mark on everyone he met His outward personality and affable demeanor are what drew people to him Scott enjoyed being with his friends and family most Scott started taking his talents to the kitchen to cook and try new recipes His famous cheeseball hors d’oeuvre was his signature dish at most every get together Scott was also well known to possibly be the biggest fan of “Dave Matthews Band.” Scott likely holds the North Country record for attending the most DMB concerts by any one person He was very proud to say that he attended “Woodstock ’99,” a “Farm Aid Music Festival,” as well as the “Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.” As much as he loved to have as much fun as one can tolerate One of his favorite ways to relax and unwind at night was up in his apartment watching “Law & Order” on the television a giving soul and as stubborn as the day is long His loyalty to those he cared for extended far and wide and his enduring friendships were a testament to his generous heart Scott was still trying to give his all as an organ donor his niece and nephew who will miss their “Uncle Cott,” Alexander C His aunt Michelle Pons and her partner Jerry Cruze of Tennessee His uncle Jeffrey Praeger and his cousin Calvin Praeger both of Colorado Scott was predeceased by his father William A. A Memorial Service will be held from 12 to 3 p.m. A Prayer service will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home with Reverend Kenneth R A reception will take place immediately after the service Memorial contributions may be made to “Donate Life America” at donatelife.net the “Tri-Lakes Humane Society” of Saranac Lake at trilakeshumanesociety.com or to a charity of your choice in memory of Scott Funeral Home in Lake Placid is in charge of arrangements Please visit www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book or upload a photograph to be added to the memorial tribute book for the family to Cherish Copyright © 2025 Adirondack Publishing Company | https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com | 54 Broadway Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight LAKE JACKSON — One of two men accused of killing a 29-year-old Lake Jackson man was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in the case this week who lists a West Columbia address on his jail record were arrested last month on murder charges after being indicted last fall by a Brazoria County grand jury The indictments were sealed at the time they were handed up Michael Morris is managing editor of The Facts We're always interested in hearing about news in our community Email notifications are only sent once a day Would you like to receive our daily headlines? Signup today Get the latest local and national sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning Receive updates on the latest issue of The Facts Receive the daily weather forecast and the weekly outlook in your inbox each morning Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Receive email alerts anytime there is breaking news or a severe weather alert Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) These men allege that ex-therapist Scott Owen sexually abused them in his roles as their therapist they gathered at the Provo courthouse as Owen was sentenced to prison after he admitted to sexually abusing patients during therapy "Andrew." Second row: James Cooper Michael asked to be identified by only his first name and Sam and Andrew are being identified by pseudonyms Provo • The last time “Sam” met with his therapist the session was nothing more than an hour of Owen sexually abusing him Sam remembers sitting in his car afterward “I could feel him all over my skin,” Sam said It was October 2017 and Sam had been seeing Owen for therapy for more than a year a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was struggling with what he called “unwanted same-sex attraction.” he had been hopeful about insights the trained therapist might offer: Owen also was a high-ranking leader in the LDS Church at that time and Owen assured him that he had helped more than 200 men who felt similarly Owen “meticulously leveraged” his two roles as a therapist and a church leader blending religion and therapy to assure him that the sexual touching during their sessions was key to helping him heal learn how to accept intimacy and grow closer to God he weaponized my faith and dismantled my confidence,” Sam said Monday in a Provo courtroom Owen pleaded guilty to three charges last month admitting he sexually abused Sam and a second patient who also said he sought Owen’s help because he was struggling with his sexuality and Latter-day Saint faith Owen also pleaded no contest in another case saying prosecutors likely had enough evidence to convict him at a trial on an allegation that he had groped a young girl during a therapy session But the number of people who say that Owen harmed them is much larger — and they filled a Provo courtroom on Monday as Owen was sentenced to spend at least 15 years in prison they stood at a podium and told Owen how he had hurt them The Salt Lake Tribune generally does not identify victims of sexual assault without their permission and is using a pseudonym to refer to Sam Others in this story agreed to the use of their names Another man said Owen abused him when Owen was a leader of a young men’s group organized by the LDS Church “He had sleepovers at his house,” Mike Bahr said (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mike Bahr speaks in a Provo courtroom on Monday saying that Scott Owen abused him when Owen was a leader of his church's young mens' program There were family members of men who had died by suicide one of whom said his brother disclosed that Owen had abused him just days before taking his life And there was one of Owen’s own family members who alleges that Owen molested him on a family trip when they were kids After becoming more public with his own abuse allegations several years ago James Cooper has worked to gather others who say his cousin victimized them “It took so much effort,” he told the judge nearly half a century that culminated in this moment of four charges for which he pleaded guilty (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) James Cooper speaks Monday during Scott Owen's sentencing hearing and alleges the man abused him when he was a child he said there was no excuse or rationale for what he had done “All I have to offer is what’s left of my life justice will have been met in some small fashion and those who I have hurt can disconnect from me and move forward with their healing.” Defense attorney Earl Xaiz said Owen did not want leniency from the judge but mentioned in court that his client had been sexually abused himself as a child and had himself struggled with his sexuality (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former Utah County therapist Scott Owen pictured alongside defense attorney Earl Xaiz "These individuals came to me seeking help Fourth District Judge Kraig Powell on Monday sentenced Owen to a 15-years-to-life sentence Given Owen’s age and the nature of his crimes both prosecutors and the defense agreed it is likely he will spend the rest of his life in prison Powell became emotional as he handed down the sentence telling Owen that he not only harmed those who spoke publicly on Monday but all of those therapists and church leaders who are ethical and working to help people While Owen gave up his therapy license in 2018 after several patients complained to state licensors that he had touched them inappropriately, the allegations were never investigated by the police and were not widely known. He continued to have an active role in his therapy business, Canyon Counseling, until The Tribune and ProPublica published their investigation. Under a negotiated settlement with Utah’s licensing division, Owen was able to surrender his license more than five years ago without admitting to any inappropriate conduct, and the sexual nature of his patients’ allegations is not referenced in the documents he signed when he gave up his license. Many of Owen’s patients who have come forward said they were struggling with their sexuality and their faith when they went to therapy with him. The church has had shifting levels of acceptance of gay members. In the 1960s, “homosexuality” was included in a list of behaviors that could result in excommunication. By the 2010s, the church began to publicly acknowledge that its members do not have a choice in being attracted to the same sex; today, church policy says a gay member can remain in good standing if they remain celibate and never marry someone of their same gender. Police interviewed more than a dozen former patients of Owen’s, all of whom reported that he touched them in ways they felt were inappropriate during therapy sessions. But Owen only faced charges in connection with three patients, because the type of touching that the other men alleged fell under parts of the criminal code that had a shorter window of time for prosecutors to file a case, called the statute of limitations. Those crimes that Owen was originally charged with — forcible sodomy, object rape and aggravated sexual abuse of a child — are all felonies that have no statute of limitations. He pleaded guilty to three charges