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OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, Fla. — Okeechobee County is known for its agriculture and rural landscape, but a new development is being planned on a parcel of land that includes the construction of 4,300 homes and much more.

The project, called Davina Springs, is proposed for a 60-acre plot of land. In addition to the homes, the plans include the construction of a fire station, nine schools, places of worship, shopping, restaurants, a resort area, parks and trails and a highway expansion.

The developer, Newlines Land Consultants, would pay for the project.

"It's a little nerve-racking being our neighbors," Sutton Rucks, a fourth-generation farmer in Okeechobee County, said. "Hopefully they understand we've been here for a long time."

Rucks isn't the only one nervous about the development. Okeechobee Mayor Dowling Watford only speaks for himself when he says he's worried.

"We're very fortunate to have a rural lifestyle here, agriculture and, this community would explode our population," Watford said.

County commission chairman David Hazellief agrees that Okeechobee would change if this project is built, but he voted in favor of re-zoning the land for the development.

"If someone wants to buy a piece of property and develop it, they have a right to do that. This is America," Hazellief said. "No, it won't be like Okeechobee was when I was young, but everything's changing."

Hazellief also said the tax revenue generated from the new community would boost the emergency medical service and public schools. The development company said it's their goal to keep Davina Springs close to the character of Okeechobee's roots.

"Due to the zoning in Okeechobee County and the wetlands, the restricted area, the land can never turn into Palm Beach County," Josh Schmuckler of Newlines Land Consultants said.

"Yes, it's a new development, but it's our job to make sure it's controlled development," Hazellief said.

So with uncertainty still churning, Sutton just hopes if they build it and the people come, he and his dairy company can at least milk the benefits.

"In a nutshell, yes, I'm nervous, and another thing it could be a blessing," Rucks said.

There are still several steps that still have to be approved before the developer can break ground on the project. If that happens, construction won't start for another two years at least.

Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Concern is mounting for smaller, more rural areas across South Florida in wake of the Aldi supermarket chain's takeover of Winn-Dixie grocery stories.

On Wednesday, ALDI announced it was buying 400 Winn-Dixies in an effort to expand across the Southeast, but in some communities, like Okeechobee and Belle Glade, the well-known red and white chain is one of few options, and a major employer.

In Okeechobee, for example, there are four major grocery store chains to choose from, as opposed to the average 70 the U.S. Department of Agriculture said are often an option in more urban areas.

As of right now, Aldi is already an option for Okeechobee County residents. By creating two Aldis, Okeechobee Mayor Dowling Watford said the choices dwindle.

"If we lose Winn-Dixie, that's just one less choice we have," Watford said.

The bigger concern for him is employment. According to both companies' websites, ALDI typically employs about 8-10 people per store. It's part of the reason they are able to keep prices so affordable for families.

On the flip side, Winn-Dixie averages dozens more per store, prompting Watford to wonder: What happens to those extra employees if the store transitions to an Aldi?

“Fifty or 60 jobs in a community like Okeechobee is a huge deal where we fight to get companies to come in that have 10-12 jobs," Watford said.

Not everyone was opposed, however. Some residents, like James Grueber, were thrilled to have another ALDI coming in.

"I love Aldis!" Grueber said, citing low prices and fresh produce.

Anthony Infante, however, disagreed.

"I've been coming here since my parents came here," Infante said. [The store is] somebody I grew up with, actually, you know what I mean? It's where I've been shopping all my life."

Infante added he trusts Winn-Dixie, and fears the lack of options he'd have if it was replaced by an ALDI.

"I like this stuff, I know where this stuff comes from," said Infante.

"It's kind of like you're about to lose an old friend," Watford added.

WPTV reached out to Aldi and Southeast Grocers, the company that owns Winn-Dixie.

ALDI released this statement to us on behalf of its CEO, Jason Hart, reading in full,:

"ALDI will operate Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores with the same level of care and focus on quality and service, as we also evaluate which locations will convert to the ALDI format to better support the neighborhoods we’ll now have the privilege of serving. For those stores we do not convert, our intention is that these continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores.”

An ALDI spokesperson also released the following:

"This acquisition is an opportunity to continue the growth we already had planned for the region as part of our strategic and deliberate national expansion. ALDI has been committed to continued growth in Winn-Dixie’s headquarters state of Florida. With 209 ALDI stores and 8 more slated to open by the end of 2023 in Florida, we have invested more than $1.5B in the state and created more than 3,900 jobs to date. With food prices still on the rise and the need for access to affordable groceries more important than ever before, ALDI has a significant opportunity to help residents in the Southeast save up to 40% on their grocery bills."

Aldi did not, however, answer our questions regarding the employment of Winn-Dixie workers, despite us asking multiple times.

Meredith Hurley, senior director of communications and community at Southeastern Grocers, released this statement to us, reading in full:

"While we cannot comment or speculate on any forward-looking strategies or another company’s plans, we can confirm that nothing changes today. We understand that ALDI does not intend to convert all of our stores. ALDI’s current plan [prnewswire.com] is to continue operating Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores with the same level of care and focus on quality and service as they also evaluate which locations will convert to the ALDI format to better support the neighborhoods they will now serve."

"I hope we keep both," Watford said.

For more information on the history of Winn-Dixie, click here.

Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Okeechobee County is preparing for Tropical Storm Idalia's impact and wants to let residents know of any updates and preparations taking place.

"A slight change in the trajectory of the storm to the right, or to the south, puts it right in our own backyard," Okeechobee County Deputy Fire Chief & Public Safety Director Justin Hazellief told CBS12's Luli Ortiz reports. (WPEC)

As of Monday, the county provided these key updates:

Emergency officials say the county is not under any watches or warnings, and there is a low threat of Tropical Storm-force weather. However, an increase of rain and strong winds beginning around midnight Wednesday morning and early afternoon is expected.

"There is a potential for a major hurricane to make landfall very near our area. A slight change in the trajectory of the storm to the right, or to the south, puts it right in our own backyard," Okeechobee County Deputy Fire Chief & Public Safety Director Justin Hazellief told CBS12 News.

The Emergency Operations Center remains at a level 3 monitoring activation.

See also: Idalia to bring gusty winds to the area Wednesday, Franklin becomes a cat. 3 hurricane

A Community Information Message Call Line is also available at 863-824-6888.

Emergency officials remind residents during this time to review family and business disaster plans. Check your hurricane supply list items. Also, the county is asking residents to register for ALERT OKEECHOBEE.

Sandbags are also being distributed at the Public Works Department Compound at 804 NW 2nd Street in Okeechobee. The amount of bags are limited to 20 per vehicle and shovels will be available at the site at no charge beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday. Residents are required to fill their own bags. Special needs residents who require assistance are asked to call 863-763-3514 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

"It's easy to say I don't need to prepare for this. Ian was a good example at how you had a good strong confident track, and then it changes last minute and can negatively affect people that weren't necessarily prepared for that," Deputy Fire Chief Hazellief said.

The county is not anticipating any school closures at this time.

The next briefing with county officials and the National Weather Service is set for Tuesday August 29, 2023 at 11:15 a.m.

Algae has covered about half of Lake Okeechobee—Florida’s largest freshwater lake—for much of June and early July 2023. The algae bloom led to the closure of parts of a marina and health warnings in neighboring counties.

Swirls and tendrils of blue-green algae can be seen in this image, acquired on June 12, 2023, by the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9. Around this time, a NOAA analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite data indicated that algae blooms covered about 380 square miles of the lake. That equates to more than half the area of the lake.

Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are single-celled organisms that rely on photosynthesis to turn sunlight into food. The bacteria grow swiftly when nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen are abundant in still water. The bloom pictured here may contain blue-green algae, as well as other types of phytoplankton; only a surface sample can confirm the exact composition of a bloom. Some cyanobacteria produce microcystin—a potent toxin that can irritate the skin and cause liver and kidney damage.

Microcystin was found in water samples taken from the lake on June 17 (five days after the image was acquired), including near the floodgate and canal used to release water into the St. Lucie Estuary on Florida’s southeastern coast. Excess lake water is typically released into the estuary and to farmlands to the south. But in mid-June, amid high lake levels, water managers prevented discharge because of the presence of harmful algae, according to the Miami Herald.

The Florida Department of Health in Lee, Martin, and Palm Beach counties issued public health warnings in late June and early July, cautioning residents not to swim or boat in the lake due to the presence of harmful algal toxins. The harmful bloom grew to cover 420 square miles on July 4, and spanned 440 square miles by July 11.

NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Emily Cassidy.

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — There's some storm damage left behind in Okeechobee County Friday morning after several severe thunderstorm warnings shook the area Thursday night.

One of the hardest hit businesses is Home Depot and the Winn-Dixie not even two minutes down the road on US-441.

CBS12's News Dani Travis reports on severe storm damage at an Okeechobee County Home Depot. Workers there said they were lucky more damage wasn't done to the inside of the store. (WPEC)

At Home Depot, caution tape blocking off the Garden Center for damage. You could see a giant metal awning appeared to have been turned completely sideways, taking signs with it. You could also see the awning impaled by the wooden pavilion on display. But besides the entrance to the Garden Center, it didn’t appear there’s any other external damage.

At Winn Dixie, metal shutter doors signaling the store is closed. CBS12 viewer Michael Daniel sent a video to us of the damage inside the store. In that video, you can see pieces of the ceiling falling in and rainwater falling. Michael also sent us pictures that show more signs of the ceiling that fell to the floor. He says these were taken around 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

See also: cbs12.comRollover crash involving 4 vehicles closes all southbound lanes on Florida's Turnpike

Resident Cindy Maynard lives close by these two businesses and says the storm was scary.

“A lot of wind, I thought it was a tornado. Of course, we won’t know that for sure, but yes it was the lighting, and the wind was severe,” said Maynard. “You see it on the news, you see it in other areas happen and it does happen here sometimes, but this was one of probably the worst ones I’ve been in. It’s surreal for sure.”

CBS12 spoke with Home Depot employees earlier Friday morning, saying they’re lucky more damage wasn’t sustained on the inside and they re-opened at normal hours, which was 6 a.m.

Winn-Dixie officials at the store tell us they still must assess the damage inside and aren’t yet sure if the store will remain closed or re-open Friday.

The National Weather Service office in Melbourne will be working with emergency management to determine the cause of damage, meaning if this possibly could have been from a tornado or just strong winds.