News Cast for January 27th:
Boaters will have to make some adjustments this week.
SFWMD advised the Buckhead Ridge S-127 Boat Lock in Okeechobee County will temporarily close on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 and will be closed until further notice for maintenance. Boaters will not be able to lock through the structure and should make alternate plans.
The S-65D Boat Lock on the Kissimmee River in Okeechobee County will temporarily close for a routine inspection later this week.
The boat lock will close at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, and will remain closed until 7:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Boaters will not be able to lock through the structure and should make alternate plans. Visit SFWMD.gov/Navigation for more information.
Christa Luna has spent 11 years on the Indian River State College Board of Trustees representing Okeechobee County.
This is the first year she has served as chair.
“The Dixon Hendry Campus is doing well. Maria Johnson is a great campus director. I think the counselors and communication and impact that is happening in our community and the synergy with the high school and their counselors, has been great.”
Luna applauded the state for a recent $1.5 million grant to plan the future of the former boy’s school.
“We are excited about the future of Okeechobee for that property and how we can better utilize it for the economic development of our community.”
Luna said IRSC continues to buck national trends as they have continued to increase student enrollment.
The enrollment is up over 10 percent at IRSC.
Luna credited the enrollment hike in part to the Promise Program which provides free tuition to high school graduates.
“We are really excited about the Promise Program and how that benefits our communities, Okeechobee, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin County. It is a great transition for our students and helps everybody.”
Glades County firemen said extensive damage was done after a fire at 2778 River Drive.
Fire crews found smoke and flames showing from the residence as they arrived.
Fire Chief Lawrence Factor said a metal storage shed and the residence itself was damaged.
Two pets perished in the blaze.
Okeechobee School Superintendent Dylan Tedders said the recent deal between the county and school board to swap land was a benefit to both parties.
The school board is using some land on the west side of 441 north for temporary parking. Eventually, that could be used to expand the school agriculture program.
The county gets land right next to Yearling Middle School that they can use to expand the sports complex.
The developer of Terra Lago in Indiantown expects the first residents to start moving into the community in June or July.
They recently met with residents of nearby Indianwood who have been complaining about a large dust problem happening during construction with the heavy equipment.
Spokesperson Josh Kellam said they recognize that dust is happening all over.
He said the dust has blanketed a lot of the village of Indiantown and has been impactful to our neighbors to our east in Indianwood.
“We wanted to go and listen to the residents. I sat with the head of the home owners and listened to the residents talk about what they are seeing and ultimately asked how we can help.”
Martin County Sheriff Deputies are looking for the owner of a Rottweiler that fell out of the back of a pickup truck on I-95 and was injured.
A motorist witnessed the incident, stopped and brought the dog to a veterinarian in St. Lucie County.
The pickup truck operator apparently did not see the dog tumble out of the back of the truck and kept going.
She is now being cared for by the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast. Humane Society staff report that the dog is very mild-mannered and sweet, but she appears somber. The dog is not yet up for adoption; however, if her owner does not come forward, she will be placed in-line for a new home.
This incident serves as a reminder that it is illegal to transport an animal that is not properly secured in the bed of a truck.