I .- B -~ .. e:.. 0


(EECHOBEE


Tuesday, January 15, 2008


*********ALL FOR ADC 320STORY
205 SMA U FL LIB OF FL HI
PO BOX 117007
GAINESVILLE FL 32611


Inside

Woman arrested
on cocaine charge
A stop sign violation led to
the arrest of an Okeechobee
woman on felony drug charges
shortly before midnight on Fri-
day, Jan. 11.
Page 3
Reading labels
can be eye-opening
At the store the other day,
a candy bar caught my eye -
Snickers Charge, a new Snick-
ers bar with added caffeine and
B vitamins.
Adding the vitamins I can
understand. Knowing that con-
sumers are becoming more
health conscious, food compa-
nies have been experimenting
with adding vitamins to every-
thing from bread to diet sodas.
It doesn't surprise me they
would add vitamins to candy
bars. But caffeine? The candy
bar label promised a whopping
60 mg of caffeine.
Page 7
Briefs
Forum slated for
Lake 0 challenges
Lake Okeechobee: Headwa-
ters of the Everglades A 'Deci-
sion Makers Forum' exploring
the challenges of managing the
lake as a multi-use natural re-
source. The forum will be held
at the' Dolly Hand Cultural Arts
Center in Belle Glade, Jan. 17.
The program will include
presentations on the role and
state of the lake.'A facilitated di-
alogue among federal and state
officials and local civic leaders
will examine the challenges pre-
sented by the multiple roles the
lake. is asked to fulfill, to iden-
tify the unanticipated impacts
of management decisions on
the communities surrounding
the lake and avenues of coop-
eration, and to elicit new ideas.
The program will conclude
with presentations showcasing
and discussing some of the lo-
cal efforts now being made to
build and diversify the regional
economy. Contact: Martha Mus-
grove (561) 965-9409 or mailto:
DMF@att.net.

Drought Index

Current: 579
Source: Florida Division
of Forestry
Local Burn Ban: None

Lake Levels


10.13 feet
Last Year: 11.98 feet



Source: South Florida Water
Management District. Depth
given in feet above sea level

Index
Classifieds...................... 9,10
Com ics ...................................... 8
Community Events............. 4
Crossword...... .... .... 9
Obituaries.................................. 6
Opinion...................................... 4
Speak Out........................ ..... 4
Sports.................................. 10
TV ......................................... 10
Weather...... ......... 2
See Page 2 for information about
how to contact the newspaper.

newszap.com
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Viking Road to De moved


By Pete Gawda
Okeechobee News
When scheduled road work
is completed, residents of Viking
will travel on an improved One
Mile Grade that will be slightly to
the south of the present road.
The Board of Supervisors
of Coquina Water Control Dis-
trict gathered Monday morning,
Jan. 14 in a meeting that was a
continuation of the Jan. 9 board
meeting. After discussing con-
tracts and construction details,
they inspected the road work be-


ing on One Mile Grade.
Engineer Malcolm Johnson
reported that the contract figures
discussed last Wednesday are
still good. Under their five year
water management plan, Coqui-
na is allowed to do some road
maintenance to provide access
to their water control structures.
To help implement that plan, the
board agreed to contracts with
Durwin Tiner Construction, Inc.
and Emmick and Sons. Tiner
Construction would provide,
load, haul and spread fill dirt for


road base for $4.62 a cubic yard.
Emmick and Sons would pro-
vide, load, haul and distribute
19,158 cubic years of shell rock
for $117,127. Mr. Johnson stated
that he gave the details to attor-
ney Ken Edwards to draw up the
contracts and that the contracts
should be ready this week.
The board also discussed
repairs of roads allowed under
the five year water management
plan. They hope to be able to
repair about seven miles of road
See Road Page 2


People to people: Teen headed for British Isles


Local girl


accepted


to study


overseas

By Eric Kopp
Okeechobee News
When Karmen Brown first
received word that her daugh-
ter Kelsi had been nominated
to take part in the People to
People Student Ambassador
Program she was skeptical.
"I had no idea this was com-
ing," said Karmen. "I thought,
'is this bogus?' and I wanted:to
check up on it. So I didn't tell
her."
A few days later she finally
told Kelsi.
At first Kelsi was upset be-
cause she wasn't told, but that
quickly evaporated.
Now the 14-year-old eighth
grader at Yearling Middle
School and her mom are busily
trying to get everything togeth-
er, including the $6,400 needed
for her to make the trip to the
British Isles.
The People to People Stu-
dent Ambassador Program was
founded by President Dwight
Eisenhower, and every year
qualified students are accepted
into the program. These stu-
dents then spend 20 days tour-
ing England, Ireland, Scotland
and Wales where they learn the
culture and take part in many
different learning adventures
which could include attending
a Royal wedding.
Kelsi, who has a 3.6 grade
point average, will also be
awarded college credits -- one
credit for history and one credit
for art -- for taking part in the
program.


Submitted photo
Kelsi Brown (right), an eighth grader at Yearling Middle
School, has been accepted into this years People to Peo-
ple Student Ambassador Program and will be spending
20 touring the British Isles. The educational and historical
program was founded by President Dwight Eisenhower.
Kelsi and her mother Karmen Brown (left) are busily try-
ing to raise the $6,400 needed to send Kelsi on the trip.


"I found out I was nomi-
nated in November," said Kelsi.
"They don't tell you who nomi-
nated .you, and I don't know
why I was nominated."
According to program guide-
lines, she was either nominated
by a school official or because
of her grades.
'Soon she will be meeting
with 39 other students from In-
dian River and Martin counties
to learn more about the trip.
Then in June the group, will fly
out of Fort Lauderdale to Eng-
land.
Karmen said from what they
can find out, Kelsi is the only lo-
cal student to be accepted into
the program.
Once in England, Kelsi said


the group will stay in different
hotels except for a period of
one week when they will stay
with a family.
While she's excited and
anxious "to get away," she still
has her fears.
"What will I do if I lose my
stuff?" she said of her biggest
fear. "I have a tendency to leave
my stuff everywhere."
She's lost items such as a
Gameboy, Nintendo and I-pod.
"She gets so wrapped up in
other things," explained Kar-
men.
After learning of her nomi-
nation, Kelsi then had to be
interviewed by the delegates
See Student Page 2


uKeecnooDe News/reie Gawda
The loader recently purchased by Coquina Water Control
District is being used to clean out the wetland to the left
of the picture, so that it can be filled in. A recent survey
disclosed that the dirt road has shifted over time as people
avoided wet spots.


Magistrate to


consider fines for


code violations


By Pete Gawda
Okeechobee News
Special magistrate Lois
Nichols is scheduled to hear
eight new cases and rule on
imposing fines in five cases
during hearings to be held this
afternoon.
Nix & Nix Land I LLC was
cited by code enforcement
officer Blanca Saudedo for
construction without a build-
ing permit for renovation on a
commercial building on U. S.
98 N. ,, . ....


If you go
Special magistrate code viola-,
tion hearings
2 pm. today
Commission chambers,
Okeechobee County Court-
house, 304 N.W Second St.
The owners of N. & A Estate,
Inc. are facing two separate
charges. They were cited for
having a gas tank for commer-
cial use on residential single
See Fies Page 2


Local clergyman


to go on mission


trip to Africa


By Pete Gawda
Okeechobee News
A local man will soon be
taking the Gospel to the far side
of the world.
Jim Womble, Sunday school
director and deacon at Buck-
head Ridge Baptist Church is
planning for a mission 'trip to
Africa later this summer..
"I just want the opportunity
to tell people about Christ," he
said.
While the details of the trips
are sketchy at this point, Mr.
Womble is very excited.
"I've always had it in my


heart to do
it," he said of
going on any
type of mis-
sion trip, not
necessarily to
Africa. "It's
part of who I
am."
He will Jim
be part of a Womble
group of 10 or
12 people on the trip which is
sponsored by the First Baptist
Church of Woodstock, Georgia.
Mr. Womble was invited by his
See Mission Page 2


A taste of Broadway is



coming to Okeechobee


By Chauna Aguilar
Okeechobee News
Okeechobee citizenswill be
able to enjoy a slice of Broad-
way at the Okeechobee County
Library beginning Tuesday, Jan.
15, with the presentation of
"Rodgers and Hammerstein in
a Minor Key," from renowned
expert on musical theatre lan
Nairnsey.
Mr. Nairnsey is originally
from London, England and pos-
sesses an encyclopedic knowl-


edge of show business, which
is his passion. He recently gave
this presentation "Rodgers and
Hammerstein in a Minor Key,"
to a group of approximately
200 at the Chautauqua Institu-
tion. '
According to their website,
The Chautauqua Institution is a
not-for-profit, 750-acre educa-
tional center beside Chautau-
qua Lake in southwestern New
York, where approximately
7,500 persofis are in residence
on any day during a nine-week


If you go:
"Rodgers and Hammerstein in a
Minor Key" by lan Nairnsey

206 S.W. 16th Street
Tuesday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m. until
a s Submitted photo
Additional shows each following lan R.B. Nairnsey, a musical theatre presenter will be bring-
Tuesday. ing "Broadway to Okeechobee" through six presentations at
the Okeechobee County Library. The first presentation will be
Tuesday, Jan. 15, from 7 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. entitled "Rodgers
See Broadway Page 2 and Hammerstein in a Minor Key."


IIPIIIIIllllllllllllllL1*lll~4


Vol. 99 No. 15


NEWS


IX


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2 Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 15, 2008


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Koaa worK is currently in progress to move une Mile uraae
in Viking back unto the Coquina Water Management District
right of way. Through the years as people tried to avoid a
wetland on.the right of way, the road came to be 25 feet north
of where it should be. Engineer Malcolm Johnson, kneeling,
and Danny Faircloth, superintendent, inspected'the work on
Monday morning, Jan. 14 and made measurements from a
center line stake.


Road
Continued From Page 1
during the first year. The biggest
problem is One Mile Grade west
of Peavine Trail. A recent survey
disclosed that the first half mile of
this east-west road is 25 feet north
of the Coquina right of way. It was
surmised that since a wetland lies
on the right of way, people started
driving to the north of the wetland
and over time the road came to
take shape to the north of where
it should be. Coquina equipment
is currently being used to move
the road bed to the south so that
fill dirt and shell be placed on it.
The board decided that on
most roads to be repaired they
would require a fill dirt base
twenty feet wide and no deeper
than eight inches. On top of that
would be shellrock 15 feet wide


Fines
Continued From Page 1
family property on S.W. 20t, Ter-
race.
They were also cited for hav-
ing a commercial dumpster on
residential single family property
at a separate address on S.W 20th
Terrace.
According to code enforce-
ment officer Gina Gehring, Caro-
lyn Kay Buffum has a derelict
mobile home in need of repair.
The mobile home has a structure
attached to it that needs to be re-
moved. The property in question
is located on S.E. 19th Court.
Walter Parnell has been cited
for having a condemned mobile
home and trash and debris and
a boat on blocks on his S.E. 34th
Lane property.
Code enforcement office
Saucedo cited Adaish Jangabdoor
for having a condemned structure
on N.W. 264," Street.
Jean Louis Lacerte was cited
for construction without a permit
when he enclosed a garage in
N.W. 2811 Avenue.
Code enforcement officer
Gehring cited Louis and Dolores
Johnson for building a wooden
dock and wooden front porch
overhand without a permit on


and six to eight.inches deep. Both
fill dirt and shellrock would be
crowned from ditch to ditch.
Mr. Johnson was directed to
draw up a cross section of road
according to those specifications.
"We want something we can
maintain," was the opinion of
board member John Entry.
The board also discussed the
best methods for seeding the
road shoulders.
Their last item of business was
to leave the shop and travel to One
Mile Grade to inspect the work inf
progress. They made measure-
ments from center line stakes to
determine where the road shoul-
ders and the edge of the right of
way would be.
Post your opinions
In the Public Issues Forum
at www.newszap.com.
Reporter Pete Gawda may be
reached at pgawda@newszap.com.


