CEE


Vol. 99 No. 22


HOBEEN
*********ALL ND
205 SMA U EL LIB OFE
PO _BOX 117007
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 GAINESVILLE FL 32611


IEWS
S HISTO320
FL HISTORY


Briefs
Truck fire
closes highway
A tractor-trailer caught on
fire an estimated 20 miles
north of Okeechobee early
Monday and shut down trav-
el on U.S. 441 north for six
hours.
According to records at the
Okeechobee County Sheriff's
Office (OCSQ) the fire started
around 5:30 a.m, on Jan. 21.
The highway was shut down
at that time and re-opened at
1 1:38 a.m.
Damage to the tractor-
trailer and the load of T-shirts
being carried was estimated
to be $500,000, said a spokes-
person with the Okeechobee
County Fire/Rescue Depart-
ment Monday afternoon. The
spokesperson said the shirts
had to be unloaded by hand.
An OCSO spokesperson
said even though the fire was
so intense that the tires were
burned off the trailer, there
were no injuries reported. e
The cause of the fire is still
under investigation.
More information was not
available as of newspaper
deadline.

Inside

Pomegranates are
rich in nutrients
If you want a little variety in
your diet, consider pomegran-
ates.
Pomegranates are bright
red fruit filled with juicy seeds.
Pomegranate juice is tart and
has a deep red color.
Pomegranates are high
in anti-bxidants, which" help
the rid itself of toxins. Pome-
granates are a good source
of potassium and Vitamin C,
and also contain calcium and
iron.
Page 7



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


Lake Levels

10.06 feet
Last Year: 11.94 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
W eather..................................... 2
See Page 2 for information about
how to contact the newspaper.

newszap.com
Iae-ges b-eaUs


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8 16510 00024 5


MLK celebration: The Dream continues
, 4


These four friends, left to right, Thaddnesha Roberts, Jazm,
Johnson and Toneka Roberts were part of the crowd gathered ii
Jan. 21 to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. There
performance by the Vision Quest Steppers and speech by C
Martha's House shelter to honor Dr. King.


News/Pete Gawda
igton, Garionna
Dark on Monday,
rade ,singing, a
}yal, director of


Little one year old Akeelah Mitchell
doesn't seem to know what to make of all Charmaine Smith, 12, wore this T- shirt
the commotion at the Martin Luther King, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the
Jr. Day Celebration at Flagler park. She is parade held in downtown Okeechobee on
being held by Anissa Demezier. Monday, Jan. 21 to honor Dr. King.


Rev. Ed Stewart, grand marshal, ard Thelma Brazell grand lady, presided over the Mar-
tin Luther King, Jr. Parade held in downtown Okeechobee on Monday, Jan. 21.


School related



employees to



be honored


By Chauna Aguilar
Okeechobee News
The Okeechobee District
School Related Employee of
the Year will be announced at
the upcoming school board
meeting at the School Board of-
fice at 700 S.W. Second Ave.
At their meeting on Tues-
day, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m. the
Okeechobee County School
Board will also consider rec-
ommendations from Dr. Pa-
tricia Cooper, Superintendent
of Schools concerning several
expulsions.
Each school has nominat-
ed a school related employee
to represent their school:
Okeechobee High School,
Tracy Wilderman; Okeechobee
Freshman Campus, Krista Ellis;
New Endeavor High School,
Laura Fonseca;. Osceola Mid-
dle School, Cindi Hortman;
Yearling Middle School, Janice
Crowley; Central Elementary,
Anayeli Solis; Everglades El-
ementary, Elida Villalpando;
North Elementary, Amy Davis;
Seminole Elementary, Karen
Guthrie; South Elementary,
Nicola Coker; and Transporta-
tion/Maintenance/Food Service,
Bueford Moore.


