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The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrested a mother Thursday after deputies say she removed her newborn from a ventilator and other life saving devices at Palms West Hospital and stabbed staff before fleeing.

On Friday, in her first appearance in front of a judge, she was granted a $300,0000 bond and ordered to have no contact with the hospital, its staff members or the baby.

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In a news release Friday, deputies said Kendra Greene of Loxahatchee entered the neonatal intensive care unit on Thursday night at about 10:30 p.m. and removed her three-day-old infant from the life-saving devices.

Greene then attempted to leave the hospital when staff intervened. Deputies said Greene pulled out a knife and stabbed three employees.

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The mother was able to flee before law enforcement arrived at the hospital. According to the sheriff's office, Greene then brought the baby to a family member's home. Greene left before deputies arrived at that home.

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The mother was located and arrested a short time after, according to deputies. Deputies say she crashed her car into a canal trying to evade law enforcement. She is now in the Palm Beach County Jail and faces multiple charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated child abuse and resisting an officer.

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The infant was transported back to Palms West Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

The hospital staff who were stabbed received treatment but were discharged that night with non-life-threatening injuries.

HCA Florida Palms West Hospital's director of communications sent WPBF 25 News the following statement:

"We are very thankful that our colleagues are recovering and HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is providing support and care for their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. We are also thankful to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, whose quick actions led to the apprehension of the suspect and the safe return of the patient. Our security team is assisting fully with law enforcement's investigation."

A family member shared with detectives that Greene says she is schizophrenic and that her mental health had recently been deteriorating.

The report also states Greene had at some point told someone she did not understand why her son was in the NICU and wanted to remove the baby from the hospital, even though doctors told her the baby has under-developed lungs.

Mental health counselor Ezsa Allen, of Social Age Counseling in Palm Beach County, says a possible diagnosis of schizophrenia could have played a part in this incident.

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"Not talking to her case, but it’s not a far-fetched behavior, if you will, for someone who has schizophrenia, and if you want to couple that with just having a baby, all the hormones and emotions that you’re feeling at that moment can also alter your mood and your thinking and your just reactions to things,” said Allen. "I don’t know what her thought process is, but I can say if she is schizophrenic, then she’s not thinking in reality. And again, medication and her stress level, if she is not on her medication or if she is on medication, all of this plays a factor."

Editor's note: The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office originally reported that the infant was five days old.

LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. (WPDE) — A dog trainer in Florida has been arrested on animal cruelty charges, according to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control.

Animal Care and Control officers said they received a complaint from the owner of Fine Line Family K-9, just before noon on March 18.

When officers talked to the owner a few days later, he said he fired two people, including 21-year-old Blessing Knighten, for abusing animals. He also said he had video evidence that shows Knighten choking a dog for 15 to 20 seconds.

Knighten told WPEC by phone that she left on her own will.

***Warning-graphic video may be unsuitable to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.***

Investigators say a dog trainer in Florida abused a dog in her care. (Video: Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control)

On March 30, the owner met with officers from Animal Care and Control to provide them with the video evidence, according to the arrest report. The video shows Knighten, as well as a man identified as Colton Mcderman, being aggressive and abusive with the animals, per Animal Care and Control.

Authorities say security video at a dog training facility in Florida captures a second worker throwing a dog in the air. He has not been charged, according to authorities. (Video: Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control)

The videos reportedly shows Knighten hanging dogs over a "bite box," causing the dog to hang by the neck with its front paws off the ground.

The arrest report mentions Knighten hanging a black and tan German shepherd for 24 seconds before being let down and then led on a leash.

While walking the animal, Knighten reportedly yanked the leash continuously, causing the dog to choke.

Knighten also reportedly hit the dog with her hands, with a leash, and kicked the dog in the muzzle multiple times, causing it to yelp.

***Warning-graphic video may be unsuitable to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.***

Investigators say a dog trainer in Florida abused a dog in her care. (Video: Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control)

When officers contacted Knighten, she allegedly claimed the owner abused the animals and did not properly feed them while in the care of Fine Line Family K-9, noting that the living conditions were poor for the animals and that dogs were trained using negative methods. She also accused the owner of blackmail, per the arrest report.

Knighten said the owner enforced abusive training methods to the staff, and threatened to fire her if she did not abuse the animals, per Animal Care and Control. The owner allegedly threatened to show the videos of the abuse to Animal Care if Knighten did not train the dogs as he instructed. The owner denied the allegations when asked by Animal Care and Control officials.

