News Cast for June 3rd:
The Okeechobee City Council agreed to allow tent sales of fireworks in certain commercial areas. The tent sales can begin June 4 and run for one month. They also will allow the sales of fireworks during the month of December.
Some city business owners asked the city to relax the restriction on special use permits for these sales.
They argue county commercial areas allow fireworks sales. They also note Walmart is located in the city limits and they often sell certain kinds of fireworks.
The council also amended a recent ordinance that bans sleeping at night in city parks. The ordinance continued to allow sleeping in parks during the day time hours. The city has changed the ordinance to prohibit sleeping in city parks 24 hours per day. They have been closing the parks each night at 10 pm.
Lake Okeechobee activists said now is the time to grow submerged vegetation in the lake.
Lake Okeechobee Anglers said the lake levels have remained under 11 feet for at least a couple of weeks and there has not been reports of new vegetation being regenerated.
Scott Martin said there are zero acres of submerged vegetation. The goal is to have up to 45,000 acres in the lake.
Martin said while the lake levels are low the water is becoming clearer. He said both bass fishing and crappie fishing has been booming. He urged boaters to use caution on the lake due to the low levels. He said you should slow your speed and idle toward shore to avoid getting stuck.
“The water finally got to that crystal clear state. The whole west side of the lake and the north shore you can see the bottom everywhere. There are a lot of blue gill beds.”
“I haven’t seen much new vegetation. I’m hoping we can keep the lake clear. “
He said the low waters are hurting business around the lake as they are suffering economically from a lack of boaters and the closed locks.
Martin said now is not the time for SFWMD to continue spraying for exotic vegetation in the lake.
“The low water levels are very helpful for sunlight penetration. Them spraying the same areas over and over action for water hyacinth and non-native vegetation is not a good idea. We need to quit that. Mechanical harvesting is the only way to go.”
St. Lucie County Commissioners approved a modification to the permit for the Guettler Borrow pit mine off Okeechobee Road.
The mine is allowed to take fill dirt and other materials from the mine on route 70, Midway Road, I-95 and the Florida Turnpike.
Earlier the county had greatly restricted the trucks from going anywhere but the route 70 widening project which was completed over 10 years ago.
The mine was expanded in 2012.
The permit modification is part of a out of court settlement the county reached to gain access for motorists to the Pinelands Preserve near the St. Lucie Okeechobee County line.
In exchange for allowing vehicle access for parking, the mine can effectively deliver materials again.
The county will restrict the trucks on certain roads like Carlton, Sneed, Shinn, Brocksmith, Header Canal, Eleven Mile and McCarty Road.
The mine is located just east of VPI Grove Road.
Two people have been charged with methamphetamine trafficking in Okeechobee County.
Amanda Schriber and Alfred Moore were also charged with tampering with evidence.
An arrest report from Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies said deputies tried to pull over a vehicle for a traffic infraction but the vehicle did not stop. The chase entered onto SW 48th Avenue, SW 16th Street and SW 32nd Avenue.
Schriber was treated at the traffic stop for breathing issues.
Deputies said they saw one of the occupants throw a bag out the window during the chase.
The bag was found alongside the shoulder of the road. It was collected and tested positive for methamphetamines. The weight of the bag was over 14 grams.
Moore was also charged with fleeing and attempting to elude police, and introduction of contraband into the Okeechobee County Jail. He was held on $46,000 bond.
Schriber was held on $30,000 bond.
An incident report served as a warning to watch your children around water this summer.
The report described a near drowning of a small child in a backyard pool in May.
Okeechobee deputies said the child got into the pool while the mother was busy putting out the trash. She turned her back for a moment, and found the child in the pool.
The child was immediately pulled out of the water and coughed up some water but never lost consciousness.
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue treated the child at the scene and transported him to HCA/Raulerson hospital for evaluation.
A Haverhill man was charged after a chase with Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies.
Joseph Duane allegedly was driving a vehicle near Country Hills Estates on 441 that did not have a license plate. When the deputy pulled him over, Duane got out of his car in an aggressive manner and refused to cooperate with the deputy.
The arrest report said Duane got back into the vehicle and continued south. Other units were dispatched and they were able to place stop sticks in the road to deflate the tires on the vehicle.
When the vehicle stopped in the 1600 block of 441 north, another confrontation allegedly occurred.
Deputies said they tased the man to bring him under control.
Charges include fleeing and attempting to elude police and resisting arrest.
A death at the Mudfest at Plant Bamboo is definitely a homicide.
Martin County Sheriff Deputies released some more details about the investigation.
They said the man was stabbed multiple times and died alongside Martin Grade but not before he was able to call 911 and give dispatchers information.
Deputies said it appears the man had been at the event and got into some kind of argument or disagreement with other parties. He decided to leave the event on foot and was walking east bound when he was confronted again by these unknown parties and stabbed.
Martin County Sheriff Deputies appealed to the public to help them find the killer or killers.