Citation
The Caloosa belle independent

Material Information

Title:
The Caloosa belle independent
Place of Publication:
LaBelle, FL
Publisher:
Independent Newspapers of Florida
Katrina Elsken
Creation Date:
January 6, 2005
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2005
Frequency:
Weekly
regular
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Newspapers -- La Belle (Fla.) ( lcsh )
Newspapers -- Hendry County (Fla.) ( lcsh )
Genre:
newspaper ( marcgt )
newspaper ( sobekcm )
Spatial Coverage:
United States -- Florida -- Hendry -- LaBelle
Coordinates:
26.766044 x -81.437921

Notes

Additional Physical Form:
Also available on microfilm from the University of Florida.
Dates or Sequential Designation:
Vol. 49, no. 18 (Sept. 7, 1972)-
Funding:
Funded in part by the University of Florida, the Library Services and Technology Assistance granting program of Florida, the State Library and Archives of Florida, and other institutions and individuals.

Record Information

Source Institution:
University of Florida
Holding Location:
University of Florida
Rights Management:
Copyright Caloosa Belle. Permission granted to University of Florida to digitize and display this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Resource Identifier:
002042466 ( ALEPH )
33284192 ( OCLC )
AKN0330 ( NOTIS )
sn 95047167 ( LCCN )

Related Items

Preceded by:
Hendry County news
Preceded by:
LaBelle leader

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Full Text

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June 2023 Vol. 101 No. 6 GRADUATION: Class of 2023 Grad keepsake, 10 ADOPT A PET: Dogs and cats Need homes, 8 HEALTH: Drowning Prevention, 4 HURRICANES: Are you Ready? 20 THINGS TO DO: Special events Planned, 24 ENVIRONMENT: C-44 reservoir Work behind, 26 Delivering Western Hendry County’s News since 1922 SouthCentralFloridaLife.com PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID Dover, DE Permit No. 481 Postal Customer LABELLE NEWS 24/7 By Katrina Elsken LAKE OKEECHOBEE NEWS By Margaret England CENTENNIAL CONSERVATION LaBelle and West Glades elementary schools participate in Earth Week eld trips LABELLE – The Public Safety Academy Color Guard brought in the ags at the Hendry County Centennial celebration on May 11. [Photo by Katrina Elsken/Caloosa Belle Independent] LABELLE – Gradeschoolers enjoyed the 13th Annual Call of the Wild event. [Photo courtesy Hendry Glades Audubon] Hendry County kicks o Hendry County kicks o centennial year with celebration centennial year with celebration • See Centennial on page 2 • See Field Trip on page 2

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from the Caloosa hatchee Forest District pointed out native and non-native plants, dis cussed gopher tortoises living in the park, took students to an ancient live oak tree and for a quick view of the Caloosahatchee. The LaBelle Rotary Nature Park is open year-round during daylight hours for public use. Station #2 was presented by Direc tor Bob Pastula and Adrian Damms from Hendry County Emer gency Management organized the “Fire and Safety” presentation, featuring information on the Hendry County Emergency Operations Center and the Hendry County Emergency Management. There were also deputies from the Hendry County LaBelle Fire Depart ment and the Clewiston Fire Department to help students understand the inner workings of the public safety agencies that are committed to serving the community. During the week stu dents learned about the EMS and law enforce ment work together were opportunities for students to talk with representatives from EMS and to learn about career opportunities while investigating the vehicles and ambu lance equipment that is utilized by the various departments. Station #3, “Eagles” was presented by Becky Rhodes who volunteers with the Audubon Florida Eagle Watch Program. This pro gram provided valuable information on nesting activity and current population trends of eagles in Florida. Volun teers monitor one or more nearby eagle nests. These observations help eagle biologists de termine the best con servation measures to ensure the success of the species. Additionally, the reports may be used by law enforcement agencies to prevent any harm to the birds and their nesting sites. The presentation for the stu dents included personal photos of a Port LaBelle of Hurricane Ian and age-appropriate infor mation about raising their young. Students were also treated to a walk through the his toric Captain Hendry House. Station # 4, “Fallen Logs” activity present ed by Scott Cooper and Dr. Susan Cooper and assisted by FSW students Elizabeth Raya and Isabel Butz, engaged students in ob serving the wide variety of plants and animals living in a rotting log microhabitat. Students were asked to observe and ask questions about a native Florida orchid, resurrection ferns, and an assortment of brome liads, fungi, mosses and lichens. Students also learned about the im portance of decomposi tion in our environment at this station. Station #5 was pre sented by The Hendry County IFAS Extension 4-H who have partic ipated in all 13 of the trips. Sonja Crawford, Gwen Ash, Liz Shaw and Patricia Gonzales presented the “Butter dents learned about the viewed live caterpil learned interesting but light of this station was learning about the parts student making their Thanks and appre ciation are extended to everyone who provided materials and donated services to make this a successful event. The LaBelle Rotary provided funding for the buses for LaBelle Elementary and Coun try Oaks students. The following also helped with this annual event: City of LaBelle, Hend ry/LaBelle Recreation, Hendry County Special Districts & Recycling, LaBelle Kiwanis, Hend ry County Soil and Conservation District, Florida Southwest Col lege student volunteers, Musco Sports Light ning, Hendry County Health Department, LaBelle Elementary Earth Week Poster, and three donors who provided funding for the porta potty rental. Oth er businesses provided giveaway items for students and teachers. 2 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com FROM THE COVER ranchers and trappers. The area was part of Monroe County, then Lee County. In 1923 the Florida Legislature created Hendry Coun ty, named for Captain Francis A. Hendry, known as the “Cattle King of South Florida.” If Captain Hend ry was the father of Hendry County, Edgar Everett Goodno was the “godfather,” Maddox said. When Hendry County was established, the Caloosahatchee river was a “winding, snake river,” Maddox continued. “It has not been dredged.” school in the LaBelle area was built in 1891 on the site of the current Upthegrove Elementary School. In 1911, the City of LaBelle was chartered. When Hendry County was established, LaBelle was named the county seat. He said Captain in 1914, is still standing in LaBelle. The house, located at 512 Fraser Street, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The timber business was also important to the LaBelle area, said Maddox. Sears and Goodno built a lot of houses, he explained. Sears sold house kits through their catalog. Pre-cut lumber as well as nuts, bolts would be shipped by rail for onsite construction. Most of the buildings in downtown historic LaBelle were built from lumber that came from Sears or Goodno, he said. When the timber business ran out, the land was used for row crops and citrus groves, Maddox continued. Maddox said when he was growing up in LaBelle, most of the streets were not paved. Tubing on the Caloo sahatchee River was a popular entertainment. inner tubes and throw us kids in the river and he said. restaurant was a popular spot in LaBelle. “Every body wanted to go to their pies,” he remem was in that same build ing. The Forrey Grill is now in that building. Maddox remembered being let out of school to do work like pitch ing watermelons into a truck or moving pipe in the orange groves. “We all worked hard, but we played hard,” he said. place to be raised. I see nothing but good in our future.” Clewiston history As part of the centen nial celebration, Hendry County elementary school children were encouraged to partici pate in an essay contest. At the May 11 obser vance, Country Oaks Sophie Ozon read her winning essay about why Hendry County is amazing. “Hendry County is one of the largest agricultural producing counties in the state,” she said. “Hendry County grows tomatoes, melons, peppers and a variety of other crops plus sugar cane. You should go see our farm When it comes to do in Hendry County, she added. Cypress Reservation. Last year, I was in fourth grade and we reservation and it was awesome. We learned that the Seminole Indians lived in chickees and that Seminole women harvested crops of corn, beans and squash while Seminole men did much of the even read a book called in class, which mentioned LaBelle began around 1890. You “Next up is Roland is a full service marina and vacation destination much more. “Skydive Spaceland Florida is one of the most progressive sky diving training centers. But my parents would probably not let me sky dive ... alone.” “Hendry County was formed from Lee Coun ty, on May 11, 1923, a whole 100 years from now,” she said. “Hend ry County was named A. Hendry, the cattle king and guess what? In LaBelle, we have his “Hendry also fought during the third Semi nole War and in 1863, he organized his own cavalry company.” Hendry County Commissioner Karson Turner and Emma Byrd unveiled a plaque honoring Captain Francis A. Hendry (1833-1917). It states: “Captain Francis Asbury Hendry was a cattle rancher and State Legislator in Florida cer in the Confederate States Army during the Confederate War. Captain Hendry platted what is now the City of LaBelle and was the largest landowner and cattle baron in the area. Following his death, the State of Florida honored him with the newly cre ated Hendry County.” For more on the centennial, go online to Centennial • From page 1 Field Trip • From page 1 LABELLE – The LaBelle High School Jazz Band performed at the Hendry County Centennial Celebration in the courthouse courtyard on May 11. [Photo by Katrina Elsken/Caloosa Belle Independent]

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SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | June 2023 3 LABELLE180 SOUTH MAIN ST. 675-6363 DINE IN • DRIVE THRU • CARRY-OUT863To View Our Menu Or Order Online, Scan This Code! r fntbtbnbnb rf n tt b fn fntbtbn bnb fntbtbn bnb fntbtbn bnb fntbtbn bnb Large Pizza (Pepperoni or Cheese)Large Oven Baked SubChef Saladr fnt $799CARRY-OUTLARGE SPECIALTY PIZZA1599bb LARGE 1-TOPPING PIZZAnnnnn1599 99 99 fntbtbn 2899TWO LARGE 2-TOPPING PIZZASnnnnnbn

