WOKC Local News – May 29, 2026, 7:41 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. A $21 million project. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. Rollerson Hospital has announced plans to expand their emergency room by 6,000 square feet. The department has been busy, caring for more than 30,000 patients, both in 2024 and 2025. Construction on the expansion expected to begin in late summer. Completion is anticipated near the end of next year. The new space will allow for 11 new beds, including two trauma beds and two behavioral health beds, as well as an expanded waiting area for patients and families. They hope to enhance services and reduce wait times for patients in the emergency room. In the courts, a drug deal that took place in a parking lot at a Nogichibi retail store resulted in a 20-year prison sentence. Gerald Roundtree of Stewart pled no contest to trafficking over 28 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and resisting arrest without violence. The plea deal also included a $250,000 fine. Roundtree had prior convictions for grand theft, resisting arrest, failure to appear, and dealing drugs near a school. He was charged with selling three ounces of fentanyl and a Glock 17 handgun for $4,800. The Yogichibi Narcotics Task Force and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit both involved in that investigation. Broward County is still considering what to do with their trash. One of the options is expanding the Monarch Hill landfill. Currently, they send a wide portion of their waste stream to the Yogichibi landfill. The legislature approved House Bill 4039. It requires the county to have a feasibility study and conduct public hearings before they approve a zoning change or permit to expand the landfill. Governor Ron DeSantis, at last report, is yet to take action on the bill. Dan Daly told Broward commissioners that there has never been data to support a landfill expansion. This has gone on for eight years, gone on far too long, right? Should have never gone on this long. But what’s an additional six months? Because that’s the time it would have taken to complete the feasibility study. Rural school districts are dealing with financial troubles. The Highlands County School Board is among them. They’re looking at having to cut jobs and programs for the coming school year. They started budget workshops in April. Race Martin, one of their school board members, says the district is still committed to a good budget and good education programs. Don’t think that the board’s not listening. We all care and we all want what’s best for our district, for our community, and for our students. And don’t think that it falls on deaf ears. A lot of the problem is a drop in enrollment. An Oogachooa man may have been spotted by deputies racing another vehicle on 441. He was pulled over after going to a gas station. The arrest report from deputies says Angel Escobedo did not have a driver’s license. He’s also charged with reckless driving. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).