HURRICANE NEWS

FEMA opens recovery centers

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Featured

2025 FREE Health & Safety Expo is THIS weekend

The 2025 Health and Safety Expo and Touch a Truck are this weekend!

Historic Seminole Inn is for sale

INDIANTOWN -- The historic Seminole Inn is on the market, with an asking price of $4 million.

Teen accosted after dropping off girlfriend

A 16-year-old Okeechobee High School student was accosted Saturday evening as he dropped his girlfriend off after a date.

ASR wells provide water storage alternative

SFWMD continues to make progress on a plan to store more water underground in Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells...

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Community

Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel and Casino opens Feb. 6

Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform in Glades County on Feb. 6, as part of the celebration of the grand opening of the new Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel and Casino.

Annual Cracker Trail ride to pass through Okeechobee County

In February, a group of Floridians will ride horses from the state’s west coast to the east coast...

Strollers walking together around the lake at Tradition at the 2024 Lakeside Stroll.

Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation lakeside stroll honors loved ones

The Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation will hold its annual Lakeside Stroll: A Walk for Hope and...

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Lake Okeechobee

Lake O could reach target level by end of April

Julien Keen Jr. Lock open with width restriction

S-65E boat lock in Okeechobee County will be closed Jan. 15-17

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Current conditions

Observed from: Okeechobee County Airport

Light Rain Fog/Mist, 61 °F

Showers likely, mainly before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. North northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. … Get the full forecast

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Lake Okeechobee Real Estate

January 2025 LORE

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Lake levels

14.56 feet

Last year: 16.19 feet

Depth given in feet above sea level.

Water Flow Chart

Sports

FWC: New year, new TrophyCatch website!

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reeling in the new year with an upgraded TrophyCatch website...

FWC enhances boater safety with interactive waterway app

For years, waterway users in Florida have had to juggle multiple sources of information to plan, prepare...

Lady Brahmans are 10-4 headed into Christmas break

The Okeechobee High School Lady Brahman varsity soccer team is 10-4 as they head into the Christmas break, following a season sweep of Moore Haven and Glades Day.

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Human Interest

Nunez receives President's Volunteer Service Award

A local woman, Apolonia Nunez, was recently awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for 2024.

Local artist to be featured at Ritz-Carlton

Wildlife and nature artist, Fawn McNeill Barr, recently received an invitation to showcase her work in an exclusive...

Local boys win bikes

During BMJ Towing's annual contest, Blake Mullin and Lorenzo Torres won bikes for Christmas.

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Schools

Dr. Cima to Decode Obesity Crisis at IRSC Talk

Dr. Cima will explore three fundamental causes of obesity through the lens of preventative...

EES rewards students with pizza party

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Everglades Elementary School teacher Mrs. Laskey hosted a pizza party...

Students represent EES at County Science Fair

Wednesday, Jan. 15 was a full day of Science Fair fun! Everglades Elementary School students...

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Wildlife & Environment

Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force addresses problem of Red Tide

The Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force has recently released its third consensus document...

FWC first U.S. agency to receive recommendation for accreditation in NAWLEA program

The NAWLEA board will vote in March and, if approved, the FWC...

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Government

Code Enforcement hearing is Jan. 21

The Okeechobee County Code Enforcement Special Magistrate will hold a hearing on Jan. 21 at 9 a.m. in the Health Department Auditorium.

Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments installs new officers

The Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments installed their new officers on Wednesday, Jan. 8...

Septic-to-sewer projects protect Lake O

Okeechobee County is committed to a septic-to-sewer conversion plan to protect the health of Lake Okeechobee.

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Police/Fire

OCSO releases statistics

OCSO has released statistics comparing 2024 crime to 2023. 2024 2023 …

Woman charged with prowling in Four Seasons

In the early morning hours of Jan. 4, multiple calls were made to 911 concerning a woman ringing doorbells asking for help.

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Opinion

The reason for the post-Covid lack of trust in doctors’ advice

Vaccines may not be the most spectacular of all the miracles of modern medicine, but they are arguably the most...

Letter to the Editor: Healthy Start will intensify advocacy efforts in 2025

As we welcome 2025, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your continued partnership and collaboration.

Lax enforcement of rules, misplaced sympathy plague poor school children

What accounts for the differences in academic achievement between inner-city poverty area schools...

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Hurricane News

Operation Blue Roof helps hurricane victims

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has placed tarps on more than 7,100 homes damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton...

Operation Blue Roof extended

Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Federal Emergency...

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Adopt A Pet

Caloosa Humane Society seeks forever homes for pets

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

The Caloosa Humane Society has a mix of adorable dogs and cats who are in need of loving families!

Adopt a pet: Meet Casper

Monday, February 19, 2024

This Handsome boy is CASPER #2309129. He has been at the shelter for over six months.

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Monday, January 22, 2024

This week’s Pets of the Week are a mix of adorable dogs and cats.