Officers with Animal Care and Control told WPEC they have a zero-tolerance policy for animal abuse.

“Animal cruelty had no place in our community," Capt. David Walesky, Assistant Director for Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, said. “They can’t speak. They can’t tell you what’s going on. It does take people to get involved, do the right thing, bring it forward to the authorities and then we’re going to try to prosecute everybody we can who abuses animals.”

Knighten was arrested and is facing five counts of animal cruelty. She was released on a $3,000 bond.

The family behind West Palm Beach’s legendary Okeechobee Steakhouse has announced it will open Lewis Prime Grill later this month.

On Wednesday, November 16, the former Kocomo’s Island Grill space in the Publix at The Acreage Plaza will become home to the Lewis family’s first restaurant in Central Palm Beach County.

The Okeechobee Steakhouse is Florida’s Oldest Steakhouse, owned by the same family and located in the same building since 1947, best known for its classic steakhouse décor and world famous aged Prime steaks.

Previously, the family debuted Lewis Steakhouse in Jupiter in May, Okeechobee Prime Seafood & Steaks in March 2021, the Okeechobee Prime BBQ in 2019, and Okeechobee Prime Meat Market in 2018, with future expansion planned over the next two years.

As the newest addition to the Okeechobee Steakhouse enterprise, Lewis Prime Grill is an upscale American-style bar and grill that brings the true spirit of the area’s most iconic restaurant to the Loxahatchee area. The 120-seat restaurant features classic décor, high-back booths for privacy and a full bar.

The menu features classic and elevated appetizers, salads, fish, and pork dishes as well as the world famous steaks that the Lewis family and Okeechobee Steakhouse are recognized for. Both wine and cocktail connoisseurs can indulge in a robust beverage program featuring a full bar and a renowned wine collection.

Focused on elevating the dining scene in the rapidly growing Loxahatchee and Westlake communities, Lewis partnered with investors Mike and Erika Jackson, Scott Schaefer, Ray Sasser, three longtime Okeechobee Steakhouse managers — Christina Wishart, Luis Fernandez and Kyle Blake — and executive chef Jamie Steinbrecher to bring Lewis Prime Grill to life.

“We saw what was happening in Loxahatchee, the growth underway and the plans for future expansion, and we knew the area was ripe for a superior dining destination,” said Ralph Lewis, owner. “When the Kocomo’s location became available, our vision for Lewis Prime Grill rapidly became a reality.”

The menu will offer appetizers to include Point Judith Crispy Calamari, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, All Natural Chicken Wings, and Fried Lobster; salads featuring Classic Caesar, Signature Roasted Beet Salad, and Asian Thai Chicken Salad; entrees such as Korean Style Wagyu Beef, Double Cut Grilled Pork Chop, Pan Seared Organic Salmon, the Lewis Prime Burger; and a variety of steaks that the Lewis family and Okeechobee Steakhouse are consistently recognized for. Both wine and cocktail connoisseurs will find a robust beverage program featuring a full bar and a well-curated wine collection.

Lewis Prime Grill is located at 7040 Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd., Loxahatchee; 561-619-5115; open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday; lewisprimegrill.com.

On a trip to the local hardware store, Cooter discovered that his native South Florida community was suddenly no longer his own.

“I was just minding my own business, on my way to pick up some duct tape and hunting knives and a couple of Tomahawk traps for the ‘dillos that have been roaming around, when, all of a sudden, I look up, and there are groups of girls everywhere. They all looked like clones of one another, wearing the same tan stretch pants, and drinking these giant iced coffees. They all had their nails done, and their hair done, and they were all talking really fast to each other and scrolling their phones.

“I hadn’t seen anything like that before around these parts. It was like Stepford had come to South Florida,” Cooter said. “I just knew they were up to no good.”

Concerned that the breech-wearing women might be part of left-leaning anti-Christian sect or a new Southern chapter of the Upstate New York-based NXIVM sex cult, Cooter took it upon himself to investigate the matter. No, he would not consult his local pastor. No, he would not reach out to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department with his concerns.

“I just figured I’d grab one of ‘em on their way out to the parking lot, and maybe drive ‘em down to one of our nearby gator holes, and ask ‘em some questions to see what they had to say for themselves,” Cooter explained. “I consider myself to be God’s instrument, and I just felt it was up to me to get to the bottom of this.

