WOKC Local News – July 31, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. County approves industrial park. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. A new industrial park on 70 West at Northwest 38 Terrace. The only concern was truck traffic and whether they should have a signalized intersection there. County Commission Chair David Hazelief says the state limits what the county can do on Route 70. We can’t four-lane the road, but we’re really going ahead trying to do that. But if we allow multiple entrances there, would it be so simple to go to the intersection and everybody work together and improve that intersection? And I really think that our recommendation on this one was out of place. The Agri-Civic Center Advisory Committee is no more. The county commission eliminating it after several months of not enough members showing up for meetings. County Commissioner Terry Burroughs says this has gone on for four months. So I don’t see any reason to continue the Agri-Civic Center Advisory Group if we’re not going to have people come and participate. He doesn’t want the county to waste time and money on a committee that don’t show up. Highlands County Commissioners voting down impact fees in a 3-2 vote. Commissioner Scott Kerouac says people can’t afford homes now the way it is, and impact fees would make it harder. Impact fees, it’s like a double-edged sword. It’s something that we need in a fiscally constrained county, but we are currently not only statewide, but nationwide in an affordable housing crisis. It’s a crisis. Some realtors support impact fees. Some were opposed. Contractors as well also split, saying the impact fees might hurt their business. Two Okeechobee residents, Katie Suggs and Joshua Mumford, were charged with trespass after going onto property condemned by the county on Southeast 23rd Court. They also were arrested on drug charges after some pills and oxycodone and other controlled substances were allegedly located. Okeechobee County sheriffs are using drones more to keep people safe. The latest on a suicide threat call in the 15,000 block of Northwest 286th Street in Viking, they were able to use the drone to locate the suicidal man that was not armed and were able to take him into custody to get him help. There’s a challenge to the wording of Florida’s property tax amendment. A Tallahassee court heard arguments this week. Former South Miami Mayor Phillip Stoddard filed the litigation. Fort Lauderdale attorney Jamie Cole says the amendments to save our homes from excessive property tax is misleading because of the word excessive. Former Mayor Stoddard says the language is inaccurate, biased and misleading. It says it’ll help small businesses. Well, there’s nothing in there that’s specific to small businesses. And in fact, since most small businesses rent their places of business, in fact, it’s likely to increase rents. A poor St. Lucie man arrested in Okeechobee on battery charges, Andreavius Collins. Andreavius Collins was apparently experiencing withdrawal from crack cocaine. He pushed a female to the ground and placed her into a chokehold allegedly, according to Okeechobee police. I’m Charles Murphy, WKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).