WAFC Local News – November 19, 2025, 8:34 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. Hendry County noting a road closure on Hookers Point Road for road repairs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Motorists that are heading eastbound on Hookers Point Road are to take Evercane Road to Pitt Road to Red Road to John Road as a detour. Motorists heading westbound on Hookers Point Road should take John Road to Red Road to Pitt Road and reach Evercane Road. Though we flag men and traffic control signs in that area do slow down. Hendry County Schools requested an additional $33 million from the state to help with the rising costs of the new LaBelle High School. Construction costs have gone up due to inflation and delivery costs of materials. Superintendent Michael Swindle made the ask at the Hendry State Delegation meeting. We all know what’s happened to the appreciation of commodities and goods in that amount of time. So it’s left us with a significant shortfall to be able to do the complete construction of LaBelle High School. So our ask is that you all champion and support all the efforts to make that happen. City of Belle Glade voted to annex in property at Hooker Highway and Livestock Market Road of just over one acre for the new Racetrack gas station and store. U.S. Sugar and the Western Palm Beach Farm Bureau own the property. Meredith Lay thanked the city for making the purchase and approval process smooth. And the developer of this property ultimately with Racetrack. This has been a very smooth process. I know it’s just the end of the beginning. But based on what I’ve learned about the City of Belle Glade, the sense of community is strong here. And Racetrack is very excited to become part of this community. So I just wanted to thank everyone for playing a part in getting us to this role. And we’ll see you on the next stage. Glades County asking state lawmakers to help them with Buckhead Ridge and Indian Prairie Canal issues. They requested $3 million for Northeast sewer and $5 million for Indian Prairie improvements. They’d like to add handicapped and paved parking and a fishing dock at Indian Prairie. They’re also working with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to provide local funding match for dredging the Moorhaven Canal. The tribe wants to build a marina at the Brighton Reservation and helping boat traffic get there would be to their benefit. County Manager Paul Carlaw went into the $3 million for Northeast sewer. I think getting those septic to sewer projects up there and getting a sewer plant, a regional plant, not only makes sense, but it’s in a good location for what we believe is going to be some of the future development of Glades County. Carlaw also says Glades County wants to see the state clean up inside Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee, as you all have heard, has been deemed the dirtiest lake in America. That’s not a good reputation to have. We want to look at ways of preserving that and also preserving that ecosystem. Henry Regional Medical Center has added orthopedic services and has renovated some rooms. They say it will serve the growing population of Henry County better. They have two orthopedic surgeons on staff, David Rubens and Michael Balatsis. The service at Henry prevents people from clueless into having to travel to Fort Myers at West Palm Beach to get the treatment they need. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).