WOKC Local News – May 28, 2026, 7:41 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Still pushing forward with WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. Or we are down to the end. That’s Ogachubi County Commissioner Terry Burroughs, who gave a history lesson to his colleagues on the 10 year venture as they try to sell Ogatanti to Bass Pro. Many of the problems have not been of the county’s making. They have resolved title issues, easement issues, submerged land issues, a land swap and a boundary map issue. Burroughs promised to present soon a five point plan to commissioners he says will end the saga once and for all. What has been going on for the last few years and maybe the public will listen a little bit. He says they also had a problem with Hog Island, prohibiting the property from being sold to any private entity or private for usage of any private purpose. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed a fatality and a head on collision just before 7 p.m. last night in Eastern Highlands County. It happens in Cornwell near the intersection of US 98 and Dougherty Road. A Nissan Frontier pickup colliding with the Dodge Ram pickup. The Nissan apparently at fault was passing other vehicles traveling westbound forced the other pickup off the road who was heading eastbound, went onto the shoulder of the road and caused the collision. Both vehicles burst into flames. The driver of the Nissan died at the scene. A 67 year old man in the Dodge Ram pickup able to get out. He was hospitalized with serious injury. Farmers and ranchers asking for help from Congressman Scott Franklin. They’re dealing with rising fuel prices, the damage from the freeze and inflation. Franklin has a lot of citrus and vegetable operations in District 18. He says it’s unfair for his district to deal with trade deficits and poor trade deals. Florida growers have lost nearly 50 percent of their market share to foreign imports over the last 20 years, while Mexico’s share of our domestic market has soared by nearly 200 percent. The report also estimates that this trade disparity has killed over 4,000 jobs in Florida alone and cost us up to a billion dollars in missed economic activity annually. Rapid response, private ambulance pulling out of Highlands County after the commission moved ahead with a plan to suspend their certificate of need. County Commissioner Don Elwell says just a routine inspection of their facilities turned up some problems. I have grave concerns about this. We are jeopardizing the safety of our citizens, the people that elected us to office with some of these things. Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies arresting two in a apparent road race happened in the area of Southwest Second Street and Southwest 12th Avenue. Frederick Bradley also was charged with possession of marijuana over 20 grams, which is a felony. U.S. Senator Rick Scott kicked off his statewide hurricane preparedness tour at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stewart says they are already preparing. We will increase patrols in vulnerable areas as storms approach, strengthen partnerships with our community organizations for resource distribution and prepare for swift evacuations while setting up emergency shelters. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).