“First, we got all these old geezers coming down here to live. Now, a bunch puffy-lipped floozies wearing black knee-high boots in 85-degree weather, and gulping down six dollar coffees like they’re giving them away? You can’t tell me that’s not the devil’s work.”

Fortunately, Cooter’s not-so-carefully-crafted plan began to go awry when he tailed an Uber hailed by two presumed cult members to the West Palm Beach International Airport. Instead of making the grab, as planned, Cooter became disoriented on the airport loop road, losing track of his intended targets, and driving his pickup around and around for a full three hours in search of the nearest exit. It was at that point that he was apprehended by airport security for suspicious behavior.

“The TSA sat me down, and said they were were going to do me a big favor, and proceeded to tell me that the folks I was following weren’t Satan’s priestesses but horse girls. I thought, horse girls? That’s all? They don’t look like the horse girls I knew growing up.

“Then, they told me I should go home, and that they’d better not see me around there again,” relayed Cooter, adding that he was happy to avoid another prison stint, but would be keeping his eye on the equestrian snowbird set.

“People are nuts,” said Cooter. “You really can’t be too careful.”

The Kasselmann family has decided to purchase their own sales and training yard in Florida as a winter base for training, sales and family holiday.

Two months ago, they closed on a property in quiet Loxahatchee, Florida.

Strong Ties with North America

Ullrich Kasselmann's world famous auction - Performance Sales International (PSI) - was founded in 1980 in the U.S.A. in partnership with Paul Schockemöhle. The first talks about the PSI Auction came together during the World Cup Final in Baltimore, where the idea of an innovative horse dealing venture was conceived.

Kasselmann and Schockemöhle reached out to the USA to offer horses from the largest breeding areas in Europe for sale. They chose promising, well-trained young horses that could easily suit the American training and competition circuit. Newport on Rhode Island was the first venue for the now 40-year-old P.S.I. Auction. In 1982 the second PSI auction was held in Ocala, Florida, after which the event moved to Ankum, Germany, where it has been ever since.

The Kasselmanns have strong ties with American and built a vaste network of U.S. and Canadian clients. At Schockemöhle's yard in Virginia in the 1980s Robert Dover rode on their dressage team.

This year the German dressage horse dealing family felt the time was right to establish a winter base in Florida to stay closely connected with their contacts, clients and friends. The Kasselmann Family Trust, consisting of Ulli, Bianca and Francois, purchased the yard.

Sweeping the Board

A great motivator to make the investment in Florida is the ever-expanding show circuit in Wellington, where the level of competition is rising.

In 2021 Francois Kasselmann took head rider Frederic Wandres with a handful of top performance horses to Wellington for the first time and the German team rider swept the board there, winning 9 out of 11 classes and placing second twice.

Also in 2022 Wandres had no match at the Global Dressage Festival. He rode two horses - Bluetooth OLD and Dolciario - in 10 tests, of which he won 8 and placed second twice.

On the FEI World Riders Ranking, three of the Hof Kasselmann team riders in the top 50: Frederic Wandres (9th), Nicole Wego-Engelmeyer (45th), and Evelyn Eger (49th).

Hof Kasselmann U.S.A.

The Kasselmann Family Trust has now bought a 19-stall, modern property in Loxahatchee, Florida, a stone throw' away from the hustle and bustle in Wellington, where the horses can be quietly trained and prepared for sales and competition.

"We were lucky this property came on the market and on the same day we bought it," Francois told Eurodressage. "It makes financially more sense to buy a property here than to rent one."

The yard was a former family-owned jumping stable and needed practically no work to revamp it into a high standard dressage barn with all facilities available.

Training and Sales in a Holiday Destination

The stable will be a base for training and horse sales with a select number of Kasselmann clients - this year Genay Vaughn (USA), Jemma Heran (AUS), and Samantha Chan (HKG) - joining riders Frederic Wandres, Lars Ligus, and Anna Christina Abbelen for the experience.

"All the horses we bring over to Florida are in principle for sale, but our main target is to compete them this winter, so they can learn," Francois explained. "Wellington is a great show circuit for them to get exposure and mileage in the arena."

Wandres, Ligus and Abbelen will be based there for the season while Francois is commuting between Germany and the U.S.A.

"For us it is also a wonderful family destination to make holidays here and see friends and contact," Francois added. "We want to enjoy the Wellington lifestyle, it's a great place to be."

Photos © private - Astrid Appels

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