WOKC Local News – August 21, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. An education town hall. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. In addition to trying to educate students, Superintendent Dylan Tedders and his staff are trying to educate the public on changes coming to the district. A town hall held at the library. Some concerns raised by parents, the impacts of a degrade at North Elementary, how we can improve reading scores, and removing media specialists from libraries. As with every school year, Tedders says everyone should expect changes from year to year. There are going to be wholesale changes in staff at every single site. Media specialist was just one of those. Congressman Darren Soto saw his district at Okeechobee County. He says he’s against the war in Iran, and it must end as soon as possible. He says the war is hitting your everyday pocketbook. We need to bring the war in for a landing as soon as possible. We know what’s happening back home. They were 385 in Osceola today. Our fertilizer prices have skyrocketed, diesel prices. He says 18 lives are enough, and that Congress has twice voted to end the war. In the court, Sam Vuleta already ordered to pay $23,000 in restitution to his victims. Now he’ll add another $30,300. The state attorney’s office says they held restitution hearings last month, and two more victims were awarded, $19,800 and another $10,500. Vuleta entered a plea earlier this year, received four years probation, but must repay the money the court determined he owed. He was not convicted of any crime. The court did not award any restitution to his former business partner, who claimed he was owed $300,000. He could opt to seek those damages in a civil lawsuit, of course. A self-reported suicidal woman apparently stalked a man at the Kissimmee Prairie State Preserve. The man says he had never seen the woman before. He was looking and staring at him in the parking area of the preserve. When he tried to leave, she blocked his exit twice, but did get past her. She then sped after him at up to 100 miles an hour down the Peavine Trail before she crashed at that big curve in the road at Northwest 240th Street. When deputies arrived, she said she wished to kill herself, and stated she swims in black water, hoping to get bit by a water moccasin or alligator. Deputies were trying to get help for the woman at a mental health facility. Deputies saying a shooting on Southeast 26th Lane was self-inflicted. 45-year-old Mitchell Maggard was flown out by medical helicopter to Lawnwood for treatment after the incident Tuesday. It’s time for Palmetto Berry season. 56-year-old Alfred Nutter was arrested in Fort Drum. He allegedly had the berries, but went on to private land without permission and did not have a state permit. That is a felony in the state. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).