News Cast for February 8th:
The Okeechobee County School Board learned from attorney Tom Conely that they don’t own the parking lot at Okeechobee High School.
It actually is owned by the Florida Department of Transportation.
It apparently was an agreement signed back in 1968.
Conely found out about the ownership during a recent review of documents related to the new high school construction project.
The district said it not worried about the predicament and are in talks with the FDOT to resolve the issue.
The Florida Department of Corrections created an education program for Department of Juvenile Justice facilities that include the Level 10 facility in Okeechobee.
The school system will not longer have to provide local teachers to serve the program.
Superintendent of Schools Ken Kenworthy said he did not expect any teachers to lose their employment. He predicted the teachers would likely become employees of the state program instead.
The ballot of Okeechobee County elections in 2024 is growing.
According to the Supervisor of Elections 10 candidates have filed to run for local offices this year. One candidate has since withdrawn.
The Sheriff’s race includes incumbent Noel Stephen, Jesse Hert and Stephen Weikert.
The County Commission District 3 race is a rematch of 2020 with incumbent Brad Goodbread opposed by Demetri Riles.
The County Commission District 5 race has no incumbent as Kelly Owens said she would not seek a third term. The candidates are Austin Harvey, Billy McCullers, John William Smith, and Michael Sumner.
County Commission Chairman David Hazellief is currently unopposed as are the other constitutional officers.
County Judge William Wallace has also not drawn an opponent.
A 26-year-old Jacksonville man was sentenced to three years in prison, three years probation and a $50,000 fine for peddling drugs at the Okeechobee Music Festival.
Kobie Clark pled no contest to several charges that include trafficking of methamphetamines and possession of LSD.
The arrest report stated Clark was seen by a deputy selling balloons that were filled with nitrous oxide.
During a search of Mr. Clark, deputies said they located 21 grams of Adderall, over 26 grams of molly, over 28 grams of
powder cocaine, over 28 grams of Xanax, some $3,485 in suspected drug cash, 12 chocolate bars laced with drugs, three grams of LSD, 94 grams of marijuana and other drugs and items of drug paraphernalia.
Clark had no prior criminal record in Florida.
The Martin County Metropolitan Planning Organization re-emphasized the commitment to have route 710 widened to four lanes between Indiantown and Okeechobee.
The FDOT decided they will set up a new intersection at SE 126th Blvd lining it up with a straightened Martin Grade, Martin County Road 714.
The intersection will also include a red light.
Beth Beltran with the MPO said Okeechobee County agreed to take on the maintenance of the new stretch of road on 714.