of first-degree felony forcible sodomy, admitting that he sexually abused two male patients “using his position as a therapist” and led them to believe that sexual contact was part of their therapy. He also pleaded no contest to another first-degree felony, attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child, in connection with a third patient — a woman who alleged Owen touched her inappropriately during therapy sessions in 2007, when she was 13 years old. A no-contest plea means that Owen did not admit he committed the crime, but conceded that prosecutors would present evidence at trial that would likely lead a jury to convict him. That woman acknowledged during Monday’s court hearing that her case was dissimilar from the others who alleged abuse — she is the only woman to publicly say that Owen abused her. “I can only imagine how much hurt we share,” she said, “but also how profoundly different the hurt is we share.” She said that she hoped Monday’s sentencing would bring closure, and said she was reclaiming her own strength after she said Owen made her feel like something was wrong with her. “He no longer holds power over me,” she said. For some who accused Owen of abuse, Monday’s sentencing was the only chance they had to address Owen because charges could not be brought in their cases. That includes Michael, who asked to be identified by only his first name. He said he saw Owen for therapy on and off for about a decade, starting when he was 14. He read a letter to his younger self in court on Monday. “I just learned on Thursday that we are beyond our legal opportunity to fix this problem,” he said. “And it broke my heart to learn that I can’t pursue a court case for you. … You’ll have to be strong. It’s going to be so hard, but you’re going to make it through.” (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Michael, a former patient of Scott Owen's who asked to be identified by his first name, speaks during Owen's sentencing hearing. Both state licensers and local leaders in the LDS Church knew of inappropriate touching allegations against Owen as early as 2016, reporting by The Tribune and ProPublica showed, but neither would say whether they ever reported Owen to the police. The church said in response that it takes all matters of sexual misconduct seriously, and that in 2019 it confidentially annotated internal records to alert bishops that Owen’s conduct had threatened the well-being of other people or the church. The church has said it has no process in place to vet the therapists its church leaders recommend and pay for using member donations. It is up to individual members, a church spokesperson has said, to “make their own decisions” about whether to see a specific therapist that their bishop recommends. For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune Scott and Serafini were both charged with open murder following their arrest on October 20, 2023. Serafini has pleaded not guilty to all charges. when deputies from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting on the 3000 block of West Lake Blvd They found Spohr dead from a gunshot wound and Wood suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and wrist offered a $150,000 reward to help find the person responsible for the attack She vividly recalled the day of the shooting saying she punched a hole through drywall out of anger and rushed to Reno to see her mother in the intensive care unit Adrienne detailed her mother's recovery journey noting how she had to relearn basic skills after being shot in the head The Placer County Sheriff’s Office released surveillance videos of the suspect Authorities have maintained that the attack was not random as the assailant reportedly entered the home earlier in the day and waited for the couple to return before opening fire who played Major League Baseball for seven years His career included stints with the Minnesota Twins Erin Spohr told the San Francisco Chronicle in July that she and Serafini had sold their bar and that Serafini was working in underground mining in Reno Serafini is scheduled to appear before a judge in Placer County on Monday Scott's guilty plea could result in a prison sentence of up to three years and she is expected to return to court at a later date according to the Placer County District Attorney's office TournamentsAccording to the following brief statement from B.A.S.S. will not be competing in the Bassmaster Elite series officials confirm that Elite Series angler Scott Martin has voluntarily withdrawn from B.A.S.S A formal protest was submitted on March 28 concerning Martin; however he chose to step away from the Elite Series before the B.A.S.S investigation process concluded and prior to the administration of an official truth verification exam This announcement from Scott Martin is the second such "retirement" from the Bassmaster Elite Series this year. Matt Herren who was disqualified for a violation of the "No Information Rule" before the 2025 St Johns River Tournament made the decision that he would be leaving B.A.S.S Just one year ago at the Bassmaster Open on Lake Okeechobee Martin set the record for the all-time heaviest winning total in a three-day Bassmaster event with 90 pounds And his Day 1 limit broke the record for the heaviest one-day catch in a Bassmaster Open And while last year’s amazing accomplishment is no guarantee of what might have happened this year it certainly had all eyes upon him going into this week’s event Scott Martin set records at the Okeechobee Bassmaster Open just a year ago. / B.A.S.S.Official Statement from B.A.S.S.Earlier today, B.A.S.S. published this brief press release on their official website officials received a call on the morning of Feb concerning the receipt of information to gain a competitive advantage from a non-competitor Martin admitted to having a conversation with a local angler about conditions at certain locations on Lake Okeechobee after the no information period was in effect Martin has been disqualified from the 2025 Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite on Lake Okeechobee and has been assessed a fine I received information that violated the no information rule,” said Martin “I was rigging my boat at the marina and was engaged in a conversation with an angler and simply did not shut it down quickly enough as this lake is special to me and I was really looking forward to the event This is a situation that can happen to any angler in the Elite field and in today’s world we have to be vigilant and simply do things differently.” Here are the two paragraphs in full from B.A.S.S.’s rules as published on their website: Elite anglers cannot gather waypoints or specific fishing locations i.e from any source that is not publicly available Anglers mayparticipate in general discussions with fans and others about fishing they must not use suchconversations to intentionally gain a competitive edge for fishing a future Elite event.To be safe in such situations the angler should discontinue conversations that focuson specific locations or other information that might result in a competitiveadvantage gather or intentionally receive anyinformation to gain a competitive advantage from anyone other than another Eliteseries competitor in the tournament anyinformation to gain a competitive advantage During the 28-day tournament waters off limits period Elite Anglers must continue toadhere to the no information rules and are prohibited from being on tournamentwaters unless approved by tournament officials For a first offense of an intentional violation of the off limits periodor no information rule (at any time) the competitor shall be disqualified from thetournament and assessed up to a $10,000 fine the competitorwill lose their eligibility for the following year’s Elite Series events and will beassessed up to a $25,000 fine unintentional violation of off limitswill result in disqualification only Any contestant accused in writing of violating theoff-limits or no information rule to tournament officials may be subject to acredibility assessment relevant to the charges Accusers may also be required to takea credibility assessment Failure to pass the credibility assessment may result indisqualification from the tournament Clewiston, Florida's Scott Martin has a special connection with Lake Okeechobee's bass. / B.A.S.S.Scott Martin’s Statement on the DisqualificationScott Martin took to his social media page to try to get ahead of it and make sure his fans and supporters understood what had happened “It was for an unintentional rules violation I didn’t go out calling people or asking people for fishing information and locations.”