U.S. 441 S.E. property.
Turning to fines, Amparo Tre-
vino could be fined up to $250 a
day for every day of noncompli-
ance if he has not removed an
unlicensed vehicle, trash and de-
bris and demolished a dilapidated
structure on N.W. 33rd Avenue
property.
Larry Black could be fined up
to .$250 a day if he has not ob-
tained a building permit and made
some progress on construction of
a storage building on his N.E Fifth
Street property.
If rubbish, trash and debris
and household goods have not
been removed from the N.E Fifth
Street property of Shirley Wolf
and Emilio Aranda, they could be
fined up to $250 a day.
If Hattie P. Bradley has not de-
molished a derelict mobile home
on N.E. 14th Avenue, she could be
fined up to $250 a day.
Ruth Lundbloom Kauffman is
also facing a fine of up to $250
a day if a condemned structure,
overgrowth, debris and unli-
censed vehicles are not removed
form her Treasure Island prop-
erty.
Post your opinions
in the Public Issues Forum
at www.newszap.com.
Reporter Pete Gawda may be
reached at pgawda@newszap.com.


41 0b boo omo
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Broadway
Continued From Page 1
season, and a total of over 142,000
attend scheduled public events.
Chautauqua offers courses in
art, music, dance, theater, writing
skills and a wide variety of special-
interests.
The Institution, originally the
Chautauqua Lake Sunday School
Assembly, was founded in 1874
as an educational experiment
in out-of-school, vacation learn-
ing. It was successful and broad-
ened almost immediately beyond
courses for Sunday school teach-
ers to include academic subjects,
music, art and physical educa-
tion.
Mr. Nairnsey gave this pre-
sentation of Rodgers and Ham-
merstein's less known works
and background stories about
people who were in their Broad-
way shows. Rodgers and Ham-
merstein are renowned for works
such as "Oklahoma!", "Carousel"
and "The Sound of Music."
All of the programs are free of
charge at the Okeechobee County


Mission
Continued From Page 1
brother who is a member of that
church. His brother has been on
several previous mission trips.
Mr. Womble's brother will be
confirming the dates of the 10
to 12 day trip later this month.
At this point, the country is un-
certain. It could be either, South
Africa, Zimbabwe, or Cameroon.
Since all of those countries were
under British control until fairly
recently, language should not be
a problem.
Mr. Womble said it breaks his
heart that the average life span of
people in the area where is going
is 37 due to the prevalence of
AIDS. The mission group will be
guests of local pastors in Africa.


Student
Continued From Page 1
who will be accompanying the
kids as well as the program's di-
rector. It was this interview that
determined whether or not she
was accepted.
"We had to wait three days
before hearing that she'd been
accepted," said Karmen.
"They asked me what I would
do if I lost my stuff; what I would
do if food was put in front of me
that didn't look great; what I like
in school; what my favorite sub-
jects are; and, about extracurricu-
lar activities," explained Kelsi.
While she winced at the
thought of eating kidney pie, she
said fish and chips may be OK -
- depending on the type of fish
served.
She said her favorite subject
is history, and she enjoys playing
softball and volleyball. But be-
cause of her trip, she will miss out
on a big part of the softball sea-
son this summer. Kelsi plays in
the OCRA program and with the
Chobee Firestix traveling team.
Although she likes catching best,
she also pitches, plays first.base
and plays the outfield.
In Ireland, program partici-
pants will get to do such things
as kiss the Blarney Stone, visit
Bunratty Castle and learn how
to make Irish soda bread. In
Scotland, the students will ride
the Jacobite steam train -- better
known as the Hogwarts Express
-- through the countryside, learn


Library, 206 S.W. 16th Street.
The shows are entertainment
presentations which will consist
of actually playing songs from
these Broadway shows and in-
formative reviews of composer's
background. Mr. Nairnsey has a
collection of over 3,000 CD's and
collects all Broadway shows from
the past and the current shows.
Mr. Nairnsey has lived in
Okeechobee for 11 years. He has
chosen to share his passion of the
arts with citizens here for the last
7 to 8 years through these presen-
tations.
Mr. Nairnsey will present a dif-
ferent show each Tuesday until
Feb. 19. The schedule is as fol-
lows: "John Mercer" on Tuesday,
Jan. 22; "Bob Merrill" on Tuesday,
Jan. 29; "Frank Loesser" on Tues-
day, Feb. 5; "Jerome Kern, Part I"
on Tuesday, Feb. 12; and "Jerome
Kern, Part II" on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
For more information about
contact Mr. Nairnsey at (863) 801-
3417 or visit www.showbizman.
com.
Post your opinions in the Public
Issues Forum at www.newszap.com.
Reporter Chauna Aguilar may be
reached at cagullar@newszap.com.


They will be encouraging local
pastors and helping them realize
they are not alone. The group
will be giving them new ideas on
teaching methods and delivering
Bibles and other literature
Since this is a volunteer trip,
the participants will have to pay
their own expenses. However,
Mr. Womble is confident the Lord
will provide. He said that right af-
ter he was invited on the trip, a
man gave him $1,000.
A Bluegrass concert featuring
local musicians was held to ben-
efit the mission trip on Saturday,
Jan. 12 at Buckhead Ridge Baptist
Church.
Post your opinions
in the Public Issues Forum
at www.newszap.com.
Reporter Pete Gawda may be
reached at pgawda@newszap.com.


about the country's long battle
for freedom and will visit Loch
Ness in hopes of seeing Nessie --
the Loch Ness monster. In Wales,
they will visit Penrhyn Castle
where they will get to rappel off
the castle tower -- which is what
Kelsi is looking forward to most.
They will also visit St. Fagan's and
Cardiff Castle.
In England the students will
see more castles and such things
as the Tower of London and the
encampment at Warwick Castle.
But before Kelsi can do any of
these things, she has to raise the
money to send her by April. So far
she's raised about $400 by selling
Christmas candy, as Well as $600
from her grandparents. That still
leaves a total of $5,400.
"I'll be planning a bowling
tournament, and I'm thinking
about putting a booth in the park
for Speckled Perch," said Karmen,
of her fundraising plans.
If you would like to help, dona-
tions can be sent to Kelsi Brown
in care of Post Office Box #487.
Or, you can simply go to the Bank
of America on North Parrott Av-
enue where Karmen has set up a
special account for her daughter.
All checks should be made out to
Karmen Brown.
For information, Karmen can
be reached by calling (863) 763-
6001 Monday through Friday, be-
tween the hours of 9 a.m. and 5
p.m.
Kelsi is the daughter of Kar-
men Brown of Okeechobee and
Keith Brown of Arcadia.


News Briefs

High School Financial Aid night
Most High School seniors will probably need help paying for
their tuition, fees, books, and living expenses for college or career
school. Okeechobee High School Career Center will hold a Finan-
cial Aid Night on Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall to assist in
finding ways to offset some of these costs.
During this time, a Financial Aid Officer from IRCC will be pre-
senting information about the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) form. This includes the Pell Grant and aid from other
government sources.
The local scholarship directory will be handed out at this time,
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and other scholarship informa-
tion will be presented. Parents should attend with their senior stu-
dent.
Main Street plans mixer
Okeechobee Main Street will hold their mixer on Tuesday, Jan.
15, at the Waldau Studio of Graphic Design, 111 N.E. Second St.
from 5 until 7 p.m. The public is invited where you can socialize,
network and enjoy light refreshments. For more information con-
tact OKMS at (863) 357-MAIN.
Main Street plans membership luncheon
On Wednesday, Jan. 16, Okeechobee Main Street will hold their
membership luncheon at the Brahma Bull Restaurant, 2504 U.S. 441
South at noon. The public is welcome to come see what OKMS is
doing for our community.
Tennis fundraiser to benefit OHS teams
Costopoulos & Helton, P.A. will host their Sixth annual adult ten-
nis fundraiser to raise funds for the Okeechobee High School Tennis
teams.
The event is open to any adult and consists of A.and B levels in
doubles men, women and mixed doubles.
Entry fees are $30 per group entry. All entrants will receive an
event T-Shirt, along with a chicken dinner with sides and a drink on
the first day of the event. Dinner tickets can also be purchased from
members of the OHS Tennis team for $7.
The event will be held Saturday, Jan. 26 and Sunday, Jan. 27 at
the Okeechobee County Sports Complex tennis courts, 580 N.W.
27th Lane.
For an entry form or information, stop by Costopoulos & Helton,
P.A., 195 S.W. 28th St. or call (863) 763-1120. You may also call Dave
Ellis at (863) 763-4518. If there is no answer, leave a message and
your call will be returned.


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Lotteries
MIAMI (AP) Here are the numbers selected Sunday in the
Florida Lottery: Cash 3: 4-1-9; Play 4: 3-8-8-0; Fantasy 5: 32-13-
12-24-20.







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Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 15, 2008 3


FDLE commemorates Amber Aler


TALLAHASSEE -- Florida De-
partment of Law Enforcement
Commissioner Gerald Bailey
joined Florida's local, state,
federal, and private partners to
commemorate National AMBER
Alert Awareness Day. Each year,
on Jan. 13, the U.S. Depart-
ment of Justice remembers the
abduction and brutal murder
of nine-year-old Amber Hager-
man that occurred 12 years
ago in Texas, and for whom the
AMBER plan was named after.
During the commemoration,
the U.S. Department of Justice
formerly recognized the North
Florida Child Abduction Re-
sponse Team (CART) as the first


team in the country to earn na-
tional certification.
"In a child abduction, time is
a key factor," said Commission-
er Bailey. "The AMBER program
and Florida's CART teams focus
on responding fast, responding
efficiently, and drawing in the
right resources. This program
is our best chance for a positive
resolution that's already been
proven."
To earn certification, CART
teams must meet rigorous per-
formance standards in such
areas as rapid activation and
response, Incident Command
Structure, command post op-
erations and leads tracking. The


certification comes following
the North Florida team's full-
scale exercise 'in October that
was observed by assessors from
Fox Valley Technical College.
Fox Valley is contracted by the
Justice Department to train and
assess CART teams throughout
the United States.
Florida first created Child
Abduction Response Teams in
2005 and now has 13 teams in
place across the state. CART is
a multi-agency team designed
to immediately mobilize as-
sistance and investigative re-
sources to the lead investiga-
tive agency when a child goes
missing under suspicious cir-


cumstances. In 2005, Florida's
CART teams received the pres-
tigious ChoicePoint Award from
the International Association of
Chiefs of Police.
In conjunction with National
AMBER Awareness Day, adver-
tisers with the Florida Outdoor
Advertising Association have
donated space this weekend
on 43 digital, billboard displays
located throughout the state.
In addition, the Florida Depart-
ment of Transportation and
Florida Highway Patrol will be
promoting the awareness day
on their road signs and the
Florida Lottery will display mes-
sages on their 13,000 lottery


t Awareness Day
machines. the Florida AMBER Plan in 2000.
Each year, approximately Florida was the second state in
49,000 children are reported the nation to take the partner-
missing in Florida, with the ma- ship for AMBER Alerts statewide.
jority of those being runaways. Since that time, the AMBER Plan
In 2007, the FDLE Missing has expanded to include bill-
Children Information Clearing- boards, dynamic road signs and
house issued 11 AMBER Alerts. lottery machines. More than
Since the program's inception 23,000 citizens have signed up
in 2000, 42 children have been at www.missingchildrenalert.
located as a direct result. com to receive AMBER Alerts
When a child goes missing, via e-mail and cell phone text
the public plays a vital role in messages. There is no charge to
helping law enforcement to receive alerts.
safely recover that child. FDLE, To learn more about Florida's
in conjunction with the Division AMBER Plan or to sign up to
of Emergency Management receive alerts, visit www.miss-
and the Florida Association of ingchildrenalert.com or www.
Broadcasters, Inc., established fdle.state.fl.us.


