WOKC Local News – November 02, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Jailed for threatening Jews with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy. The large Jewish community opening in Glades County was threatened on social media allegedly by 31-year-old Jerry Snead of Orlando, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, accusing Snead of posting photos on the residential community’s location and a firearm. He was arrested in possession of a firearm by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. The case will be prosecuted in Glades County, and the investigation is ongoing. He’s facing one felony charge of written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily harm, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism. Okeechobee County trying to help side street businesses downtown. They’ll be having some trick-or-treating tonight in the Park Street area. The new wayfaring sign program will put up 11 signs to direct foot traffic. Karen Kozak, with leadership Okeechobee, told county commissioners it’s a huge opportunity. Last year, 100,000 people visited for Christmas in Okeechobee downtown. Only about 5,000 visitors actually went into participating businesses. So that’s a huge opportunity that the community and the businesses can capitalize on to, again, engage the pedestrians and the visitors that we do have in that area. The city of Okeechobee may replace the roof on the Chamber of Commerce building. There have been some mechanical issues, some plumbing problems over July 4th weekend this year inside the building. Council questioned whether the old building is worth maintaining and the investment. The state has purchased a conservation easement for another property in this area, part of the Rural and Family Lands plan. Turnpike Dairy in Martin County. That’s J.P. Frady’s. The Florida cabinet approved seven such easements across the state. Nearly 500 acres will be conserved off Fox Brown Road. The cost of the state just under 7 1⁄2 million. Okeechobee deputies arrested a man for DUI after seeing him standing near a motorcycle covered in blood in the area of 4200 Highway 441 South. The motorcyclist stated the vehicle had cut him off in traffic and he fell from his bike. Deputies say they saw signs of impairment. His breath test readings were zero. Mark Berardo was charged with DUI. Deputies say he refused to do sobriety exercises. An Okeechobee woman with a Mexican passport did not have a Florida driver’s license nor ever had one. She was pulled over on 4th Street at 6th Avenue Southeast, allegedly running a stop sign. An immigration detainer was issued for the woman. An Okeechobee woman driving in the area of Southwest 5th Avenue saw her husband being questioned alongside the road by deputies. Megan Grant has alleged to have screeched her tires, disturbing deputies, and then approached them, crying, hysterically, that’s my husband. Grant apparently had alcohol on her breath and was charged with DUI. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).