News Cast for March 31st:
Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen promoted Randy Thomas to the rank of Captain and Javier Gonzales to the rank of Lieutenant.
He urged the community and his employees to continue to support the progress being made at the Sheriff’s Office in terms of training, knowledge and equipment.
“Continue the path, continue to grow, continue to support our deputies. I’m excited about where we are going and what we are going to be doing.”
The sheriff handed out 25 year service awards to Rodney Rucks, Shane Snyder, Brian Smith, Joan Johnson and John Rhoden.
30 year service awards were given to Rhonda Butler, Jimmy Mills, Scott Deloney and Lisa Paisley.
Liz Keller received an award for 35 years of service.
Stephen thanked the employees for their dedication and commitment to Okeechobee.
‘I cannot sadly pay the deputies what they are worth. I have the county commissioner’s assistance and I’m very proud of what everybody is doing.”
He said he is grooming and training the young people who will be taking over as the older veteran employees retire.
The Florida Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Coquina Water Management District Board Chairman Jeff Hubbard violated Florida ethics law.
A resolution of the ethics complaint is likely in the next few months.
The commission declined to pursue other allegations that were made in the complaint for lack of evidence.
The commission found Hubbard obtained a disproportionate benefit and misused his position when he send district workers and equipment to remove and level out ditch dirt at a relative’s property.
St. Lucie Board of County Commissioners approved the White Marsh conditional use permit for Pike Electric to set up a storage and utility trade contractor’s yard in western St. Lucie County.
The plan to use 87 acres on Shinn Road between route 70 and 68.
The project includes six lots and four buildings. They plan to build three more 12,000 square foot warehouses with covered bays on the former citrus grove property.
Mike McCarty repurposing old agriculture lands will be the future of western St. Lucie County.
“It utilizes some of the agriculture land and maintains the agriculture use and zoning, the ag lifestyle and the intensity of uses that occur in our ag community.”
He called it an opportunity to think smarter and transition to use these ag lands in creative ways.
“The utility contractors are the backbone of our community,” McCarty said, “They are a huge employer in our community, we have infrastructure needs and we need improvements.”
An Okeechobee man was charged with pulling a gun on a friend during an argument over a vacuum on March 27.
Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies said Leonzo Paz was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was held on a $5,000 bond.
The incident was reported on NW 38th Avenue in Otter Creek. No shots were fired.