Okeechobee News/Chauna Aguilar

EIHH thanks Kiwanis
Tom Jones (right), from Eckerd Intensive Halfway House
expressed his gratitude on behalf of the 30 boys in the pro-
gram for Kiwanis members generosity that they showed
by providing a Christmas party for the boys. Several Mem-
bers, including Dowling Watford (left) visited with the boys
during the party.



Two killed in crash


By Eric Kopp
Okeechobee News
Alcohol was the apparent
cause of an early morning car
crash on S.R. 710 in Okeechobee
County that left two people
dead.
According to an accident re-
port by Florida Highway Patrol
(FHP) Trooper R.G. Leatherow,
the accident occurred at 6:05
a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, on S.R.
7J0 at S.E. 28th St. in Okeechobee
County. -
The "a7cidetit claimed-" the
lives of William Clarke, 54, of
Sebring, and Debra A. Collier,
48, of Pompano Beach.
The FHP report states that a


2008 Honda Accord driven by
Tyler L. Sierra of Wellington was
eastbound on S.R. 710 when
he crossed the center line and
struck the 1998 BMW driven by
Mr. Clarke head-on. Mr. Clarke
and Ms. Collier were traveling
west on the highway.
Mr. Sierra, 18, and a passen-
ger in his car, Monica A. Osorio,
16, also of Wellington, are listed
as being in critical condition at
St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm
Beach,.,
The report states that the ac-
cident was alcohol related and
is still under investigation. Both
vehicles were listed as totaled
by Trooper Leatherow.


Woman arrested on cocaine charge


By Eric Kopp
Okeechobee News
A stop sign violation led to the
arrest of an Okeechobee woman
on felony drug charges shortly be-
fore midnight on
Friday, Jan. 11.
Connie Sue
Cox, 42, N.E.
1511" Ave., was
charged with
the felony of
possession of
cocaine and the
misdemeanor Connie
of possession of Cox
marijuana under
20 grams. Her bond was set at
$6,000.
Records at the Okeechobee


County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) in-
dicate that Cox was currently free
on bond from the Okeechobee
County Jail. Those records indi-
cate that she was arrested Oct.
17, 2007, on a felony charge of
possession of cocaine with intent
to sell, as well as misdemeanor
charges of possession of marijua-
na under 20 grams and posses-
sion of drug paraphernalia.
She was released from the
county jail on $15,000 bond.
An arrest report by the
Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force
states that a member of that unit
stopped a car in which Cox was
a passenger on U.S. 441 S.E. at
11:53 p.m. for running a stop sign
at S.E. 33rd Terrace and U.S. 441


S.E. The report states that while
approaching the car a task force
detective saw the passenger make
a movement with her hands. The
report states that it looked like she
was putting something under the
car seat.
The detective asked for, and
received, permission to search
the vehicle.
Under the front passenger seat
the detective found a substance
that, when field tested, indicated a
positive result for the presence of
cocaine. The suspected crack co-
caine weighed less than 1 gram,
said the report.
During a search of her per-
son, the detective allegedly found
a small amount of a green leafy


substance in a plastic sandwich
bag. When field tested, the sub-
stance indicated a positive result
for the presence of marijuana.
The substance and bag weighed
3.6 grams, said the report.
After taking Cox to jail, an-
other task force detective found
three glass vials containing a yel-
lowish substance on her person.
When field tested, the substance
indicated a positive result for the
presence of cocaine. The sus-
pected crack cocaine weighed 4.3
grams, added the arrest report.
The report does not indicate if
the driver was issued a citation for
running a stop sign.


Arrest Report


The following individuals
were arrested on felony or driv-
ing under the influence (DUI)
charges by the Okeechobee
County Sheriff's Office (OCSO),
the Okeechobee City Police De-
partment (OCPD), the Florida
Highway Patrol (FHP), the Flor-
ida Fish and Wildlife Conser-
vation Commission (FWC) or
the Department of Corrections
(DOC).
Kenneth Earl Peacock, 28,
S.E. Sixth Ave., Okeechobee,
was arrested Jan. 11 by the
OCPD on a charge of driving un-
der the influence. His bond was
seta ,.p. .. .. ... ,,


Chris J. Rhymes, 19, N.W.
154th Ave., Okeechobee, was
arrested Jan. 11 by Deputy
Corporal Aric Majere on an
Okeechobee County warrant
charging him with armed tres-
pass on property. His bond was
set at $2,500.
Genaro Garcia, 61, N.W.
38th Terrace, was arrested Jan.
11 by Deputy Matthew Hurst on
a charge of felony battery (do-
mestic). He was released on his
own recognizance.
Francisco Gonzalez, 39,
N.W. Fifth St., Okeechobee,
was arrested Jan. 11 by Dep-
uty, Augustin Saucedo on an


Okeechobee County warrant
charging him with violation of
probation possession of mari-
juana. He is being held without
bond.
Edward R. Conley, 42, N.W.
54th St., Sunrise, was arrested
Jan. 12 by Deputy Matthew Hurst
on charges of driving under the
influence, leaving the scene of
a traffic crash with damage and
driving on a suspended/revoked
license with knowledge. His
bond was set at $1,250.
Allison Ann Lacorazza, 48,
Okeechobee, was arrested Jan.
12 by Deputy Wayne Douglas
on a charge of driving under4th,;


influence. She was released on
her own recognizance.
Corey Hunter, 22,
Okeechobee, was arrested
Jan.12 by Deputy Cpl. Aric Ma-
jere on an Okeechobee County
warrant charging him with
armed trespass on property. His
bond was set at $5,000.
This column lists arrests and
not convictions, unless other-
wise stated. Anyone listed here
who is later found innocent or
has had the charges against
them dropped is welcome to
inform this newspaper. The in-
formation will be confirmed and
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4 OPINION Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 15, 2008


Speak Out
Speak Out has moved online, where it is quicker and
easier to share your ideas and converse with others. Go to
www.newszap.com, click on the community name and your
local or state Public Forum. There, you can create new
topics or comment on existing topics. You can also e-mail
comments to okeenews@newszap.com or call 863-467-2033,
but online comments get posted faster and not all phone calls
can be printed. What follows is a sampling of some of the
discussions currently taking place. Thanks for participating!
MOVIE: In regard to "The Golden Compass," from what I've
seen on Fox News ... it's not the movie that's actually anti-God. It's
the curiosity of the books. There's a trilogy of them. The movie is
supposingly to get the kids attention and they'll want to read the
books. The author stated: "If there is a God, then he deserves to be
brought down." The movie does look harmless. I wouldn't encour-
age any child to read the books without an adult checking them
out first. We have enough in our society to challenge us where our
children and grandchildren are concerned.

LONG LINES: Who besides me, is tired of standing in line for
45 minutes or longer to check out? Wouldn't you think with all
those registers they could have more than two lanes open during
a busy weekend evening or even Friday nights? Maybe a letter or
call to the store's corporate headquarters would help. What do
y'all think?

TV: I hear that next year all of the people who have antennas,
and not dish network, or something like that, cannot get any ser-
vice anymore? I just wondered if it was true and who controls all of
that, because most of us who have antennas is because we can't
afford the others. I would just like to know the answer to that.
Editor's note: Reporter Chauna Augilar recently wrote
an article about that for this newspaper. At midnight on
Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the Unit-
ed States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to
100 percent digital broadcasting. Analog television sets re-
ceiving free television using an antenna will not work after
Feb. 17, 2009. What you need to determine is whether your
television set has a "digital tuner" already built in. If it
does, your television set will work after the change. If your
television set was made before 1998 it was a traditional
"analog" set. If you bought a big-screen, projection TV be-
tween 1998 and 2004, it may have a built-in digital tuner
inside, but it may not. Only a limited percentage of projec-
tion television sets included digital tuners before 2004. If
you purchased a new television set since 2004, the chances
of having a built-in digital tuner improve dramatically.
Starting in 2004, many of the television sets sold at popu-
lar electronics stores feature digital tuners. If you deter-
mine you have an analog television here are your options:
purchase a new television with a digital tuner; purchase a
converter box; or switch to a paid television service pro-
vider. In response to this change, Congress has created the
TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households who
wish to keep their analog television sets. The program al-
lows US households to obtain up to two coupons, each
worth $40 that can be applied toward the cost of eligi-
ble converter boxes. A TV converter box is a new product
available in early 2008 that will plug into your analog tele-
vision and, along with your antenna, keep your analog set
working after the February deadline. A TV converter box is
a one-time purchase and is expected to cost between $50
and $70. Visit www.DTVTransition.org to find details on
eligible converter boxes and where they can be located. Ac-
cording to the www.dtv2009.gov website, these boxes will
.not be available until mid to late February, 2008. In or-
-der to apply for a coupon, go online between Jan. 1, 2008
+ oand March 31, 2009, and apply for up to two $40 coupons
per, household or call 1(888) DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009),
1(877) 530-2634 (TTY), or by mailing their application to
P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000.

LET PEOPLE DECIDE: With all this stuff about the witches
and all that. It sounds like some are trying to get you to believe in
God and the others are witches. Just let people decide what they
want to do.

CAR WASHES: I am calling about the benefit car washes. If
you are going to use out water which is at such a premium right
now for us, then I think you should keep that money here, to help
people in this community.

GARBAGE: I read in the paper where the garbage rates are go-
ing up, how do they expect us old elderly people to live who live
off of Social Security?

NO TIME FOR GRANDMOTHER: I am a grandmother, my
daughter is divorced; one week she gets the kids, the next week
he gets the kids. But where does grandma fit in? I get left out all
together. It's not fair. It's not right.

AMENDMENT: This is regarding the Tax Amendment. We cur-
rently received a 3 percent cap, the new amendment states that
businesses will now have a 10 percent cap, but what about resi-
dents, will there be any cap, or will the taxes just keep escalating?
Editor's note: Since Save Our Homes will still be in effect,
homesteaded residences will retain their 3 percent cap on in-
creases.




Okeechobee News

Our Purpose...
The Okeechobee News is published by Independent Newspapers of Florida.
Independent is owned by a unique trust that enables this newspaper to pur-
sue a mission of journalistic service to the citizens of the community. Since no
dividends are paid, the company is able to thrive on profit margins below
industry standards. All after-tax 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 deliber-
ation of public issues.


We Pledge ...
* To operate this newspaper as a
public trust
* To help our community become a
better place to live and work,
through our dedication to consci-
entious 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,
faimess, objectivity, fearlessness
and compassion.
To use our opinion pages to facili-
tate community debate, not to
dominate it with our own opinions.
To disclose our own conflicts of
interest or potential conflicts to our
readers. .
* To correct our errors and to give
each correction to the prominence
it deserves. '
* To provide a right to reply to those
we write about.
* To treat people with courtesy,
respect and compassion.


