News Cast for April 17th:
Starting Wednesday, April 16, 2025 through Friday, April 25, 2025, the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control will be hosting a Low Cost Adoption for our wonderful dogs and cats. During this time period, our adoptions fee will be reduced to $25.00. All adoptions include spay/neuter, heartworm test, shots and microchip. We, at the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, are doing our best to save as many of our dogs and cats as possible. We hope you will join us by giving them a second chance at life by making your home their forever home. Adoption hours are from 10am to 4:30pm. We can be reached at 863-357-3225
The Heartland Regional Transportation Organization explained the five-year plan for state roads in Okeechobee County.
Okeechobee County Commissioner Terry Burroughs said he expects progress on the so-called bypass road in Okeechobee in the next year.
Burroughs said he expects right of way for the road to be purchased this year and early 2026.
The road would connect 710 from the L-63 canal to 441 north near HCA/Raulerson Hospital.
Burroughs also has concerns about 441 north and the amount of truck traffic we have received.
He said he expects more of a push to widen the road to four lanes to Yeehaw Junction in the next few years.
Burroughs said while there is a push to four lane 710 in Martin County, there is little momentum in the work plan to widen the section in Okeechobee County.
Florida Governo Ron DeSantis supports the Boater Freedom Act proposed by Senator Jay Trumbull.
The bill if enacted would prohibit local governments from stopping the sale of gas power boats.
It would also put into the constitution a right to boat in Florida.
DeSantis supports a provision that would eliminate random boater safety checks on the water.
Instead officers would have to have probable cause that a crime is occurring to stop a boat and search it.
FWC Executive Director Roger Young said it will still be safe on Florida waters.
“We want to ensure that a day on the water can be enjoyed by all law-abiding boaters. By eliminating random stops, it will allow officers to focus resources where they are needed most, on serious violations and conservation efforts that keep our waters and resources healthy.”
Sen. Trumbull said law enforcement has been abusing search powers with these safety checks. He said a person’s constitutional rights don’t end on shore.
The Highlands County Zoning Board of Adjustments turned down an application for a large agriculture operation near a residential area.
60 acres southwest of Lake Huckleberry could have been used as a farm for 100 sheep, 600 chickens and a slaughter house.
The residents were concerned about truck traffic, odors and reducing the quality of life and property values.
Many said while they support agriculture this isn’t the right location for a commercial agriculture operation.
“There is a time and a place for everything and this is not the place. There are other areas in the county where this would be acceptable but this isn’t the one,” resident Savannah Hancock said.
David Schmidt said he was worried about kids boarding a school bus in the morning hours.
“There are line of sight issues because it snakes through there. You get a foggy morning, you can’t see, you run a semi down there, you are causing a horrible situation.”
A relative known to steal cars from family, is accused of doing it again in St. Lucie County.
Jesus Jimenez, 37, of Indiantown, was charged with burglary to an dwelling while armed, and grand theft auto, St. Lucie Deputies said.
He allegedly climbed through the window of a victim, and took the keys of the hook for a 2016 Toyota Corolla.
The vehicle was spotted near the intersection of US 1 and Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce and the vehicle returned to its owner.
The victim said Jimenez had taken his vehicles without permission in the past.