Florida Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshall Blaise Ingoglia provided checks of $5 million for local fire departments.
The money includes $1 million to plan a new fire station in Okeechobee. He also presented $2 million to the city of Okeechobee as they harden city hall and the former fire department and police department building.
The state also funded close to $20,000 for bunker gear that helps prevent cancerous gases from impacting firemen.
Other money went to Lake Placid as they plan to build a new fire station and to Sebring, that receive a new fire truck.
Martin County Deputies said the driver of a pickup truck was fortunate he was not injured after colliding with an Amtrak train at the SW Amaryllis Street railroad crossing in Indiantown Sunday.
The crossing does not have a gate.
The impact totaled the truck and forced the train to stop for repairs.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is hosting a public hearing on proposed improvements to S.R. 60 from Prairie Lake Rd. to Florida’s Turnpike in Yeehaw Junction and Osceola County.
You can register for a virtual hearing or attend an in person meeting this week.
The virtual hearing is Tuesday at 5:30 pm. The in person hearing is Wednesday at 5:30 pm at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo.
A Joint operation of the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Agency resulted in two arrests Friday.
Nickolas A. Willis and Taylor M. Hammack face a number of charges that include trafficking methamphetamine, sales of methamphetamine, possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell and possession of ecstasy.
The search at 2201 SW 28th Street at Apartment 90 G resulted in the discovery of 65 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 21 grams of crack cocaine, two ecstasy pills and 30 grams of marijuana, deputies said.
Authorities said Willis was just released from state prison and has nine prior felony convictions.
The Indiantown Village Council plan to meet with the new Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to try and come up with a plan to improve ball fields for youth sports.
Catarina Castaneda said the fields are poorly maintained.
“This only impacts the quality of play but also impacts the safety of the players.”
Mayor Carmine DiPaolo supported more investment in the fields.
“It was stated the fields are unsafe. We need to check that. If the fields are unsafe, we need to close them. We don’t want anyone getting hurt and we don’t need that liability.”