Advertising Director: Judy Kasten

News Editor: Katrina Elsken

National Advertising: Joy Parrish

Circulation Manager: Janet Madray

Independent Newspapers, Inc.
SJoe Smyth, Chairman
" Ed Dulin, President
* Tom Byrd, Vice President of
Newspaper Operations
*Katrina Elsken, Executive
Editor


MEMBER
OF:



Okee
For Mor
At Your


echobee News 2007
re Information See
Service On Page 2


Guest Commentary



Portability offers positive benefits


By Jim Todora
Sarasota County
Property Appraiser
On Jan. 29, 2008 Florida Vot-
ers have an opportunity to signifi-
cantly change the way property
is taxed. Four proposed consti-
tutional amendments have been
placed on the ballot" by the Flor-
ida Legislature. One is portability
of the Save,Our Homes benefit.
Portability refers to homestead
property owners' ability to retain
some savings by way of a reduced
assessed value when changing
homestead residences. The pro-
posed portability law does not
eliminate or diminish the current
Homestead Exemption benefits,
including Save Our Homes, in
any way.
Currently, a property receiving
the Homestead Exemption has its
annual Assessed Value increases
limited to no more than 3 percent
or the change in the Consumer
Price Index, whichever is less.
Any interruption in the exemp-
tion, such as the property being
sold, results in a reassessment to
the property's current Market Val-
ue. The difference between the
homestead property's Assessed
Value and its Market Value is re-
ferred to as a Cap. The proposed


law would permit the owner to
relinquish the homestead on one
property and within 2 years move,
or port, the Cap to a newly estab-
lished homestead property. The
maximum amount that could be
ported is $500,000. If downsiz-
ing to. a home of lower market
value the ratio of Assessed Value
to Market Value would remain the
same as the ratio from the previ-
ous residence. In no event would
portability permit a property to
become completely tax exempt.
For example if the owners
have a homestead property with
a Market Value of $300,000 and
an Assessed Value of $200,000 the
Cap would be $100,000 ($300,000'
- $200,000). If the owner upsize to
a property with a Market Value of
say $450,000 and establish a new
homestead, the Assessed Value of
this property would be reduced to
$350,000 ($450,000- $100,000 $100,000).
Suppose the owners have a
homestead property with a Mar-
ket Value of $500,000 and an As-
sessed Value of $380,000 the Cap
would be $120,000 ($500,000 -
$380,000). Their current Assessed
Value is 76 percent of its Market
Value ($380,000/$500,000 = 76%)
They now downsize to a property
with a Market Value of $350,000.


Upcoming Events

Tuesday Jan. 15
Rotary Club of Okeechobee meets each Tuesday at noon
at Golden Corral Restaurant, 700 S. Parrott Ave. The meetings are
open to the public. For information, contact Chad Rucks at (863)
763-8999.
New AA Meeting in Basinger: There is now an AA meeting in
Basinger on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Basinger Christian Breth-
ren Church on 700-A, north off U.S. 98. Beginners are welcome.
Alanon meeting will be held at the Church of Our Savior, 200
N.W Third St., at 8 p.m.
AA. Closed discussion meeting from 8 until 9 p.m. at the
Church of Our Savior, 200 N.W. Third St.
Family History Center meets from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 310 S.W Sixth St.
Anyone interested in finding who your ancestors are is welcome
to attend. There is Census, IGI (International Genealogical Index),
Social Security Death Index and military information available. For
information, call Robert Massey at (863) 763-6510.
The Camera Club meets every other Tuesday from 5:30 until
6:30 p.m. Learn types and uses of film; speeds and technology;
and, how to see your world and capture it on film. Class is basic
through extensive. Registration is $20, and each class is $10. Call
Bobbi at (863) 467-2614 for information. Some of the proceeds
will go towards Big Lake Mission's Outreach.
The Widow and Widowers Support Group meets at 8:30
a.m. at the Clock Restaurant, 1111 S. Parrott Ave., for breakfast. For
information, call (863) 467-9055..
Gospel Sing every Tuesday beginning at 7 p.m. The public
is invited to participate with vocal and/or instrumental music. For
information, contact Douglas Chiropractic Center at (863) 763-
4320.
The Gathering Church Overcomers Group meets at 7:30
p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, 1735 S.W. 24th Ave. This is a men's
only meeting. For information, call Earl at (863) 763-0139.
The Okeechobee Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. at the Golden
Corral Restaurant, 700 S. Parrott Ave. Anyone interested in becom-
ing a member is welcome. For information, contact Elder Sumner
at (863) 763-6076.
Bible study at the Living Word of Faith Church, 1902 S. Parrott
Ave., at 7 p.m. Informal and informative discussions bring many
Bible truths to life. Everyone is invited.
Grief and Loss Support Group meets every Tuesday at
10 a.m. at the Hospice building located at 411-S.E. Fourth St. in
Okeechobee. Everyone is welcome. For information, contact Enid
Boutrin at (863) 467-2321.
Community Country Gospel will meet at 7 p.m. at the
church next to Douglas Clinic on North Park St. Any individual or
group that enjoys old time gospel music is invited to participate.
For information, contact Dr. Edward Douglas at (863) 763-4320.
AA. meeting will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the First Unit-
ed Methodist Church, 200 N.W. Second St. This will be an open
meeting.
The First United Methodist Church, 200 N.W. Second St., will
be hosting God's Time -- a morning of free organized Chris-
tian activities that includes play, instruction and interaction for
parents and their pre-school children. The event will be held
each Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until noon. Child care will be pro-
vided for infants during the class. For information, call (863)
763-4021.
Narcotics Anonymous will begin meeting every Tuesday
at noon. Meetings will be held at'the Just for Today Club, 2303
U.S. 441 S.E., Suite K. For information, call .(863) 634-4780.
Wednesday Jan. 16
Martha's House support groups meet each Wednesday. Span-
ish groups meet from 7 until 8 p.m. at the Okeechobee Christian
Church, 3055 S.E. 18th Terrace. Ana Romero is the group facilita-
tor. Another group meets in the Okeechobee County Health De-
partment, 1798 N.W Ninth Ave., from 5 until 6 p.m. with Irene
Luck as the group facilitator. There is another meeting from 6 until
7 p.m. with Shirlean Graham as the facilitator. For information, call
(863) 763-2893.
AA. meeting from noon until 1 p.m. at the First United Method-
ist Church, 200 N.W Second St. It's an open meeting.
AA. meeting from 8 until 9 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic
Church, 701 S.W. Sixth St. It will be a closed discussion.
The Okeechobee Jaycees invites everyone to their meetings
each month at the American Legion Post #64, 501 S.E. Second
St., at 7:30 p.m. They are always looking for new people and new
ideas. For information, call Margaret Bowers at (863) 763-7399 or
610-9176.
NA. meeting at 8 p.m. at the Just For Today Club of Okeechobee,
2303 Parrott Ave., The Lake Shops Suite K. For information call
(863) 634-4780.
Bingo at the Buckhead Ridge Moose Lodge. Food will be
served at 5 p.m. and Bingo starts at 6 p.m. Public is welcome.



Community Events


Southern Gospel sing planned
Believers Fellowship Church at 300 S.W. 61t Ave. will have the
Southern Gospel Group "The Hyssongs" in concert, Friday, Jan.
18, at 7 p.m. For information, please contact Phil Jones at (863)
467-0131.


The proposed law would not per-
mit porting the entire $120,000
Cap however the new law would
permit them to maintain the 76
percent level of Assessed Value.
Therefore, the Assessed Value
of the new homestead property
will be $266,000 (76 percent x
$350,000).
Opinions have been presented
that portability will suppress the
tax base, further shift the tax bur-
den from homestead property
owners and have a negative ef-
fect on tax revenues. Upon care-
ful examination of the proposed
portability law one can see the
results will likely increase the tax
base, more favorably share the
tax burden and have no harmful
effect on tax revenues. As demon-
strated in both examples above if
the owners remain in their cur-
rent properties their Assessed
Values will grow by no more than
3%. However, if they acquire new
properties the Assessed Values
of each will reset thus increasing
the tax base. These greater values
will more equitably distribute the
tax burden. It is not the insistence
for lower property taxes that are
keeping homestead property
owners from moving but rather
the fear of significantly higher tax-


es on the new property. Portabili-
ty makes moving more affordable
and could help stimulate the local
real estate market. The outcome
helps all property owners.
Given the current market con-
ditions and the fear of increased
taxes, it is likely that.homestead
property owners feel trapped and
will stay put. However, if portabil-
ity were enacted owners might be
inclined to acquire new properties
thus invigorating the economy
and increase property values. The
economic advantages of portabil-
ity far outweigh any disadvantag-
es. The choice seems to be one
of lumbering under a stagnant tax
base or providing an opportunity
for growth at the owners' option.
Carefully review this proposed
law and see the compelling rea-
spns to vote yes on Jan. 29, 2008.
Editor's note: We welcome
all interested persons to
share their views on the pro-
posed amendment regarding
Homestead Exemptions and
Save Our Homes portabil-
ity. Email us at okeenews@
newszap.com or send let-.
ters to Okeechobee News,
107 SW 17th Street, Suite D,
Okeechobee, Florida 34974.


Community Events

Tuesday, Jan. 15

Nutritional analysis class offered
Dr. Edward Douglas, of Douglas Chiropractic and Fitness Cen-
ter, will be teaching a free CRA Nutritional Analysis Class on Tues-
day, Jan. 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the fitness center. For information,
call (863) 763-4320.

Sons of the American Revolution Essay contest
The Florida Society Sons of the American Revolution, would
like to invite all high school students to participate in the annual
George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest. The contest is open
to all high school students and runs during the fall months, all
entries should be in to the state co-coordinator by Jan. 15, 2008.
The essay contest consist of a 800 to 1200 word original essay
on the American Revolution, the Constitution or any participant
in the events leading up to the Revolution and its aftermath. Any
student wishing to enter the contest can find further information
by accessing the web site at sar-essay@hotmail.com or Hall Rie-
idger, Publicity Chairman FLSSAR, at (772) 336-0926.

Top Broadway Composers discussed
Presented by lah Nairnsey a't ledOkeechobee lbiary, Broad-
way Music Authority Ian Nairnsey will present Top Broadway
Composers at the Okeechobee Library beginning Jan. 15 with a
program on Rodgers and Hammerstein. Mr. Nairnsey brings a
wealth of music and backstage information on Broadway musi-
cals. The programs will begin at 7 p.m. in the Okeechobee Library
Meeting Room. They are free and open to the public. 1. "Rodg-
ers and Hammerstein In A Minor Key" on Tuesday, Jan. 15- 2.
"John Mercer" on Jan. 22 3. "Bob Merrill" on. Jan. 29, 4. "Frank
Loesser on February 5th. 5. "Jerome Kern Part 1" .Feb. 12, 6.
"Jerome Kern Part !!" Feb. 19. For information call Jan Fehrman
at (863) 357-9980.
Thursday, Jan. 17

VFW #9528 holds garage sale
The VFW Post 9528 Will hold a garage sale on Friday, Jan. 17
and Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Post home on 78 West in BHR. Dona-
tions of items to the sale are needed. Please drop off at the post
home on Hwy 78 West, or call for local pickup on Jan. 15 & 16.
For pickup call between noon and 4 p.m. at the Post home'(863)
467-2882 or Frank at (863) 467-0840.

Airboat Association to meet
The Lake Okeechobee Airboat Association will hold its month-
ly meeting at Beef O' Brady's on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. Elec-
tion of officers for 2008 and final preparation for the Speckled'
Perch Festival are the primary agenda items. All members are
encouraged to be present. 2008 membership dues can be paid
at the meeting or mailed to P. 0. Box 30, Okeechobee, FL 34973-
0300.

Monthly coffee klatch scheduled
The Chamber of Commerce Coffee Klatch will be Jan. 17, at 8
a.m. It will be sponsored by March of Dimes Lakeview Builders,
200 N.W. Fifth St.'

Airboat Association to meet
The Lake Okeechobee Airboat Association will hold its month-
ly meeting at Beef O' Brady's on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. Elec-
tion of officers for 2008 and final preparation for the Speckled
Perch Festival are the primary agenda items. All members are
encouraged to be present. 2008 membership dues can be paid
at the meeting or mailed to P. O0. Box 30, Okeechobee, FL 34973-
0300.

