HUSTON NAMED CHIEF NURSING OFFICER AT LWMC

Lake Wales, FL – Jennifer Huston, RN, MSN, has been named Chief Nursing Officer at Lake Wales Medical Center. Huston comes to Lake Wales from Indiana, where she served as vice-president of nursing at a 74-bed hospital. During her career, she has worked at not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems, serving in roles that have included staff nurse, orthopedic coordinator, and surgical services director.

“Jennifer has a plethora of experience that makes her ideally suited to fill this critical role at our hospital,” said Rebecca Brewer, CEO of Lake Wales Medical Center. “Her comprehensive knowledge of healthcare operations, nursing administration, patient care delivery systems and mentoring make her ideally suited for helping us take our level of patient care to even higher levels. She understands that we are focused on providing excellent care for our patients, and providing that care in a way that makes our patients and their families feel like they’re a member of our family.”

Huston holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern Indiana, and has yellow belt certification in Lean Six Sigma. In 2006, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ivy Tech State College, from which she earned her AS in Nursing in 1995.

Lake Wales, Florida – Lake Wales Police are investigating an early evening shooting that occurred on November 11, 2016 at 624 S. 6^th St.  At around 5:30PM Officers responded to the area of E. Emerald Ave. and S. 6^th St after residents called reporting hearing gun shots and seeing a female run from her residence.

When Officers arrived they spoke with Jacquelyn Jennings and Yul “Terry” Gaines.  Officers were told a subject known as “Bombay” had just arrived in a blue SUV. “Bombay” was later identified as Bobby Butler, a 34 year old Avon Park resident.  Gaines and Butler were inside the residence when Jennings reported an unknown black male wearing white pants, a red hooded sweat shirt and blue shoes walked up to the residence, pulled a handgun from his waist band, and shot several rounds toward her and the residence.  Several rounds were fired into the front and rear of the residence but nobody was struck by the bullets.  Jennings, Gaines, and witnesses reported the unknown suspect and Butler both entered a blue SUV and fled the area.  Jennings reported knowing the shooting suspect from the Avon Park area but did not know his name at the time.

Upon further investigation the shooter was identified as Leon Devince Kerney III, a 19 year old Avon Park resident. An arrest warrant was issued for Leon Kerney on November 12, 2016. In the early morning hours of November 13, 2016 the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office located Kerney and arrested him on the arrest warrant issued. Kerney was charged with Attempted Murder in the 2^nd degree and Shooting into a building. After Kerney’s arrest, Bobby Butler was located and questioned. This case is still ongoing at this time and more charges may develop.