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4 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com HENDRY REGIONAL CONVENIENT CARE CENTER450 S Main Street | LaBelle, FL HEALTH Send news and photographs to cbnews@iniusa.org www.facebook.com/ caloosabelle SPECIAL TO CALOOSA BELLE LABELLE — La Leche League (LLL) of Hendry Coun ty will hold in-person meetings the fourth Tuesday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Barron Library, 561 N Main St. Virtual meetings will be held every second Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m. Call or email Maria. LLLHendryCounty@gmail. com or call 863-612-6264 for the meeting link. LLL Monthly Series Meet ings are informal, open-ended discussions about breastfeeding and related aspects of parenting. Each meeting covers one of four general topics that repeat three times each year. How the mothers in attendance, and where you are in your breast feeding journey ensure that no two meetings are alike. Topics include: • The importance and value of breastfeeding, • Breastfeeding in the early days and family dynamics, • Breastfeeding basics and By Cathy Womble CALOOSA BELLE INDEPENDENT In the state of Florida, there is nearly always a dan ger of children drowning, but as summer approaches, that danger becomes even more clear. Stacey Hoaglund, presi dent of the Autism Society of Florida, said families who care for a loved one with autism have more reason to fear drowning than those who are not on the spec trum. “Children and adults with autism tend to wander or elope,” she said. “And they are almost always attracted to water.” The chances of a drown ing accident are 160 times greater for children or adults with autism, she said. “The kids are self-directed and don’t really stop and think oh, Mom and Dad might be looking for me, so I should probably go check in.” Hoaglund is an educa tional advocate and said one of the students she recently worked with loved to go stand by the door of his classroom in hopes he could get out when it opened. “He is what we call an eloper, not just a wanderer, He wants to get out of that room.” “There is research that tells us 48% of children with autism wander, but I have never met a parent of any kid with autism whose kid did not wander, at least from time to time.” Hoaglund said maybe the 48% were more elopers (like the little boy in the classroom) than wanderers. She explained that in the state of Florida, the Department of Children and Families keeps track of deaths and their causes, including drowning. Since January 1, 2023, there have been 30 drownings. “All but two of these were wanderers who just wandered out of the house. 25% of them had autism diagnoses.” She went on to say that not all of those children had autism, but because autism is not typically diagnosed until the age of 4 1/2, we have no way of knowing if those children would later have been diagnosed. The Autism Society of Florida wants to make parents aware of the dangers that could be out there for their children and to make them more diligent in keep ing their children safe. The following sugges tions were compiled by the society to help with this: Swim lessons are a must. Contact local pools, YMCAs, and CARD (Cen ters for Autism and Related Disabilities) for information lessons in your area. Start with sensory integration. Ease your child into a water experience, don’t rush it. Allow them to put their feet in from the side of the pool, hang out on the steps, gradually move into deeper waters while you spend countless hours in the pool yourself so that you can be part of the process to their comfort and success. Seek out a pool that matches your child’s learning style. If your child is easily distracted by oth ers, sign them up for a class there won’t be many other swimmers. When there are others in the pool, turn their body away to reduce visual stimulation. None of us learn best when we’re distracted. Engage before swim ming lessons begin. Take your child for a tour of the pool where they’ll be taking lessons. This will give them a chance to get used to the sights, smells, and sounds that they’ll be experiencing as part of this process. Create visuals of the steps to be expected in the pool, and instructions on swimming. Be sure to laminate these so that they can be brought into the water. Video modeling is a fabulous way to present an introduction to swimming. one with your smartphone, using a sibling or friend as your “actor.” Be consistent in the instruction. Review previ ously taught skills at every lesson to ensure mainte nance. Create water rules. Kids and adults with autism tend to like rules since they give aries and expectations. These can include: • NEVER swim without an adult with you. • ALWAYS tell an adult where you are going. • No diving. • No swimming alone . Take steps to prevent wandering. Place alarms or chimes on doors, always be sure to lock access points around pools, and place “Stop” signs on all doors and windows leading to the outside. Consider a locating de vice. Check with your local out which ones are active in your area. For more information on the Autism Society of Florida, call 407-207-3388 BREASTFEEDING La Leche League oers in-person and virtual meetings DANGER Autism Society of FL oers tips to prevent drowning

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SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | June 2023 5

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at SouthCentralFloridaLife.comDelivering Western Hendry County’s News since 1922Our StaffNews:Debbie Akins ............................. dakins@iniusa.org Richard Marion ............................ rmarion@iniusa.org C.M. Schmidlkofer ......................... cschmidlkofer@iniusa.org Annie Wills ............................... nwills@iniusa.org Cathy Womble ............................ cwomble@iniusa.orgAdvertising:Stephanie Larson .......................... slarson@iniusa.org Kay Sheedy .............................. ksheedy@iniusa.org Angie Bridges ............................. abridges@iniusa.orgGraphics:Erik Maurer ............................... emaurer@iniusa.org Debbie Myers ............................. dmyers@iniusa.org Mona Lisa Navarrette ....................... mnavarrette@iniusa.org Chris Pitts ............................... cpitts@iniusa.org Kris Schwartz – Creative Services Team Leader ... kschwartz@iniusa.org Chris Williams ............................ cwilliams@iniusa.orgCirculation:Terri Rodgers – Circulation Manager ............ trodgers@iniusa.org Rick Lewis ............................... rlewis@iniusa.org Janet Madray ............................. jmadray@iniusa.org Editor-in-Chief: Katrina Elsken | kelsken@iniusa.org Vice President of Sales & Marketing: Barbara Wandling | bwandling@iniusa.org President & CEO: Charlene Bisson | cbisson@iniusa.orgTo Reach Us313 NW 4th Avenue, Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-3134 • cbnews@iniusa.orgCaloosa Belle Independent SubscriptionsAll Access Digital Subscriptions to SouthCentralFloridaLife.com $5.99 a monthAdvertising Services863-763-3134 • okeeadsales@iniusa.org877-353-2424 • classads@iniusa.orgTo Place an Obituary877-353-2424 • obits@iniusa.orgOur Purpose...Caloosa Belle Independent is published by Independent Newsmedia Inc, USA. Independent is owned by a unique trust that enables this newspaper to pursue a mission of journalistic service to the citizens of the community. Since no dividends are paid, the company is able to thrive on prot margins below industry standards. All aftertax surpluses are reinvested in Independent’s mission of journalistic service, commitment to the ideals of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and support of the community’s deliberation of public issues.We Pledge...• To operate the newspaper as a public trust • To help our community become a better place to live and work, through our dedication to conscientious journalism • To provide the information citizens need to make their own intelligent decisions about public issues • To report the news with honesty, accuracy, purposeful neutrality, fairness, objectivity, fearlessness, and compassion • To use our opinion pages to facilitate community debate, not to dominate it with our own opinions • To disclose our own conicts of interest or potential conicts to our readers • To correct our errors and to give each correction the prominence it deserves. • To provide a right to reply to those we write about. • To treat people with courtesy, respect, and compassionMemberships... 2022 Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA . The publication of any advertisement in this newspaper does not constitute an endorsement by the publisher of products or services advertised. All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act. We will not knowingly accept any advertising that is illegal or considered fraudulent. 6 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com OPINION This is your public forum. We welcome your opinions by emailing cbnews@iniusa.org. Remember your Sunday appointment By Reverend Elizabeth Nelson GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL CHURCH Do you ever wonder where everybody is on Sunday morning when your church has nu merous empty seats? A passage from Matthew 18:20 comes to mind: “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Sunday worship: a necessity for some, a chore for others. Suppose you got up this morning knowing you had a scheduled doctor’s appointment and simply decided you didn’t need to go. And what if you were responsible for tak ing the kids to school, and you changed your mind and didn’t follow through? Now, I know what you’re thinking Things come up I was up late Saturday night I had a stressful week. The excuses are endless. So, how about this: Did you know that every Christian has a standing appointment to meet Almighty God every Sunday at the church of their choice? Have you ever thought of Sunday worship that way? Every Sunday, with no excuses made, Jesus looks forward to your visit, which should bring a smile to your heart. Every Christian needs Christian fel lowship. On Sunday morning, we engage in communion with our God and our fellow Christians, and spiritual communion is heaped upon us like a gentle rain from heaven. Every Sunday, we have a standing appointment with the God of the Universe. Our God has things to tell us, and we are humbled to be in His Presence. Sometimes we come with heavy hearts, yet, we leave with hearts full of joy don’t miss your next appointment! About the author: Previously the priest at St. Francis of Assisi in Lake Placid for 21 years, Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson is now the Priest at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in LaBelle. Cowboy Caviar Good for a dip, salad or side dish Ingredients • 1 can diced tomatoes drained • 1 can blackeyes peas, rinsed and drained • 1 can black beans rinsed and drained • 2 cans corn drained or 1 & 1/2 cups of frozen corn • 1/2 medium onion • 1/2 cup diced green, red, orange or yellow bell pepper • 1/2 tsp garlic salt • 1 cup Italian dressing • 3/4 cup chopped cilantro Optional: add a chopped jalapeo if you like to spice it up. Directions • Mix beans, peas, tomatoes, corn, onion and bell peppers in a large bowl. • Season with garlic salt. • Add dressing and cilantro; toss to coat. • Serve hot or refrigerated if desired. This recipe pro vided by Southern Heritage Real Estate. SPECIAL TO CALOOSA BELLE INDEPENDENT LABELLE — On April 17, the members of LaBelle’s Carlson Memorial United Methodist Church Methodist Conference. At a meeting presided over by the Southwest Florida District Superintendent, 95% of the members cast secret ballots in favor of leaving the United Methodist denomination. Citing disagreement over changes in application of United Methodist theology, Carlson joins a long list of churches opting to leave the conference. The Carlson congregation will continue worship in the Methodist doctrine, but more inline with traditional Biblical doctrines. petition completes its way through the Florida United Methodist conference, Carlson’s leadership team will review available options for the congregation to consider. More than a year ago Carlson’s congregation formed a Transitional Advisory Committee. Since that time the church has engaged in prayerful examination and study for the best future direction for Carlson, the congregation and the LaBelle community. was established here more than 130 years ago. In 1937 it was renamed to honor Reverend Carlson and his wife who were killed in a hurricane. In 1968 Carlson became part of the United Methodist denomination Methodist groups merged with the United Brethren Church. Carlson’s Leadership team stressed that the continue and the church will to serve God, share the gospel, and win hearts and souls for Christ. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT RECIPE OF THE MONTH RELIGION LaBelle Methodists vote to disaliate from Florida UMC Cowboy Caviar [Photo by The Urben Life]

