News Cast for March 12th:
******PUBLIC NOTICE*******
Okeechobee Utility Authority will temporarily change its method of chlorinating potable water to insure the future safety of our drinking water. The water users may notice an unusual chlorine taste or odor in their tap water after April 8th, 2024. These conditions will last thru April 29th, 2024.
These temporary conditions will not be harmful to your health; however, if you are on kidney dialysis, you should consult your physician for special instructions concerning this matter. If you have tropical fish or aquatic animals, you should contact your local tropical fish store for advice and take appropriate action to insure that you have properly treated the water before adding it to your aquarium.
The hydrant flushing during this period may cause the water to become cloudy and discolored. This is a temporary condition and should not last more than a few hours.
We sincerely regret any inconvenience you may experience during this time. Please keep in mind that this is necessary to provide safe water for the customers of Okeechobee Utility Authority.
If additional information is needed, contact Kevin Rogers at 763-3239. We regret any inconvenience that this may cause you.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
OKEECHOBEE UTILITY AUTHORITY
Publish in Okeechobee News, place on the radio 100.9 fm, and 1 call
Murder case might be resolved this week
After over seven years it appears the Diana Alvarez murder case is about to be resolved.
A plea hearing is set for this Thursday for her accused killer Jorge Guerrero Torres.
The family friend is accused of kidnapping the 9-year-old from her home in Fort Myers, raping her and then killing her, dumping her body in Yeehaw Junction back in 2016.
It took some four years to find the body.
Lee county sheriff Carmine Marceno said surveyors were working on a vacant lot at the southwest corner of 441 north and state road 60 when they came across human remains.
He said his office never gave up trying to find the girl.
Guerrero Torres is currently serving a 40-year prison sentence for federal convictions related to child pornography.
A circuit judge did suppress four statements, written or oral, the suspect made while in custody in Okeechobee County during the search for the girl’s body. He was being interviewed by Lee County investigators.
The prosecution has agreed to drop the death penalty in the plea offer.
Okeechobee City Police will be conducting active shooter training today and Thursday.
Police Chief Donald Hagan said they will use Central Elementary while kids are off for Spring Break.
He said the training is invaluable to make sure the department is ready to act should an incident occur at school.
He said the department gets a lot of phone calls when people see a large amount of police cruisers at a location and wanted to inform the public.
He also encouraged parents to make sure children know the laws regarding ATV use on local roads and streets.
A $50,000 fine and six-year prison stint face 52 year old Tanya Huggins.
The Okeechobee woman pled no contest to four felony drug charges at a recent hearing.
The Okeechobee Narcotics Task force alleged she sold $600 worth of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on January 25, 2022.
She was in jail 625 days before her plea and sentence.
The Okeechobee County Economic Development Corporation says they have four new projects in the works, three of them
manufacturing firms. They also are pursuing some $68 million worth of commercial projects that would create 138 jobs.
President Kaylee King said they are looking at some $625 million in capital investment in Okeechobee.
“Every single one of the active projects on my list, except one industrial project, have actively chosen Okeechobee as their location. They are at various changes in their project and they have gotten to the point where they have chosen Okeechobee and most of these have a location.”