New Cast August 20th:
Polls open for primary day
Florida voters only have one state wide election today, the party nominees for US Senate.
In Okeechobee, there are four races.
County commission district 3 will be decided today with Keith White challenging Brad Goodbread.
The sheriff’s race will also be decided with the candidates Noel Stephen, Jon Folbrecht, and Stephen Weikert.
There are two primaries for county commission district 5. Michael Sumner and Billy McCullers are the republican candidates and Glenn Attaway and Austin Harvey are the democratic candidates.
Glades County also have a busy ballot with three candidates running for judge, four candidates running for sheriff, and two candidates running for school superintendent. There are also two school board races.
The voters there also select four county commissioners.
The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board will not support a study on making the Kissimmee River a wild and scenic river. They also report that congress is likely to
include funding for the LOCAR project in the 2024 water bill. That funds the large reservoir in eastern Highlands County.
Mark Perry said the state dodged a bullet with Debby not unloading on lake Okeechobee.
The county commission getting close on the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. They agree to set the millage rate at 7 point 9 mills, a slight increase from this year.
Commissioner Kelly Owens suggested the county look long and hard at spending limits this year.
Commission Chairman David Hazellief wants the county to live within its means, but also to provide a raise for employees and keep 25% in reserves.
Public hearings on the budget are held in September.
Glades County Schools broke ground on the new elementary school in Moore Haven being funded with $52 million from the state.
The new principal Sam Thomas saluted all the teachers at the school for their hard work and said this ushers in a new era in education. He said the school would stand as a beacon for learning in the community.
The school is expected to open in 2026. The site is at 400 West Avenue.
The crowd also got to see the new fleet of electric school buses that the district purchased with grant dollars.