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Veterans

Helicopter to be returned home soon

The Veteran’s Park helicopter is being restored and will be home soon.

Veterans center to host “Hobbies & Helping Hands” Fair for military families

The Veterans Center of Excellence at Indian River State College invites veterans and their families to discover...

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Agriculture

UF/IFAS researchers deploy drones to perfect nutrient rates

The ability to detect crop nutrient deficiencies and promptly modify fertilizer application to address...

IRSC Students help decode genome of destructive citrus disease vector

A groundbreaking research collaboration led, in part, by Indian River State College Professor Tom D’Elia has...

Researchers combat devasting citrus greening disease

Scientists at the University of Florida are testing a new type of citrus tree that can fight off the tiny insects...

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Health

Alzheimer Association will hold virtual Caregiver Support Group meetings

Support groups create a safe, confidential, supportive environment or community and a chance...

DOH-Okeechobee office to close in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The Florida Department of Health office in Okeechobee County (DOH-Okeechobee) will close on Monday...

Affordable health screenings coming to Okeechobee

Residents living in and around the Okeechobee, Florida can learn about their risk for cardiovascular...

Biden FDA moves to ban toxic Red Dye No. 3 in food products

In a significant move to protect public health, the Biden Food and Drug Administration announced...

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Business

BBB Tips: How to avoid scams when donating to wildfire relief

As Southern California wildfires devastate communities, scammers will take advantage of generosity...

Why are there cows on the theater?

Did you think you were dreaming when you saw cows on top of the old movie theater?

January 10 is 'National Cut Your Energy Costs Day'

According to the financial services company SoFi, electricity is the most expensive utility...

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Traffic & Road Work

Okeechobee County Road Watch for week beginning Jan. 19

Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week of Sunday, Jan. 19. Motorists are reminded...

AAA: Florida gas prices break even for the week

Florida gas prices continued to yoyo up and down. The state average went from $3.11 per gallon down to $3.06...

Okeechobee Road Watch for week beginning Jan. 12

Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week of Sunday, Jan. 12. Motorists are reminded...

Okeechobee County Road Watch Report for week of Jan. 5-11

The following column is the Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week beginning Sunday, Jan. 5

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State

As Trump returns to the White House, families prepare for mass deportations

For millions in the U.S. illegally or with temporary legal status, the start of Donald Trump’s second term as president comes with a feeling their time in the U.S. may end soon. Trump made mass …

Police identify man accused of fatally beating 2 homeless people in Miami

Miami police have identified the man accused of killing two homeless people and injuring two others in an unprovoked attack. Officials say 36-year-old Brenton Clarke was arrested shortly after the …

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National & World

- MARC is set up at the library to help with disaster recovery
  
  If you are in need of help after the recent hurricane and its accompanying tornadoes, turn to your local library.
- FWC addressing hundreds of vessels displaced by Hurricanes Helene and Milton
  
  Florida is a haven for boaters and is recognized as “The Boating Capital of the World.”
- WM contributes $1 million to support hurricane relief efforts
  
  WM is focused on helping communities thrive, and over the last several weeks, its teams across the Southeast U.S.

More Hurricane News

Special Sections

FEMA opens recovery centers

2025 FREE Health & Safety Expo is THIS weekend

Historic Seminole Inn is for sale

Teen accosted after dropping off girlfriend

ASR wells provide water storage alternative

Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel and Casino opens Feb. 6

Annual Cracker Trail ride to pass through Okeechobee County

Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation lakeside stroll honors loved ones

E-newspaper

January 2025 LORE

FWC: New year, new TrophyCatch website!

FWC enhances boater safety with interactive waterway app

Lady Brahmans are 10-4 headed into Christmas break

Caloosa Humane Society seeks forever homes for pets

Adopt a pet: Meet Casper

Caloosa Humane Society presents Pets of the Week

Helicopter to be returned home soon

Veterans center to host “Hobbies & Helping Hands” Fair for military families

Alzheimer Association will hold virtual Caregiver Support Group meetings

DOH-Okeechobee office to close in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Affordable health screenings coming to Okeechobee

Biden FDA moves to ban toxic Red Dye No. 3 in food products

Okeechobee County Road Watch for week beginning Jan. 19

AAA: Florida gas prices break even for the week

Okeechobee Road Watch for week beginning Jan. 12

Okeechobee County Road Watch Report for week of Jan. 5-11

As Trump returns to the White House, families prepare for mass deportations

Police identify man accused of fatally beating 2 homeless people in Miami

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic beats Carlos Alcaraz and gets closer to a 25th Grand Slam title

Israel's top general resigns, citing failure to prevent Hamas attack that ignited war in Gaza

Woman charged with prowling in Four Seasons

Okeechobee Arrest Report

MARC is set up at the library to help with disaster recovery

FWC addressing hundreds of vessels displaced by Hurricanes Helene and Milton

WM contributes $1 million to support hurricane relief efforts