“I got caught up in some talk around the shop…in regards to some water quality questions and another angler made a comment on where they saw some fish blowing up.” “I didn’t shut the conversation down and that’s where I messed up I didn’t act on the information and practice those areas It was just a public “dock talk” or I should say “shop talk” situation Martin seems to be taking responsibility and while he’s clearly disappointed “But it’s a good lesson for all of us to know that we’ve gotta do things different We’ve gotta do better as professionals and we’ve gotta be careful how we operate I unintentionally broke the Bassmaster Elite Rule Scott Martin’s disqualification is another reminder of how strictly B.A.S.S plans to enforce the no-information rule for all anglers competitors will be able to gain understanding and make the changes necessary to avoid similar setbacks The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published “I could feel him all over my skin,” he said and Sam had been seeing Owen for therapy for more than a year A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he was struggling with what he called “unwanted same-sex attraction.” Owen was a high-ranking leader in the LDS Church at that time and Sam said Owen assured him that he had helped more than 200 men who felt similarly Owen “meticulously leveraged” his two roles as a therapist and a church leader to assure him that the sexual touching during their sessions was key to helping him heal he weaponized my faith and dismantled my confidence,” Sam told the courtroom admitting he sexually abused Sam and a second patient who also said he sought Owen’s help because he was struggling with his sexuality and Latter-day Saints faith they stood at a podium in court and told Owen how he had hurt them a pseudonym to protect his identity from his community One man told the court Owen had abused him when Owen was a leader of a young men’s group organized by the LDS Church Also speaking were family members of a man who had died by suicide including his brother who said his sibling disclosed to him that Owen had abused him just days before he took his life who alleges that Owen molested him on a family trip when he was a kid He spoke about the dynamics that allowed Owen to hurt others for so long without repercussions and what it’s like to be a victim of sexual assault The fear of not being accepted by your family One woman spoke about Owen touching her inappropriately during therapy when she was 13 years old the only woman to have publicly accused him said Owen had made her feel like something was wrong with her Defense attorney Earl Xaiz said Owen did not want leniency from the judge but mentioned in court that his client had been sexually abused himself as a child and had struggled with his sexuality Fourth District Judge Kraig Powell sentenced Owen on Monday to 15 years to life in prison telling Owen that he harmed not only those who spoke publicly on Monday While Owen gave up his therapy license in 2018 after several patients complained to state licensors that he had touched them inappropriately the allegations were never investigated by the police and were not widely known Under a negotiated settlement with Utah’s licensing division Owen was able to surrender his license without admitting to any inappropriate conduct and the sexual nature of his patients’ allegations is not referenced in the documents he signed when he gave up his license He continued to have an active role in his therapy business until The Tribune and ProPublica published their investigation Police interviewed more than a dozen former patients of Owen’s all of whom reported that he touched them in ways they felt were inappropriate during therapy sessions But Owen faced charges in connection with only three patients because the type of touching that the other men alleged fell under parts of the criminal code that had a shorter window of time for prosecutors to file a case The crimes that Owen was charged with are all felonies that have no statute of limitations Both state licensors and local leaders in the LDS Church knew of inappropriate touching allegations against Owen as early as 2016 reporting by The Tribune and ProPublica showed but neither would say whether they ever reported Owen to the police The church said in response to that reporting that it takes all matters of sexual misconduct seriously and that in 2019 it confidentially annotated internal records to alert bishops that Owen’s conduct had threatened the well-being of other people or the church The church also said it has no process in place to vet the therapists its church leaders recommend and pay for using member donations to “make their own decisions” about whether to see a specific therapist that their bishop recommends Monday’s sentencing was the only chance they had to address Owen because charges could not be brought in their cases who asked to be identified by only his first name He said he saw Owen for therapy on and off for about a decade He read a letter to his younger self in court on Monday “I just learned on Thursday that we are beyond our legal opportunity to fix this problem,” he said “And it broke my heart to learn that I can’t pursue a court case for you Editor’s note: Sam is identified only by a pseudonym because he requested anonymity We have granted this request because of the risk to his standing in his community The Salt Lake Tribune and ProPublica typically use sources’ full names in stories That often takes the form of initials or middle names we felt that we couldn’t fully protect our source by those means We know his full name and have corroborated his accounts in documents and through interviews with others ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny Here are some of the issues our 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We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them including the Environmental Protection Agency including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch We’re trying something new. Was it helpful? Email Address: Arrow Right Sign Up ProPublica Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest © Copyright 2025 Pro Publica Inc Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) Thank you for your interest in republishing this story You are free to republish it so long as you do the following: (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former Utah County therapist Scott Owen walks into the courtroom on June 10 admitting he sexually abused some of his patients Note to readers • This story describes explicit details of a sexual assault Provo • Former Utah County therapist Scott Owen admitted in a Provo courtroom on Monday that he sexually abused several of his patients during sessions pleaded guilty to three charges of first-degree felony forcible sodomy admitting that he sexually abused two male patients “using his position as a therapist” and led them to believe that sexual contact was part of their therapy He also pleaded no contest on Monday to another first-degree felony attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child in connection with a third patient — a woman who alleged Owen touched her inappropriately during therapy sessions in 2007 A no-contest plea means that Owen did not admit he committed the crime but conceded that prosecutors would present evidence at trial that would likely lead a jury to convict him Owen faces a maximum sentence of up to life in prison during a sentencing hearing scheduled for March 31 While Owen gave up his therapy license in 2018 after several patients complained to state licensers that he had touched them inappropriately, the allegations were never investigated by the police and were not widely known. He continued to have an active role in his therapy business, Canyon Counseling, until The Tribune and ProPublica published their investigation. In pleading guilty on Monday, it was the first time Owen has publicly acknowledged that he sexually abused his patients. Prosecutors agreed in a plea deal to dismiss seven other felony charges that Owen faced in connection with the two male victims. Both told police that Owen engaged in sexual contact with them during therapy sessions — including kissing, cuddling and Owen using his hand to touch their anuses. Owen admitted in plea documents to having sexual contact with the two patients, including putting one patient’s testicles in his mouth. Owen admitted in plea agreement documents that, as a therapist, he was in a special position of trust when he had sexual contact with his patients, which he told them was “part of their treatment process.” Utah law says patients can’t consent to sexual acts with a health care professional if they believe the touching is part of a “medically or professionally appropriate diagnosis, counseling or treatment.” Both state licensers and local leaders in the LDS Church knew of inappropriate touching allegations against Owen as early as 2016, reporting by The Tribune and ProPublica showed, but neither would say whether they ever reported Owen to the police. In Utah, with few exceptions, the state licensing division is not legally required to forward information to law enforcement. A preliminary hearing got underway Monday in Roseville for a former major league pitcher accused of killing his father-in-law.The hearing at Placer County Superior Court will determine if there’s enough evidence to move forward with the murder trial Dan Serafini and family friend Samantha Scott face murder charges for the 2021 death of Serafini’s father-in-law and the attempted murder of Serafini’s mother-in-law Scott and Serafini face charges for illegally going into the couple’s house in Homewood on June 5 to burglarize it.Prosecutors said Serafini pulled the trigger on his in-laws she killed herself.Both Serafini and Scott have pleaded not guilty and still being held in the Placer County Jail.What happened