If yOU go:.
Okeechobee County School
Board Meeting
700 S.W. Second Ave.
Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m.
One will be chosen to be the
district School Related Employ-
ee Of the Year for 2008.
In other business, four stu-
dents from New Endeavor High
School will be recommended
for expulsion: one seventh
grader; two eighth graders and
one ninth grader.
Dr. Cooper is recommend-
ing that the seventh grade stu-
dent is expelled for the remain-
der of the 2007-08 school year
and the first semester of the
2008-09 school year due to defi-
ance of authority, disobeying or
disregarding school personnel
or school rules; and violence,
assault/battery on a school
board employee.
Both eighth graders are up
for expulsion for the remain-
der of the school year for defi-
ance of authority, disobeying
or disregarding school person-
nel or school rules. One of the
See School Page 2


City considers



first 'PUD'


By Pete Gawda
Okeechobee News
The City of Okeechobee
Technical Review Committee,
when it meets on Wednesday,
Jan. 23 will review the final
site plan review for The Lake-
house. This is the first planned
unit development (PUD) that
the city has considered. It con-
sists of 136 single-family units
on a variety of lot sizes and is
to be located west of S.W. Sev-
enth Avenue between S.W. 15th
Street and S.W. Ninth Street.
Okeechobee Utility Author-,
ity (OUA) has indicated that it
will be able to provide potable
water and sewer to the project.
Developers are confident that
the county's solid waste facility
can handle the amount of solid
waste that will be generated by
the project. The developer has


If you go....
City of Okeechobee Technical
Review Comnmittee
Council chambers,
Okeechobee City Hall, 55 S.E.
Third Ave.
10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan.23
conducted a traffic analysis that
determined the overall impact
on local streets would be mini-,
mal and that turn lanes will not
be necessary. The developer.
has also promised to provide
ample parking areas. Plans also
call for two clubhouses and a
pool.
The committee will also be
considering the site plan for
Park Place-Hampton Inn. This
is a proposed 85 unit hotel that

See PUD Page 2


Three wrestlers claim


championships at tourney


By Charles M. Murphy
Okeechobee News
With no official Treasure
Lake Conference tournament
to compete in this year, Sat-
urday's tournament at Martin
County High School served as
an unofficial conference cham-
pionships for all area teams.
Okeechobee was ready, none-
theless.
Okeechobee battled all day
and came home with three
individual championships and
fourth place among 12 teams


from the Treasure Coast.
Robbie Harrell, 103 pinned
Reid Karraker of Martin County
in three minutes flat to claim
one title. Donny Bush defeated
Diego Callgros of Sebastian Riv-
er 7-0 in the 145 pound cham-
pionship. Tyler Hayes, at 152,
earned a major decision over
Brad Rich of Fort Pierce Cen-
tral, 12-4.
Michael Brishke also had a
good tournament but he was
pinned in the 112 pound final
by John Duran of Vero Beach


in 3:47.
Okeechobee's Josh Gruber,
119 pounds, reached the con-
solation final where he was
pinned by John Agoo of Trea-
sure Coast in 57 seconds.
TonyBonnett of Okeechobee
pinned Joe Bartley of Bayside
to take third place in the 215
pound divisiori.
"Honestly we could have
done a lot better as a team,"
Harrell noted, "But we've come
out alright."
See Champs Page 2


Charles Murphy/Okeechobee News
Robbie Harrell (top) breezed through the 103 pound division
to win the championship on Saturday at Martin County high
school.


--~-^~------pa`~^~FI--e"`"~^~LIL~~







Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 22, 2008


Bicyclist dies in auto accident


By Charles M. Murphy
Okeechobee News
A 41-year-old Okeechobee
man's vehicle struck a bicyclist on
State Road 710 a few miles west
of Indiantown on Jan. 19, the
Florida Highway Patrol reported.
Prudencio Otero Morales, of
Okeechobee, was headed north


bound on 710 when he struck the
bicyclist, Santos Menchu-Tajiboy,
49, of Indiantown, on the east
shoulder of the road.
The impact of the collision
sent Morales flying through the
air onto the north bound lane of
the road. He was then struck by
two vehicles, a 1995 Saturn driven
by Martin Morales Jr, 23 of West


Palm Beach, and a 2002 GMC
pickup operated by Nathan Hu-
menik, 26, of Okeechobee.
The victim was pronounced
dead at the scene by Martin Coun-
ty Fire Rescue, the press release
noted.
The accident occurred just
after 8 p.m. approximately three
miles south of the Florida Power


and Light Co. Generation plant
entrance.
None of the drivers were in-
jured in the crash.
Crash Investigator R. Leath-
erow stated all of the drivers were
using their seat belts.
The accident is still under in-
vestigations.