Huckabee supporters to meet
Mike Huckabee supporters will be meeting at Joey's Pizza on
Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m. More information at www.mikehucka-
bee.meetup.com/87/.
Friday, Jan. 18

SAC meeting to be held
New Endeavor High School will be holding their SAC meeting
on Friday Jan. 18, at 11:30 a.m. This meeting is open to the public.
For information call (863) 462-5125.

Calling all back yard BBQ cooks!
The Sixth Annual Top of the Lake BBQ Affair hosted by
Okeechobee Main Street is just around the corner. Main Street
has moved the event to the Agri-Civic Center and the new date is
Jan. 18 and 19, 2008. This is an invitation to local cooks. Because
this upcoming barbecue is a Jack Daniels Qualifier, they are an-
ticipating a very large event. Every year the Home Boy Division
gets larger and larger. Space is limited, so get those applications
in! For more information about the event, you can log onto'www.
mainstreetokeechobee.com or call Karen Hanawalt, Program
Manager at (863) 367-6246.


Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 15, 2008


4 OPINION







Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 15, 2008


Okeechobee District Elementary Schools Menu


Tuesday Jan. 15
Breakfast:
Chicken patty biscuit
Cereal
Cinnamon Toast
Lunch:
Cheeseburger macaroni
Yeast rolls
Deli turkey & bun
Tuna salad plate
Broccoli w/ lemon
Fruit cocktail


Tossed salad
Fresh fruit

Wednesday Jan. 16
Breakfast:
Breakfast burrito
Cereal
Cinnamon toast
Lunch:
Chili Con Came & Beans
Cheddar goldfish
Ham & cheese sub


Cottage cheese & fruit
Fruit gelatin
Salad
Yellow corn

Thursday Jan. 17
Breakfast:
Cereal
Cinnamon toast
French toast sticks
Lunch:
Turkey Taco w/ salad


Hamburger
Cottage cheese & fruit
Salad
Potato triangles
Applesauce

Friday Jan. 18
Breakfast:
Cereal
Cinnamon toast
Biscuit & sausage patty
Lunch:


Stuffed crust cheese
or pepperoni pizza
Baked potato
w/ chili & cheese
Yogurt fruit & cheese plate
Baby carrots w/ dressing
Mandarin oranges
Salad
Elementary menus:
Each breakfast includes:
Juice, choice of entree or cereal
and toast; fresh fruit, choice of
whole, reduced fat or low fat


chocolate milk.
Each lunch includes: Choice
of one. entr6e, choice of two
(vegetables, fruit or fruit juice),
choice of whole, reduced fat or
low fat chocolate milk.
Meal prices:
Breakfast:
Regular $.75
Reduced $.30
Lunch:
Regular $1.50
Reduced $.40


Okeechobee News/Chauna Aguilar

Elite 11 Drawing
On Thursday, January 10, Okeechobee Freshman Campus principal, Andy Brewer, drew
names to determine the most recent Elite 11 students (top row-left to right)are: Colby
Frank, Victoria Bostic, Celena Letcher; (middle row-left to right) are: Myriam Gomez, Mon-
ica Gill, Steven Brown; (bottom row-left to right) are: Camren Fraser, James Marquis (not
pictured) Lashanti Brown, Jasmine Guyton, and Tadarrell Smith. The students were en-
tered into the drawing if they received five positive signatures in the last three weeks. The
winning students from the class of 2011 received a book and candy.



Stand up and be counted!


By Dan Culbert
Extension Horticulture Agent
2008 is going to be a year for
presidential politics, Chinese
Olympics and with a prayer or
two a good year for local prop-
erty owners. And for our agricul-
tural producers, the beginning of
this year has already started with
a very important envelope that
should have arrived in their mail-
boxes.
Every 5 years the USDA pulls
out all their pencils and papers
and takes stock of what's growing
all over the country. The Census of
Agriculture is now underway. All
growers and ranchers are urged
to fill it out and send it in.
And, if they don't "get 'er
done," farmers can expect a visit
from Cindy Brummett. She's a
good friend of mine, and it's her
job to encourage all producers to
complete their forms for the 2007
Census of Agriculture.
Why do we need farm figures?
Business owners need good
numbers to make decisions.
Families need a budget and a cash
flow summary to make a good
family budget. Likewise, our farm
friends need good information
on their individual and collective
farming activities to plan for the
future of agriculture in our region
and throughout the country.'
According to Florida's Com-
missioner of Agriculture Charlie
Bronson, the input received by
the Census helps shape the future
of agriculture for many years. He
also wants to make sure that the
voices of our local farmers and
ranchers are heard.
Conducted every five years by
the U.S. Department of Agricul-
ture, the Census is a complete
count of the nation's farms and
ranches and the people who op-
erate them. The Census looks at
how land is used and owned, what
are common characteristics of the
operator, how they produce our
food and fiber products, including
income and expenditures.
It is the ONLY source of uni-
form, comprehensive agricultural
data for every county in the na-
tion.
"Regardless of how large or
small their operation or what
kinds of products they produce,
it's important for Florida farmers
and ranchers to complete and re-
turn the form," Bronson said. "By
participating in the Census, they
will help themselves and their
communities."
"The Census of Agriculture
provides information that benefits


UNIVERSITY OF

FLORIDA
IFAS EXTENSION.
agricultural producers and' their
communities in many ways,"
Bronson said. "For instance, poli-
cy-makers factor Census data into
decisions concerning agricultural
and rural programs. Community
planners use Census data to target
needed services to rural residents.
Companies rely on Census data
when determining where to lo-
cate their operations. And farmers
themselves can use Census data
to help make critical decisions
about their businesses."
The survey is in the Mail
USDA's National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS) mailed
out the Census forms on Dec. 28,
2007. They ask about what was
grown during the 2007 calendar
year. Completed forms are due by
Feb. 4, 2008. Producers can return
their forms by mail. Or for the first
time, the form can be filled out
online at a secure Census web
site: http://www.agcensus.usda.
gov/OnlineResponse/index.asp
Cindy is a 4-H Alumni that I
met almost 20 years ago. Our
paths had taken us in different di-
rections, but I ran into her again
when I came out to Okeechobee.
She remains enthusiastic about
supporting Agriculture, and is now
a proud 4-H parent here in town.
But for the next few months,
her job is to "ketchup" with any
farmer who does not return their
Census form.
If you get a form and are not a
farmer, there's a box to check that
as a response, and return it. If you
grow anything citrus, nursery
plants, livestock, honey and did
NOT get a form, contact us and
we will let Cindy know to get in
touch with you.
By the way, it is required by law
to complete this form. The same
law says that the individual infor-
mation provided is kept confiden-
tial, and will only be released after
it is tabulated and combined with
that of other producers. When the
full results are released in a year or
so, readers will not be able to tell
the size of a particular farm or the
amount of money it made.
To reach Cindy, you can call her
at her local phone number (863)
763-4999. For more information
about the 2007 Census of Agri-
culture, contact the NASS Florida
Field Office at (407) 648-6013 or 1-
800-344-6277 or visit http://www.


agcensus.usda.gov.
I've placed more information
on our Okeechobee web page,
http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu. If
you need additional information
on the 2007 Census of Agriculture,
please email us at okeechobee@
ifas.ufl.edu or call us at (863) 763-
6469. Local residents can stop by
our office at 458 Hwy 98 North
in Okeechobee, and visit our
Okeechobee County Master Gar-
deners from I to 3 PM on Tuesday
afternoons.


Your


We pledge to operate our newspaper as a public trust.


We believe journalists are nothing more than guardians of every cit-
izen's right to a free press. We have no authority to compromise, bar-
gain away or dishonor the principles underlying the First
Amendment.

We don't play loose with the facts. We give notice to your opinions,
not ours. We encourage vigorous discussion of public issues, but try
to keep everybody's comments within the bounds of fair play.

How are we doing?

Let us know by emailing feedback@newszap.com or calling your edi-
tor. .k e ... "






Okeechobee News


Community Service Through Journalism


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Llllll~ ORIII~LII~- --~ -- ---- II~--~-------~---------~







6 Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 15, 2008
6 ________^_ - -- ^ ^ ^ - -^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^


Submitted Photo

Seacoast rewards good kids
Seacoast National Bank presented an MP3 player to one
student at Osceola Middle School who has demonstrated
positive behavior for the first semester of the school year.
Eligible students have not received a referral or step for
the entire semester. Over 200 students qualified for the
drawing. Way to go students! Seacoast members (left to
right) are: Jon Geitner, Teresa Chandler, Melody Hodges
and student, David Blount and Assistant Principal Mrs.
Siler-Dobbs.


Obituaries


Marjorie D.
Bower
Marjorie D. Bower, age 91
of Okeechobee died peacefully
Dec. 7, 2007 at her residence in
Okeechobee. Born in Union,
N.Y. on July 6, 1916 she had
traveled extensively within the
United States and Europe.
She is survived by her sister
in law, Christine Bower of En-
dicott, N.Y.; nephew, Robert
Bower of Northridge, Calif.;
and niece, Marjorie Phillips of
Haymarket Va., as well as their
spouses and a.number of great
nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will
be held at the Buxton Funeral
Home Chapel, 110 N.E. Fifth
St., Okeechobee on Tuesday,
Jan. 22, at 4 p.m. Her ashes
will be interred at the Riverside
Cemetery in Appalachian, N.Y.
All arrangements are under
the direction and care of Bux-
ton Funeral Home and Crema-
tory.


John Edwin
McBride
John Edwin McBride, age 26
of Stuart, died Sunday, Jan. 13,
2008 in Martin Memorial Hospi-
tal in Stuart. Born Dec. 3, 1981 in
Okeechobee, he had been a life-
time resident of Okeechobee.
He is survived by his dad, Brian
McBride of Pennsylvania; mother,
Debra Gilliard of Okeechobee;
brothers, Brian McBride of Stuart,
Elige Gilliard of Orlando; Uncle,
Rodney Fetrow of Okeechobee;
grandmothers, Jeanette Slase-
man of Pennsylvania and Jean
McBride of Pennsylvania. In ad-
dition, be is survived by his com-
panion, Brandy and her daughter
Mia of Stuart.
There are no service plans at
this time. Friends may sign the
guestbook at www.buxtonfuner-
alhome.com.
All arrangements are under
the direction and care of Buxton
Funeral Home and Crematory,
110 N.E. Fifth St. Okeechobee.