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SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | June 2023 7 KOBIE KOOLING,INCKobie the most trusted name in this business since 1949 “WE’RE THE COMPANY YOUR NEIGHBORS USE”LICENSE CAC057313 & CAC1813722WWW.KOBIEKOOLING.COM888-482-1542 OR 239-482-1542When you have an air conditioning need, call us 24/7 and Kobie Kooling will dispatch a N.A.T.E. N.A.T.E Fred H. Kobie “POP” Kobie Kooling Florida R ty, added corrosion and rust protection, and added surge arrestor Kooling. KOBIE KOOLING,INCKobie the most trusted name in this business since 1949 “WE’RE THE COMPANY YOUR NEIGHBORS USE”LICENSE CAC057313 & CAC1813722WWW.KOBIEKOOLING.COM888-482-1542 OR 239-482-1542When you have an air conditioning need, call us 24/7 and Kobie Kooling will dispatch a N.A.T.E. N.A.T.E Fred H. Kobie “POP” Kobie Kooling Florida R ty, added corrosion and rust protection, and added surge arrestor Kooling. Kobie the most trusted name in this business since 1949 “WE’RE THE COMPANY YOUR NEIGHBORS USE” KOBIE KOOLING,INCKobie the most trusted name in this business since 1949 “WE’RE THE COMPANY YOUR NEIGHBORS USE” LICENSE CAC057313 & CAC1813722 WWW.KOBIEKOOLING.COM888-482-1542 OR 239-482-1542When you have an air conditioning need, call us 24/7 and Kobie Kooling will dispatch a N.A.T.E. N.A.T.E Fred H. Kobie “POP” Kobie Kooling Florida R ty, added corrosion and rust protection, and added surge arrestor Kooling. 888-482-1542 OR 239-482-1542When you have an air conditioning need, call us 24/7 and Kobie Kooling will dispatch a N.A.T.E. At Kobie Kooling, one call gives you: • 24 hour service at available at Kobie Kooling. 10 year parts and labor no hassle warranty, added corrosion and rust protection, and added Specials!FREE deodorizer when we clean your carpetFREE LaBelle’s Only Carpet Cleaner!Call 863-843-5039macdaddyclean.com HAPPY To All the Father’s Out There.

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8 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com Bluebonnet is a beautiful girl. Mufasa is ready to play! Pixie just wants to be loved. Calvin is voicing his desire to be adopted! Missy came from a homeless situation. Give her the furever home she deserves! Jovi is the perfect medium-sized dog. Come meet her today! This cutie is Leo, and Leo gets the zoomies. Korra is a beautiful mature lady. Caloosa Humane Society seeks forever homes for pets LABELLE — The Caloosa Humane Society has lots of dogs and cats just waiting to be your new best friends. The Caloosa Humane Society, Inc. is Caloosa Humane Society] ADOPT A PET

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10 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com R andy’s Garage 737 S. Bridge St. • LaBelle • 863-675-1032 • OPEN: Monday Friday from 8am to 5pmProudly Supporting Education in LaBelle A+ EDUCATION Send news and photographs to cbnews@iniusa.org www.facebook.com/ caloosabelle LEADERS SPECIAL TO LAKE OKEECHOBEE NEWS LABELLE — Coun try Oaks Elementary would like to congrat ulate its Leaders of the Month for the month of April who have demon strated Habit 8: Find Your Voice and Inspire Others to Find Theirs! • Prekindergarten : David Hernandez, Payshace Estrada, Mav erick Hamby, Weylen Jones and Aries Lazalde. • Kindergarten : Yetzael Spinato, Pier syn Chesler-Gonzalez, Kataliya Stallings, Leeroy Martinez, Yosiel By C. M. Schmidlkofer CALOOSA BELLE INDEPENDENT LABELLE — The Hendry County School its regular meeting April 18. one of three architec by the district’s profes sional service advisory resulting in a vote to move forward with design which is due at the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) June 1. due to its experience with the special facil ities use fund, having worked with hundreds of schools in that fund, according to Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Dr. Angela Staley. Staley is a committee for Superintendent of Schools Michael Swin dle at the school board meeting. “So they know how to work with us through the process,” she said. Busin added that ly answer the commit tee’s questions regarding incorporation, facility maintenance and more, and was prepared to get the most out of the school district’s money for the school. Busin said the meet ing had been publicly noted in area newspa pers and on its website. The school board voted 5-0 to move negotiations. See the propos By C. M. Schmidlkofer CALOOSA BELLE INDEPENDENT LABELLE — Hend ry County School Board Member Paul Samerdyke suggested construction class that Samerdyke praised, but said the school district isn’t giving students the education that make graduates immediately “It’s a basic class,” he said. “They learn safety, they meet the regulations of the state, but we’re not placing very many students in construction.” With hundreds of houses springing up in close proximity to LHS, there is a unique opportunity for students prepped in all phases Country Oaks Elementary presents Leaders of the Month Prekindergarten through second grade leaders of the Month for April. [Photo courtesy Country Oaks Elementary.] Third through fth grade leaders of the Month for Apri. [Photo courtesy Country Oaks Elementary] LABELLE HIGH SCHOOL School board selects architect for new high school VOCATIONAL TRAINING School district to consider advanced construction program for students • See Construction Program on page 11 • See Leaders on page 11

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Nicolas, Amari Ledez ma, Paisley McBride and Gabriel Salinas. • First grade : Zoey Ramirez, Citlalli De Alba, Daniel Avila, William Lopez Diego, Scarlet Canut, Kale Evans, Emiliana Perez, Ivan Garcia, Clea Bhag wandin and Manuel Bocanegra. • Second grade : Micah Willis, Isabella Angeles-Romero, Jacob Betancur and Carter Day-Dunner. • Third grade : Adri anah Williams, Carmen Roman, McKenzie Garza, Riley Nelson, Aroleya Duarte, Ana hi Rodriguez-Munoz, Martinez and Jordan Garcia-Cerros. • Fourth grade : Colt Morrison, Brooke Green, Jesus Herrera, Samantha Santamaria, Zachariah Bond and Zariah Hernandez. • : Amanda Cedillo, Arely Ramirez, Fabi ola Gonzalez-Padilla, Pamela Perez, Aniyah Music-Baker and Jade Williams. SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | June 2023 11 Summer BreakSpot Provides Hendry County Kids Healthy Meals All Summer June 1stJuly 21st, 2023Hendry County Schools is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all eligible children free of charge from June 1 to July 21, 2023. Acceptance and participation requirements for the Program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows: For questions and/or concerns please contact San Juanita Perez, Food Service Director for Hendry County Schools Food Service Department at (863)674-4113 or email perezs@hendry-schools.net. Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027), found online at http:// and at any letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Mail 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; Fax (202) 690-7442; or Email program.intake@usda.gov This institution is an equal opportunity provider B7:30am to 8:30am • L11am to 12pm06/01-07/21 CLOSED FRIDAYS & 7/3-7/4B8:15am to 9:30am • L11:15am to 12:15pm06/01-07/21 CLOSED 7/3-7/4B7:30am to 8:30am • L11am to 1pm06/13-07/21 CLOSED 7/3-7/4B8:15am to 9am • L11:30am to 12pm06/01-06/29 CLOSED FRIDAYS & 7/3-7/4B8am to 8:30am • L11am to 12pm06/01-06/29 CLOSED FRIDAYS & 7/3-7/4B7:30am to 8:30am • L11am to 12pm06/01-07/21 CLOSED FRIDAYS & 7/3-7/4B8am to 9am • L11:45am to 12:30pm06/01-07/21 CLOSED 7/3-7/4B8:30am to 9:30am • L11:30am to 12:30pm06/01-07/21 CLOSED 7/3-7/4Site Type of site Meal type Hrs. of OperationUpthegrove Elementary School 280 N.Main Street-La Belle, FL 3393 Kid City Early Learning Academy 21 North Riverview St.-La Belle, FL 33935 Montura Recreation Center 255 N. Hacienda St.-Clewiston, FL 33440 Pioneer Community Center 900 Panama Ave-Clewiston, FL 33440 Felda Community Center 55 N. Willis Ranch Road-Felda, FL 33930 Westside Elementary School 205 Arroyo Ave.-Clewiston, FL 33440 Harlem Recreation Center-YMCA 2001 10th Street-Clewiston, FL 33440 Clewiston Youth Center-YMCA 110 W Osceola Ave-Clewiston, FL 33440OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN OPENBreakfast & Lunch Breakfast & Lunch Breakfast & Lunch Breakfast & Lunch Breakfast & Lunch Breakfast & Lunch Breakfast & Lunch Breakfast & Lunch of construction right across the street from the school, he said, adding that Clewiston is expected to experience a surge in residential construction as well in the near future. Samerdyke visited iTech in Immoka lee where he said its construction programs are held in construc tion trailers rather than classrooms. Students learn every aspect of the house building industry. He’d like to see some thing similar for Hendry County school district. Now that people can spend the money to have their children transported to other counties, he said the school district needs to step up its game to be competitive. As LHS and Clew iston High School are currently planning classes for next year, he suggested the district should move on to an advanced construction class as soon as possible. “We have to act on that in the next couple of weeks because other wise, they’ve got to look for an instructor who has that skill base and so forth,” he said. Deputy Superin tendent for Teaching and Learning Dr. Angela Staley, who sat in for Superintendent of Schools Michael Swindle at the meeting, said she wasn’t familiar with the programs but promised to familiarize herself with them and bring the information to the next school board meeting. SPECIAL TO CALOOSA BELLE INDEPENDENT LABELLE — Hend ry County Schools is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all eligible children free of charge from June 1 to July 21. Acceptance and par ticipation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. All locations will be closed July 3 July 4 in observance of the 4th of July holiday. Meals will be provid ed at the sites and times as follows: • Upthegrove Ele mentary School, 280 N. Main Street, LaBelle, will be open for break fast from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to noon. • Kid City Early Learning Academy, 21 North Riverview St., LaBelle, will be open for breakfast from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. and for lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Closed from July 3 July 4. • Felda Community Center, 55 N. Willis Ranch Road, Felda, will be open for breakfast from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to noon. For questions and/ or concerns please contact San Juanita Perez, Food Service Director for Hendry County Schools Food Service Department at 863-674-4113 or email perezs@hendry-schools. net. Construction Program • From page 10 Leaders • From page 10 FEEDING KIDS Summer BreakSpot provides kids healthy meals all summer June 1 July 21

