WOKC Local News – September 14, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Cut us a break with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy. Okeechobee County Commissioners want to have an influence campaign to tell people the Lake Okeechobee health is not as bad as reported. They say all this bad press the lake has got in the last 10 years has hurt the economy and sent fishermen to other lakes. County Commissioner David Hazelleaf supports funding some kind of media campaign or at least promote stories from unbiased media. You mentioned about the calls coming in because the condition of the lake. And we’ve had some very bad publicity from some writers that think that they’re capable of writing stories. The county Public Works and Road Department are now mowing some 450 miles of road shoulder in the county each year. The Finance Department reported 52 percent of their budget expenditures this year went to first responders. Freshwater fishermen may be having new regulations the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management at the FWC is conducting a review of the regulations. Ryan Ham says they need more data to understand the freshwater fishing industry. A relevant example would be disaster relief funds during natural disasters without an ability to speak to the value lost during a natural disaster or the numbers of commercial fishermen operating in a given fishery. Freshwater commercial fisheries may miss out on opportunities. Melvin Rosen says some of these reports and regulations will impact small boat operators. They don’t have room for ice. The guys who’s got the bigger boats, they may catch a thousand fifteen hundred pounds. That’s all they can load on their boat. And the other guys may catch four or five hundred pounds. They can’t carry ice. All they can do is wet their fish the way they do. Taron Wadley says regulations hurt the finances of commercial fishermen. You know, last I seen everybody here, most everybody gets paid. I’m not catching fish for free. And the fish are the cause of the blue green algae. Currently, most freshwater commercial fishing license holders are not required to report on their catches or take specific action to preserve catches. They intend to sell for human consumption by putting them under ice or refrigeration. The Yuba-Shuby County Sheriff’s Office, one of two in the state that have acquired MEDA smart glasses for officers. Privacy advocates are warning it makes it easier for police to record the public without them noticing. The Ray-Ban smart glasses are consumer items that take photos, record videos, live stream and interact with a company’s artificial intelligence assistant. A statement from the sheriff’s office says the glasses are being used for remote troubleshooting. Highlands County approving a 10 year residential solid waste contract with WastePro, part of it is to purchase 28 new trucks. County Commissioner Don Elwell had a concern about larger trailer parks having to pay more. We’ve self hauled for 30, 40, 50 years. And why can’t we continue to do so? Because it’s, you know, it’s worked out really well for us. And the price is going to go up five or 10 times if we end up going with with you folks. They will continue to operate the existing recycling centers. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).