Pet birds linked to bacterial infections


TALLAHASSEE The Florida
Department of Health (DOH)
joins the Florida Department of
Agriculture in investigating bac-
terial infections in birds testing
positive for psittacosis at several
pet stores nationwide. Forty-six
states have received birds from
a Florida vendor which appears
to be the source of the infected
birds. One bird in Florida testing
positive but showing no symp-
toms for Chlamydophila psittaci
has been linked to this vendor.
Three suspected human cases in
employees at a single pet store
in Minnesota have been linked to
these birds.
State Public Health Veterinar-
ians and other health and agricul-
ture -officials have been notified,
and impacted pet stores have re-
ceived guidance. The vendor's lo-
cal county health department and
the Florida Department of Agricul-
ture and Consumer Services are


working together with the vendor
to review management practices.
Psittacosis is a relatively com-
mon infection in birds caused by
the bacteria Chlamydophila psit-
taci. Although many avian species
can be affected, parrot-like birds
such as cockatiels, parakeets and
macaws, are particularly vulnera-
ble. Infected birds may be less ac-
tive, stop eating, ruffle their feath-
ers, have discharge from the eyes
and nose, or have abnormal drop-
pings. Some birds will not display
symptoms but can still. spread
the bacteria, especially following
stresses such as introduction into
a new home, shipping and chill-
ing. Infected birds can be treated
with antibiotics. A veterinarian
should be consulted for testing
and treatment procedures.
People with prolonged con-
tact with birds, such as pet store
workers and bird owners, are at
greatest risk of infection, though


the disease is not commonly re-
ported. The disease can also be
more severe in pregnant women
and the elderly. Chlamydophila
psittaci can be spread in the drop-
pings and nasal discharges of in-
fected birds. Symptoms in people
are flu-like in most cases and may
include fever, chills, headache,
cough and muscle-ache. Bird
owners or workers that develop
flu-like symptoms should consult
their physician for testing and ap-
propriate antibiotic treatment.
Psittacosis must be reported to
both the Florida Department of
Health and the Florida Depart-
ment of Agriculture and Consum-
er Services.
Prevention and control rec-
ommendations for bird owners
include: Contact a physician if
respiratory or flu-like illness de-
velops or for any other health
concerns and mention bird own-
ership, discuss bird health issues


with a veterinarian, clean cages
regularly before droppings dry
and create potentially infectious
dust, when cleaning cages, re-
move the bird from the cage, wet
droppings with a disinfectant or
dilute bleach solution and allow
5-10 minutes contact time before
cleaning, wash hands well after
cleaning cages or handling birds,
keep birds and cages in a well-
ventilated area, only purchase
birds which look healthy, isolate
new birds for 30 days before plac-
ing them near other birds, own-
ers of potentially exposed birds
should consult their health care
provider with health-related ques-
tions or concerns and should
contact a veterinarian if pet birds
appear ill.
DOH promotes, protects and
improves the health of all people
in Florida. For more information
about DOH programs, visit www.
doh.state.fl.us.


Pet owners still ask question about pet foods


With the memory of last
year's pet food recall still fresh
on many pet owners' minds, cu-
riosity about pet food is at an all-
time high and for good reason.
Many pet owners lost faith in the
pet food industry and have begun
producing their own foods from
home, while others have started
buying super premium pet food.
But the question still lingers:
What's the difference? Dr. John
Bauer, a professor at Texas A&M
University College of Veterinary
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences,
offers some helpful advice for cu-
rious pet owners.
When a pet owner strolls
down the pet food aisle, he or
she can be daunted by a long row
of different pet food brands all
promising the best nutrition for
their pet. Some dry-type pet foods
may cost 50 cents per pound
while others are 80 cents, leaving
the pet owner wondering what
miracle ingredient is responsible
for this increase in price.
The answer is not as simple as
one ingredient, Bauer says. It de-
pends on the pet owner and the
pet's specific needs. Sufficient
protein, calories and fat are criti-
cal aspects for pet food. If a pet


does not receive enough protein
from its food, over time the ani-
mal may suffer from starvation.
"Other effects of lack of suf-
ficient protein are brittle coat,
lethargy, liver failure and kidney
failure," he notes. "If the animal
does not intake enough fat, scaly
skin will develop which will cause
irritation and even hair loss. Vita-
mins must also be ingested by
pets in order to stay healthy.
"Each vitamin participates in
a certain metabolic pathway; If
the vitamin is not. present, the
pathway can not persist," adds
Bauer.
Bauer offers this example of a
metabolic pathway: If a pet does
not receive enough vitamin A,
which aids in eyesight, the pet
may become, over time, partially
blind.
To keep a pet healthy, pet
owners need to make sure their
animal is ingesting a complete
and balanced diet.
"Most dog foods on the mar-
ket right now are complete and
balanced, but the difference lies
in the ingredients," he notes.
The more expensive pet foods
tend to offer higher-quality ingre-
dients and higher-fat contents.


The quality of the ingredients can
aid in digestibility of the food,
but not overall nutrient value of
the food. The higher fat count in
premium brands ensures that the
pet's daily fat content is met and
helps promote an increase in the
glossiness of the animal's coat.
More expensive pet food also
goes through more rigorous test-
ing, which leads to the increase
in price. The protocol for these
f


further tests is set by the Asso-
ciation of American Feed Control
Officials (AAFCO). Bauer says
these products are fed to animals
whose health is then monitored.
Pet owners can ensure that a pet
food is AAFCO certified by check-
ing for a small label found on the
product, usually in fine print.
Pet talk is a service of the
Texas A&M College of Veterinary
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.


11


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Memorial Tribute
Remember a loved one
V y who has departed with a special
i> 1 Memorial Tribute in this newspaper.


Your tribute can be published following the memorial services, or to
commemorate an anniversary ofyour loved one's birth or passing. You
can add a photograph of your loved one, lines from a poem or
scripture, and special art or borders -- and we'll make sure it all comes
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'I i'i








Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 15, 2008 '



Reading labels can be an eye-opening experience


At the store the other day,
a candy bar caught my eye
- Snickers Charge, a new Snick-
ers bar with added caffeine and
B vitamins.
Adding the vitamins I can
understand. Knowing that con-
sumers are becoming more
health conscious, food compa-
nies have been experimenting
with adding vitamins to every-
thing from bread to diet sodas. It
doesn't surprise me they would
add vitamins to candy bars. But
caffeine? The candy bar label
promised a whopping 60 mg of
caffeine. That's more caffeine
than a can of cola (which have
about 45 mg.) but less than a
can of Red Bull, which boasts
80 mg caffeine, which about the
same as a cup of coffee.
I could not resist. I bought
one and ate it the next morning.
I like Snickers' bars, but this one
had a funny aftertaste. I did no-
tice when the caffeine kicked in.
As an adult, I can appreci-


A
Healthier
Life


With Katrina Elsken

ate the usefulness of caffeine.
My neurologist even advised me
that a little caffeine mid-after-
noon would help take the edge
off a headache. I limit my caf-
feine intake to one beverage a
day a little can be beneficial,
but too much is not good.
The label indicated the Snick-
ers Charge bars were a trial
product, not in regular produc-
tion. I looked for them online,
but could only find mentions
of them on blogs. The Snickers
Web site has no information.
When I was back at the same


store a few days later, they no
longer had the candy bars for
sale.
So I can only speculate to
whom they originally thought
they might market the caffein-
ated Snickers bars. Overworked
newspaper editors?
As a parent, I certainly
wouldn't want to leave the su-
per-charged candy bars around
the house where children might
be tempted. It would be too easy
for kids to overload on the caf-
feine. So while it doesn't appear
the Snickers Charge bars are go-
ing to become part of their regu-
lar line, it's probably a good idea
tor read the labels on any new
product.

I recently printed my own
recipe for chicken soup which
contains no caffeine but plenty
of vitamins and I have gotten a
lot of reader response. The most
common comment I received
was that readers didn't know


that using bones with just a
little lemon juice or vinegar -- to
make soup added calcium to the
soup. They had assumed bones
were cooked in a soup pot just
to get that last bit of meat to fall
off.
The bad news --in our mod-
ern age of fast food consump-
tion, we have generations of
cooks whose moms never made
soup from scratch. The good
news people are still interest-
ed in learning about cooking the
old-fashioned way. If you have
an old "from scratch" recipe to
share, email it to me at kelsken@
newszap.com, or send it to me
in care of the newspaper office,
107 SW 17"' Street, Okeechobee,
Florida 34974.

In the news this week, re-
searchers have discovered a
treatment that be the key to
discovering how to reverse the
symptoms of Alzheimer's Dis-
ease. The study was published


in the "Journal of Neuroinflam-
mation." The research team in-
cluded Dr. Edward Tobinick at
the University of California, Los
Angeles and Dr. Hyman Gross
of the Univerity of South Califor-
nia. The study is accompanied
by an extensive commentary
by Sue Griffin, Ph.D., director
of research at the Donald W.
Reynolds Institute on Aging at
the University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Lit-
tle Rock and at the Geriatric Re-
search and Clinical Center at the
VA Hospital in Little Rock, who
along with Robert Mrak, M.D.,
chairman of pathology at Uni-
versity of Toledo Medical School,
are editors-in-chief of the "Jour-
nal of Neuroinflammation."
According to the study, those
suffering from Alzheimer's Dis-
ease have elevated levels of
tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF), which is a component
of the brain's immune system.
The authors theorized that these


elevated TFN levels were inter-
fering with brain function. The
researchers gave patients an in-
jection of an anti-TNF drug, and
saw a dramatic improvement
within minutes of the injection
in the spine.
The new study, entitled "Rap-
id cognitive improvement in
Alzheimer's disease following
perispinal etanercept' adminis-
tration," and the accompanying
commentary, entitled "Perispi-
nal etanercept: Potential as an
Alzheimer's therapeutic,",. are
available on the Web site of the
Journal of Neuroinflammation,
at http://www.jneuroinflamma-
tion.com.
Before making any change
in your diet or exercise plan,
consult your doctor. This
is especially important if
you are on any prescription
- medications. Some drugs in-
teract badly with foods that
would otherwise be consid-
ered "healthy."


Health News in Brief


Hospital sponsors
Ladies Health Day
Raulerson Hospital presents
"Ladies Only Health Day," a lun-
cheon on Jan. 22, from noon until
1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express.
The guest speakers for the Ladies
Only Health Day will be board cer-
tified physicians, James Bradfield,
M.D. FACOG (Gynecology) and
Rene Loyola, M.D. FACS (Gen-
eral Surgery). Dr. Bradfield will
discuss new healthcare services
offered to women of all ages and
Dr. Loyola will discuss new "State


of the Art" surgical procedures
that are opening up regularly at
the Hospital. Reservations are re-
quired. Please RSVP to Bill Casian
at (863) 824-2702. Only 50 seats
are available for this event.

Diabetes Support at
Raulerson Hospital
Raulerson, Hospital offers a
monthly Diabetes Support Group
which meets on the second Thurs-
day of each month in the hospital
cafeteria at 2 p.m. If you have any
questions please call the program


coordinator, Wanda Haas, R.N.,
B.A., C.D.E., C.P.T., at 763-5093".

Health and Safety
Expo planned
The Okeechobee Family
Health and Safety Expo will be
held at the Agri-Civic Center on
Saturday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. un-
til 2 p.m. We are currently seek-
ing vendors to share health and
safety related information at the
Expo. If your business/organiza-
tion is not health related, you
can still participate, call for more


details. Free admission, free park-
ing, free lunch, and free prizes to
all who attend. For information
please call Sharon Vinson at (863)
462-5000 Ext. 257, Angela Kelly
- Okeechobee County Health De-
partment (863).462-5781 or Don-
nie Arnold Okeechobee County
Fire Rescue (863) 634-6464.

Red Cross offers
HIV/AIDS course
The American Red Cross-
Okeechobee Branch offers a ba-
sic. HIV/AIDs instruction course


that complies with Florida em-
ployment requirements for indi-
viduals working in various voca-
tions. This is a self-study course
that includes text work and the
successful completion of a mul-
tiple choice written test. The cost
of the course is $15. Call the local
Red Cross office at (863) 763-2488
for information.