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12 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com LaBell Hig Schoo Graduation Keepsake Clas o 2023

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SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | en-US en-USJune 2023en-US en-US13 Ana Timiraos, REALTOR239-265-0752 cell239-369-6161 anatimiraos@gmail.com www.CBPPI.com1400 Homestead RD N, Lehigh Acres, FI 33936 Honoring Our Graduates The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners would like to extend their sincere congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2023. As you celebrate this milestone achievement, please know you have made your community and your loved ones proud! en-USLaBell Hig Schoo en-USClass of 2023 en-US Bancie Leo, en-USValedictorian en-US Natali Reye, en-USSalutatorian en-USBanicel Leon is Labelle High School ‘s Class of 2023 en-US valedictorian. She completed her high school career with a en-US weighted GPA of 5.10 and earned 111 community service hours. en-US In addition to her high school diploma, Banicel earned her en-US Associate in Arts degree from Florida Southwestern College. en-US She will continue her education at the University of Florida for en-US the Fall 2023 term where she will major in nursing. Her ultimate en-US career goal is to work as a traveling nurse. Banicel’s parent is en-US Bernarda Benitez. en-USNatalia Reyes is Labelle High School’s Class of 2023 salutatorian. en-US She completed her high school career with a weighted GPA of en-US 5.06 and earned 119 community service hours. In addition to her en-US high school diploma, Natalia also earned her Associate in Arts en-US degree from Florida Southwestern College. Natalia will attend en-US the University of Florida in Fall 2023 and major in Nutritional en-US Science. Her ultimate career goal is to become a pediatrician. en-US Natalia’s parents are Jesus and Debbie Reyes. The following students have earned their Associate of Arts Degree through Florida SouthWestern College Banicel Leon en-USNatalia Reyesen-US Jocelyn Ruizen-US Roxanna Rodriguezen-US Elijah Sandoval-Deanen-US Dariel Aguilaren-US Caleb Barriosen-US Lauren Holten-US Alisah Obernen-US Johnathan Ramirezen-US Victor Angel Reyesen-US Aracely Villaen-US Emma Willisen-US Ana Zuniga De Santiago

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14 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | June 2023 15 Jocely Rui, Top 5 Graduate Roxann Rodrigue, Top 5 Graduate Elija Sandova-Dea, Top 5 Graduate Jocelyn Ruiz has completed her Labelle High School career with a weighted GPA of 4.88 and has earned 170 community service hours. In addition to her diploma, she earned her Associate in Arts degree from Florida Southwestern College and will attend Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall of 2023. She will major in exercise science and minor in business. Her ultimate goal is to become a physical therapist or an athletic trainer for a university or a professional sports program. Jocelyn’s parents are Carlos and Heather Ruiz. Roxanna Rodriguez completed her LaBelle High School career with a weighted GPA of 4.85 and earned 88 community service hours. In addition to her diploma, she earned her Associate in Arts degree from Florida Southwestern College. Roxanna will attend Florida State University in the fall of 2023 and major in Behavioral Neuroscience. Her ultimate career goal is to become a neuroscientist/ researcher. Roxanna’s parents are Mercedes Juarez and Carlos Rodriguez. Elijah SandovalDean completed his Labelle High School career with a weighted GPA of 4.72 and earned 118 community service hours. In addition to his diploma, Elijah earned his Associates in Arts degree from Florida Southwestern College. He will attend Florida Polytechnic University in the fall of 2023 and pursue a degree in Computer the future of AI. Elijah’s parents are Kaylynn Malphrus and Bobbie Malphrus. Highest HonorsWeighted GPA 4.1 And HigherKylee Simons Ariana Guijosa Kaydence Tindall Angelina Sanchez Luis Rivera Kenneth Llanes Maurice McClain Jovanna Berrios Naima Mailliard Michael Stuhlman Justin Sherrod Danae Serrano Narciso Delacruz-Rodriguez Krystal Truong Jessica Espino Alex Murillo Sarah Hernandez Stefan Dordevic Norela Romero Fragoso Melissa Yzaguirre Anabell Erreguin Silvana Matos Alexis Camacho-Ramirez Kemel Rodriguez Yurit Santos Jiovani Zuniga Marlene Soto-Ibarra Giselle Rivas Summa Cum LaudeWeighted GPA 3.9 – 4.0Emma Hyde Alvin Hargrove Kayla Collins Nicholas Pelletier Reese Oliver Julianna Avila Cruz Brendan Walker Alexandria Garcia Victoria Stem Destany Vera Akerah Keeling Faith Rivera Jessica Martinez Hannah Futch Bryce Johnson Isabella Guzman Magna Cum LaudeWeighted GPA 3.75 – 3.89Jeamscy Salgado Angeleigh Diaz Isaiah Anderson Isabella Mendoza Angie Villa-Cruz Naila Leija Saul Carlos-Vasquez Shania Leroy Adela Flores Sophia Wilkerson

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16 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com Nisbet Enterprises, Inc. Indiantown • Belle Glade • Clewiston • LaBelle Ft. Myers • Lake Placid • Arcadia • Okeechobee i’m lovin’ it Nisbet Enterprises, Inc. Indiantown • Belle Glade • Clewiston • LaBelle Ft. Myers • Lake Placid • Arcadia • Okeechobee i’m lovin’ it Congrats “Class of 2023” Cum Laude – Weighted GPA 3.5 – 3.74 Graciela Martinez-Borralle Chloe Mason Ulysses Granados-Gomez Catherine Suarez Jaslyn Creagh Madison Music Ramiro Ortiz Koreeanna Alexander John Wayne Davis Wilder Lopez-Santizo Curtis Scruggs Haleigh Campbell Annika Swaby Yahaira Cantu-Bernabe Margarita Vasquez Enrique Mendoza Bryan Aburto-Escobedo Honorable Mentions Alvin Hargrove IV EMT program completer at FSW 5 LHS students enlisted in the military and will begin their careers this summer 4 US Army; 1 US Marine

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SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | en-US en-USJune 2023en-US en-US17 Area GraduatesClass of Take pride in how far you have come & enjoy your journey into the futurewith locations in Alva, Immokalee (6), LaBelle (3), LeHigh Acres, and Okeechobee It Was Just A Moment Ago It was just a moment ago when your life rst began. It was just a moment ago when you took you rst step, spoke your rst word. It was just a moment ago when you were playing on the playground with your friends. It was just a moment ago when you made your rst friend. It was just a moment ago when rst grade seemed to never end. It was just a moment ago when adolescence seemed to win. It was just a moment ago when high school began. It all seemed to happen just a moment ago and now this chapter too must end. The Kiwanis Club of LaBelle would like to take a moment and Congratulate The Class of 2023 and say “Job Well Done.” We wish you all the best as you step into the next chapter of life. May you nd strength in every new challenge and the courage to face them each day.Your Kiwanis Family It Was Just A Moment Ago It was just a moment ago when your life rst began. It was just a moment ago when you took you rst step, spoke your rst word. It was just a moment ago when you were playing on the playground with your friends. It was just a moment ago when you made your rst friend. It was just a moment ago when first grade seemed to never end. It was just a moment ago when seemed to win. It was just a moment ago when high school began. It all seemed to happen just a moment ago and now this chapter too must end. The Kiwanis Club of Labelle would like to take a moment and Congratulate The Class of 2020 and say “Job Well Done”. We wish you all the best as you step into the next chapter of life. May you nd strength in every new challenge and the courage to face them each day. Your Kiwanis Family Mary Pringle, President Rev. Alonzo McKenzie, President Elect Club of LaBelle It Was Just A Moment Ago It was just a moment ago when your life rst began. It was just a moment ago when you took you rst step, spoke your rst word. It was just a moment ago when you were playing on the playground with your friends. It was just a moment ago when you made your rst friend. It was just a moment ago when first grade seemed to never end. It was just a moment ago when seemed to win. It was just a moment ago when high school began. It all seemed to happen just a moment ago and now this chapter too must end. The Kiwanis Club of Labelle would like to take a moment and Congratulate The Class of 2020 and say “Job Well Done”. We wish you all the best as you step into the next chapter of life. May you nd strength in every new challenge and the courage to face them each day. Your Kiwanis Family Mary Pringle, President Rev. Alonzo McKenzie, President Elect

