WOKC Local News – June 08, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. New leader at the OUA. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. The OUA named Greg Kennedy as their new executive director. John Hayford will be retiring soon. Hayford was asked the benefits of going outside rather than picking his assistant. They would be in that same boat. They know nothing about the OUA. They’d have to learn the OUA. But they bring other things to the table. Kennedy has served as the assistant for the past year. They interviewed three people for the job. Oogachubee County approved their employment contract with Jessica Pesaris, the new county administrator. She’ll be paid $150,000 a year. The county also approved some water conservation proclamations. James Cannon is with the St. John’s Water Management District. He urges people to reduce water usage during this drought. Yeah, as let me allude it to, it is really dry right now. Florida is in desperate need of some rain. There are drought conditions throughout the state. And these proclamations are just a good gentle reminder for everybody to kind of be cognizant, be aware of your water use on a daily basis. It doesn’t take that much to conserve. And if everybody in the state kind of does a little part, it will add up. It will have a cumulative effect. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has created an Office of Seafood. The first of its kind office will prioritize customer service and make it easier for American seafood producers and processors. Secretary Brooke Rollins also wants to provide more tax breaks for our fishermen. The working families tax cuts are also the largest investment in rural America in history. And they are breathing new life and new opportunity into the heartland and into rural fishing communities for our fishermen here by giving them the relief and the support that they deserve. South Florida State College has some major economic impacts on the region. Highlands County Commissioners heard a presentation from College President Fred Hawkins who talked about those impacts. According to a recent economic impact study examining the fiscal year 23-24, South Florida State College contributed 210.3 million in added income to the regional economy, which equates to about 4% of the total region gross product. 82% of their employees live in the region and the payroll is over 35 million a year. 82% of their students also live in Highlands, Hardy or DeSoto counties. A 72-year-old Okeechobee woman showed up at a doctor’s office with bruises all over her body. Okeechobee County deputies investigated and arrested Patrick Philby on two felony charges related to elder abuse. A Brighton Seminole reservation man, Edgerin Billy, will spend five years in prison after a chase with law enforcement. He also is driving with a suspended license. The chase was on March 20th of last year and began in West Melbourne on I-95. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).