The Seminole Tribe of Florida announced an agreement over online sports betting with several pari-mutuel companies. The agreement ends a three-year court battle.

In the settlement the tribe will allow the new betting app to Jai Alai facilities in Florida in 2025.

The state agreed to receive $20 billion from the gaming compact with the tribe.

The city of Okeechobee said permits are down off last year’s pace by about 100 permits. Still they are busy in community development.

General Services Director Patty Burnette said they have gotten plans for a 28-unit multi family housing project known as Glenwood Manor. Seven quadplexes will be constructed on the property in the northeast neighborhood.

Burnette said two companies in the commerce center, Landmark Precast and West Lake Royal Roofing but have submitted plans for expansions.

St. Lucie County Commissioners approved the plans for the M and M mine off Carlton Road.

Neighbors have battled for several years against the mine. Originally they had planned to use 900 acres. The new plan would include the use of 164 acres with 80 acres set aside for

mining rock and fill dirt needed to accommodate growth on the Treasure Coast.

Neighbors have complained about noise, truck traffic, dust, lighting at night and other disruptions to rural, ranching in the area.

One businesswoman Jamie Joseph said she is worried they won’t have an ample water supply for a fish farm they own.

The applicant agreed to keep all truck traffic off Carlton Road.

Okeechobee County Commissioners voiced support for the grant application from Sutton Rucks Dairy to build a distribution center for their dairy products including ice cream. The 15,000 square foot facility could create up to 50 new jobs for Okeechobee.

The commission also agreed to provide $140,000 to the Okeechobee High School Driver Education Program. The commission also issued a proclamation for October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A Gilette, Wyoming man was charged with threatening an Okeechobee resident with a golf club as he and his girlfriend burglarized his home.

The man had allowed a homeless woman to stay in his garage. As he was packing up his stuff to move from Okeechobee, the victim claimed he caught the woman stealing his stuff.

Jacob Bednarz is said to have been invited to the home by the girl and grabbed the golf club and made threats to the victim, who was held against his will.

Over $3,000 in items were reported taken, Okeechobee Police said.

The list of items included comic books, collector trading cards, an I-phone, various tools and other items.

Bednarz was located in a wooded area after the crime.

He faces charges that include armed burglary, grand theft, and false imprisonment.

Bond in the case was set at $115,000.

A Highlands County jury recommended the death penalty for Joseph Ables.

He was convicted of first-degree murder earlier this month in the shooting death of an on duty Highlands County Sheriff’s Deputy William Gentry in May, 2018.

Gentry had gone to the residence after Ables shot and killed his neighbors cat.

ByTaylor