WOKC Local News – April 17, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. College outlines plans. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. Indian River State College says they’re committed to developing a data center and improve the former Okeechobee School for Boys campus. Vice President Andy Treadwell told Okeechobee County officials that the state will be supporting this. This is the type of project that I think the state of Florida is looking for. How do we repatriate our data so it isn’t being sent to Georgia or South Carolina or Texas. Let’s keep it here. Let’s make sure what we’re building in terms of data and compute power is serving Floridians. Treadwell also promised that the college will maintain the grounds better. Trying to find the funding has come out of our operational funds. Nothing came from the state. So I assure you in this dais that we’ll make sure that that’s better with the upkeep. He says this year a lot will get done, starting with cottages and other buildings. But we’ve learned a lot. That has been good work. And what I’m excited to tell you this morning is we’re about to move into a phase where we’re going to see some movement out there. There’s been opposition to data centers and a protest is planned before the next College Board of Trustees meeting in Fort Pierce on April 27th. Okeechobee County commissioners endorsed the Lake to Lake Trail would connect the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail to the Lake Monroe area and Sanford. They plan to use several historic rail corridors to connect the trails. Denise Whitehead with Okeechobee County says this effort has been going on for 10 years. We’re looking at at least 10 years before the trail would be built in our section of the county. Their plan is to start north and work south. So it’s quite a while before the trail would actually come to fruition. They want to better educate Floridians and visitors on the Florida Wildlife Corridor and also bring more tourists to town, both for ecotourism and agritourism. Florida law enforcement getting more and more upset with the surge of impersonation scams. Lawmen call you on the phone who aren’t lawmen at all, but fraudsters. They want you to pay because you missed jury duty or there’s a warrant for your arrest or a relative’s being arrested. Mary Pilkanis, one of the detectives investigating these crimes, says it’s all over the country. Which is why everyone gets affected by this. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil says these scams are hurting law enforcement, but also the community. These criminals are preying upon the fear of our citizens, the sense of urgency, and then a degree of trust that they try to build. Highlands County created a $100 permit to be a hobby breeder. They have fielded reports of neglected, starved, or sick animals. We recall a dog hoarding case in Kissimmee River Estates. County Commissioner Kevin Roberts supports the crackdown on animal abuse. I think it’s a great thing. I think there’s been a lot of animals that’s been exploited and abused and impregnated way too many times and way too early. And so I’m glad this has come along. They’ve also increased the fees for spading and neutering of animals at the shelter. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).