News Cast 5/18
News Cast for May 18th:
More help for veterans on the way
Okeechobee County named Jeffrey Norwood as their new veteran’s services officer.
Norwood served in the US Army and served in Afghanistan during his career.
Norwood said he knows where to go to get veterans the benefits they have earned.
“I’m very thirst and very hungry for this position.”
A special Memorial Day event is planned in Veterans Memorial Park with different activities for veterans.
The South Florida Water Management District announced they plan to expand the new Kissimmee storm water treatment area in Okeechobee by 1,4oo acres.
It will store more water, 9,600 acre feet, and remove more nutrients from the lake, 24 metric tons of phosphorus on an annual basis.
Glades County is upset the district didn’t keep their promise with the BOMA property near Moore Haven.
The county was promised some land along State Road 80 they could have used for development.
Commissioner Donna Storter Long wants better communication between the district and her county.
“The agriculture industry has done their share in preventing pollution. They don’t want to waste fertilizer either, it costs money. We want you to reach out to commissioners, come to our meetings, tell us why we didn’t get what promised, and perhaps make another change.”
The district also recently mitigated an algae bloom at the Pahokee marina. They are expecting more algae blooms this summer on Lake Okeechobee.
They also installed cameras at the Port Mayaca locks to show internet viewers the condition of the water.
Governing Board member Jacqui Thurlough Lippisch says they must stop these algae problems.
“Algae just flowing out of the inlet onto the beaches. Dead, smelly. 2018 was bad for us. Sanibel called it Armageddon. We can not ever let that happen again.”
Martin County signed off on the site plan for a solar center north and west of Indiantown.
It will be 507 acres and operated by Florida Power and Light some six miles from the lake.
43 acres will be preserved. The land is surrounded by agriculture uses.
Scott Scolle with FPL said they are using more solar power to replace natural gas and other energy sources.
The center called Monarch, will serve over 15,000 homes.
Glades County is pursuing a new kitchen at the old jail. The expansion is estimated to cost $900,000.
They also are looking at the former Goodwill building on US 27 as a possible location of the Sheriffs Administrative Offices. The reported asking price is $895,000.
A reported domestic quarrel allegedly led to a shot being fired.
Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies said 40 year old Joshua Taylor was upset he was told to leave the property. He was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, shooting a gun under the influence of alcohol and discharging a firearm in public.
A 14 year old student at Okeechobee High school is charged with throwing a water bottle out of the window of a school bus. It struck a vehicle headed north bound on 441 at 9th Street on Tuesday.
The driver followed the bus to school and reported it to officials.
Deputies said the video inside the bus helped them determine the suspect.
The child was charged with throwing a deadly missile into a vehicle.