WOKC Local News – September 03, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Schools showing improvement. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. Okeechobee schools gained points towards a B last year, but not as fast as other school districts. Okeechobee ranked third lowest in performance academically at 56%. DeSoto County was the worst and Gadsden was next to them. Dr. Joseph Stanley, assistant superintendent, says two of our schools showed significant improvement. I think every school has something that makes them stand out, particularly in terms of letter grades. South Elementary improved from a C to a B, which is certainly commendable. Similarly, Osceola Middle School was only one point from a B. They had a significant increase of seven percentage points on their grade. The graduation rate also increased by four points. The rate at Okeechobee High School is 86.6%. Congressman Scott Franklin has three conditions to end the war with Iran. No tariffs or tolls through the Strait of Hormuz, assurances Iran will not support terrorism, and all of Iran’s nuclear capability eliminated. Franklin says we can’t allow nuclear weapons there that could reach the East Coast. I do applaud the president for taking action against Iran’s nuclear initiatives, their desire to get a nuclear weapon. There’s absolutely no way we can afford to allow them to have that. Highlands County, to add to ambulances, the cost would be $930,000, this Fire Chief Chad Duponthaler. The trucks are averaging about 37 to 40,000 miles a year. And as it was mentioned, that’s just not exactly it. When the cars, or the cars, the rescue units are idling, that counts as mileage as well. An Okeechobee man is charged in Martin County in a drug deal in May. 43-year-old Guillermo Morelis Alvarado allegedly sold or delivered cocaine on May 15th, May 25th, and May 27th in Martin County. He was held on a bond of $210,000. Another drug arrest in Indian Town, 34-year-old Keandre Willis is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and conspiracy. He was held on bond of $352,000. A road rage incident in Okeechobee on Southwest 16th Street and 24th Avenue. Apparently, the traffic dispute began on 70 West and filtered into the neighborhood. A female got out of the offended vehicle and started a fist fight with a female in the other vehicle. Minor injuries sustained, both of them going to the ground. Neither wanted to press charges. 441 and 70 was shut down this morning after a crash. The Highway Patrol is investigating. An Okeechobee man was fined over $700 for dumping human waste. 74-year-old Douglas Rising allegedly was removing waste from his RV at Lock 7 on February 23rd when he was cited. The deputy report said he observed what appeared to be sewage and raw human waste discharged into the grassy area on the far West end of Lock 7. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).