Unemployment rates remain stable


By Charles M. Murphy
Okeechobee News
It wasn't easier to get a job
during December but it wasn't
any harder either.
The Florida Agency for Work-
force Innovation, Labor Market
Statistics reported unemployment
stayed virtually the same in both
Okeechobee and Glades County
during December.
There were 17,460 residents
employed in Okeechobee last


month, with 989 people unem-
ployed. The unemployment rate
was 5.4 percent. That compared
to 17,337 and 1,001 during No-
vember. The unemployment rate
in November was 5.5 percent.
In December, 2006, the unem-
ployment rate stood at 3.6 per-
cent. There were 17,266 people
employed and 653 residents un-
employed.
Okeechobee was tied for 12th
among Florida's 67 Counties dur-
ing the month of December.


Glades County had 4,510
people employed and 215 people
unemployed last month. The
unemployment rate stood at 4.6
percent. In November there were
4,485 employed while 223 people
were jobless. The jobless rate
was 4.7 percent.
In December, 2006, Glades
County had 4,522 employed and
154 people unemployed, a rate of
3.3 percent..
Glades County was tied for
28th highest among the state's 67


counties during December, the
report noted.
The unemployment rate in
Florida stood at 4.7 percent in De-
cember. Hendry County had the
highest rate with 6.9 percent.
Other surrounding counties
had the following unemploy-
ment rates, Martin 4.8 percent,
Highlands 4.9 percent, Osceola
4.9 percent, and St. Lucie 6.4 per-
cent.


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News Briefs

Okee County Fair Pageant scheduled
The Okeechobee County Fair Association will be holding their
first Okeechobee County Fair Beauty Pageant on Friday, March 7.
Competition includes three categories: personality and interview;
sports/swimwear; and evening gown. The pageant is open to
young women who are 17 years old by the date of the pageant and
not 22 years old before Jan. 1, 2009. Competitors must reside in
Okeechobee County, Buckhead Ridge or Brighton Seminole Reser-
vation. The deadline to enter the competition is Saturday, Jan. 26.
For more information, contact Donny Arnold (863) 634-6464 or visit
www.okeechobeecountyfair.com.

Creative Skill and Craft Contest entries needed
The Okeechobee County Fair Association is seeking adult and
youth contest participants for the upcoming, fair March 7-16, the
contests consists of quilting, sewing, painting, drawing, photogra-
phy, horticulture and woodworking. There will also be food com-
petitions such as home baking and canned goods, as well as a veg-
etable competition featuring garden vegetable, fruit and vegetable
and largest vegetable categories. You may download the entry
forms and rules at the Okeechobee County Fair Web site, www.
okeechobeecountyfair.com under the exhibits link, or pick up cop-
ies at the Okeechobee County Extension Office at 458 Highway 98
North. If you have questions, please contact Dianne Spann at (863)
634-3327

City has opening on Utility Authority
The Okeechobee City Council is seeking interested applicants in
serving on the Okeechobee Utility Authority Board of Directors, as
an alternate member for a two year term. The applicants must be
residents of the City of Okeechobee and be living in the service area
of OUA. Applications may be printed from the City's web page,
www.cityofokeechobee.com or obtained from the City Clerk's Of-
fice at 55 SE 3rd Avenue, Okeechobee. You may contact us for fur-
ther information at (863) 763-3372 extension 215.