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18 en-US en-USJune 2023en-US | Caloosa Belle Independent þ | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com SouthCentral FloridaLIfe.com/ LaBelle EVERY DA Y EVERY DA Y EVERY DA Y Elsie & Elliott Curtis celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary on May 9th, 2023 with their family. en-USBy C. M. en-US Schmidlkoferen-USCALOOSA BELLE en-US INDEPENDENTen-USLABELLE — City of LaBelle and Hendry en-USCounty commissioners en-US held a joint board meet ing May 3 to discuss en-USthe Florida Department en-US of Transportation’s en-US (FDOT) plans for road en-US expansions in down en-USen-US en-US trucks. Commissioners on both boards have met en-USseparately with FDOT en-US to discuss the plans, en-US en-US time together to discuss en-US proposals, said County en-US Administrator Jennifer en-US Davis. “This was an oppor en-UStunity to get out the en-USlatest information to en-US the boards and then for en-US our board members to en-US discuss their opinions of en-US that going forward,” she en-US said. Several FDOT op en-UStions were presented by en-USCounty Engineer Shane en-US Parker, broken down en-US into four sections – en-US Main and Bridge Streets en-US south of SR 80 and en-US Main and Bridge Streets en-US north of SR 80. Alternatives includ en-USed adjusting lane sizes, en-USboulevards, on-street en-US parking, widening en-US sidewalks, roundabouts, en-US en-US lights or a combination of both, designed to en-USen-US down while making en-US downtown more appealen-US-en-US ing to pedestrians while en-US possibly designating en-US en-US to Bridge Street.en-US Some proposals came en-US with concessions, such en-US as one where Cowboy en-US Way would no longer go en-US straight through, forcing en-US en-US the road to get to some en-US locations in the city that en-US are currently accessible en-US from Cowboy Way.en-US Commissioners on en-US both boards expressed en-US interest in proposals en-US with the roundabouts, en-US en-US jams and potential hazen-US-en-US ards with trucks, school en-US bus and recreational en-US en-US boats and cars.en-US The general consenen-US-en-US sus was that no one realen-US-en-US ly liked roundabouts in en-US these areas, but in some en-US cases, they were a better en-US en-US-en-US nals and, in some cases, en-US en-US signals would achieve en-US the desired results of en-US en-US “I will just say, en-US I’m not happy with en-US their proposals of their en-US designs,” LaBelle en-US Commissioner Jackie en-US Ratica said. “I think we en-US should have more of a en-US truck bypass and leave en-US en-US city and keep the trucks en-US out of our city and out en-US of downtown.”en-US The bypass is a big en-US concern as both comen-US-en-US missions agree semi-en-US en-US en-US things down at intersecen-US-en-US tions.en-US LaBelle Commisen-US-en-US sioner Bobbie Spratt en-US said the only stops semis en-US make in the city are to en-US the gas stations; they are en-US not stopping to make en-US other purchases. She’d en-US like to see the county en-US designate Helms Road en-US as part of the truck byen-US -en-US pass to keep them out of en-US downtown, even if it’s en-US en-US Commissioners on en-US both boards thought a en-US bypass study should be en-US undertaken, something en-US LaBelle Mayor Julie en-US Wilkins said FDOT was en-US willing to do, but that en-US could possibly delay en-US the start of the project, en-US which is presently en-US expected to begin 10 en-US years from now and en-US cost an estimated en-US $350 million including en-US stormwater and en-US drainage construction.en-US “We really need en-US to pump a survey out en-US that’s hard and heavy en-US that has actual analytics en-US attached to it before we en-US create an east-west byen-US -en-US pass,” County Commisen-US-en-US sioner Karson Turner en-US said.en-US Not all commissionen-US-en-US ers were on board with en-US the bypass suggestion, en-US with Turner recalling en-US how one killed the en-US downtown viability of en-US Moore Haven years ago. en-US He was concerned that en-US might happen to the en-US City of Labelle.en-US LaBelle Commissionen-US -en-US er Daniel Akin didn’t en-US believe a bypass would en-US hurt downtown, rather en-US that it would help when en-US combined with proen-US-en-US posed plans to reduce en-US logjams.en-US Commissioners en-US agreed they need to en-US come to a decision, even en-US if it means only choosen-US-en-US ing some of the options en-US presented. en-US“If we do nothing, we en-US get nothing,” LaBelle en-US Commissioner Hugo en-US Vargas said, pointing out en-US the existing bridge has en-US outlived its lifespan and en-US needs to be replaced one en-US way or another. If they en-US do nothing, the city will en-US have two bridges and no en-US other improvements.en-US Ultimately, the en-US commissions decided to en-US have FDOT return to en-US visit each board indeen-US-en-US pendently to discuss the en-US plans further, then to en-US meet together again for en-US more discussion.en-US During the puben-US-en-US lic comment section, en-US LaBelle resident Gail en-US Perry said she supen-US-en-US ported a truck bypass, en-US saying people she’s en-US heard from prefer it as it en-US will eliminate potential en-US safety issues. en-US To see all of the slides en-US presented at the meeten-US-en-US ing regarding FDOT’s en-US proposals and view the en-US meeting itself, visit: en-US https://www.youtube.en-US com/watch?v=kda0qOen-US -en-US CybYwen-USROADWORKen-USFLDOT proposes Bridge Street bypass

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AUTO • HOME • COMMERICAL • BOAT • RV Phone (239) 657.3614 • Fax (239) 657.6468 • Email Karen@bhins.com 711 West Main Street, Immokalee, Florida 34142 www.bhins.com • Se habla Espanol LOW DOWN PAYMENTS • LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS We make sure you’re always with the best company! WE SHOP FOR YOU! Over 25 Dierent companies AUTO • HOME • COMMERICAL • BOAT • RV Phone (239) 657.3614 • Fax (239) 657.6468 • Email Karen@bhins.com 711 West Main Street, Immokalee, Florida 34142 www.bhins.com • Se habla Espanol LOW DOWN PAYMENTS • LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS We make sure you’re always with the best company! WE SHOP FOR YOU! Over 25 Dierent companies AUTO • HOME • COMMERICAL • BOAT • RV Phone (239) 657.3614 • Fax (239) 657.6468 • Email Karen@bhins.com 711 West Main Street, Immokalee, Florida 34142 www.bhins.com • Se habla Espanol LOW DOWN PAYMENTS • LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS We make sure you’re always with the best company! WE SHOP FOR YOU! Over 25 Dierent companies AUTO • HOME • COMMERCIAL • BOAT • RV MOTORCYCLE • SR22 (IMMEDIATE) • WORKERS COMP Phone (239) 657.3614 • Fax (239) 657.6468 • Email: Karen@bhins.com 711 West Main Street, Immokalee, Florida 34141 www.bhins.com • Se habla EspaolLOW DOWN PAYMENTS • LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS We make sure you’re always with the best company! WE SHOP FOR YOU! Over 25 Dierent companies r 863-675-COOL f ntb nrrr SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | en-US en-USJune 2023en-US en-US19

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20 en-US en-USJune 2023en-US | Caloosa Belle Independent þ | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com Ana TimiraosREALTOR239-265-0752 cell | 239-369-6161 anatimiraos@gmail.com www.CBPPI.com1400 Homestead RD N, Lehigh Acres, FI 33936 Guide June 2023 SPECIAL TO CALOOSA en-USBELLE INDEPENDENTen-USLABELLE — Hurricane season starts en-USJune 1. Residents in low-ly en-USing areas and mobile en-UShomes should seek en-US shelter when condi tions warrant. Many en-USroads could be under water well in advance en-USof a storm, restricting en-US their use as evacuation en-US routes. If you are going en-US to leave the area, be en-US prepared to evacuate en-US early. If an evacuation en-US is called for, and you en-US do not evacuate, you en-US en-US rescue, law enforcement en-US or emergency medical en-US support until winds and en-US waters subside. If your home was en-USyou are not in an evacu ation zone, you may be en-USmore comfortable shel en-USUniversity of Florida study concluded that en-UShomes built under the en-US en-US Code sustained less en-US damage on average than en-US homes built between en-US en-US the Standard Building en-US Code. Homes built en-US before 1994 also fared en-US worse than those built en-US en-US If you’ve determined en-US that your home is en-US not safe to ride out a en-US stormen-US Stay with a friend en-US or leave the areaen-US Emergency manageen-US-en-US ment agencies recomen-US-en-US mend you arrange a en-US “host home” outside the en-US evacuation level. A host en-US home is the home of a en-US friend or family member en-US who has agreed to proen-US-en-US vide temporary shelter en-US for you and your family. en-US Ask an out-of-state relen-US-en-US ative or friend to serve en-US as the “family contact.” en-US Make sure everyone en-US in the family knows en-US the name, address and en-US phone number of the en-US family contact.en-US Move to an evacuaen-US-en-US tion shelteren-US In the event of a huren-US-en-US ricane watch, Hendry en-US County will open some en-US shelters as needed. Huren-US-en-US ricane evacuation shelen-US-en-US ters are not hotels and en-US will not be able to proen-US-en-US vide any conveniences en-US or luxuries. You will en-US have no privacy, limited en-US en-US square feet per person en-US in a public classroom en-US or hallway, and meal en-US service, if available, may en-US be delayed. Evacuation en-US shelters cannot provide en-US bedding, cots or blanen-US-en-US kets. Not all listed shelen-US-en-US ters will not be open for en-US every storm. Local radio en-US and television stations en-US will announce which en-US shelters are open. We en-US cannot predict how long en-US you may have to remain en-US at the shelter, since we en-US cannot predict how en-US en-US each storm will be.en-US A shelter is a safe en-US place to be during an en-US emergency. However, en-US en-US life-sustaining necessien-US-en-US ties, such as shelter from en-US the weather; water; and en-US sanitary services. The en-US shelter will likely not en-US have electricity for the en-US majority of your stay. It en-US will be noisy, crowded en-US and somewhat uncomen-US-en-US fortable.en-US • Going to an evacen-US-en-US uation center should en-US always be considered a en-US last resort measure.en-US • Never go to an en-US evacuation center until en-US en-US it is open.en-US • Checking in and en-US then leaving (for examen-US-en-US ple, to get supplies) will en-US not be permitted.en-US • Evacuation center en-US information will be en-US updated here, on the en-US county’s website, on en-US local radio and televien-US-en-US sion stations and on the en-US county’s accounts.en-US If you go to a shelter, en-US you must bring your en-US own personal hygiene en-US items, sleeping bags/en-US cots, blankets, towels en-US and comfort items to the en-US shelter. Being consideren-US-en-US ate of others and having en-US a positive attitude will en-US be helpful to everyen-US -en-US en-US information and do not en-US participate in gossip or en-US rumors, which can be en-US very disruptive. Volunen-USen-USteer to help whenever en-US possible. Food may or en-US may not be provided. en-US You should bring some en-US food items with you. If en-US you have diet restricen-US-en-US tions or require specialty en-US foods, you must bring en-US those.en-US All of Hendry Counen-US-en-US ty’s evacuation shelters en-US are pet-friendly, but en-US you must be prepared en-US before you go. Bring a crate for your pet if you plan to stay in a Hend en-US-en-US ry County evacuation shelter. If your pet is not accustomed to being en-USen-US to the crate before an en-US emergency to help alleen-US-en-US viate stress.en-US The shelters operate en-USen-US en-US en-US en-USen-US en-USen-US en-US en-USen-US en-US en-US en-US en-USen-US en-US en-US en-US en-USen-US en-US en-US en-US en-USen-US en-US en-US en-USen-US en-USen-US en-US en-US will be on the county’s en-US registry for sheltering at en-US a Special Needs Evacen-US-en-US uation Shelter during a en-US disaster. Pre-registration en-US helps us to help you en-US when time is limited.en-US Special Needs shelen-USters are for: • People with special en-USmedical needs,en-US • People whose care en-US en-US aid provided at general en-US population shelters,en-US • People with imen-US-en-US pairments or disabilities en-US who are medically staen-US-en-US ble and do not require en-US medical care,en-US • People with disabilen-US-en-US ities are not required to en-US go to a Special Needs en-US Shelter. Some people en-US with disabilities can be en-US safely accommodated en-US in a general population en-US shelter.en-US All Special Needs en-USPREPARE NOWen-USAre you ready for the 2023 Hurricane Season? A hurricane hunter aircraft col lects data in the eye of a hurri cane. [Photo courtesy NOAA] en-USHURRICANE SHELTERen-USRegister for special needs shelter in advanceen-US•en-US en-USSee Hurricane Ready on page 22 en-US•en-US en-USSeeen-US Shelter en-US on pageen-US 22

