WOKC Local News – August 10, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Navigation and muck with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy. The Florida Inland Navigation District more and more concerned this summer about the low water in Lake Okeechobee. They want to make sure that voters can go across the Okeechobee Waterway. Michael Kennedy says the navigation has been poor for months. Right now, it’s a problem. The lake level is way down. This morning it looked like it was 10.97, which means our navigation across the route that goes across the lake is only 4.5 feet. And we’re getting a lot of complaints about boats bottoming out. We’ve had several boats that got to Kalua Center and decided to go back all the way around to come here. It’s not good business, and it’s not good navigation, especially come hurricane season. They’re also working to remove muck from the lake. They also would like to see muck removed from the St. Lucie Estuary. Mark Perry told the Rivers Coalition that the Corps of Engineers plays a huge role in this. We don’t want to take away your mission, okay? Your mission is your mission, and I get that. We need to get the mission done, and we’re not going to take away your mission, but we want you, when you do the mission, to order to consider the waterways and consider the potential that impacts to the waterways when you’re doing the mission. Okeechobee County’s budget coming into focus after workshops in July. Commissioners approved rate hikes of 12.8% for EMS, up $12.22, and 5.7% for fire, up $8.15. They’re currently lowering the millage to 7 1⁄2 mils this year. That is a tentative rate. The rate represents a 4% decrease off this year. Glades County voters, August 18th, will be selecting who should be the District 5 school board member for Glades County Schools. It covers Buckhead Ridge and Northeast Glades County. Incumbent Patty Pierce, challenged by Lauren Thompson. Thompson had to answer questions at a rally in Buckhead Ridge this week that she will not put her kids in public schools. I did take my three school-age children out of school. That was a deeply personal decision after a lot of prayer and consideration in my own personal house between my husband and I. As a teacher, as a parent, and as a taxpayer, I was unhappy with many of the things that I saw going on in every one of those spheres. And in order to serve my children in the best way, I thought, my husband and I, that it was best for our children to try out homeschooling. Pierce is, depending on her experience over 20 years on the board, she says Glades County Schools do a good job getting rid of ineffective teachers. They don’t just leave on their own. The ones that don’t come back weren’t welcomed back. So, I mean, if they left on their own, there was a reason for it. Highlands County commissioners, among those with budget problems, the sheriff wants an 18% increase. Board of County Commission Departments asked for an increase of near 14.7%. They’re also looking to increase fire assessments by $642,000. County Administrator Lori Herner says these are only proposals and they’re looking at major cuts this year. Contrary to what many may believe, there’s no couch cushion money in Highlands County. We could always do better, sure. We’ve done a lot of that and made decisions, but at 10% down, you will see a very large change in services to Highlands County. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).