WOKC Local News – March 17, 2026, 7:41 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. OCI worker sentenced with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy, a worker in the OCI kitchen in food services, was jailed in May of 2024 for allegedly bringing in fentanyl. She was sentenced. John Cuiaposi pled no contest to three felony charges and adjudication of guilt was withheld. The charges included fentanyl trafficking. Their court costs were $835. Prison officials say she had 335 grams of pills that tested positive for oxycodone and fentanyl. She received four months in prison and three years probation. The number of e-bikes being used by students to get to school is increasing in Florida. The Okeechobee School Board approved a use policy. It will prohibit the use of the motor on these bikes on school property. You can pedal them manually instead. There is legislation in Tallahassee that was considered this year to mandate safety training for e-bikes. Melissa John, a school board member, will serve on the Treasure Coast Council for local governments this year, and Amanda Riedel will serve as the alternate. Stewart seems to be pleased with what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is doing with Lake Okeechobee, mostly pleased they’re not getting any discharges down the St. Lucie River. Major Corey Bell gave a presentation on the improved health of Lake Okeechobee. He says they’re considering discharges into the Caloosahatchee River. The target flows can go up to 1,200 CFS to the west. So right now we’re targeting 350 constant, which the community in the West Coast would like more than that. They would like at least 750 minimum. The Okeechobee Cowtown Rodeo had a total payoff of $49,834 this past weekend. The all-around cowboy was Marcus Theriot. He took home $1,348. He competed in the tie-down roping and team roping. The bull riding this year was won by Justin Jacklin with a score of 80 on number 9. He won $1,503. Patty Higdon won the barrel racing in 16.14 seconds. Her prize was $1,531. The Pahokee City Commission considering a lease for eight boat slips and two to three campsites. Blue Ops, a red cap company, is doing business with the U.S. military. They study military drones and want to use the marina and a small section of Lake Okeechobee. He says it would bring economic impacts to Pahokee. In the beginning, we would certainly be interested in security, 24-hour security. Also the benefits, we would shop locally. Our clientele are mostly military, so we have a pretty good flow of Navy dignitary coming through. Okeechobee County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a person who had overstayed his visa. Eduardo Garcia Martinez had been in the courthouse for a misdemeanor crime when he was taken into custody. A student at Okeechobee High School is accused of assaulting a staff member. She decided not to press charges and the student apologized. I’m Charles Murphy, WKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).