News Cast 3/27

News Cast for March 27th:

A fatality in Basinger

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 49 year old Lorida woman died Friday night in a single vehicle crash.

The crash occurred on US 98 just north of route 68 west.

Troopers said the pickup truck, a 2004 Ford Ranger, was west bound on 98 when for some reason it didn’t negotiate the curve, went off the west shoulder, overturned, and struck a fence.

The driver was rushed to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce but died just before 11 pm.

The city of Okeechobee planning board discussed new regulations on food trucks.

There was support to limit them to special events.

Some members would like the city to be more lenient and perhaps allow them in commercial areas.

Currently there are no permanent food trucks located in the city.  There are several outside the city limits.

Planning Board Vice Chairman Doug McCoy told his colleagues he didn’t want food truck replacing restaurants.

“ We don’t want people to think, why should I buy a restaurant, I can get a food truck, put in a few parking spaces, and call it good.”

Other members said the food trucks should remain mobile and shouldn’t be allowed to stay in one location all the time.

Mac Jonassaint said the food trucks are popular, give people more dining options, and can be cheaper per meal, a benefit for the poor.

Southwest Florida could become another conservation area.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the proposal earlier this month.  It would be similar to the conservation area in Okeechobee.

Okeechobee and areas north of the Lake are part of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife refuge.

It makes it easier for ranch lands to be in conservation.

Elizabeth Fleming with Defenders of Wildlife said one issue has slowed the success of the refuge.

“The problem has been funding.  There is a lot of interest.  There are many land owners that want to take part in the program.  All we need is lots of money from the federal government, the state government, and other sources.”

The new conservation area would run from the Peace River down to Naples and cover much of the proposed Florida Wildlife Corridor.

The proposed location is the home of 74 species included on the federal or state list of threatened or endangered species.

The city of Moore Haven was able to fill their position of code enforcement officer.

They plan to pursue violations at the Rice Motel that include unsightly conditions, trash, and junk blocking the street.

The council also voiced concerns about loud music on weekends.

Residents on private property have invited full bands to play in their yards causing late night noise.

Mayor Clay Browning said it is an issue for folks.

“They are having private parties and at 11 o’clock at night they got your windows vibrating.”

They plan to discuss the issue with the sheriff’s department to have them enforce noise ordinances.

The city also received a $200,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for a resiliency plan.