Making more investments
The state of Florida asked for another $300 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
Its an effort to buy up development rights to agriculture land.
The Department of Environmental Protection asked for $125 million for the Florida Forever program.
DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton said 97 percent of the land they’ve purchased since 2019, some 175,000 acres, were part of the Florida wildlife corridor.
A pedestrian WAS struck and injured by a vehicle on Tuesday night just before 10 pm
It happened at state road 70 west and SW 24th Avenue.
The man was found laying in the middle of route 70 by deputies and was treated by Okeechobee Fire Rescue and transported to Raulerson Hospital.
The pedestrian left the emergency room without giving his name.
Okeechobee County requesting additional state funding to expand the jail. They received $7.5 million this year.
They’d also like help with septic to sewer projects.
Chairman David Hazellief also spoke on the need for more water projects.
Okeechobee schools asked for additional funding to fill the shortfall from inflation on the Okeechobee High School construction. It originally was $82 million and is now said to be north of $107 million dollars.
The schools also asked for state help in paying for school resource officers.
A 22-year-old Moore Haven man spent time in the hospital after fleeing deputies on US 27.
Horace Washington was clocked at 103 miles per hour going through the city limits on June 23rd.
Deputies said he collided with a dump truck and trailer at state road 78 east and was injured. The Dodge Charger driven under the trailer.
Washington was taken to Gulf Coast hospital in Lee County.
He is facing charges of fleeing and eluding police and driving on a suspended license.
The US Army Corps of Engineers approved an over $2.64 million contract to add warning signs on the Kissimmee River.
Eagle Engineering of Naples will install navigation signs to warn boaters about no entry, shallow drafts or rip rap obstructions. They also warn about the new river channel and the changes in the flow of the river.
There are also large rocks near boat ramps. The navigation signs will be 10-12 feet wide. New signs will also be placed at the S-69 weir.
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