WOKC Local News – March 13, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. State honors Williamson with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy. The Florida Department of Agriculture and the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board among the agencies that honored the memory of Frank Sonny Williamson of Okeechobee. He passed away last month at the age of 96. He had served as County Commissioner and a Governing Board member. Current Governing Board member Ben Butler called Williamson a trailblazer for the environment. He was an early adopter. Long before BMPs, they were calculating nutrient loads on the ranch and finding innovative ways to balance. They were finding new ways to work with the communities. They had a partnership with OUA, recycling wastewater in their orange grove. Water management decided to not impose any mandatory water restrictions. They are urging people to voluntarily try to reduce their water consumption. An Okeechobee man is facing charges of dealing in stolen property and defrauding a pawnbroker at a local pawn shop. Chad Colesick facing eight felony charges. The girlfriend told Okeechobee police that her paramour started showing up with money even though he was out of work. Turns out he was stealing some of her items like a camera, computer, and jewelry. Okeechobee’s burn ban remains in effect despite the recent rains the last few nights. Larry Money, a Highlands County Fire Chief, says wildfires are typical in rural areas. They’re also under a burn ban. Here in Highlands County, we live in a rural community with a lot of agricultural land and wild areas. Under dry conditions, those spaces are especially vulnerable to fire. U.S. Department of Agriculture declaring a disaster over that Florida freeze. They also mark up the farm bill, which will go to the full House now. Florida Congressman Kat Kamak, the only member on the House Agriculture Committee from Florida, says she wants to get aid out from the federal government quicker to our farmers and ranchers that need it right now. When a hurricane or a freeze hits, growers don’t have extra cash sitting around to replant first and then hope that help comes later. There is critical cashflow needs and relief when needed when disaster strikes, especially after freezes and hurricanes. Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, G.T. Thompson, says he supports the farm bill wholeheartedly. Most of all, this is a practical farm bill that provides real and workable solutions. The recent freeze cost about $3.1 billion in agriculture losses in Florida, with sugarcane, citrus, strawberries, sweet corn, and nurseries all being hurt. Glades County says the Chalunitka Festival increased their attendance this year. The concession stand was way up, according to County Commissioner Jeff Patterson. Our parade is getting bigger. Our festival was very well attended. Rodeo was very well attended, I believe. Friday night, they said the concession stand was up 70% over any other Friday night they’ve had in the past. And we haven’t raised any prices, so that was good. Just had a lot better attendance. Sheriff David Harden reported nobody got arrested over the weekend. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).