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Champs
Continued From Page 1
Harrell dominated his oppo-
nents all afternoon. He defeated
Trace Buck of Bayside in just 58
seconds, and earned a major
decision over Michael Fleming
of Jensen Beach, 17-8, before he
reached the finals. He noted he
scouted his opponents and knew
what he was up against.
"I knew all of my opponents,
I've seen them wrestle. I felt pret-
ty good about things today," he
added.
Harrell said if you are taller
than your opponent sometimes
you will have better leverage on
the mat, "It's a great feeling to
win, it was very hot because their
air conditioning was broke."
Bush, defeated Jose Cavazos
of Fort Pierce Central in the first
round and also pinned Zak Turn-
er of Treasure Coast in 1:25 in the


second round. He also defeated
Alex Bunch of Jensen Beach in
3:02. He was never in trouble
against Callgros in the finals.
Tyler Hayes defeated J.T Mul-
len of St. Lucie West Centennial
in the first round, pinning him
in 1:44. He also defeated Thad
Bouchay of South Fork 19-4.
Brishke breezed along to the
finals before his loss. He defeated
Ken Berrios in just 1:40, nad Eddie
Ryckman of Jensen Beach, 16-9.
Bonnett defeated Joe Bartly of
Bayside by pin in just one minute
on his way to the third place fin-
ish. He also defeated Trevor How-
ard of Treasure Coast in just 41
seconds
Caleb Smith, 160 pounds, had
some mixed results as he de-
feated Robert Green of Sebastian
River, 7-4, but lost to Travis Cleary
of Treasure Coast in 4:11.
Kenny Webb won the junior
varsity 112 division with a pin in
the championship match.


A
41111M


Lotteries
' MIAMI (AP) Here are the numbers selected Sunday in the Flor-
ida Lottery: Cash 3: 2-3-4; Play 4: 0-1-0-3; Fantasy 5: 28-19-32-2-


Charles Murphy/Okeechobee News
Joseph Menendez (left) lost a tough match to Chris Jones of
Fort Pierce Central.


PUD
Continued From Page 1
would be located on U. S. 70 E:
east of the post office.
In that same neighborhood,
the committee will be consider-
ing an application for pre-applica-
tion plat review for the Park Street
Business Center, a six lot com-
mercial subdivision with on-site
dry detention areas and lakes to
be located on S.R. 70 E. between
N.E. 12th and N.E. 13th Avenues.
In the final item on the agen-
da," Bridges Retail Nursery has


applied for development of 0.05
acres consisting of an addition
to an existing residence and pro-
posed building to support a retail
nursery with associated paving,
drainage and utility infrastructure
to be developed on the north side
of N.E. 70 E. between N.E. Tenth
Avenue and N.E. Avenue.
Post your opinions
in the Public Issues Forum
at www.newszap.com.
Reporter Pete Gawda
may be reached at
pgawda@newszap.com.


School
Continued From Page 1
students has also been classified
with violence, intentionally touch-
ing or applying force to another
person as well.
The ninth grader is up for ex-
pulsion for the remainder of the
2007-08 school year for defiance
of authority, disobeying or dis-
regarding school personnel or
school rules; alcohol and drugs,
possessing, using and/or procur-
ing, selling or dispensing prescrip-
tion drugs.


The board will also consider
adding language to policy to bring
the chapters referring to Charter
Schools in concurrence with cur-
rent state laws.
In other business, the board
will consider:
*revising the job description
for warehouseman;
*approving the out-of-field
teachers for the 2007-08 February
FTE Survey;
*revisions to the personnel al-
locations.
Post your opinions in the Public
Issues Forum at www.newszap.com.
Reporter Chauna Aguilar may be
reached at caguilar@newszap.com.


Community Events


Saturday, Jan. 26
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. until 2 p.m.
We are currently seeking vendors to share health and safety related
information at the Expo. If yoth business/organization is not health
related, you can still participate, call for more details. Free admission,
free parking, free lunch, and free prizes will be provided to all who
attend. For information please call Sharon Vinson at (863) 462-5000
Ext. 257, Angela Kelly- Okeechobee County Health Department (863)
462-5781 or Donnie Arnold Okeechobee County Fire Rescue (863)
634-6464.


