News Cast 11/9
News Cast for November 9th:
Plenty of wind and rain
Nicole is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it hits the Florida coast this evening.
Winds could be 80 miles per hour on the coast at times.
Okeechobee’s weather forecast is 80 mile per hour wind gusts and up to six inches of rain.
Schools, courts and county offices in Okeechobee, Glades, Highlands and Hendry County are closed today.
Shelters opened at South Elementary School and the Health Department.
There will be a shuttle bus coming from Buckhead Ridge for residents there who want to stay in a shelter. They will pick up at 10 am at the community center.
Martin County could get a direct hit from the storm.
Emergency Management Director Sally Waite says debris shouldn’t be left on the curb.
They were expecting most of the impact on the beaches and marinas.
They opened a shelter at Warfield Elementary School.
Okeechobee Mayor Dowling Watford, David McAuley and Bob Jarriel were elected to the city council last night for four year terms.
Watford had 844 votes, Jarriel 748 votes, and McAuley 543 votes.
Christopher Martin had 358 votes and Jon Folbrecht 342 votes.
Watford has now won 11 terms. He was asked if he gets a different feeling each election.
“No, its just very humbling. Its hard to explain. Its very humbling to know that people will put their confidence in you.”
Jarriel said he thinks the voters are saying they like what the city is doing. He said he will continue to find ways to save taxpayers money.
City voters approved some charter changes highlighted by making the city clerk an appointed rather than elected position.
Hattie Taylor won a seat on the Glades County Commission with a huge win over Rashondra Croskey, 2,947-826.
A fatal crash in Okeechobee overnight.
The crash at the intersection of 441 and SE 138th Avenue at 8:40 pm.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 1994 Mazda pickup was south bound and crossed the center line into the path of a north bound tractor trailer.
The road was shut down for several hours for the investigation.
The truck driver was not hurt.
A third vehicle struck the debris in the road.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis won a resounding victory with over 57 percent of the vote. He says this proves Florida liked the way he handled the pandemic
Republicans swept all the state wide races for attorney general, agriculture commissioner, and chief financial officer.
Scott Franklin won the congressional race.