WOKC Newscast for Monday, May 15th (AUDIO INCLUDED)
City looks to help veterans
Mayor Dowling Watford proposed a Veterans Services Council for Okeechobee.
They would work on issues that are important to veterans.
One of those issues is the plan for Veterans Memorial Park.
Veteran Greg Maynard said veterans haven’t been kept up to date on the city plan for the park.
“The reflecting pool and everything. We were there this morning and had a homeless person sleeping behind the wall. You will have homeless people bathing and all that.”
Watford said they reached out to veterans to get their thoughts.
“We did try to make that effort. We are not through with this yet. There will be an opportunity for us to reach out further.”
The City General Services Department reported a building is being constructed at Haven of Rest.
They also reported the new sanctuary for the First Baptist Church has been delayed due to troubles finding the building materials.
The city recently permitted a seven-unit multi family project that will be constructed at NW 4th Street and NW 11th Avenue.
The Okeechobee School Board approved a contract to construct the new career and technical education building as part of the new Okeechobee High School.
They approved the cut of approximately $200,000.
The budget for the building was $6.5 million but the lowest bid was near $9 million.
The 20,000 square-foot building will include tech resource rooms, storage rooms, an automotive lab, carpentry lab and perhaps a marine lab.
Assistant Superintendent Dylan Tedders said this will still be a productive facility for instruction in several career fields.
“We got it down to a manageable number. We still get what we want. It will still be a nice building. We still will be able to do all the things we want to do with career and technical education in that building.”
Two people were killed in a collision between a sport utility vehicle and a motorcycle on Saturday in Glades County.
The accident was reported at 1:30 pm at the intersection of Pollywog Crossover Road and State Road 29 north of LaBelle.
Troopers said the SUV operated by a 75-year-old Melbourne man was south bound and crossed the center line colliding head-on with the motorcycle.
The operator of the motorcycle, a 72-year old Avon Park man, and his passenger, a 71 year old Avon Park woman, died at the scene.
The Melbourne man suffered minor injury.
Both victims were wearing helmets.
The Indiantown Village Council honored Louis Ramirez as the Martin County Boys & Girls Club Youth of the year for Indiantown.
Residents there continue to push for more youth sports programs and improvements to parks.
The village held a dodge ball tournament this past weekend for all ages.
The issue of a village permit for Da Swamp Homecoming festival is nearing the deadline.
There has been progress with receipt of the parking plan and proof of liability insurance. The main issue left is a bill for Martin County Sheriff Deputies to provide security. That must be paid for by May 17th.
The festival is planned for Memorial Day weekend in Booker Park.