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HOME is where your HEALTH isHendry Regional Convenient Care Center 450 S Main Street | LaBelle, Florida 863-675-2356www.HRMC.us 863-902-3000 SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | en-US en-USJune 2023en-US en-US21

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22 en-US en-USJune 2023en-US | Caloosa Belle Independent þ | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com Sabrina RamosReal Estate AdvisorCell: 239-462-2678sabrinaramosrealtor@gmail.comwww.sw valuehomes.com1130 Lee Blvd Ste A Lehigh Acres, FL 33936O ce: 239-491-2430 Call today for all your home buying & selling needs! Angie Bridges 863.824.5942abridges@iniusa.orgStephanie Larson 863.634.1534slarson@iniusa.org 863.763.3134 • southcentraloridalife.com Shelter participants en-USmust bring a caregiver en-US with them to the des ignated Special Needs en-USShelter. The caregiver en-US must be able to: • Assist you with all activities of daily living, en-USincluding dressing and en-US toileting, toilet and cot and en-USwheelchair as needed, • Assist you with walking (with or with out walker), assist with en-USwheelchair, • Transport food from cafeteria to you as en-USneeded, • Assist with medica en-UStion and any treatments en-USas needed, • Monitor your oxy en-USgen usage, • Provide evacuation center management with a discharge plan en-USin the event you cannot en-US return to your home.en-US You are permitted en-US en-US en-US dependents (limited en-US to high school age and en-US below, living in same en-US household) with you in en-US addition to your careen-US-en-US giver. Many times the en-US en-US en-US There is no guarantee en-US that household memen-US-en-US bers will be housed in en-US the same room as you en-US en-US will be available.en-US Pets that are accepten-US-en-US ed will be kept in a en-US separate area. If you do en-US not wish to be separated en-US from your pet, considen-US-en-US er evacuating to a pet en-US friendly hotel outside of en-US the evacuation zone.en-US Once accepted into en-US the Special Needs en-US Program, you will be en-US advised by Emergency en-US Management and inen-US-en-US formed of that shelter’s en-US pet policy.en-US A Special Needs en-US Shelter is located in the en-US LJ Nobles Senior Cenen-US-en-US ter 475 East Cowboy en-US Way, LaBelle (Just East en-US of the LaBelle Airport). en-US Note that weapons, en-US smoking and alcoholic en-US beverages are prohibited en-US at all shelters.en-US Registration in aden-US-en-US vance with the Speen-US-en-US cial Needs Program is en-US required but does not en-US guarantee you will be en-US assigned a space. The en-US application will be en-US reviewed by the Deen-US-en-US partment of Health, and en-US you will be assigned to en-US a shelter where your en-US needs can be managed.en-US Applications may be en-US completed online or by en-US paper (fax or snail mail). en-US To download a copy en-US of the application or to en-US register go online to snr.en-US en-US Paper applications en-US may be mailed, emailed en-US or faxed to Hendry en-US County Emergency en-US Management. Email to en-US en-US is recommended to suben-US-en-US mit applications early en-US in the season as applien-US-en-US cations aren’t processed en-US when Hendry County en-US en-US-en-US cast cone of a storm).en-US To apply by mail, en-US send to Hendry County en-US Emergency Manageen-US-en-US ment, P.O. Box 340, en-US LaBelle, Fla., 33975.en-US For more informaen-US-en-US tion, contact Hendry en-US County Emergency en-US Management at 863-en-US 674-5400. words, you cannot drop en-USyour pet at the shelter en-US and leave). Owners are en-US responsible for feeding, en-US exercising and cleaning en-US Your pet will need a hurricane disaster kit Make a disaster kit for your pet. Include en-USwater, non-perishable en-US food, medications and en-US clean-up supplies. You en-US will need a crate or en-US carrier, collar and leash, en-US and up-to-date vacci nation records for your en-USpet. Having a recent en-US photo of your pet will be en-US helpful if you get sep arated. For more info, en-US en-USen-USen-US en-US en-US en-US en-USen-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-USen-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US items for children.en-US Primary Sheltersen-US • LaBelle Middle en-US School-8000 E. Cowen-US -en-US boy Way, LaBelleen-US • Clewiston High en-US School 1501 S. Franen-US-en-US cisco Street, Clewistonen-US • Pioneer Communien-US-en-US ty Center 910 Panama en-US Avenue, Clewistonen-US Secondary Sheltersen-US • Country Oaks Eleen-US-en-US mentary School 2052 en-US Eucalyptus Dr. NW, en-US LaBelleen-US • Clewiston Middle en-US School 601 E. Pasadeen-US-en-US na Avenue, Clewistonen-US • LaBelle High en-US School 4050 E. Cowen-US -en-US boy Way, LaBelleen-US Special Needs en-US Shelteren-US • LJ Nobles Senior en-US Center 475 East Cowen-US -en-US boy Way, LaBelle, FL en-US (Just East of the LaBelle en-US Airport)en-US Weapons, smoking en-US and alcoholic beverages en-US are PROHIBITED at en-US all shelters. Shelter en-US• From page en-US20 Hurricane Ready en-US• From page en-US20

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SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | en-US en-USJune 2023en-US en-US23 737 S. Bridge Street • 863.675.1032 Full Service, Maintenance and Repair www.whitesfurnitureandappliances.com863-675-0717APPLIANCE REPAIR SERVICE David White & Bobby WhiteFactory Authorized Sales & Service Dealers 1060 S. MAIN ST. LABELLE Beside Handy South Hwy 29.• Appliance Sales & Service • Mattresses • Furniture • Financing

