WOKC Local News – October 02, 2026, 7:41 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Good news for boaters. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. The state legislature approved two million to improve the Indian Prairie Canal boat ramp in Buckhead Ridge this year. State Senator Erin Rall says it was a good session for many of her counties. For farmers, the state approved a law that eliminates any local bans of gasoline or diesel farm equipment. They also looked at some recent land purchases that benefit the area. If there are lands purchased since 2024 that can be surplused and put back into agricultural production, protect our domestic food supply. Okeechobee Tourist Development Council debated the economic impacts of the Labor Day weekend and rodeo in Okeechobee. They have agreed to fund another $5,000 for 2027. Some argue they don’t have a multi-day event or festival on Labor Day, which discourages people from staying over in our motels and hotels. Monica Clark with the TDC says Labor Day is just a one-day outing anymore. There’s really not much else. I mean, we’re not doing the festival until Monday, right? In the park, the parade’s not till Monday. There’s not much else going on on Saturday and Sunday and Labor Day to bring those people in to have them stay overnight. The rodeo notes they have two performances, Saturday and Sunday, plus preliminary events Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that keep people in town for a few days. TDC member Bob Gerrell says the rodeos benefit other businesses. The majority of the people are from out of town, so we’re bringing in people from the other areas and I’ve never had a bad comment from the group. And some of them come both days. Some of them just come the one day. Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman put out an alert about the senior assassin game coming to Sebring High School. The game involves students attempting to, quote, assassinate seniors with water guns, Orbeez guns, and Nerf guns. Blackman says it’s extremely dangerous because any of these guns could be mistaken for a real firearm and provoke a response. They also can result in an arrest and expulsion from school if you bring them on campus. The governor boasting some roadway expansion projects, 320 miles of the Florida Turnpike will be expanded to at least six lanes. They’re also sprucing up the eight rest stops on the Turnpike, including Fort Drum. Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue explains a little bit the money that’s coming from the state’s general revenue fund to improve roads. We’ve gotten more innovative, we’ve gotten more efficient, and we’ve actually even created a whole new project delivery method that every other state in the country’s wanted to emulate called Modified Phase Design Build. It’s saved us hundreds of millions of dollars. Another incident of road rage in Okeechobee this in the 4,000 block of Highway 710. It was only a verbal disagreement and an argument and the motorists went their own ways without violence. Threats of violence after some people sharing an RV clubhouse on 441 Southeast both wanted to play music on Bluetooth speaker. One turned his music off, but then got a phone call and the others objected to him talking while their music played. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).