WAFC Local News – January 29, 2026, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. Hendry County Commissioners reorganized for the new year recently elected Raymond Iglesias as chairman and Rowdy Howard to serve as vice chair. This is an honor for sure. Iglesias vowed to work to improve the county. I work for the people of Hendry County and I work, I try to work hard as just everybody on this diocese does every day and I promise not to let you guys down as I’ve promised to my constituents. Commissioners also honored Stephen McCormick for 20 years of service at the road and bridge department and honored Travis Reese. He retired recently after 36 years of service to the city of Clewiston. They celebrate the great awards in education presented today by the Education Foundation of Palm Beach. In the Glades, the teacher of the year finalist for the year is Myrla Ortega. She has 47 years of teaching experience. And I cannot see myself not teaching. It has become my lifelong mission to bring out the best in my students. I am not going to rest until I see that my students have used their critical thinking skills. Her principal, Mrs. Melanie Bolden Morris, endorsed Ortega for the award. Miss Ortega is a phenomenal teacher. She’s a difficult teacher. She demands the best and she gets the best result. Carnesha Jenkins, attendance clerk at Belle Glade Elementary, is the finalist in the Glades for school-related employee of the year. Jenkins says she’s passionate about what she does and believes every child deserves someone to believe in. I myself went to a public school and I just wanted to give the kids and our community to let them know that it doesn’t matter your background, that you can be anything that you aspire to be. Her principal, Jamie Evans, endorsed her employee’s performance. What I like about you, Miss Jenkins, is you do all the good you can for all the people you can while you can. She’s not only an attendance clerk. She mentors our students. She participates in our behavior-intensive programs for our student attendance. She is such, such an inspiring individual. The assistant principal nominated this year is Cyrenthia Bolden at Pahokee Elementary School. She says both of her parents were educators and she wanted to make the same type of impact in her community. She says there’s never a dull moment at Pahokee Elementary. I’m a part of all aspects of what takes place on a daily basis. I’m talking academics, my interactions with the students. I talk to parents. I’m in compliance meetings. I see it all. So that’s what I like. I like the variety. The award’s again being given out today at the Celebrate the Great Educators event in West Palm Beach. A 76-year-old Belle Glade man, Bobby McCathin, is facing serious drug charges, including possession of a firearm by a felon and armed trafficking of oxycodone. Palm Beach County Sheriff deputies were doing an operation in a high-crime area trying to target drug sales and criminal street gangs. Deputies were watching as McCathin allegedly sold drugs to a black female in a parking lot on Southwest 5th Street at Avenue B in front of Hollywood Lounge. A few hours later, a man on an electric scooter rode up in the parking lot and again purchased narcotics from McCathin. They were able to locate 15 pills of oxycodone in the vehicle that weighed 7.8 grams and $188 in currency. They also found a handgun in the vehicle and a duffel bag that contained $565 more. Also located in the vehicle, another pill bottle with 25 pills or 12.8 grams of oxycodone. Belle Glade authorities say McCathin has been convicted of four felonies since 1984. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).