WAFC Local News – May 08, 2026, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. Henry County Schools still having trouble with student attendance. Superintendent Michael Swindle says the district does all it can to encourage kids to come to school. He knows they can make arrangements for special circumstances and busing. He says they’re doing all they can to help families. But at the end of the day, they’ve got to be parents. They’ve got to make the kids wake up. They’ve got to make sure the kids get to school, whether it be through them or on a bus. There’s nowhere that we can’t touch with a bus. Swindle admits it’s not all on the kids. It’s truly a parenting issue. If you’ve got a child that hasn’t been to school for 30 and 40 to 60 days in the school year, that’s a parenting issue. The Palm Beach County School Board approved a three and a half percent raise for teachers. There was an impasse hearing with the union this week. The district had countered with a one and a half percent raise. They note enrollment is down up to 7000 students, and they’re losing about 50 million dollars as a result. Jody Mokell says administrative cuts are needed. We need more boots on the ground and not more suits in the offices. We need marketing that showcases public education is far superior to private, virtual or home education. President of the union Gordon Longhofer says you can never determine the value of a teacher. There is no profession out here for anybody to do that is not made possible by a teacher. And and we’re talking about individuals that at times toil in anonymity. And tonight they feel seen. School board member Marcia Andrews says they needed to do right by teachers. The reality is that the district’s consistent A rating, high performing rating over many years is not accidental. It is a direct result of the quality and commitment of teachers. That is in the lens. I think this decision ultimately need to be reviewed through. Attorney for the union, Mark Richards, says teachers are going to extremes to make money. One of our leaders testify that she is carrying a child to make extra money, to be a surrogate mom. That’s a blessing. I guess I’m a male. I shouldn’t say get into that waters. But I’m saying what an incredible blessing to do that. But she did it primarily to make ends meet. District Attorney J. Danielle Williams says this decision will risk jobs. But for the district, that decision comes with a significant consequence. Layoffs. They’re saying they may have to lay off as many as 700 employees. The highway patrol seeing an increase in drug impaired driving. Lieutenant Gweg Bueno says it is a growing problem. Well, it’s hardcore drugs as meth or cocaine or even marijuana. And then, like I said, prescription pills as well. It’s it’s extremely dangerous. It is not victimless. Glades County man got three years in prison and two years probation for a violent assault and battery that took place at a local campsite near Lake Okeechobee. Hilliard Gopher was arrested for an August 6th of 2023 domestic. The female suffered a broken arm. She said Gopher had slammed her to the ground. She claimed Gopher refused to take her to the hospital, saying she was faking the injury. He also took her cell phone and threw it into the lake. The victim claimed he left her naked at the monkey box. Ultimately, he did pick her up in his airboat and drove her to the hospital in Lake Placid, but she couldn’t get out of the vehicle without assistance. According to the deputy report, the victim’s mother ultimately found the vehicle and rescued her daughter and took her to Advent Health in Lake Placid for treatment. Hilliard had claimed the victim had fallen off the airboat and injured herself. In the sentence, the state did drop five of the six felony charges. Gopher pled no contest to one count of felony battery. A violent domestic in a parking lot of the Burger King in Belle Glade as witnesses see a woman struggling trying to get away from a man. Edward Berry is facing a charge of false imprisonment and aggravated battery on a pregnant victim. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).