Okee County Fair Pageant scheduled
The Okeechobee County Fair Association will be holding their
first Okeechobee County Fair Beauty Pageant on Friday, March 7.
Competition includes three categories: personality and interview;
sports/swimwear; and evening gown.
The pageant is open to young women who are 17 years old by
the date of the pageant and not 22 years old before Jan. 1, 2009.
Competitors must reside in Okeechobee County, Buckhead Ridge
or Brighton Seminole Reservation.
The deadline to enter the competition is Saturday, Jan. 26. For
more information contact Donny Arnold (863) 634-6464 or visit
www.okeechobeecountyfair.com.


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Address:
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Okeechobee, FL 34974
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Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 22, 2008


Submitted photo
Junior Division winners at the Okeechobee County Science
Fair are Benjamin Kielbasa, (left) for Best of Show in Biologi-
cal Sciences and James Steiert, (right) for Best of Show in
Physical Sciences. Both students are from Osceola Middle
School.


Senior Division Winners at the Okeechobee County Science
Fair are Joy Burnham, (left) for Best of Show in Biological Sci-
ences and Angela McCall, (right) for Best of Show in Physical
Sciences. Ms. Burnham is a junior and Ms. McCall is a senior
at Okeechobee High School.


County Science Fair is a success


By Chauna Aguilar
Okeechobee News
The Okeechobee County Sci-
ence Fair was held at Osceola
Middle School on Tuesday, Jan.
15, where 414 students from sev-
enth grade to twelfth grade en-
tered projects in many different
categories.
Okeechobee Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Patricia Cooper
expressed her admiration of the
record amount of projects that
were turned in this year. This
large number is partly due to the
fact that Yearling Middle School
held their own school fair which
allowed students who are not re-
quired to enter the county science
fair to participate and earn certifi-
cation to enter the county fair.
Waste Management of
Okeechobee provided all of the
ribbons and trophies for the
Okeechobee County Science Fair
which were given out to the re-


spective participants.
The following judges volun-
teered their time to take on the
414 projects: Okeechobee County
School system's Sharon Suits, Joe
Arnold, and Kay Duke; Debbie
Clements and Pat Miller from the
University of Florida Extension
Office; Rebecca Shoemaker, Gary
Ritter and Robert Boney from the
South Florida Water Management
District; Abby Gulick and Kelli
Stickrath from Riverwoods Field
Lab; John Barnett from Boyle
Engineering; John Hayford from
the Okeechobee Utility Authority;
Robinson Bazurto from Hydro-
mentia; Jessica Mixon and Sara
May from United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture (USDA); and
community members Jim Vensel,
Jill Holcomb and Randy Burn-,
ham,
Also supporting the event from
the community was: U Save; Piz-
za Heaven; Domino's; Winn Di-


xie; Donut Connection; and Mid
Florida Hardware.
Projects that earned first and
second places are eligible to go
on to the Regional Science Fair
which will also be held at Osceo-
la Middle School on Wednesday,
Feb. 20.
Best in Show for the junior
division in Biological Sciences
is Benjamin Kielbasa who is an
eighth grader at OMS in Mrs.
Cable's science class. His project
was entitled "Goldfish Maze."
Best in Show for the Physi-
cal Sciences is James Steiert, a
seventh grader at OMS in Mrs.
DuBose's class. His project was
entitled "How does wind go over
different objects?"
In the senior division Best in
Show for Biological Sciences
went to Joy Burnham, a junior at
OHS in Mrs. Reister's class whose
project was entitled "Can differ-
ences in fat or protein ratios' in


the milk of dairy cows indicate
ketosis?" Ms. Burnham's project
is a four year study.
The Best in Show for the Physi-
cal Sciences went to senior, Ange-
la McCall also from Mrs. Reister's
class. Her project was entitled
"Structural Studies of Adeno As-
sociated Virus Serotype 9."
Congratulations to all for all of
their hard work in preparing their
projects. Additional listings of
the first, second and third places
in each respective category will
be printed with the school news
within the week.
To help support future science
fairs, contact the Okeechobee
County School Board at (863)
462-5000.
Post your opinions in the Public
Issues Forum at www.newszap.com.
Reporter Chauna Aguilar may be
reached at caguilar@newszap.com.


