WAFC Local News – August 12, 2026, 8:06 AM
Transcript
Um, Charles Murphy reporting, the city of LaBelle is moving toward a long-term lease with Firehouse Theatre. This after a second theatre group came forward wanting to find a place to put on performances. The two sides met and were unable to reach agreement and work together. Firehouse director Michael Schau says they demanded an apology from the other group. He says they just can’t work with them. So don’t be aggressive and don’t be mean and don’t say things online that you can, and I’m telling the world, shut up. Do not put things on Facebook. It’s there forever. It never goes away. Schau says the theatre group does a lot of good work for LaBelle. I don’t know if attacked would be a good word, but we have been accosted by a group that would, I don’t know if they want to be us or be like us, but they’ve tried to take things from us, like the rehearsal hall, like half the theatre. Commissioner Bobbi Spratt says it is a dilemma. We’re LaBelle and we want to help our people. She says they need to consider all groups. Somehow we have to figure out where we can help the other group and that’s the dilemma I see right now. But we still have to take into consideration that other group of people because we’re for everybody. Commissioner Hugo Vargas suggested they extend the lease at the rehearsal hall and theatre for 20 years. Candidate for county commission in District 6, Dr. Rudy Tinker vowed to support the Glades region if elected. He thinks South Bay can benefit from the Air Glades project in Cluiston. He says being in the east-west corridor of Florida brings opportunity. So with that saying, there’s a lot of commercial opportunities that’s going to be coming through your corridor and you guys are going to have a hell of an opportunity to develop piece of 27 into Cluiston and the section of Okeechobee Boulevard. With schools back in session, Mayor Joe Kiles promised to support all traffic tickets written in the school zone at Rosenwald Elementary. This year, before school starts, please talk to your neighbors, talk to your family members, talk to whose neighbor. When it comes down to the school zone, zero tolerance. I’m here to tell you, zero tolerance. The Glades County School Board District 1 features two candidates this year, Angie Huff and Anita Steele in Saul’s. Crystal Drake is retiring from the seat. Saul spoke on her priority if elected. Like you, I care deeply about our community and our schools. We all want the same thing, to provide every student with the best education and every teacher and staff member with the support they need to succeed. Huff also talked about her priority. Number one is students first. Every decision that the board makes must start in with one simple question. How does this help our students thrive? I will have that on my mind with every vote. She says the district needs to watch their finances. We must scrutinize spending and treat every tax dollar like the precious resource that it is. She did admit she was removed from office on the Mosquito Control Board in Moorhaven due to a failure to file a financial form. Yes, I was removed from office as a commissioner on the Moorhaven Mosquito Control Board. Among arrests, 29-year-old Amber Hammond of Okeechobee arrested in Glades County on charges of possession of methamphetamine. It happened after a single vehicle accident near the intersection of State Road 29 and State Road 78 West. She advised she was southbound on 29 when another car tried to make a left turn in front of her and she had to go off the roadway. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).