in court on MondayFour witnesses took the stand Monday A deputy who arrived on the scene said North Lake Tahoe fire first responders were already there working on the victims where dispatchers heard someone gasping for air.The deputy saw shell casings and bloodstains on couch cushions Medics were attending to Wood in an upstairs bathroom An evidence technician testified he gathered five shell casings from the second-floor living room where Spohr’s body was found He also attended Spohr’s autopsy and retrieved two bullet fragments found in the body Another detective said a bullet and bullet fragments were removed from Wood’s body at her autopsy last year The third witness was a detective who said he canvassed the neighborhood looking for surveillance video The video put together and released to the public by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office was played in court It showed a man walking in front of and onto the property Chris Carlton wrapped up the first day of the preliminary hearing going over more surveillance video.Prosecutor Rick Miller went over timestamps with Carlton One video taken from Spohr’s home 2021 shows a man prosecutors said is Serafini jogging in front of the house in Homewood and into the driveway about five hours before the shootings Miller laid out a timeline of the victims’ final hours before being shot He showed more security video of the couple spending time with their oldest daughter Erin Spohr and grandchildren heading to and from the lake that afternoon Erin Spohr is married to Serafini.The man arrived about an hour after the victims leave for the lake with the kids at 5:09 p.m.The video also showed the couple saying goodbye to Spohr and their grandchildren at 7:45 p.m.At 8:51 p.m. six gunshots are heard on the video.Four minutes later the same man is seen leaving the home.Carlton also testified about a video from a resident’s home about a mile and a half from the Spohr’s home showing someone he said was Samantha Scott He testified she parked a tan Subaru and walked around the block Carlton said the video also showed her picking up Serafini after the shootings Family members of both defendants were not allowed to listen to testimony in case they will be called as witnesses in the case Erin Spohr is expected to take the stand tomorrow.The preliminary hearing is expected to last three days Serafini attended Serra High School in San Mateo and was drafted to the MLB in 1992.He pitched in the majors from 1996 to 2007 and played for the Minnesota Twins Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.He was suspended for 50 games after the 2007 season for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.In 2013 that was later featured on an episode of the reality show “Bar Rescue.”According to a promotional video for the show A preliminary hearing got underway Monday in Roseville for a former major league pitcher accused of killing his father-in-law The hearing at Placer County Superior Court will determine if there’s enough evidence to move forward with the murder trial The two suspects, Dan Serafini and family friend Samantha Scott face murder charges for the 2021 death of Serafini’s father-in-law Prosecutors said Serafini pulled the trigger on his in-laws Both Serafini and Scott have pleaded not guilty and still being held in the Placer County Jail where dispatchers heard someone gasping for air The deputy saw shell casings and bloodstains on couch cushions Chris Carlton wrapped up the first day of the preliminary hearing going over more surveillance video Prosecutor Rick Miller went over timestamps with Carlton The man arrived about an hour after the victims leave for the lake with the kids at 5:09 p.m The video also showed the couple saying goodbye to Spohr and their grandchildren at 7:45 p.m For a free legal consultation, call (877) 735-7035 Carlton also testified about a video from a resident’s home about a mile and a half from the Spohr’s home Erin Spohr is expected to take the stand tomorrow The preliminary hearing is expected to last three days You may be able to find the same content in another format or you may be able to find more information Serafini attended Serra High School in San Mateo and was drafted to the MLB in 1992 He pitched in the majors from 1996 to 2007 and played for the Minnesota Twins He was suspended for 50 games after the 2007 season for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs In 2013, Serafini opened a bar in Sparks, Nevada, that was later featured on an episode of the reality show “Bar Rescue.” According to a promotional video for the show Serafini had lost $14 million through a series of bad investments and a divorce settlement before convincing his parents to take out a $240,000 loan against their house to buy The Bullpen bar Officials described Scott as well-known to the family and said she is believed to have been a nanny at some point | RELATED | Sisters sue each other over inheritance of Tahoe-area parents after 2021 murders The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has not said what a possible motive is in the shooting See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app Call or text (877) 735-7035 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property He also has expertise in cases involving product defects He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California If you have any questions about this article Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" A preliminary hearing got underway Monday in Roseville for a former major league pitcher accused of killing his father-in-law.The hearing at Placer County Superior Court will determine if there’s enough… Tens of Millions Recovered for our Clients © Copyright 2025 J&Y Law Attorney Advertising | Privacy Policy | Sitemap (CBS) Scott and Lori Thompson of Millcreek are competing on season 37 of CBS's reality competition show "The Amazing Race." Millcreek couple Scott and Lori Thompson finally get to show their eight sons and everyone else what they did on their summer vacation: They competed on “The Amazing Race.” “Our family mantra has always been: ‘We do hard things,’” Scott Thompson said in an interview Monday “‘The Amazing Race’ is the epitome of a hard thing but it didn’t stop [Lori] and me from trying The Thompsons are one of 14 teams starting out on the 37th season of “The Amazing Race.” The season premieres Wednesday at 8:30 p.m April 6 • The Thompsons were eliminated on the season’s fifth episode After being hit with a U-turn — when a team is required to perform both halves of a “Detour” challenge — Scott and Lori couldn’t catch up On “The Amazing Race,” teams of two compete in an around-the-world adventure flying to different continents where they experience physical and mental challenges called “roadblocks” or “detours” — everything from memory games to rappelling down the sides of buildings The contestants also sometimes have to deal with flight delays clueless cab drivers and driving stick shift left in boxes at each stop of the race — leading to a “pit stop” at the end of each race leg the last team to check in with host Phil Keoghan faces the likelihood of being eliminated The first team to arrive at the final pit stop or — as with the Thompsons — married couples the host of "The Amazing Race," pictured during the show's 33rd season The Thompsons’ sons range in age from 10 to 25 is an emergency room physician’s assistant They met at the Missionary Training Center in Provo on their way to serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — her in Spokane They say they have been “super fans” of the reality competition show since it debuted in 2001 Lori Thompson has auditioned for CBS’s solo competition, “Survivor,” for the last six years, “thinking I’d get on ‘Survivor,’ then Scott and I would get on ‘The Amazing Race.’” (Over the years, six previous “Race” teams got their starts on “Survivor.”) After failing that route, but appearing on “The Price Is Right” and a couple of other CBS game shows, Lori told Scott they should just submit a tape to “The Amazing Race.” They did, and heard from a casting producer two months later. As fans, the Thompsons would watch the show and pretend they were playing the game. Lori would write down the challenges in a notebook, Scott said, and “we would play it like we were on the race — figuring out who’s going to do which roadblock, [or] which detour are we going to decide to do.” Playing it for real, Scott said, “is a whole different animal.” “It’s a lot easier to yell at teams from the couch [about] how stupid they’re being when you’re not actually in the race,” he said. “But when you’re in the moment, it’s stressful. It’s exciting, it’s amazing.” Lori described each leg of the race as “running for your life for four or five hours.” “You’re in this tunnel vision,” Lori said. “I remember after everything had wrapped, I was talking to one of the producers, and I said, ‘I didn’t even see you at that challenge.’ And he’s like, ‘There were 20 of us there, Lori.’ And I [said], ‘All I saw was the clue box.’” The teams are color-coded, to make it easy for viewers to identify the pairings. The Thompsons wanted to wear green — in part because their older sons attend Olympus High School — but producers said the color would disappear into the green screens used to add backdrops in some shots. So the couple ended up wearing pink. “As a mom of eight sons, we have a lot of boy stuff — lots of blue,” Lori said. “So I’ve always loved the color pink. My toothbrush is pink, my lotion bottle is pink, my wallet is pink. So pink is perfect.” Season 37 of “The Amazing Race” was shot in May and June of last year. The Thompsons can’t say where they went until each episode airs — and they can’t reveal how far they went in the season. They said their oldest son, Will, had just graduated from Brigham Young University, and had a six-week window before starting medical school — so he was enlisted to watch his younger brothers while their parents were in the race. “I wrote up lists of what to buy at the grocery store, what to buy at Costco, different activities the kids could do,” Lori said. “I left a bunch of gift cards. I did videos for every week we were gone, for the little kids, to tell them we love them and we miss them.” Scott added, “We had to sit the little boys down and tell them not to take too much advantage of their older brother, because he’s kind of a pushover.” Raising eight sons, the Thompsons said, helped them develop problem-solving skills that came in handy on “The Amazing Race.” One of the show’s mottos is “Expect the unexpected” — and this season, Keoghan promises the contestants surprises in every episode. “You have no idea what [kids] are going to roll into the house with — if they fell, or they broke their arm, or they made the varsity football team,” Lori said. “You have no idea. It’s the twists and turns of every day, having these boys. It’s just like ‘The Amazing Race.’” Leesburg-News.com A bus passenger was arrested after allegedly threatening the driver as well as passengers at a transit stop waiting for a ride An officer responded to the LYNX park and ride bus station regarding a man threatening the bus driver and saying he had a gun on him around 7:36 p.m according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department later identified as 37-year-old Eric John Scott of Anthony left and was walking south toward Steves Road the officer immediately found Scott walking on the sidewalk back toward the bus which was still stopped at the station stepped out of his vehicle and drew a Glock 47 due to the threat Scott allegedly made about having a gun Scott turned and threw an object down a hill so the officer would not see what he had The officer ordered Scott to lay flat on his stomach with his arms to his sides until a backup unit arrived he placed Scott in handcuffs and secured him the back of a patrol vehicle The officer then walked down the hill to find what Scott threw and discovered an open alcohol container branded “E&J 80 proof” which was about half empty An officer tried to read Scott his rights and speak with him but he was obviously intoxicated with bloodshot glassy and watery eyes and the smell of alcohol on him The officer moved on to the driver of the public Lake County Transit bus The report noted she was wearing her employee uniform with a yellow traffic vest at the time of the interaction The employee advised that Scott had approached the bus as it pulled into the stop and immediately began trying to “pry” the bus doors open with his hands and he approached the driver’s seat with her in it He leaned around the clear partition that separated her from the passengers Scott started to back up and said he would “beat” her if she got off the bus As he stepped off the bus and stood in the doorway The comments Scott made scared the employee and she felt as if the threat was credible because she did not have a weapon on her at the time and did not have a way to protect herself from him another bus driver had an interaction with Scott wherein he got onto the bus and sat in the driver’s seat without permission The officer also spoke with three witnesses on scene They each had separate interactions with Scott at the bus stop before the bus got there tried to take a bike from another and continuously harassed the last They all saw him yelling at the bus driver but did not hear the exact wording The officer briefly talked to another officer on scene who advised that after reading Scott his rights he stated he intentionally threw the bottle of alcohol so he could not be arrested for having an open container in public This showed he intentionally tried to conceal physical evidence of a crime The officer again tried speaking with Scott about the situation hit his head on the vehicle and asked if he was going to jail rather than engage in an adult conversation It was obvious he was under the influence of alcohol Due to his disorderly intoxication carrying over into law enforcement’s presence and his decision to throw the bottle to avoid a perceived criminal charge The report noted that before receiving this 911 call for service the CPD got another call from Arby’s also in reference to Scott causing a disturbance at the restaurant Scott was ultimately charged with tampering with evidence disorderly intoxication and assault (on a public transit employee) The Georgia native was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $6,500 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Sign In Subscribe Now Election results for the federal riding of Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee show Conservative candidate Scott Anderson topping the polls.  Anderson had 50.5 per cent of the vote ahead of Anna Warwick Sears (Liberal) Leah Main (NDP) and Blair Vissher (Green) Anderson's 33,852 votes are ahead of Warwick Sears' 28,714 Anderson, a former two-term Vernon councillor while watching the numbers roll in at the Elks Lodge "We won handily it looks like," Anderson said congratulating Warwick Sears as a worthy competitor Although not as happy with the federal results of a Liberal win "I just want to make sure that my kids someday are able to afford a house." Anderson said he was expecting a victory when the polls were giving him a strong early lead but was surprised at how swiftly the final results came in.  "I was actually in a different room and I walked out and everybody congratulated me," he said of the moment his team was ready to declare victory "The core campaign were all cheering and clapping and I guess while I was away they gave me a checkmark." It's been a polarizing election for many Canadians Anderson said he's felt that energy here in Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee and was "honoured" to have earned a mandate to represent the riding in Ottawa.  and I'm glad that it turned out the love transcended the hate," he said Liberal Anna Warwick Sears was watching the numbers over at the Vernon Golf and Country Club in her self-proclaimed white 'power suit.' and we are waiting until every vote is counted and then go from there," said Warwick Sears "The number one goal was to get (Mark) Carney elected and if he won and one of the Central Okanagan ridings turned red then I would be happy and that is going to happen Main says she remains committed to working for a Canada where no one is left behind "To the people of my riding: this campaign may be over and community-driven leadership continues." this likely isn't the last the region has heard of her "This process has really inspired me to continue advocating for the Vernon area both our environment and our residents," Visscher said. "I'm looking forward to continuing to work in public service to stand up for this beautiful place." The blue wave in the numbers was trending north of Vernon where Vernon's former MP Mel Arnold won the new Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies riding Meanwhile a red surge is being seen to the south in ridings such as Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay where Enderby's Gloria Morgan was running for the Liberals but didn't quite top the polls with 37 per cent of the vote compared to the Conservative's win with 44 per cent Canada-wide Mark Carney's Liberals are now projected to form a minority government with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre having conceded defeat It's a result that seemed highly unlikely four months ago when the Conservatives were well above the Liberals in the polls and looked poised to form a majority government.  Asked about what has transpired in those four months that saw the fortunes of the Conservatives and the Liberals flip Anderson cited the Donald Trump effect.  "I think the Liberals made this about (U.S "I don't think that the American threat is particularly acute." Anderson said Trump is getting pushback from Americans on his tariff strategy "and on the harm that he's actually doing to Americans." He called Trump's 51st state talk and resulting concerns of annexation "a red herring." "I think he has no intention of doing that," he said "I'll be the first one to step up and defend Canada but I just don't think that's in the cards." The Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee riding has a population of 108,606 more than half (72.78 per cent) voted in the federal election The previous federal election in 2021 for North Okanagan-Shuswap voter turnout was 65.2 per cent of the 111,599 eligible voters Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Ohio — The director of performing arts at Lake Catholic High School has been fired following allegations of inappropriate conduct with students according to a letter sent to school alumni According to a statement from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Scott Posey was fired at the conclusion of Lake Catholic's investigation this month it received a report alleging Posey engaged in inappropriate conduct with two female students 15 years ago but that conduct "did not involve physical contact with the students." those allegations triggered an investigation in which the Diocese said another female graduate told investigators she engaged in inappropriate conduct with Posey while she was a student that "included touching of a sexual nature." The diocese said that the allegation was immediately reported to law enforcement and that Posey was placed on administrative leave the diocese said "civil authorities" are currently investigating the allegations News 5 reached out to Lake County authorities but could not confirm which agency was investigating or if any criminal charges had been filed The Diocese asks anyone who wants to report inappropriate conduct to contact local law enforcement According to Lake County Court of Common Pleas records a special prosecutor has been appointed to avoid any possible conflicts of interest between the parties involved Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker SALT LAKE CITY — A judge will decide if a lawsuit will proceed over whether the state of Utah has done enough to protect the Great Salt Lake from environmental catastrophe 3rd District Court Judge Laura Scott heard arguments from state agencies canal companies and water districts asking her to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a number of environmental groups the Sierra Club and Utah Rivers Council allege state leaders have breached the "public trust doctrine" of Utah's constitution that requires they take measures to protect the lake for the people "The fundamental question we are asking ourselves today in this court of law is should the Great Salt Lake exist in the future or not?" said Zach Frankel the executive director of the Utah Rivers Council lawyers for the state argued that the public trust doctrine does not explicitly cover water "Taking that position to its logical extreme then the state could divert or allocate all water that goes to the Great Salt Lake and eliminate it is that correct?" Judge Scott asked an attorney for Utah's Division of Forestry "We do have public interest obligations to the lake," he told the judge "And those are mainly in the realm of management objectives." The plaintiffs sitting in the audience said they were stunned by the state's legal stance "That seems like a very extreme position to take," Deeda Seed with the Center for Biological Diversity told FOX 13 News outside of court adding: "The state has not done enough to protect the lake We need urgent action to protect the public interest The environmental group plaintiffs urged the judge to keep their lawsuit alive arguing that the state has failed to do enough "What we have here is a situation where the state has abdicated its trust obligations," said Stuart Gillespie an attorney with the environmental law firm Earthjustice "It has denied it has any obligation for navigable waters and that appropriations can dry up the lake But environmentalists argue the state took very few concrete steps instead relying on a series of record-breaking winters to prop up the lake "The state has effectively encouraged over-consumption and too many upstream water diversions and what we’ve heard today they’ve essentially abrogated responsibility to keep water in the lake which is in immense disagreement to the majority of Utahns," Frankel said outside of court Fire & State Lands Director Jamie Barnes said the legal implications are complicated "There are many complexities to the lawsuit and the oral arguments presented before the court today The Great Salt Lake is an important resource to the state of Utah and the Division of Forestry Fire & State Lands is proud to be one of many agencies that makes meaningful contributions to the lake The state of Utah manages this resource in accordance with the public trust and must act within the parameters of the law as it is written," she said Judge Scott seemed to hint in her line of questioning on Tuesday she could ultimately side with the environmental groups about a breach of Utah's public trust doctrine "The problem with that kind of a ruling is it would necessitate the creation of a super priority in essence," argued Sarah Shechtor an attorney representing the Utah State Engineer and the Utah Division of Water Rights "I certainly have some skepticism about whether this court could wade into issues of determining lake level," Judge Scott said who is specially tasked by the judiciary with complex handling water law cases took the case under advisement with no timeline for a ruling She agreed to accept additional briefing by the environmental group plaintiffs the state and the other interested parties The judge said she has not made up her mind over where she is leaning I suspect this is an issue for the Supreme Court to decide," she said This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lake—and what can be done to make a difference before it is too late. Read all of our stories at greatsaltlakenews.org Recent Great Salt Lake Collaborative stories Support us State regulators also say go-kart track built without approvals violates DEC permit conditions The operator of Scott’s Pointe in Calverton was ordered by the State Department of Environmental Conservation Wednesday to cease use of the inflatable aquapark and other public recreation in its groundwater-fed man-made lake violate terms of the DEC permit allowing construction of the lake the DEC said in its June 26 notice of violation issued to Island Water Park Corp. The DEC notice also said the go-kart track built on the site by Island Water Park without approvals is “situated at least partially” in the area authorized for mining The site’s parking lot was also “significantly larger” than in its approved plans operation of the aquapark and public recreation in the water are not in compliance with the permit Island Water Park faces civil penalties of $8,000 for each violation and $2,000 per day for each day the violation continues did not return a call seeking comment for this article “You have your agenda,” he replied in a text message The day the DEC issued the notice of violation Scott’s Pointe posted on its social media pages that the aquapark would continue operating on a “daily basis.” They have not posted anything related to the operations of the aquapark since.   The DEC’s violation notice followed an inspection at Scott’s Pointe by DEC staff on June 12 — a little more than a week after the Town of Riverhead issued summonses for alleged violations of town laws that require permits and site plan approvals for new construction and other alleged violations of town law.  MORE COVERAGE: Scott’s Pointe issued stop-work order, cited by town for building race track without approvals Since tickets were issued to Island Water Park Corp. by Riverhead Town, Supervisor Tim Hubbard has called the construction of the go-kart track “brazen” and for the town to increase its fines for town code violations The recent violations were not the first time Island Water Park Corp In November 2021 it was issued a stop-work order for unauthorized construction at the site the Riverhead fire marshal issued a notice of violation for hosting an Independence Day party on the site without the required approvals to occupy the site The business was not issued a summons for that violation.  MORE COVERAGE: Social media posts showing parties at Calverton water park without C.O. lead to violation notice A RiverheadLOCAL investigation last summer showed people were having parties or engaging with amenities at the Calverton site without required approvals for years before the fire marshal’s notice of violation was issued.  the town attorney and other town officials said private parties and events held at the site did not run afoul of town code requirements for a certificate of occupancy since the facility was not open to the public and the events were private parties Scott’s Pointe opened in November after more than 20 years in development The project has been heralded by town officials as a tourist attraction that will be an important economic generator for the town offering a variety of activities including a surf pool The facility is situated on a 42-acre site with a 19-acre clay-lined manmade lake originally approved for use by a water ski club After the developer’s excavation struck groundwater the State DEC allowed the developer’s pond to be fed by groundwater rather than filled with water purchased from the Riverhead Water District The state agency also prohibited the use of gas-powered motorcraft in the lake changed its plans for the site to eliminate disallowed water uses It was approved for a rope-tow water ski system and non-motorized water sport vehicles The project is also the beneficiary of financial assistance from the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency which in November 2021 granted the project property tax reductions for 10 years and mortgage recording and sales tax exemptions.  