Felda boy displays important value


By Patty Brant
Special to the Okeechobee News
Every parent wants their child
to grow tall and straight, com-
passionate and honest. Kathy
Anzualda is well on her way to
achieving that goal with her son,
Aaron Contreras. Just 11 years
old, Aaron already has a heart for
others.
On Dec. 24, he and 'his
mother were at the Wal-Mart in
Okeechobee, returning to their
home in Felda after visiting rela-
tives on the East Coast. While in
the store, he found a wad of mon-
ey -- $140 to be exact -- all rolled
up. He picked it up and showed it
to his mother, wondering what he
should do with it.
She explained to him that it
might belong to someone who
really needed it and left the deci-
sion up to him.
He quickly turned the money
over to two very surprised officers
from the Okeechobee City Police
Department and the family left
the store with a very good feeling


Submitted photo
Aaron Contreras
about Aaron's honesty.
They were .only gone for a
while when his mom got a call on
her cell phone from the audibly
shaken officers. They explained
that shortly after Aaron turned
in the money, a very distraught
woman with a basket of good-
ies at the check out counter said
she had lost her money -- $140,
all rolled up in a ball. Without it,
her small children would have no
Christmas.


Thanks to young Aaron, that
mother was able. to provide a
happy Christmas for her children.
A few weeks later, Aaron got a
surprise himself. He received an
official Okeechobee City Police
Department patch, a certificate of
recognition from the department
in honor of his "honesty and in-
tegrity" and a letter from Sgt. WH.
Hill stating:
"I want you to know it is be-
cause of your honesty that an-
other family was able to celebrate
Christmas. Your family has in-
stilled vey important values, and
you have passed those qualities
on to others by your actions. I
was very proud to have met you.
Remember integrity is a gift you
give yourself. It's what helps you
decide right from wrong, it will
set you apart and people will re-
spect you for it.
Your Good Friend,
Sgt. W.H. Hill"
They also included a Wal-Mart
gift card for the young hero.
Aaron is a sixth grader at Im-
mokalee Middle School, a mem-


ber of the Family Prayer Center in
Immokalee, as well as Pop War-
ner football and Little League in
Immokalee.


Okeechobee News/Pete Gawda

CES Champion Spellers
These students are the top spellers are Central Elemen-
tary School according to the school's recent spelling bee.
Top spellers (left to right ) are: fifth grader, Kirby Dobbs
was the first place winner, second grader Kelsey Orr, came
in second and fifth grader Terrance Robertson, was the
third place winner.


Okeechobee News/Pete Gawda

Water warning
Gary Ritter, acting head of South Florida Water Manage-
ment District's Okeechobee service center, hold one of
the door hangers his organization is distributing to inform
people of current water restrictions. The notices, printed
in English, Spanish and Creole, state that mandatory water
restrictions are in place and give a telephohe number and
website for more information.


Fun Shoot set at Quail Creek Plantation


Aims to make
miracles happen
for sick kids


participation and support of this
event helps children in this com-
munity by raising funds that are
used to purchase life-saving med-
ical equipment and diversionary


Sites, fund pediatric research
and produce patient-education
materials. For more information
visit www.shandskids.org or call
561-723-1408.


AT&T and Shands Children's
Hospitals will host the second
annual AT&T Sporting Clays Fun
Shoot, where sharp shooters and
other outdoor enthusiasts will
have an opportunity to show off
their skills while raising money
for a worthy cause. The event
will take place at Quail Creek
Plantation, 12399 N.E. 2241" St.,
Okeechobee, 34972, on Saturday,
Jan. 26 from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30
p.m.
The second annual AT&T
Sporting Clays Fun Shoot benefit-
ing Shands Children's Hospitals
will' take place at Quail Creek
Plantation. This event will consist
of a 100 target sporting-clays tour-
nament with awards for Top Gun
Team, Top Gun Individual, Top
Gun Female and Top Gun Youth.
Registration begins at 8 a.m.,
course opens at 8:30, and hot
lunch catered by Golden Corral
will be served from 11:30 a.m.
to 1 p.m., awards program from
12:30 to 1 p.m.
Shands Children's Hospitals
are located on two Gainesville
campuses Shands AGH and
Shands at the University of Flor-
ida. With more than 12,000 ad-
missions in 2007, these two chil-
dren's programs make Shands
one of Florida's leading referral
systems for children. UF faculty
physicians treat kids from 65
Florida counties, 48 other states
and four foreign countries. Your


