WOKC Local News – June 12, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Second time, not a charm. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. 20 Acres Owned Agriculture at 1455 Northwest 160th Street has been the target of two development proposals this year. Both have been turned down. One would have been sort of like a drag strip where people spin out in circles. The other would have been a go-kart track and a family-oriented entertainment facility. Neighbor Mike St. Clair was worried about the traffic impacting his life. The number of people that are gonna attend, what’s that gonna do to traffic? We’ve mentioned time and time again, the corner of 441 and 160th or 68 West, that’s a hellacious corner. Planning staff says these uses didn’t fit around agriculture. The county planning board turned down the special exception for that. They recommended a rezoning in Sherman at 6250 State Road 710 to heavy commercial. There’s no specific project yet. Highlands County approving a slaughterhouse. Commissioners wanting to help all ranches in the area and would have local beef sold locally rather than sent out of state. The ranchers trying to use a former dairy farm east of Avon Park. They’d like to combine the operation with a restaurant and store that sells beef. Luke Dickens says one day if successful, they could build out to 30,000 square feet. As we grow, I expect this project will stimulate new jobs with career opportunities in meat cutting, food processing, distribution, sales and administration. Highlands County Farm Bureau Representative Rob Bullock was also supportive. This will allow local growers within 100 miles to be able to bring their cattle here to Highlands County and have a place to slaughter their animals, package their animals and be able to have food on their own tables and be able to also provide access food to our local community as well. It would be open to all ranches in the area. Broward County Commissioners trying to make a deal on their trash and recycling plan. A 40-year deal would make them compost and reduce contamination from recycling and reduce their waste stream. They generate 5 million tons of garbage a year. That’s 20,000 pounds a minute and much of it comes to the Okeechobee landfill. For now, they’re scrapping a plan to build any new incinerator. The town’s Sunrise Mayor and Solid Waste Authority Chair Mike Ryan says Broward continues to have a trash crisis. What we’re focusing on is the goal of a zero waste lens to maximize our diversion from landfill and waste energy while really pulling out the value that is in trash. Village of Indian Town will have elections this year. They have primaries August 18th. Carmine DiPaolo is being opposed by Krista Miley in seat three. Angelina Perez is being opposed by Anna Farias and in seat five, Karen Onsinger is challenged by Janet Hernandez and Steven Diego Mateo. A Ford Pierce man is facing charges of DUI after he took out several signs in the morning hours of Route 70 in Western St. Lucie County. Michael Thomas says he came up to a curve in the road and lost control, but the trooper smelled alcohol. Troopers say Thomas caused extensive property damage on the side of Okeechobee Road and was off the road for about 100 yards. Thomas also was belligerent to the trooper. The report says he said hurtful things and threatened to fight the trooper. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).