News Cast for November 21st:
Let’s help the merchants
Downtown merchants hope for a boost from Small Business Saturday this weekend in Flagler Park.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paulette Wise said there will be kids games, entertainment and other things to bring shoppers downtown.
“Without our small business where would we be. When you look at the money that is spent in our community, is it as great as what is spent on the coast? We have to make it greater than what’s spent on the coast.”
She said stop by a local business and let them know they are appreciated.
“If I could say local shops local 100 times a day it probably wouldn’t be enough. We really care about our businesses and we need them here. This community needs them and we need them as well.”
Wise said she expects a good turnout for the event. The event runs from 9 am until 2 pm.
WOKC will be broadcasting live from the event.
A two-year sentence for a local drug case involving fentanyl.
27-year-old Joshua Rosso will also pay a $25,000 fine.
The original trafficking charge for 4.1 grams of fentanyl was reduced to sale of xylazine and possession of methamphetamines.
He had seven prior criminal convictions including drug possession and grand theft.
Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies said the traffic stop on May 5th in the 3600 block of US 441 SE in Treasure Island resulted in a seizure of a small amount of crack cocaine.
Two others were also charged with trafficking and their cases are pending.
Okeechobee Counties building department is a busy place.
Director Bill Royce told county commissioners they have issued 2,181 permits as of September 30th. They issued 3,026 last year.
The code enforcement complaints are also going up. 850 were fielded in 2022 and 650 as of September 30th this year.
Royce said they come across different violations like farm animals in residential areas, overgrowth on property, derelict vehicles, care of premises, no building permits, and way too many RVs on the prairie.
“It’s a battle every day but we are trying to make some progress.”
St. Lucie County Commissioners approved the rezone and comprehensive plan amendment for the P 1 Motor Club community on route 70 near Okeechobee County.
It could change the footprint of the agriculture land out there.
The plans include a four-mile circuit track, with trackside private residences, garage mahals, a clubhouse and beach club. They also are looking for light industrial, motorsports businesses, and storage facilities.
The total investment is about $107 million.
They plan to attract drivers from all over the country and even the world.
There was some opposition to the plan mostly about noise, lighting at night, impacts on traffic and first responders, and impacts on wildlife.