News Cast for February 22nd:
Okeechobee County fired the consultant they hired on water issues, MacVicar Consulting Inc.
The Chairman David Hazellief said the consultant took a stand contrary to Okeechobee’s position on the lower Kissimmee storm water treatment area.
He supported sending a 30 day notice.
The new lake regulation schedule has been the main focus of the contract.
MacVicar also represents other counties around the lake.
The state legislature is considering a bill to pay former clients of the Okeechobee School for Boys and the Dozier School who allege they were mentally, physically and or sexually abused.
Senator Daryl Rouson has filed a similar bill for the last few years. He also would have the state present these clients who are still living with high school diplomas.
Richard Huntley attended the Dozier School. He told a Senate committee about being whipped four times in what was known as the White House.
He said the state had promised to train and educate many of these boys and ended up abusing them.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation commission planned an 800 acre controlled burn this week on Lake Okeechobee. The burn is in the Moonshine Bay area.
They crews were targeting cattails and other vegetation.
They promised to watch weather and wind conditions and could postpone the burn.
They also promised to minimize smoke impacts on motorists and communities around the lake.
The Florida Cracker Trail riders get to Okeechobee today on their annual trek around the state.
They will hold a luncheon at the Edna Pearce Lockett Estate and plan to have a wedding ceremony of two people on this year’s ride.
They stay tonight at the Bass Ranch in Basinger and will be entertained by cowboy poet Doyle Rigdon.
Forecasters expect the weather patterns and warm waters to create a blockbuster 2024 hurricane season in Florida.
They are predicting explosive tropical development with a higher risk of storms making landfall in the Gulf Coast and especially in Texas.
There were 20 named Atlantic storms in 2023, which ranks fourth for the most-named storms in a year since 1950.