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24 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com 437 S. MAIN STREET, LABELLE, FL SERVICE from the NEIGHBOR YOU KNOW & TRUSTOf ce: 863-674-5008 Guaranteed used appliance sales Appliance Repair Services For All Major BrandsSe Habla Espaol Vacation Bible School is June 5-9 LABELLE — Va cation Bible School will be held Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 9 , from 9 a.m. to noon at the First Baptist Church, 330 North Main St. for children 5 years of age through have to be 5 years of age as of June 1, 2023. Church hosts Vaca tion Bible School LABELLE — Life Ministries Church, 725 W. Hickpochee Ave., will be hosting Vacation Bible School from Monday, June 26 through Friday, June 30 . It will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This is for children in VPK more information on preregistration, visit the Life Ministries Church Facebook page at face book.com/LifeMinistri esChurchLaBelle. NRA Dinner to be held July 21 LABELLE — The Greater LaBelle Friends of NRA Dinner event will be held on Friday, July 21 . at 6 p.m. at the LaBelle Civic Center, 481 W. Hickpochee Ave. There will be games, live and silent auctions. For details and information, call Ron Zimmerly at 863-2348397 (leave a message) or email Ron@ThreeZ Enterprizes.com. American Legion Post #130 events American Legion Post 130 is located at 699 W Hickpochee Ave., across from the Shell Station. For further information: 863-675-8300. Upcom ing events include the following. Pizza & Hot Dogs available – All Day • 11 a.m. till close Sunday through Thurs day • 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. – Friday & Saturday • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Happy Hour Monday – Friday • June 2 & July 7 : Friday FISH FRY 5-7 p.m. $14.00; First Friday ONLY for June September. Assorted crabcakes, chicken and chicken nuggets, baked potato or french fries, cole slaw and roll. Dine in or take out. Karaoke begins at 7 p.m. • June 2-3; 9-10; 1617; 23-24; 30 & July 1 – Friday & Saturdays, Karaoke in lounge be ginning at 7 p.m. • June 3, 10, 17, 24 Saturdays DAV Flea Market 7 a.m. 3 p.m. at the corner of MLS & SR 80 across from the Shell Station / Handy Store, west of downtown. • June 8 Thursday noon to 6 p.m. The Big Red Bus comes to the American Legion. The blood mobile requires an ID. Face mask is op tional. Blood donation is considered an es sential service. You are our only source to help accident victims, cancer and surgical patients. Thank you to everyone for your donation – Drink plenty of water. Each donor will receive a wellness checkup including blood pres sure, temperature, pulse, iron count and choles terol screening! Plus a red, short sleeved One Blood t-shirt and a $20 E-card. Please make appointments visit www.oneblood.org/ donate-now. or 1-888936-6283. Look for the Big Red Bus in front of the American Legion across from the Shell Station on West SR80. American Legion Post 130 Meetings: All members welcome. • June 7 – 1st Wednesday – 7 p.m. – American Legion Riders meeting. • June 14 – 2nd Wednesday – 6 p.m. – SAL – Sons of the American Legion • June 8 2nd Thurs day – 6:30 p.m. The American Legion • June 15 – 3rd Thursday – 6 p.m. – American Legion Auxiliary meeting. Sept. 7 – 1st Thurs day – 7 p.m. – DAV – Disabled American Veterans – Do NOT meet during summer, but usually meet at Christ Central Church on East SR80. VFW Post 10100 hosts events LABELLE – The LaBelle VFW, 20 Veterans Way, plans the following events: On Saturday, June 3 , meat loaf dinners will be served beginning at 5 p.m. Rockin Randall Karaoke will begin at 5 p.m. On Saturday, June 10 , dinner TBA at 5 p.m. Dawn Renee Kara oke to begin at 5 p.m. On Saturday, June 17 , dinner TBA at 5 p.m. Moore 2 Music Karaoke will begin at 6 p.m. On Saturday, J une 24 , dinner TBA at 5 p.m. Steve White Kara oke at 5 p.m. Every Saturday the best burgers in town, have it your way, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Wednesday, June 7, 14, 21 & 28 is Euchre Cards at 5 p.m. On Friday, June 2 & 16 a Jam Session will begin at 6 p.m. Free juke box from 6 to 8 p.m. Every Saturday night brings entertainment. We are now a SMOKE FREE build ing. We do accommo date our smokers with a screened in porch smok ing area with paddle fans, music and a TV. Every Sunday bis cuits and gravy made by Jennifer. Serving begins at 9 a.m. We are open to the public everyday for lunches, dinners and non-alcoholic bever ages. Lunch Specials: Open to the public ev ery day. Serving begins at 11 a.m. til. Every Monday and Thursday FREE Tia Chi Class from 1 to 2 p.m. All day get 50 Men’s Night is every Monday night from 6 to 8 pm. Ladies Night is every Thursday night from 6 to 8 pm. Happy Hour: Mon day Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Bingo every Sunday at 2 p.m. Open to the public. Turkey Shoot, second and fourth Sunday of every month at 1 p.m. Open to the puiblic. First Thursday of every month house committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. First Thursday of every month veterans regular monthly meet ing at 7 p.m. Second Wednesday of every month the aux iliary meeting at 6 p.m. Honor your veteran on the Veterans Park Wall. Further info and applications are avail able at the VFW Post. The post is located on Hwy. 29 next to the rodeo grounds. For info, call 863-675-8008. Moose Lodge hosts events The LaBelle Moose Lodge is open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., or later if there are customers, and Sunday from noon ‘till 8 p.m. Follow us on Facebook: LaBelle Moose Lodge 2398. Tuesdays are open pool table all day and tournaments at 6 p.m. Karaoke at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays! Bingo is every Thurs day, from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday Entertainment from 7 to 10 p.m. Open Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. Not a member? Stop by and check us out, Guests are welcome! The lodge is located at 230 Jaycee Lions Dr. in LaBelle. For informa tion, call 863-230-6154. Visit the DAV Flea Market LABELLE — La Belle Disabled Ameri can Flea Market is held on Saturdays , from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 228 Miller Avenue. Chess Club meets LABELLE — The COMMUNITY EVENTS Send news and photographs to cbnews@iniusa.org • See Community Events on page 25

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SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | June 2023 25 CURT RHODES(863) 675-4627 • LaBelle, Florida Rhodes Aluminum & Concrete CRCO 26278 Specializing in Complete Aluminum and Concrete Set-Ups• Screen Enclosures • Room Additions • Carports • Awnings • Roof Overs 863-342-8462Hours: M-Th 6:30am-5:30pm, F 6:30am-5pm, Sat 9am-2pm, Closed SundayAna & Cindy’s Cuban Cafe A new feature has launched on SouthCentralFloridaLife.com to help readers who have lost a loved one by hosting an easier way to submit an obituary from the comfort of their homes. Lake Okeechobee News showcases a user-friendly platform at https:// www.southcentralfloridalife.com/ obituaries/. This platform features paid obituaries as well as memorials to celebrate your loved one’s precious life. Once posted, the obituary goes live on the site of your choosing, and our obituaries are picked up by Google alerts. • Seamless Gutters TRI-COUNTY SEAMLESS GUTTERS, LLC 863-517-9922tricountyseamlessgutters@yahoo.com License CCC1325814 • Seamless Gutters TRI-COUNTY SEAMLESS GUTTERS, LLC Chess Club will meet at the Barron Library, 461 N Main St., on Mon days from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Beginners and pros are welcome. For infor mation, call the library at 863-675-0833. Garden Club meets LaBelle Garden Club meets the fourth Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Dallas Townsend Center at 1085 Pratt Blvd across from the Health Depart ment. Anyone can bring any plant or garden produce to exchange or share. Bring any plants that need identifying, any questions or local features happening. If anyone wants to share a treat for light re freshments, it’s always welcome! For more info, please call or text Nikki 239-564-2005. Church oers grief support group LABELLE — Have you experienced the loss of someone you love? Has there been a strug gle to move forward since that loved one has been gone? Do you feel like no one truly understands what you are going through? Do you wonder why anger, depression, lo neliness, impatience, irritation and frustration seem to Join a group of people who are on a similar journey. Find compas sion, support and hope together in GriefShare. This group meets in the Grace building of Calo osa Baptist Church, 550 W. Hickpochee Ave. in LaBelle. To register, call or text Cindy at 863673-3855. Woman’s Club to meet You’re Invited! The public is welcome to come to GFWC La Belle Community Woman’s Club, 382 W Hickpochee Ave. next to Ace Hardware on the second Tuesday of the month September through May. The so cial starts at 6 p.m. with the business meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. AA meets in LaBelle Alcoholics Anon ymous meets at the following locations. • Hispanos de LaBelle, 462 E. Cow boy Way, meets on Sundays at 9 a.m. and Mondays and Fridays at 8 p.m. (Spanish) • Good Shephered Church, 1098 Colling swood Pkwy., Port LaBelle Group meets on Sundays at 7 p.m., hosts a discussion meet ing on Fridays at 7 p.m, and “As Bill Sees it” on Saturdays at 9 a.m. • First Christian Church, 138 Ford Ave., LaBelle Group holds &12” meeting on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., a discussion meeting on Thursdays at 7 p.m., and an Early Bird meet ing on Wednesdays at 7 a.m. The AA 24-hour phone line is: 239275-5111. For more info about meetings, go online to www.aa.org/ Hope Connection Senior Services All seniors 60 and up are invited to come to Hope Connections on Cowboy Way just east of the airport for a hot free luncheon Monday through Fridays. Sign up for transportation if needed. Enjoy com radely, games, social contact, new friends and information about community and medical help. Call 863-6751576 for more info. Salvation Army dis tributes food On Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. (and 1-3 p.m. if food is still available) the Salvation Army gives free food to needy families. It is easy to sign-up to be eligible for once a month pickup. Anyone may make donations to the Salva tion Army food pantry between 9-5 weekdays. Clubs and groups are encouraged to host food drives to help stock their food pantry. For infor mation, call Angie or Jody at 863-674-1441. Christ Central distributes food Christ Central Church on East SR80 hosts a food distribution every Thursday morn ing. First time recipients sign up, otherwise, line up for free food. BBBS seeking mentors Big Brothers Big Sisters is seeking volunteers to ignite, inspire and empower potential in our youth. Learn how to become a mentor during a Virtu al Open House every Wednesday from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Contact Laurie Waninger at 863-345-0107 or email Iwaninger@bbbssun.org or attend Zoom meet ing at us02webzoom. us/j/81091089176 meeting ID: 810 9108 9176. Transportation for veterans available Transportation is available to and from Center in West Palm Beach and the VA clinic in Cape Coral. Vans can only transport two at a time and they must sit in the back seats. Vet erans must wear mask at all times while in the van; the service cannot transport wheelchairs . Van scheduling num ber 863-675-5255. Disabled American Van Transport to West Palm Beach VAMC on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, leaving at 5:30 a.m. return 11 a.m. Disabled American Van Transport to Lee County (Cape Coral Clinic) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday leaving at 5:30 a.m. return 11 a.m. COMMUNITY EVENTS

