WOKC Local News – December 29, 2025, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. A good year for economic development. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. The quarterly report of the Okeechobee County Economic Development Corporation included two new large business expansions and 27 active projects. President Kayleigh King says they recruited eight new businesses to Okeechobee in the past year. In our recruitment and our expansion efforts, we have successfully had $38 million committed in capital investment for the future and 236 jobs. They’ve helped to create over 250 new jobs. Congressman Byron Donalds, running for governor, says he supports the effort to reduce or eliminate property taxes. I do support the ability to repeal homestead property taxes in our state. I do. I support it. I also support making sure that key services, police, fire, emergency personnel, road maintenance, that stuff is also taken care of as well. Donald says he’d like to see Florida become affordable again. We got to make sure that as we step into this phase of full repeal of homestead or whatever comes out of Tallahassee, that number one, we are efficient with the people’s money. Number two, we’re not taxing our citizens out of an ability to actually stay in Florida. If taxes and insurance are more than principal and interest, we got a problem. Okeechobee City Council honored India Riedel, their finance director, who is retiring after 20 years of service. She expects to leave in April. Riedel was very thankful for the city’s support over the past two decades. It has been my deepest and most sincere pleasure to work within these walls and alongside the dedicated individuals who make up our city’s leadership and staff. Every administrator, council member, mayor I’ve had the privilege to work with has helped me both personally and professionally for what that I’m deeply thankful for. City Administrator Gary Ritter has agreed to keep working through 2026. He indicated a desire to retire in June. Former Highlands County Parks Manager Robert Williams continues to fight his termination. William says he was lied to and slandered and wanted commissioners to attend his hearing to clear his name. Transparency only exists when all sides of a matter are heard openly and honestly. I’ve spent years serving this county with integrity, accountability and dedication. I owe it to myself, to my family and to the citizens of Highlands County to correct the record. Williams says he wanted commissioners to see how the county administration had terminated him without cause. This is not about my employment. It is about ensuring the board is fully aware how these allegations originated, how they were handled or mishandled and how they were used. An Indiantown man being evaluated by experts to see if he’s competent to stand trial for arson in Hillsborough County. 36-year-old Dylan Bunty was seen setting an orthodontics office on fire in Brandon last December 9th. Security cameras showed Bunty arrive on scene and start the fire with a lighter just after six in the morning. The footage showed Bunty fanning the flames with his jacket. There were no injuries reported in that fire. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).