WOKC Local News – September 25, 2026, 7:41 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Senator disappointed with spending with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy. Say Senator Erin Graw will vote for Amendment 3. She says every government is spending too much, especially in recent years, including Okeechobee. She says she’s disappointed that most local governments are speaking out against the amendment. She says it’s not just Okeechobee government that’s the problem. The overall spending in all governments at every level has gone up tremendously. I think that there are opportunities and there are opportunities to put money back in the taxpayers’ pocket. Graw points out the scope of government can be an issue. She says some services are really not wanted or needed by the public. It’s a real opportunity for us to look at what are the core services that there is agreement on and maybe we shouldn’t be paying for the other ones with taxpayer dollars. Florida Tax Watch is launching an independent nonpartisan website. Floridians can have a one-stop shop for all things Amendment 3. CEO Jeff Kotkam says it’ll help voters examine the pros and cons of eliminating property taxes based on the value of homestead homes. It’s obvious there remains much confusion on this amendment, which again is why Florida Tax Watch takes our responsibilities serious in providing the most accurate data and research for Floridians. Okeechobee Emergency Operations Center had an air conditioning problem earlier this year. In the past 15 years, they’ve been adding additional technology and electronic equipment, increasing the heat load on one IT server room. They had to add some portable units to keep the temperature down and the room houses critical technology, supporting E911, Dispatch Emergency Management, Fire Rescue, AMS, and the Sheriff’s Office. Public Safety Director Justin Haysleaf says it’s imperative that they keep these things working. That room is so critical to our operations and if we lose power for a split second, a portion of a second, it kills our equipment and we can’t answer 911 calls until the whole system starts back up again. The county is currently evaluating the addition of another permanent air conditioning unit to restore the level of service there. Central Florida Healthy Start reported a mortality problem in Osceola County last year. This is Director Carrie Steven. 23 babies we lost too soon the last year. Osceola County passed proclamations supporting the work Healthy Start does and also the work the Second Harvest Food Bank does in helping with the hunger problem. An Okeechobee Corrections guard is facing burglary with an assault, charges, along with battery. It’s a domestic incident. Damera Ramey allegedly grabbed a propane tank and broke out a window to get into the home. The victim, a man, said the female guard choked and scratched him and attacked him, injuring his left arm. He also claimed he was held against his will. Finally, the case was set at 75 grand. Okeechobee deputy’s taking a report from a man who claimed his ex-girlfriend was texting him saying she was gonna call the police and make sexual assault allegations about him. He advised he had never done any of these allegations and wanted it documented. He planned to get an injunction against the woman. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).