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26 en-US en-USJune 2023en-US | Caloosa Belle Independent þ | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com en-USENVIRONMENT Send news and photographs en-USto cbnews@iniusa.org en-USwww.facebook.com/en-US caloosabelle By Katrina Elsken en-USCALOOSA BELLE en-US INDEPENDENTen-USNAPLES – The contract for the C-43 en-USreservoir project has en-US been terminated, but en-US work continues on the en-US construction project. “The completion of the C-43 reservoir is en-USone of the highest prior ities of the South Flori da Water Management en-USDistrict (SFWMD). It’s en-US key to the health of the en-US downstream ecosystem en-US which is also key to the en-US communities and the en-US way of life of Southwest en-US Florida,” SFWMD Ex ecutive Director Drew en-USBartlett told the SFW MD governing board at en-UStheir May 11 meeting. “The district was forced to make the very en-USen-US terminating the C-43 en-US Water Management en-US Builders, a contractor en-US responsible for con structing the C-43 en-USreservoir. “In 2019, when the governing board award ed the construction to en-USC-43 Water Managers en-US Builders Joint Ven ture (WMB), which en-USis a joint venture with en-US Lane Construction and en-US WeBuild, with Lane en-US being the contractor on en-US the site,” he explained. “The contractor’s representative assured en-USthe governing board en-US that they could get the en-US job done on time for en-US the price bid. Unfortu nately, despite numer ous engagements with en-USthe district, including en-US a year ago before the en-US governing board, the en-US contractor continuously en-US fell farther and farther en-US behind schedule. “Implementing large water resource projects en-USis something the water en-US management district does extremely well. We en-UShave almost 30 of these en-US large construction projen-US-en-US ects being constructed en-US now, as we speak, and en-US none of them, except en-US C-43 Water Manageen-US-en-US ment Builders, is experien-US-en-US encing the magnitude of en-US delays like Lane Conen-US-en-US struction.en-US “The contractor was en-US falling behind schedule en-US an average of an addien-US-en-US tional 20 days for every en-US one month on the job. en-US That’s losing 20 days in en-US en-US Chairman (Chauncey) en-US Goss and I engaged en-US the contractor senior en-US leadership numerous en-US times to emphasize the en-US importance of staying en-US on schedule and still en-US the contractor failed to en-US make the necessary reen-US-en-US source and management en-US changes.en-US “What’s underpinen-US-en-US ning the delay? For en-US a large above ground en-US reservoir the embanken-US-en-US ment band is the thing en-US that takes the longest en-US to build. That is where en-US timely delivery and en-US execution is critical. At en-US the time of termination, en-US the contractor’s producen-US-en-US tion rate of completing en-US the embankment band en-US would have delayed en-US the construction of the en-US project upwards of three en-US years. That’s late 2026 en-US or even 2027. It’s 2023 en-US right now.en-US “For example, in en-US order to avoid further en-US delays, the contractor en-US would have to lay en-US approximately 250 en-US linear feet of concrete en-US on the inside of the en-US embank band each day. en-US They were averaging 95 en-US feet per day.en-US “If they had stayed en-US on schedule, that would en-US have been a ribbon cuten-US-en-US ting next year,” he said.en-US “The contractor did en-US not stay on schedule en-US nor would they make en-US the changes to get back en-US on schedule or even en-US prevent further delays,” en-US he said.en-US “If you hear any en-US notion that the district en-US caused these delays, en-US en-US tolerate delays,” said en-US Bartlett.en-US en-US laser-focused on comen-US-en-US pleting construction of en-US the C-43 reservoir,” en-US Bartlett continued.en-US “While we wait for en-US the surety – that’s the en-US bond company that en-US insured the project – to en-US make its determination, en-US the district is working en-US with existing subconen-US-en-US tractors to continue the en-US necessary work.en-US “Within seven days en-US en-US we already had 50 en-US workers back on site en-US continuing construction en-US of the C-43 reservoir, en-US with more being added en-US every day.en-US “It is time to get back en-US to achieving more now en-US for the C-43 reservoir en-US project,” he said. “The en-US plodding is over.”en-US About the C-43 en-US reservoiren-US Located on 10,700 en-US acres of former farmland en-US in Hendry County, west en-US of LaBelle, the Calooen-US-en-US sahatchee River West en-US Basin Storage (C-43) en-US Reservoir will hold en-US approximately 170,000 en-US acre-feet of water, with en-US the maximum depth en-US ranging from 15 feet to en-US 25 feet across the exen-US -en-US panse. When complete, en-US the restoration project en-US will provide storage en-US needed for the estuary en-US by capturing and storing en-USen-US as Lake Okeechobee en-US regulatory releases. en-US This will reduce lake en-US discharges reaching the en-US Caloosahatchee estuen-US -en-US ary, improve the health en-US of the Caloosahatchee en-US en-US and oyster habitats by en-US reducing the frequency en-US of undesirable salinity en-US ranges.en-US The initial contract en-US bid to WMB was for en-US $523,871,000. SFWen-US -en-US MD Governing Board en-US approved an additional en-US up to $25 million last en-US year.en-US Contractor sues en-US SFWMDen-US On May 3, 2023, en-US C-43 Water Manageen-US-en-US ment Builders (WMB), en-US a joint venture of The en-US Lane Construction Coren-US-en-US poration and Webuild, en-US en-US against the South en-US Florida Water Manageen-US-en-US ment District, alleging en-US the contract had been en-US wrongfully terminated.en-US WMB alleges the en-US district failed to grant en-US extensions to the time en-US and price of the project en-US for delays and impacts en-US caused by the district. en-US WMB also accuses en-US SFWMD of “Furnishen-US-en-US ing WMB with plans en-US en-US were substantially and en-US en-US such that the design en-US was constantly being en-US revised during the work, en-US thereby breaching the en-US implied warranty of en-US adequate design docuen-US -en-US ments on a design/bid/en-US build project.”en-US In addition, WMB en-US alleges there was a en-US problem with access to en-US part of the project area. en-US SFWMD contracted en-US with Harry Pepper and en-US Associates to build the en-US S-470 Pump Station en-US (bid package 3) and en-US with WMB to build en-US the C-43 West Basin en-US Storage Reservoir (bid en-US package 4). “The bid en-US pen-USackage 3 work area en-US en-US-en-US eated project limits that en-US overlapped and aden-US-en-US joined the bid package en-US 4 project limits. WMB en-US was not permitted to en-US access the overlapping en-US and adjoining areas unen-US-en-US less and until the district en-US authorized access,” the en-US lawsuit alleges.en-US Project delays noted en-US last yearen-US Project delays were en-US discussed at the March en-US 10, 2022 SFWMD en-US Governing Board meeten-US-en-US ing. At that time, the en-US project was 273 days en-US behind schedule, acen-US-en-US cording to information en-US presented to the board.en-US Board members, who en-US toured the project on en-US March 9, 2022, exen-US -en-US pressed concerns about en-US the project.en-US Governing Board en-US Member Cheryl Meads en-US opined the project en-US might need a better en-US project manager for en-US the half billion dollar en-US en-US over there – this is the en-US dry season – it should en-US have been an anthill of en-US activity out there and it en-US was nothing. And now you have the wet season coming,” she said. en-US“Back when this was en-US awarded, $150 million en-US between the low bigger en-US and the second bidder is certainly a substantial en-US-en-US MD Governing Board Member Ron Bergeron. “Lane, the contractor, en-UShas a great reputation. en-US They’re a very responen-US-en-US sible contractor from en-US what I have seen in the en-US past. “What I observed out en-USthere, as an engineering contractor for 57 years, en-USis not enough resourcen-US-en-US es to bring this project en-US back on schedule,” he en-US said.en-US One reason given en-US for the project delay en-US had to do with below en-US ground root material en-US that was discovered en-USen-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-US en-USen-US en-US en-USen-US en-US en-US en-USTERMINATIONen-USSFWMD terminates C-43 reservoir contract en-USLocated on 10,700 acres of former farmland in Hendry County, west en-US of LaBelle, the Caloosahatchee River West Basin Storage (C-43) en-US Reservoir will hold approximately 170,000 acre-feet of water, with en-US the maximum depth ranging from 15 feet to 25 feet. [Map courtesy SFWMD]

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SouthCentralFloridaLife.com | Caloosa Belle Independent | June 2023 27 Locations in Okeechobee, LaBelle (3) & AlvaVisit us on or handyfoods.com Friendly Service Clean Restrooms Diesel Fuel (Okeechobee, Alva & LaBelle Handy #58) Now Hiring at Labelle & Alva StoresServing the Central Florida Neighborhoodsfor over 55 Years Visit us on Facebook or on the webhandyfoods.com Friendly Service Clean Restrooms ATM Propane Diesel Fuel (Okeechobee, Alva & Labelle Handy #58 ) Locations in Okeechobee, Labelle (3) & Alva Save $$ on Fuel with Rewards To Go! Points **Visit Store for Details** Fill up your tank, ll up your cup Visit us on or handyfoods.com Win a $100 CITGO gift card!Register at southcentral oridalife.com/gasgiveawayThis tourism feature was brought to you by Handy Food Stores, who encourages you to get out and explore your own backyard and all the things our region has to offer! Congratulations to our May winner!Christy Stephens By Cathy Womble LAKE OKEECHOBEE NEWS YAKKA CITY — Within a short driving distance of Okeechobee are many unique places to visit. Bearadise Ranch Preserve is one of these enticing attractions. Photographer Judy Throop of Smiles & Wiggles Photography enjoys traveling to any place where she can see ani mals, and Bearadise is one of her favorites. The ranch is located in Myakka City and is home to the Welde Family bears. It was “established in 1926 to educate and generate public awareness for habitat preservation and conservation for all bear species. Educa tional presentations are plenty of photographic opportunities for the nature lover or bear enthusiast,” states the website. family-friendly. The Bearadise Ranch website explains: “Johnny Johnsen Welde had a fascination with bears and a dream as big as the Norwegian sky. His love for the animals became a reality when he ran away and act and in 1948 he made his American debut with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus for the 1947-1948 seasons. Along with his wife and daughter, continued to work with his bears in all types of venues from nightclubs and theme parks to circus and on to the big screen; Hollywood. His bears made movies for Walt Disney, Universal Studios, and 20th Century Fox, and also appeared in many television shows: The Lucy Show, Beverley Hillbillies, and Lassie to name a few.” Many years later, the ranch is run by Welde’s grandson Johnny, who is also a trainer and his grandson’s wife Throop said she has been there several times and loves taking pictures of the bears. “It was fantastic. If you have ever wanted to see bears up close, this is the place to go.” The facility can be booked for events such as birthday parties, weddings or picnics. All visits are by reservation only. The ranch is located at 6908 245th Street in Myakka and can be reached at 941-322-2462. Bearadise Ranch Preserve is worth the drive Nature photography is one of Judy Throop’s favorite things to do. [Photos by Judy Throop]

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28 June 2023 | Caloosa Belle Independent | SouthCentralFloridaLife.com r rf rfn rfn rtb rrfntfb bb fff ff f ntbttb‘’D.R. Horton is an equal housing opportunity builder. Home and community information including pricing, included features, terms, availability and amenities are subject to change at any time without notice or obligation. Pictures, photographs, colors, features, and sizes are for illustration purposes only and may vary from the homes as built. Registered Florida Building Contractor License # CBC1258802. rft


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