The IDA’s agreement with Island Water Park allows the IDA to recapture benefits provided to the company if it is found in violation of its agreement which prohibits the violation of town and environmental laws Riverhead IDA Executive Director Tracy Stark-James said in an email last week that the IDA is “undertaking its existing due diligence process to address these concerns and any actions recommended by the Agency will be considered in a public meeting of the full board once that due diligence is completed.” The survival of local journalism depends on your support. We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community. Support RiverheadLOCAL today. Get fresh local news straight to your inbox every day. LAKELAND — Robin Wickman stood on his wooden dock on a recent afternoon, tossing bread onto the surface of Scott Lake and watching as fish exploded from below to devour it. Wickman doesn’t take such placid moments for granted. It seems not so long ago when people living along the lake watched in disbelief as fish — not to mention otters and alligators and countless gallons of water — were being swallowed by a yawning crevasse in the lake bed. That June 2006 event, when a large sinkhole formed near the southern shore, is an unforgettable occurrence for Wickman and others who were living near Scott Lake at the time. The body of water south of Lakeland lost much of its volume within a few days, creating scenes of almost biblical havoc. In subsequent days, Wickman and other residents explored a lake bottom that had always been obscured by water. “That was quite an event,” said Wickman, 73. “It was like a new treasure hunt. We’d walk around the lake and found an outboard motor and fishing rods and reels and found a few arrowheads. I found sunken trees and things like that I didn’t know were there.” Wickman and his neighbors are delighted that such discoveries are no longer available to them. The water level on the 285-acre lake is back to normal, allowing Wickman to return his boat to a dock that for several years had been standing on dry land. John Prahl, who has lived on Scott Lake with his wife, Carolyn, since the 1970s, said the unusually high rainfall totals of the past few months have pushed the lake slightly above the full mark. The water is now lapping at the underside of the dock behind his home on the north side of the sock-shaped lake. For several years, Prahl kept his boat and other water vessels at his company’s warehouse because there was no water beneath the dock. “I tell people it cost me more to mow the lake portion we had than it did the yard for eight or 10 years,” Prahl said. “We probably mowed 300 feet beyond the end of the dock, and it was still a ways from there to the water that first year or two.” “We love it now,” Prahl said. “The lake is actually fuller than it ever was before it went dry.” The most recent survey by the Southwest Florida Water Management District measured Scott Lake’s water surface at 168 feet above sea level, senior hydrologist Don Ellison said. That’s about a foot above the pre-sinkhole level, he said. The lake’s surface level dropped as low as 155 feet above sea level following the 2006 episode, Ellison said. To put it another way, the lake had a maximum depth of 13 feet before the sinkhole formed, and afterward Ellison said it consisted of scattered pools only a few feet deep. It took a decade or so, but the recovery of Scott Lake has been a natural process that Ellison and other experts predicted would occur. Sediment eventually clogged the sinkhole, preventing water from continuing to drain into the Floridan Aquifer, the underground reservoir that fills a vast network of holes in the limestone underlying the entire peninsula. With the drain clogged, water entering the lake through rainfall raised the water level. Scott Lake, like most lakes in Florida, was created by a sinkhole that later filled with water, Ellison said. The carbonate rock underlying the peninsula is porous and readily dissolved by water, and the topography, known as karst, is prone to sinkholes. Ellison said the effects of lake-bed sinkholes are most noticeable in water bodies set relatively high above sea level, as Scott Lake. The larger the distance between the lake bottom and the aquifer, the more water can drain out through a sinkhole. Eventually the water level settles, Ellison said, and natural processes begin blocking the holes. “Sediment washes in over time and settles out of the water,” he said. “The organics in the lake will get filtered into the sand and clog up the pores in the sand, and after a while it will seal itself up a little bit.” There is no public access to Scott Lake, which is surrounded by some of the area’s most valuable homes, including the mansion owned by Publix Super Markets Vice Chairman of the Board Barney Barnett and his wife, Carol Jenkins Barnett, daughter of the company’s founder. Dave Curry, who has lived with his wife, Edris, on the lake’s south side since 1975, led residents in exploring possible remedies. The contingent hired a consultant from an engineering company, but it became clear any plan to plug the sinkhole would be logistically and financially unrealistic. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials estimated that 800,000 pounds of fish died after the water surface dropped. As the water returned, Curry rallied neighbors to contribute money toward restocking the lake. He collected enough money to buy 5,000 fingerling largemouth bass and 10,000 speckled perch to be released into the lake. At this point, he said, the bass have grown to 3 or 4 pounds. “He’s been the main instigator in getting people to donate the funds to keep the lake alive and healthy and a place where people can fish,” Wickman said. “Some people are catching quite a few bass now. I say, ‘If it wasn’t for my neighbor, you wouldn’t be catching bass now.’ ” Access to a large lake can greatly enhance the value of a home, and the dramatic shrinking of Scott Lake had a negative impact on the worth of the properties along its former edges. Wickman recalled that a neighbor sold his house one week before the drainage began. He said the buyers were so disappointed at losing their lakefront status that they sold the home within about a year. Prahl said some neighbors had their house appraised after the water receded, and one property declined in value by $1 million. He said a friend who owned a lot on the lake and had planned to build a home wound up selling the property at a loss of $150,000. “There were some deals going down on properties,” Prahl said. “We were committed. We loved the lake and we knew it would come back, but a lot of people were saying it might never fill up again.” Starting in 2007, all lots bordering Scott Lake had their land values adjusted downward by 25 percent, Polk Property Appraiser Marsha Faux said. Properties one lot removed from the lake received a 10 percent adjustment. The economic downturn of 2008 through 2012 yielded a negative tax roll, Faux said, and those adjustments were discontinued. Since 2013, the value of all homes around the lake and adjacent neighborhoods has risen as the tax roll has increased, she said. The jump has ranged from 5.27 percent in 2014 to 8.43 percent this year, Faux said. Kim McKeel, a Realtor with Keller Williams in Lakeland, said the combination of the drainage and the subsequent financial downturn made it difficult to market homes along Scott Lake for several years. “The slump in the economy certainly didn’t help any property values, but then specifically around the lake it was such a downer to go show properties on Scott Lake and have grass growing under docks,” she said. “That is such a visual representation of such a bad thing.” Chris McLaughlin, operations principal of Keller Williams Commercial Lakeland, said agents recalculated prices of houses on Scott Lake during the dry years, treating them as if they were landlocked properties in other upscale neighborhoods. That adjustment brought prices down by 25 percent to 30 percent, he said. But McLaughlin said those properties have fully recovered the decline in value now that the shoreline is again touching backyards. McKeel agreed, pointing to a by-owner sale in May of a house on Terry Lane for $2.85 million. “It has allowed property owners to use their homes as they intended, which is so nice,” McKeel said. “It will allow for other higher-end transactions around the lake, and I think over the next year or two you’ll start to see other sellers say, ‘Wow, if that one can sell for $2.8 million I wonder what mine will sell for.’ I think it will encourage other sellers to consider jumping in.” Wickman said his neighbors are thrilled that the aquatic lifestyle they enjoyed before 2006 is available to them again. He and his wife enjoy taking their 16-foot boat out on the water in the evenings to fish or simply enjoy the beauty of the view; Prahl said his family had a new dock built about a year ago and he and his wife relish evening trips in their boat to watch the sunset. There is one new negative remnant of the dry period. Wickman said many non-aquatic trees sprouted on the exposed lake bed, and they died after the water returned. The tops of some submerged trees present a potential hazard for boaters to avoid, he said. But Prahl said a neighboring family ventures onto the water almost every evening for water-skiing sessions. Wildlife has also reclaimed its place on and around the lake. On a recent evening, great blue herons, great egrets and black-bellied whistling ducks could be seen foraging for food. Though McKeel has a professional reason to cheer the revival of Scott Lake, she said she is just as happy about the recovery for the sake of the people living in the lakefront homes. “Obviously, you don’t buy on the lake unless you want to use it,” she said. “I think the benefit has been twofold — the economical benefit and also the community benefit of being able to use this treasure that they have.” Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13. highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand) Share LinkOne Of The Most Remote Lakes In Kansas Is Also The Most PeacefulScott City is home to the remote and beautiful Lake Scott State Park featuring the historic El Cuartelejo ruins and offering numerous recreational opportunities But the park also shares its name with an absolutely stunning lake this incredibly peaceful body of water is also one of the most remote lakes in Kansas and it's perfect for a day of fun out on the water Lake Scott State Park may be named after the lake but perhaps its most famous feature is the ruins of El Cuartelejo (also known as El Quartelejo) The site is the only known Native American pueblo in Kansas There are more than 200 campsites in the park it's safe to say there will be plenty of sites to choose from The park's centerpiece is the beautiful 100-acre Lake Scott The stunning lake is perfect for fishing and other recreational opportunities and it's easily one of the best lakes in Kansas This middle-of-nowhere spot may not be in a big city but it's perfect for tranquility and relaxation Jann/Google ReviewsThis remote lake is truly something special and even if you have to drive across the state a weekend getaway here is worth the effort Kyle Wieder/Google ReviewsNo matter when you visit You can also learn more about the hiking trails at Lake Scott State Park from our friends at AllTrails. Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... Enjoy your own private fishing pond and then head to one of Missouri's underrated fishing spots with a stay at this cozy cabin. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! © 2025 World of Good Brands. All rights reserved. Share LinkThe Secret Garden In Alabama You’re Guaranteed To LoveJim Scott Garden by Lake Martin in Alabama is a stunning 15-acre garden featuring waterfalls Jim Scott's garden, which consists of waterfalls, streams, trails, and lots of hideaways, has taken nearly 20 years to create. It covers more than 15 acres and is one of the prettiest gardens to visit in Alabama. vimeo/orchestrateOne of the garden's main features is its trio of elevated wooden walkways. These walkways lead through the canopy of trees and offer incredible views of the garden and Lake Martin. vimeo/orchestrateFor a closer look at Jim Scott's garden you'll most certainly want to check out the video below *Video shot and edited by Orchestrate Experience. This Airbnb with a fishing pond in Louisiana is an angler's paradise. The two-acre, catch-and-release oasis is stocked with bass, bream, and catfish. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Tribune TV critic and breaking news reporter Scott D who enthusiastically told Utahns what was good and bad on television for more than 30 years as a critic for The Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News Pierce started his “dream job” as a TV critic on March 31 1990 — just weeks before his 30th birthday — at the Deseret News Over the years, Pierce wrote in a 2020 column marking his 30th anniversary as a critic a local station manager once tried to get him fired over what he wrote — and an executive at the network UPN ordered his people to tell Pierce’s boss to fire him which merged with The WB network in 2006 to become The CW.) Pierce presented Betty White with the TCA’s Career Achievement Award in 2009 who was president of the Television Critics Association at the time What no one knew at the time was that Miss Piggy (and her handler) were hiding under the podium Pierce said he was given wide latitude by the Deseret News’s ownership — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — to write about nearly anything he wanted on television when he was told not to write about the possibility that KSL (also owned by the church) would end its affiliate status with CBS He wrote for the Deseret News for 20 years before he lost the job in 2010 in a round of layoffs that affected 43% of that newspaper’s staff called him the next day to offer him a role as a reporter “Scott had obvious and enormous talent and a voice Utahns needed to hear,” Anastazi now vice president for local news at the Gannett newspaper chain “I leapt at the chance to recruit him and never regretted it.” He wrote general features and the occasional theater review after The Tribune faced its own rounds of significant layoffs he readily and capably took on the new challenge of working the early-morning breaking news shift covering police shootings and anything else that happened overnight ”Scott was the Swiss Army knife of reporters,” said Tribune reporter Julie Jag “seemingly able to handle anything and in quick order.” Tribune executive editor Lauren Gustus wrote “He was a friend to many of us.” In addition to working with longtime Tribune staff making an effort to find connections with folks who had recently joined us.” Gustus noted that Pierce “had a conversational style that made him easy to read and a willingness to take on anything journalism happened to throw his way on any given day.” When the printed page wasn’t enough to contain Pierce’s thoughts on TV he took to podcasting — as one of the original panelists on the popular “Geek Show Podcast,” starting in 2008 He stayed on the show for six or seven years the podcast’s creator and co-host of X96′s “Radio From Hell” program Jackson said Friday that Pierce had “a cutting wit and [was] one of the smartest men I have known I gave him my United Federation of Planets ring [from ‘Star Trek’] Pierce was a longtime member of the Television Critics Association and attended its twice-yearly press tours in Los Angeles for many years he emceed TCA’s awards ceremony — which allowed him to give a 2009 lifetime achievement award to one of his TV heroes Pierce said he tried to avoid being on television though he gave in to the urge twice: In 1999 as an extra on the short-lived science-fiction drama “Crusade” (the alien makeup meant he couldn’t wear his glasses on the set) and in 2019 for the filmed-in-Utah “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.” Pierce had highlighted the lack of Asian representation in history and arts citing as an example The Tribune’s 2019 coverage of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad “brought needed awareness to a community that for years had been ignored and underrepresented in arts and entertainment and elsewhere.” He had a love-hate relationship with “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” working late to get episode recaps up swiftly for a waiting online audience — while also reporting about serious issues the reality show raised such as calling out instances of racism on the show Pierce is dressed in a suit of armor on the set of “The Outpost” in 2018 (Fred Hayes | Disney+) Pierce as an extra on “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” in 2019 Pierce’s final TV column — an interview with the creator of the filmed-in-Utah TV series “The Chosen,” about the life of Jesus — is scheduled to be published in Sunday’s print edition of The Tribune but I love TV,” Pierce wrote in The Tribune in 2020 reality shows — there’s great stuff in every category I can find you something [that’s] worth watching on TV every day of every year.” and attended Maine-Endwell High School there and was a long-suffering supporter of the English football club Arsenal Coworkers noted that he showed the most pride in his three now-adult children: Hillary “He could not have been more proud of his kids and to be a grandfather,” Gustus said asks each reporter to share what brought them joy that week Pierce often filled the pets channel of The Tribune’s Slack account with his affection for and faux irritation with his beloved shih tzus posting photos of them curled up or causing trouble (He also owned a large collection of shih tzu-related T-shirts which he often paired with Hawaiian shirts.) After his dog Xavi died in 2023 Pierce | The Salt Lake Tribune) Chip and Xavi The last moment of joy Pierce shared with his colleagues centered on his granddaughter his son-in-law came over to help move a piece of furniture Remi curled up on the couch with her grandpa to watch the Australian children’s show “Bluey” with him — and urged him to clap during the show “He said it was a special moment for him,” Crosby said Rob Sonoda; his siblings: Kimberley Pierce Lynne Pierce and Betsy (John) Pope; his three children: Amanda Pierce (Jeremy Tyrrell) Hillary Pierce and Jonathon Pierce; and his granddaughter Mary Lou Swanson Pierce — known as “Lou” — died on April 14