WOKC Local News – May 08, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Boat ramps closed. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. Okeechobee County this week was out with an advisory due to the low water levels in the lake and dangers around boat ramps. Yesterday, they shut down the ramps at Okeetantee. The level went under 11.6 feet this morning. Public Safety Director Justin Hazelief says it’s not as safe on the lake as it usually is. What used to be safe water may now be shallow or obstructed. There are hazards just below the surface that you can’t always see. He wants boaters to use extreme caution. Florida Highway Patrol says they’re seeing an increase in drug-impaired driving across the state. Lieutenant Quig Bueno says it’s a growing problem. What is hardcore drugs is meth or cocaine or even marijuana. And then, like I said, prescription pills as well. It’s extremely dangerous. It is not victimless. Recently, an Okeechobee man, 34-year-old Tyler Watford, had zero blood alcohol in his system but still was arrested after a crash in Highlands County for DUI charges. The trooper’s report said that he appeared impaired, moved his vehicle after the collision, and was later taken for a urine test to check for substances. This month, we’ll celebrate Safe Boating Week. And Saturday, May 9th, is U.S. Postal Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive. It’s one of the biggest national food drives each year. It’ll help food banks like Treasure Coast Food Bank and House of Hope. Rob Gagneri with House of Hope says Stamp Out Hunger helps his organization. This drive really helps to carry House of Hope and our clients through the summer months. We spike in the summertime. We see more people because of the seasonality in parts of our economy. Schools close, so no free and reduced lunches and breakfasts for kids. You are to leave canned goods out by your mailbox, and they’ll be picked up by your carrier on Saturday. Highlands County Commissioner’s extending the burn ban till June 16th. Their drought index over 600, Okeechobee County was over 500 this week, and Glades and Hendry over 550. We’re the driest county south of Orlando. That’s Commission Chair Don Elwell. He says it looks like we’re about as dry as they’ve ever been in Highlands County. That’s a 600 average, which means that there’s quite a few areas that are much higher than that of the county. And then there’s also a few that are a little bit lower, but all of them certainly well within where we would normally even institute a burn ban. So we’re well into it right now. It’s almost one of the highest points we’ve been at. Demand includes campfires, bonfires, warming fires, outdoor fireplaces, open cooking fires, burning of yard waste, debris, and household trash, and even fireworks. Today is a national day of prayer. There’ll be a service on the Okeechobee County Courthouse lawn and free lunch provided by Kiwanis. It gets underway at noon. I’m Charles Murphy, WKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).