Freedom from
Smoking classes open
The Okeechobee County
Health Department (OCHD) of-


fers a Tobacco Prevention and
Education Program for the com-
munity.
The purpose of the program is to
reduce adult and youth tobacco
use, and provide tobacco resourc-
es to residents, businesses and
community organizations in the
county. Freedom from Smoking
classes will be held every Tuesday
at the Okeechobee County Pub-
lic Library, 206 S.W 161h St., from
5:30 until 6:30 p.m.
For information, call (863)
462-5781.


u "State-odule-art Treatments Include:
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
* Mammosite.Breast Cancer Therapy, *High DoseoRate Brachytherapy (HDR)

We offer Courtesy Transportation, Mileage Reimbursement,
FREE Second Opinions and FREE Prostate Cancer Screenings.
Now Accepting New Patients
Okeechobee Cancer Center
301 NE 19" Drive Okeechobee
Mid-Florida Cancer Center (863) 357-0039 Port St. Lucie Cancer Center
604 W. Midway Road 1780 SE Hillmoor Dr
White City, FL 1231 N. Lawnwood Circle Port St. Lucie, FL
(772) 468-3222 Ft. Pierce, FL (772) 335-2115
(772) 464-8121
CARING PROFESSIONALS STATE-OF-THE-ART TREATMENT FIGHTING CANCER



Ludmila Mishelevich, MD

Board Certified Family Medicine

Florida East Coast Medical Group

| Like Having a Doctor in the Family

The office of Dr. Mishelevich provides Primary and Preventive care for adults.
With the most advanced equipment and resources, Dr. Mishelevich takes care
of the physical, mental and emotional health. Our philosophy is based on the
creation of caring relationships with patients and their families.
Our Services:
SSick Visits for acute and chronic diseases
Comprehensive management of chronic diseases
* Preventive Medicine: Annual Physical Exams including comprehensive health assessment, labo-
ratory work and age appropriate cancer screening; vaccinations; healthy living counseling
Office Gynecology: Pap Smears, Breast Exams and Counseling
Dermatologic procedures, skin cancer screening, cosmetic procedures
Accepting New Patients We Accept Most Insurances
1004 N. Parrott Ave Okeechobee
Give us a call at (863) 763-6496 for all your health needs.


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Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 15, 2008 H


Important Information: Please
read your ad carefully the first
day it appears. In case of an
inadvertent error, please noti-
fy us prior to the deadline list-
ed. We will not be responsible
for more than 1 incorrect
insertion, or for more than the
extent of the ad rendered val-
ueless by such errors.
Advertiser assumes responsi-.
bility for all statements, names
and,content of an ad, and
assumes responsibility for any
claims against Independent
Newspapers. All advertising
is subject to publisher's
approval. The publisher
re s the right to accept or
reject any or all copy, and to
insert above the copy the word
"advertisement". All ads
accepted are subject to credit
approval. All ads must conform
to Independent Newspapers'
style and are restricted to
their proper classifications.
S Some classified categories
require advance payment.
These classifications are
denoted with an asterisk *.
Independent Newspapers will
never knowingly accept any
advertisement that is illegal or
considered fraudulent. n all
cases of questionable value,
such as promises -of guaran-
teed income from work-at-
home programs or other offers
to send money in advance for
a product or service we
advise you to check with the
Attorney General's Consumer
Freud Line at 1.800-220-5424,
and/or The. Better Business
Bureau, 800-464-6331 for pre-
vious complaints.


DACHSHUND found off of
Hwy. 70 near Post Office.
Call to ID. (863)824-0828
KITTEN white/orange, blue
collar w/bell, found vic of
Good Spirits on Hwy 441
(863)467-1258

Emp lo ment
KII1


DRIVER
FULL TIME, BENEFITS,
GREAT PAY
Delivering propane,
maintaining equipment &
provide great customer
service. CDL B Hazmat.
Ferrellgas, 204SW 7th Ave,
Okeechobee (863)763-7557
FAX (863)763-5206
Professional Sales Executive
position available for a busy
new home sales business.
Sales experience a plus. No
real estate license required.
Salary plus commission.
Call (863)763-6376
or (863)357-2700.
-SALES MANAGER-
Local building company seeks
Sales Manager. Must have
proficient computer skills in-
cluding C.A.D. Minimum 10
years construction Industry ex-
perience. Excellent Interper-
sonal and presentation skills.
Strong written and verbal
skills. Financing and estimat-
ing knowledge a plus.
Send resume to RO. Box 991,
Okeechobee, FL 34973.


WAITRESS & COOK: Apply in
person,after 2pm @ Pizza
Heaven 208 South Parrot Ave.
863-763-9299

Time to clean out the
attic, basement and/or
garage? Advertise your
yard sale In the classi-
fleds and make your
clean ou a breezel

Financial


NOTICE
Independent Newspapers will
never accept any advertise-
ment that is illegal or con-
sidered fraudulent. In all
cases of questionable val-
ue, such as promises of
guaranteed income from
work-at-home programs if
it sounds too good to be
true, chances are that it is.
If you have questions or
doubts about any ad on
these pages, we advise that
before responding or send-
ing money ahead of time,
you check with the Better
Business Bureau at
772-878-2010 for previous
complaints.
Some 800 and 900 telephone
numbers may require an
extra charge, as well as
long distance toll costs. We
will do our best to alert our
reader of these charges in
the ads, but occasionally
we may not be aware of the
charges. Therefore, If you
call a number out of your
area, use caution.

Reading a newspaper
helps you understand
the world around you.
No wonder newspaper
Leaders are more suc-
cessful peoplel


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Employmn
Full ime "I'l


Start a new career in the much needed field of
nursing as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Complete the
Hospitality Assistant course/training at Okeechobee
Healthcare Facility and become a CNA in 4 weeks. Next
class begins soon. Instructor RN/experienced teacher has
a very high CNA exam passing rate. Qualified CNAs are
then eligible for LPN training. Good benefits.
Apply In Person For Further Details:
406 N.W. 4th Street (863) 357-2442

Immediate Openings CNAs


Need a few more bucks to
purchase something
deer? Pick up some
extra bucks when you
sel your used Items In
the classifelds.


How do you find a ob hin
today's competitive
market? in the employ-
ment section of the clas-
sifledss


Services


ELDERLY CARE Nursing
home alternative at 1/3 the
cost Bring your loved one
for individualized TLC In
small family environment
by exp Reg. Nurse. Only 1
opening now.
863-763-2334.

One man's trash Is anoth-
er man's treasure. Torn
your trash to treasure
with an ad in the classl-
fleds.


DEE'S MINOR REPAIR
License # 5698
& Pressure Washing
License #1126
FREE ESTIMATES
(863)467-2917
or (863)261-6425


READING A
NEWSPAPER...
makes you a more Informed
and Interesting person. No
wonder newspaper readers
are more successfull


AKC YORKIES 1 female
$600, 3 males $500 ea,
(863)467-4337
CHIHUAHUAS 2 males, 1 yr
old, 1 black 1 brown, all
shots. $150 each
(863)763-6778
CHIPOO PUPPIES (2) Tiny
toy males, white. Shots/vet
health cert. $300 cash only.
(863)357-0037.


TV ANTENNA TOWER 75ft,
Rohn, Guyed 12" Triangular
welded galvanized base +
7/1 Oft +5 ft top, you dis-
mantle and move, $1000
(863)634-7040

Rentals


DUPLEX 3 BR, 1 BA, $850
mo. 1st & sec. to move in.
No pets. Call (863)634-9899


IMMACULANT 2 BR, 11/2 BA,
2 Story apt. Washer/Dryer.
Fenced. Patio. $750 1st,
last, sec. (863)634-3313
OKEECHOBEE- furnished effi-
ciency, Ibr, $150 /wk, You
pay own utilities
(863)467-4253
Your new car could be In
today's pape. MHave you
Iotked fop it?


KINGS BAY, 2BR/2BA, $750
mo. (863)763-7301 or
(561)-248-5317


BASSWOOD 2 BR, 1 BA,
$900 mo. 1st & sec. to
move in. N6'pets. Call
S(863)634-9899W
BASSWOOD -'New house in
good location, 3br, :2ba
w/garage, $1200/mo, 33rd
Rd (561)379-9417 or
(561)683-9754
BRAND NEW 4/2 $1095.
mo., 1st. & sec. No pets
863-484-0809
BRAND NEW, 3BR's/2BA's,
lots of tile, garage, $1200.
Lawrence Associates,
1-800-543-2495.
BRAND NEW- Rent or Buy
3br/2ba, 1700 sq ft, garage,
laundry, tiled, $1100/mo.
rent. 100% applied to pur-
chase of $168,500 after 1
year. 3429 NW 40th Dr.
Basswood. (561)718-2822
DIXIE RANCH ACRES 3br,
2ba, $1000 / mo
(800)543-2495
DIXIE RANCH ESTATES -
NEW! 3 BR, 2 BA, new tile,
doors & paint, W/D. $900/mo
+ elec, + $900 sec dep. Pets
okay. (561)596-1344 or
(561)596-1476
MOVE IN SPECIAL
3BR/1.5BA, 15 minfrom
town & 2BR/1BA. No pets.
1st & sec. Call Debbie
(863)467-2982 Mon.-Fri.,
8am til 4pm.
OKEE: 3/1 on 1' ac. Renovat-
ed, laundry, C/A/heat, screen
r orch, carport. $1100. + 1st,
ast, sec/refs. 305-458-8659
OKEECHOBEE 2br, lba
House on ,/z acre. W/D hook
up. Carport, Tile flooring.
$750. mo. (863)467-8797
OKEECHOBEE 3/2 on 20
acres, 15 minutes North of
town. $1500/mo
(863)447-0352
OKEECHOBEE ESTATES -
3BR/2BA, pool, fireplace.
1401 SE 8th Dr. 1st & sec.
Call to see (863)885-1347
WATERFRONT Treasure Is-
land 2 br, 1 ba MH $590/mo,
1 Rm. Cottage, $450/mo. All
req. 1st., last & sec. & Include
c i t y water.
(561)346-4692/346-4646

f&CI


YARD

SALE





Place Your
YARD SALE
ad today!

Get FREE signs!

Call Classifieds
877-353-2424


Immediate Openings All Shifts
Full Time/Part Time RN's. & LPN's
Apply In Person To:
Okdechobee Health Care Facility
1646 Hwy. 441 North


Okeechobee Health Care Facility
All shifts: Full/Part Time. Good Benefits.
Apply In Person To:
406 N.W. 4th Street. (863) 357-2442


Emlymn Eml men
Fui~ll 'TTiime ^^ 0 5 FulaTinme 0205^


I Garage/


I wfGarage/
Yard Sal es 15


I


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IU


SEcia ic


Seial Noti *


I a N I I


I Notice


SSyndicated Content L


Available from Commercial News Providers"


TEN UNIT BUILDING 8 Units
Occupied w/tenants. On
70W x 140L lot. $175,000 or
best offer. (863)763-8058
It's never too late to find
the perfect gift. Look for
it in thnrlasslfinds.


BANK SHORT SALE
3/2 Waterfront, $129,000 or
best offer. All offers consid-
ered. The Real Estate Co.
(954)326-2083
NEW HOME ON YOUR LOT!
Features 3BRs/2BAs, Ig. LR,
garage, $118k, includes per-
mit fees. Lawrence Asso-
ciates 1-800-543-2495
OKEECHOBEE
Zero Down. $999. mo.
4br, 2ba CBS Brand New.
Prices $139,900. 3824 NW
7th St. 561-248-3879 or
863-484-0809 .


Land for Sale- 10 acres,
drop dead gorgeous land,
.tons of oaks & palm trees,
with a creek, close to town,
$30,000 per acre.
Dreamcatcher Realty
(863)357-5900

How fast can your car
go? It can go even faster
when you sell It in the
classifleds.


BLUE CYPRESS Golf & RV, 2
waterfront lots, large pads,
pool & clubhouse, 9 hole
golf course, (239)945-7666



OKEE. Beautiful 3br, 2ba
Home & Lot. In 55+ Comm.
$127K. Neg. 863-763-8567
or 502-598-9115


On Taylor Creek, 55+ park,
furnished 2/1 mobile home,
Fla. rm., long carport, 2
sheds, Ig. covered dock &
boat slip, w/lift, Must See to
Appreciate! $35,000.
(863)447-9524









READING A
NEWSPAPER...
makes you a more informed
and interesting person. No
wonder newspaper readers
are more successful


1 III0


OKEECHOBEE
Rental, SE 23rd Court,
For information.
(863)763-4892 or 763-5419
Shop here fmstl
The classified ads



CHOICE OF 3BR, or 2 BR, 2
ba D/W's No pets, yrly lease,
starting @ $600/mo +
$1000 sec: 863-763-4031


^hffIZ fflB


1I3I0-


AIR BOAT 13 ft, Stephull
w/300 lycoming upstack fuel
injected, 3 blade carbon fiber
prop. (561)719-1534
Buying a car? Look In the
classifleds. Selling a
car? Look In the classl-
fieds.


