News cast for August 16th:
Lake 17 inches lower this year
The US Army Corps of Engineers said Lake Okeechobee levels are fine headed into the peak of the hurricane season.
The level recorded Thursday at 14.02 feet above sea level.
New commander at the Jacksonville district Col. Brandon Bowman said no lake releases are needed at this time.
“Right now we are pretty comfortable on where the lake is at. We are clearly in the hurricane season and we don’t have any concerns with the lake levels. That may change if additional hurricanes come through.”
The Corps commanders signed off on the LOSOM plan this week that will keep lake levels higher.
Col. Bowman said the decision won’t please all the user groups.
“We try to make the decision that are best for the larger groups as a whole. We are actively concerned with water quality and water flows from that estuary.”
Four candidates are running for Glades County Sheriff in Tuesday’s republican primary.
They are Tico Salgado, Jeff Nunemaker, David Hardin and Curtis Clay.
All the candidates appeared at a recent forum in Buckhead Ridge.
Salgado said he is qualified to do the job. He has been in law enforcement in Clewiston and Glades County. He also owns and manages his own restaurant.
“I have always worked since the age of 14. I feel that I can make a difference. I work for you guys 24 hours per day even off duty. I believe I have the skill.”
Nunemaker currently works for the Hendry County Sheriff. He promised to apply the law equally and hire more deputies.
“I don’t believe in favoritism. In Polk County I went against the Mayor. I do my job. I have arrested people I know personally. Living in Palmdale I hardly ever see a patrol car. I hear the same in other communities. I would like to fill deputy positions with the academy in Fort Myers.”
Sheriff David Hardin said he has done the job for 8 years and has a plan to meet the needs for growth like the new Lakefront Estates.
“With the new development in Buckhead Ridge we hope to have additional manpower as the new houses ar ebuilt. If we don’t the thefts willb e unbelievable. They have private security right now. We will add deputies as the county commission can afford it.”
Clay is director of security for Hendry County Schools. He promised to look long and hard at the sheriff’s budget.
“To build morale in the sheriff’s office we have to fill all the positions so we don’t have two deputies covering the whole county. We can’t sit here and be stagnant. We have to plan for the growth that is coming.”
Okeechobee Brahman football will be honoring first responders tonight as they begin the season.
The firemen and police are invited to line up at 4:45 pm before the kickoff at Brahman Stadium.