News Cast for April 9th:
The Okeechobee Utility Authority said it is willing to work with the city of Okeechobee to create a dog park.
The city suggested the OUA property located west of Centennial Park which is at 701 SE 6th Avenue.
City Administrator Gary Ritter said there are grant dollars available to help put in some facilities at the park like benches and tables.
OUA Executive Director John Hayford said they need to maintain full access to their property and don’t want any permanent structures placed in the way of their access.
He said the city would also cover any liability to the OUA for pet injuries, human injuries or property damage due to the dog park.
Ritter said he thought the issues could be worked out.
“We understand you need access to the facilities over there, so the facility would be designed so that you would be able to get to those without obstruction.”
An Okeechobee man faces numerous traffic charges after a wild police chase in Martin County.
Christopher Scales, 33, of Douglas Park was spotted on Martin Grade west of Palm City and allegedly failed to stop for the deputy.
The arrest report said speeds reached 90 miles per hour and the chase resulted in two crashes. One at SW High Meadows and another at the Florida Turnpike entrance.
One other motorist was seriously injured and hospitalized.
After deputies subdued the driver, they located a handgun on the front floorboard of the vehicle.
Scales also allegedly showed signs of impairment.
The police report said Scales had 12 prior felony convictions.
Charges in this incident include aggravated fleeing and eluding with property damage and serious bodily injury, fleeing and eluding police, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and multiple traffic law violations.
The week of April 13-19 is Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Florida.
Several Sheriffs and the Florida Sheriff’s Association supported proclamations to honor dispatchers around the state.
Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman said his dispatchers stay very busy with over 1,000 calls for service each day.
He noted dispatchers have helped first responders improve their response times and are getting to incidents quicker than ever.
Florida Department of Corrections Officials said death row inmate Michael Tanzi was executed last night at Florida State Prison.
The 48 year old died by lethal injection for the 2000 kidnapping and murder of Miami Herald employee Janet Acosta. It is the third execution in Florida so far in 2025.
Tanzi apologized to Acosta’s relatives just before the drugs were administered.
The Okeechobee Music Festival announced they would return in 2026. They have gone dark in 2024 and 2025.
It will be the 10th anniversary of the first festival held at Sunshine Grove in 2016.
The tentative dates are March 19-22, 2026.