WOKC Local News – August 04, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. A new high school sports policy with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy. The Okeechobee School Board wants to get some revenue from private school students who want to participate in athletics at Okeechobee High School and our Osceola and Yearling Middle Schools. The school board voted three to two to allow the fee. The administration says the policy allows them to impose it, but there’s no guarantee they will do it this year. Superintendent Dylan Tedder says they have to look long-term when it comes to finances. What is available to us to match some of these things that money has drawn away? Now, is this gonna make up for everything? No, but it’s a piece. The fees were expected to generate under $6,000. Tedder notes that sports travel can be expensive. The Blue Heron subdivision wants to finish off its development. The Okeechobee City Planning Board held a meeting on certain tax amendments proposed for that part of the city. Edison Real Estate Partners have come in and are looking to develop. There was some concern in the amendments about changing the quality of housing in the exclusive neighborhood and maybe reducing property values. Planning Board Chairman Dawn Hoover says the developer is starting over in Blue Heron. This looks like we’re just basically throwing what we’ve got out and we’re starting from scratch. Some on the board were concerned existing residents would be upset by these changes. The city would reduce open space requirements in the development and even allow a limited agriculture until the land is developed. They would also allow sport and recreation uses by clubhouses in the facility, and the density would increase to seven and a half units per acre. A violent traffic stop lands a Brighton man in the Okeechobee jail facing charges of battery on law enforcement and resisting arrest without violence. Emila Keel Osceola allegedly injured the elbow of a female deputy he was struggling with. The deputy pulled over a vehicle on Southwest 11th Avenue near Park Street for alleged speeding. As she was talking to the driver, Osceola allegedly started to yell and make threats to the female. They tussled and tasers didn’t seem to work. A short foot chase ended with Osceola in custody. An Okeechobee man under arrest in Vero Beach after being found sleeping in a vehicle at a religious facility on 43rd Avenue. Indian River County Sheriff deputies say Christopher Fox was facing charges that include DUI and possession of controlled substances. The deputy said Fox didn’t seem to know where he was. The incident report said a search of the vehicle turned up 83 and a half pills of a controlled substance. There was a prescription issued in 2024. They also found 10 small rocks of suspected cocaine. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).