Okeechobee News/Pete Gawda

Talented singer
Central Elementary School fourth grader Amber Hood
sang in the All State Elementary Chorus Jan. 10 and 11 in
Tampa. She was the only student from Okeechobee to be
so honored in the 208 student statewide group. Amber is
pictured with her music teacher, Karen VanBeek.








A ClrnDINIilr


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!
TAXES: You know we all hope for a tax break. Not for the snow
birds who have only come when things are good but for the people
who live here and when the snowbirds don't come and our economy
suffers. You ask, "who would like to move here?" Well we would,
that's why we live here. We have more than just fish. We have a beau-
tiful lake, wonderful friends and supportive neighbors, lots of commu-
nity events going on every day. Nothing in life is free and to preserve
what you love, you have to make allowances. We will overcome all
the shortcomings of the economy, weather and anything else that hin-
ders our Okeechobee, with or without you.
RECIPE: With all the negativism in the paper I thought maybe we
all need to change our outlook on life. So this item, taken from a recent
"country woman" seems to be an appropriate beginning. "Recipe for
Friendship..." take two heaping cups of patience, one heart full of
love, two handfuls of generosity, a dash of laughter and one head full
of understanding. Sprinkle with kindness and plenty of faith and mix
well. Spread over a period of a lifetime and serve everyone you meet.
DANGEROUS INTERSECTION: Okeechobee residents be very
careful when you go north towards YeeHaw Junction on 441. There
is going to be a BAD Wreck at that intersection where the 4 way stop
signs are. The highway department has stuck up a Florida Turnpike
sign with an arrow pointing to the right a few feet from this side of
the stop sign which completely blocks your view of the stop sign as
you approach the 4-Way stop from the direction of Okeechobee. The
last time I went that way, it was foggy and I could not see the caution
light; I almost missed the intersection because of the green sign that
says, Florida Turnpike which blocks the stop sign until you are almost
in the intersection. There have been too many tragedies on that road
over the years. Let's hope we don't have a pile up on Hwy. 441 N.
like we did last week on 1-4 because of smoke, fog or something like
that, which is avoidable like a turnpike sign. The highway department
needs to move that turnpike sign way back south of the stop sign.
Editor's note: We emailed your concerns to the Florida De-
partment of Transportation. If you wish to contact them di-
rectly, email addresses, mail addresses and phone numbers
are available online at www.dot.state.fl.us.
POACHING: I am wondering why the Fish and Wildlife Commis-
sion does not put a stop to the equivalent of "poaching" fish by those
who go out at night with lights on their boats and take pride in the
unsportsmanlike practice of catching their limits with 40 poles in the
water. Conditions are bad enough here, with the lake virtually inacces-
sible due to the drought. Now that a few fish are moving in the river,
there won't be many left for those who enjoy the true sport of fishing
with one or two poles in the daytime. My buddy and I have fished all
our lives, and usually use jigs, but only keep crappie that are 10 inches
or longer and we never go Out and get two limits of fish in one day, like
some people do, day or night. What is it going to take for those who
are selfish to wake up and see that they are depleting the fish that are
left by being so greedy? And what pleasure can they possibly derive
by attracting the fish with lights and then bragging how they got their
limit the next morning? It is time for practicing conversation of not
only our water supply, but also the fish population. The limit per day
needs to be reduced too; 25 crappie a day, are too many in this time
of drought. The river looks like the Vegas Strip at night with all the
pontoon boats out there with their lights. I hope the Fish and Wildlife
Commission will read this and consider banning the use of night fish-
ing with lights. Hunters aren't allowed to hunt deer with lights. Let's
-give the dwindling fish population a fighting chance, too.
- SMOKING: Why is that we have to put up with smokers at certain
restaurants in Okeechobee? I thought a law was passed a few years
ago that banned smoking in places where more than 10 percent to
their revenue was generated from food. I guess maybe we should stop
eating at these places that ignore the law. Is there a smoking police to
enforce the law?
Editor's note: You are correct that Florida law prohibits
smoking in restaurants and bars that derive more than 10
percent of their revenue from food. Complaints may be filed
with the Department of Business and Professional Regula-
tion. This may be done on the department's web site at http://
www.myfloridalicense.com, mailed to Department of Busi-
ness and Professional Regulation, 1940 North Monroe Street,
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1027 or by calling (850) 487-1395.
Smoking is still allowed in bars that are not part of a restau-
rant and in designated outdoor eating areas.
AMENDMENT: Of course the Tax appraiser wouldn't like the pro-
posed homestead amendment, people would SAVE money! They
would not be able to raise their fees whenever they wanted. Many
other factors are involved, just vote 'yes' on this one, people!
LOUD MUSIC: Right up there with barking dogs is loud music; be
it from a house or car. I get soooo tired of the "thump, thump, thump,
thump."
PREGNANCY: I believe the school has to take some responsibil-
ity for the high pregnancy rate. Being an "abstinence ONLY" school,
meaning preaching the "don't have sex" lingo, is obviously NOT
working. These kids need sex education meaning all education. They
need to know that they have choices, many choices! And don't you
think it is a bit hypocritical to claim to be "abstinence only" and then
offer daycare in the schools for these students children? What kind of
mixed messages is this sending: "Don't have sex but if you do and you
get pregnant, don't worry we will babysit." It's absurd!



