WAFC Local News – June 16, 2026, 8:06 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. A large brush fire that broke out over the weekend in the Big Cypress National Preserve grew to 535 acres in Hendry County. The Florida Forest Service and other agencies were battling it. There were no injuries and no structures involved. It’s been called the Greengate Fire. The Hendry County School Board wants to continue to expand their adult career and technical education programs. Chairman John Baskwin says he’d like to see auto body, small engine repair, and lawn care equipment techs be available to local students. The increase in number of students in CTE this year from 180 to 238, they received a two and a half million dollar grant to help expand the program. They also plan to hold a local hiring event so local employers can hire high school students directly out of our schools. They also added an assistant director for CTE. Jenny Goff spoke about what’s next for the program. But I really see us being a technical hub for programs in our region without students having to leave us to go to other schools. We’ve already started that. We’ve proved we can do it. So now we need to take it to the next level and that includes getting accredited. Michael Swindle, the superintendent of schools, says the district is not administrator heavy. The work in the schools is really what’s important, but it also takes an enormous amount of work to be able to support that, support the growth, support the education, support the vision. Hendry County ranked number one in the state in investing dollars in the classroom. 81% of their revenue goes directly to the classroom. In Glades County Schools, the school board recently honored the graduates of the class of 2026. Addison Rigdale was the class valedictorian and Daniela Arroyo, the class salutatorian. They also approved a contract with a new charter school, Daisy and Ashley in Moorhaven. And they asked the county commission to set a voter referendum for a half cent sales tax for school facility, security and technology improvements. Palm Beach County Schools continue to expand their career choice program and career and technical education programs too. The district says there’s more and more interest for these programs. School board member Edwin Ferguson said he had concerns about equity with all schools being able to take part. He says Glades Central Community High School should have the same opportunities as all the West Palm Beach schools. Through Google and internet programs, the district is working to connect teachers countywide to teach subjects some schools do not have a certified teacher available for. More information came out on that drug case last week, Clewiston Police arresting 27 year old Darian Radcliffe. The charging document says they were enforcing traffic in the area of Sagamore and Olympia Avenue when they saw a 2014 Dodge Charger with defective tag lights. They conducted a traffic stop and found a single plastic baggie observed on the ground near the vehicle. Radcliffe was the front seat passenger. Officers also smelled a strong odor of burnt cannabis from the vehicle. The material in the plastic bag tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. They also found three other bags with methamphetamine inside the vehicle and some cash. The cumulative weight of the drugs was 4.2 grams of meth and 43 grams of marijuana. The traffic stop was within a thousand feet of Clewiston Middle School. A 49 year old Henry County man charged with attempted burglary and trespass. Deputies responded to the report of a suspicious person at an apartment complex. The suspect had reportedly removed a screen off a window and then fled the scene at the Pollywog Creek Commons. The racket apparently woke up a woman inside the apartment and she saw the suspect and described him as a shirtless bald male. She yelled for him to go away and he fled the scene and she dialed 911. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).