GULFSTREAM CONQUEST '03
- 29.5 ft, excellent condition.
$9500 (954)298-0730 any-
time.
TRAVEL TRAILER '06 39 ft, 2
br, Irg full bath, c/a, awning,
self contained or park model,
2 slide outs, sleeps 6, used
once. Will: deliver. $20,000
or best offer. (610)805-3616


Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 15, 2008


MH 1 br, 1 ba. $600/mo for
1 person, $700/mo for 2
people, includes all utils +
cable. 1st mo + $200 sec.
(863)763-2098/610-1386/
763-4880 Elliebob Shores-
828 Hwy 441 SE
Love the earth Recycle
your used items by seol-
ing them In the classi-
flnds.



BANK REPO'S
MOVE TO YOUR LAND
Mobile Home Angels
561-385-4694
OAK PARK
2 BR, Furnished. 2 sheds.
$19,500.
(863)763-4662


M-=
CADILLAC DEVILLE '99,
Green, 1 OwnerWell maint.
Fully loaded, Approx. 90K
mi. Good condition $6500
(863)612-0220 or
(239)290-7219

READING A
NEWSPAPER
HELPS YOU
GET INVOLVED IN
THE COMMUNITY.
'4


S o wonder
newspaper
readers have
more funi





Public Notices

iII AI


Change In January School Board-
Meeting Date


CARE AND PROTECTION
TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
DOCKET NUMBER: CP 07W0093
COMMONWEALTH OF
MASSACHUSETTS
Juvenile Court Department
Worcester County Division
225 Main Street, Room 1007
Worcester, MA 01608
TO: THOMAS BREWARD AND/OR
FATHER OF LACEY MARIE MORRIS
A petition has been presented to this
court by DEPT. SOCIAL SERVICES,
seeking, as to the subject childrenn,
LACEY MARIE MORRIS, that said
child(ren) be found in need of care and
protection and committed to the De-
partment of Social Services. The court
may dispense the rights of the person
named herein to receive notice of or to
consent to any legal proceeding affect-
ing the adoption, custody, or guardian-
ship or any other disposition of the
children) named herein, if it'finds that
the child(ren) Is/are in need of care
and protection and that the best inter-
ests of the child(ren) would be served
by said disposition.
You are hereby ORDERED to appear in
this court, at the court address set
forth above, on 02/22,08, at 9:00
a.m., for a PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE.
You may bring an attorney with you. If
you have a right to an attorney and f
ithe court determines that you are indi-
gent, the court will appoint an attorney
to represent you.
If you fall to appear, the court may pro-
ceed with a trial on the merits of the
petition and an adjudication of this
matter.
For further Information call the Office of
the Clerk-Magistrate at 508-791-7109.
Craig 0. Smith
Clerk Magistrate
DATE ISSUED: 12/13/07
WITNESS:
Carol A. Erskine
FIRST JUSTICE
256418 ON 1/15,22,29/08


Okeechobee News/Charles M urphy 'I '- . ; Z......... -mm
Senior Cassandra Helble and her mother, Tina Blitch at OHS OHS Soccer Team Captain, senior Andrea Duenas and her
Soccer Team Senior Night. mom, Pam Duenas.


Erica Zinski and her mom, Faye Huffman at Senior Night.


Girls soccer team falls short to Treasure Coast


By Charles M. Murphy
Okeechobee News
Okeechobee girls fought to
the end but couldn't overcome a
talented Treasure Coast squad Fri-
day as they lost their senior night
game, 5-1.
Okeechobee fell behind 2-0 at
the half and were outscored 3-1 in
the second half.
"We tried hard. The girls didn't
give, up," Brahman Coach Brian
King said, "We had a new policy
this year. Tonight that hurt us, but
we tried our best."
King noted the team has had
a long layoff and that is tough
during the middle of a soccer sea-
son. The girls actually had three
weeks off from the holidays and
had some problems scheduling
matches this year.
"That's just the way it goes,
some schools were out early and
other's came back early and had
scheduled matches already," he


Anna Lugo is flanked by her parents, Petronillo Lugo and Leonor Lugo. She is one of four
seniors playing for the OHS Soccer Team.


noted.
The team also said goodbye to
four talented seniors who were
a big part of the program in the
past few years. Graduating this
year was team captain Andrea


Brahman Boys


By Charles M. Murphy
Okeechobee News
Another game meant another
loss, and the same old story.
John Carroll's Rams improved
to (8-7) and dropped Okeechobee
below .500 for the first time this
year with a 68-64 win on Satur-
day night at the Brahman gym.
Brahman Coach Jon Enrico
even knows why his team lost. It
was because of poor defense.
"They had three guys who
coulpl score and we refused to
guard them. We didn't play de-
fense. If you don't play defense
you're not going to win," Enrico


added.
Okeechobee led 15-14 after
one quarter but trailed 31-29 at
the half. Okeechobee held a four
point lead as they entered the
fourth quarter.
However, down the stretch
the Brahman defense couldn't
make a big play and John Carroll
took advantage.
"They had three guys score 55
points. Defense is all about heart
and desire and we refused to
guard people in our man to man
defense. You can't run a zone
against shooters. The real issue is
how hard they want to play de-


Duenas, Cassandra Blitch, Erica
Zinski, and Anna Lugo. Lugo, in-
jured her knee at the start of the
year, and has been unable to play
this year. Still she has continued
to support the team.


loops
fense," Enrico noted.
The Brahmans are
spot now. They are (
trict play with two gamn
ing that are considered
They play at Forest H
and then will host Gla
next Tuesday. Okeech
host the district tourn
month with the wors
the district.
"I don't know whi
stand," Enrico noted.
Still it is very dis
considering the Brahr
considered a district
this year. Still the sea


"These girls have meant so
much to this program; I thank
them for their contributions,"
Coach King said at half time.
In what has become a tradi-
tion, the girls were allowed to ad-


drop third;
lost, and there is time for the
in a tough Brahmans to buy. into Enrico's
1-3) in dis- defense first strategy.
nes remain- "We need to communicate
ed difficult. better on the floor and work to-
jill tonight, gether. Right now were not play-
des Central ing as a team," fie added.
obee could Leshawn Henderson had 18
ament next points, Corey White added 16
3t record in points, James Shanks, had 12,
and David Jeune had 11 points
ere we will and 12 rebounds in the John Car-
roll game. Still their offensive out-
sappointing put wasn't enough.
mans were "Late in the game, defen-
contender sive stops make the difference,
ason is not we just didn't get them," Enrico


dress their teammates about what
the team has meant to them. They
also wished the girls good luck in
the future.
On the field the Brahmans did
get a lot-of good chances to score.
For most of the match the ball was
in the Okeechobee end. The Lady_
Titans had a lot of shots on goal.
Brahman goal keeper Megan Cle-
ments did a good job on most of
the shots.
Okeechobee kept it close for
most of the first half. After an
early goal, the Titans padded their
lead with just four minutes left in
the first half. They made it 4-0 in
the first 18 minutes of the second
half. When Okeechobee scored
to make it 4-1, they answered
with their final goal with 4:30 left
in the match.
From here the Lady Brahmans
will play in their district tourna-
ment. On Monday the girls will
play the Dreyfus School of the
Arts at Suncoast. Coach King is



straight


noted.
Henderson let a couple of re-
bouhds off free throws get into
Ram's hands for easy buckets.
Chris Hall made some costly
turnovers, and the team missed
five critical free throws. Enrico
noted if they had avoided those
mistakes they could have won
the game.
"The list of mistakes goes
on and on and on. There was
any number of things we could
have done to win this game," he
noted.
The Brahman JV won in a
blow out over the Rams.


optimistic about the girl's chanc-
es in that match.
"Last year we both won one
match. This year Dreyfus has
beaten us once, so perhaps this is
our turn," he noted.
Sara Bozzo, Ashley Fuggetta,
Katie Molinari, Ashley Duren and
Jennifer Raneri scored for the Ti-
.tans.
Ashley McNamara and Melina
Quintero had assists and Katie
Hoffman and Mary Ramsey com-
bined for one save for Treasure
Coast (8-5).
Isabella Penido scored for the
Brahmans (7-9), assisted by Jor-
dan Aspden. Megan Clements
had five saves in net.

O.G. & C.C.

Weekly Results


RI.G.S. League
Jan. 9: First place-Ida Curtis.
Second place-Joe Albrechta.
Last place-George Guydosh.
Closest to the pin-(2) Terry
Malaster, (8) Gary Johnson, (11)
Terry Malaster and (17) Penny
King.
Jan. 11: First place-George Earl
Goudy. Second place-Kenny
Curran. Last place-George
Guydosh. Closest to the pin-(2)
Joe Albrechta, (8) Saba Curren,
(11) Bob Weaver and (17) Dean
Orman.
Okeechobee Ladies Golf
Association
Low Putts
Jan. 8: First place-(tie)Barbara
Smithberger and Nancy Pullen.
Second place-Joyce Huffman.
High 3-hole Par
Jan. 10: First place-Joyce
Huffman. Second place-Sunni
Adams. Third place-(tie) Saba
Curren and Nancy Pullen.


Automobiles



Automobiles 4005
Autos Wanted 4010
Classic Cars 4015
C-mmercial Trucks 4020
Construction
Equipment 4025
Foreign Cars 4030
Four Wheel Drive 4035
Heavy Duty Trucks4040
Parts- Repairs 4045
Pickup Trucks 4050
Sport Utility 4055
Tractor Trailers 4060
Utility Trailers 4065
Vans 4070


I Pbic Not iic


I Pulc o ice


LEGAL NOTICE
Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners
RFP 2008-1
Okeechobee County hereby requests PROPOSALS from qualified bidders for the re-
habilitation of one (1) single-family home located in unincorporated Okeechobee
County as a part of the State Housing Initiatve Partnership (S.H.I.R) program.
Proposals are due no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, February 22,
2008 and delivered or mailed to: County Administrator, 102 NW 2nd Street, Okee-
chobee, FL 34972 (the County will not assume any responsibility for mail being
received on time). Any and all proposals received after this time and date will not
be opened or considered.
Proposals should be submitted in separate sealed envelopes marked State Housing
Initiative Partnership (S.HI.R) Program Roberts
For specific project information contact: Stephany DuPree at (863) 763-6731 or by
fax at (863) 763-9203. Specifications may be obtained from the Housing Coordi-
nator located at 456 Highway 98 North, Okeechobee. Bids will be opened at 3:05
p.m. on February 22, 2008 in the County Administrator's Office at the Okeechobee
County Courthouse.
A MANDATORY meeting for review of this project will be held on Thursday, Janu-
ary 31, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the meeting room at the County Administration
Annex, 456 Highway 98 North, Okeechobee. Any firm who is not in attendance
in this room by 10:05 a.m, will be unable to bid.
The County reserves the right to waive formalities or informalties in proposals, to
reject any and all proposals, or to negotiate further with any or all proposers and
accepts no responsibility for the expense of preparation or delivery of proposals
to the County. Okeechobee County is an Equal Opportunity Employer actively
seeking Minority Contractor participation and promotes Fair Housing.
Clif Bets Jr, Chairman
Okeechobee County Commission
256836 ON 1/15/08


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Okecobe esTusdyJnury15 20