Okeechobee News

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MEMBER
OF:



Oke(
For Mor
At Your


echobee News 2007
re Information See
Service On Page 2


Letters to the Editor


Rev. King, his mother,
and my friend
It's incredible, even horrific,
that so many of us Americans
have not learned enough about
race relations, prejudices and re-
jections of others ... in our more
than 230 years' long experiment
of creating a democracy that we
hoped would be a model for
many other governments.
Maybe it is more being disgust-
ed about prejudices&and senseless
murders, fear tactics, not allowing
people to learn to read and refus-
ing to allow many to vote. It took
American women more than a
century to gain some rights and
it has taken the 'American black
population additional time fight-
ing for a recognition supposedly
guaranteed by statements and ar-
ticles in our greatest government
document, The United States
Constitution. Interpretations of
that wonderful and once power-
ful document have knocked us
sideways and recently we have
had some of our most important
"guaranteed rights" taken away.
But a man who championed
some area of it; the gaining of so-
called "equality status," and who
was the "King" of getting others
involved in non-violent demon-
strations and marches for civil
rights with a raising of conscious-
ness, was Rev. Martin Luther King,
Jr. Well before he was executed
by a sniper in Memphis on April
4, 1968 (my unforgettable 21st
birthday) he was an icon repre-
senting the idea of "freedom" and
about "overcoming obstacles"
without resorting to violence. He
worked tirelessly it seemed, and
frequently spoke from the pulpit
of his "home church," the Ebene-
zer Baptist Church in the City of
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia.
I was at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina, in Special Forces, work-
ing with Command Headquarters
and the General Staff prior to Dr.
King's murder. Hell broke loose
as our nation heard the news of
it and ideas of "non-violent inter-
vention" dissipated. Populations
of entire cities rioted, burned
buildings and vehicles, National
Guard troops deployed and even
the Regular Army, including air-
borne units, were called in to
quell the "civil unrest." My unit
went to Washington, D.C. for
military operations in the streets
of our capitol.
Six years later, race relations
changing, debates continued
over the work and life of Rev. King
and of J. Edgar Hoover's FBI and


of other government influences
against King's programs, and I
matriculated at The Ohio State
University as a Psychology/Sociol-
ogy major.
A married white couple that
I often studied with rented the
bottom floor of a two-story cor-
ner house. A squat black student,
Marcus Wayne Chenault, rented
the apartment directly over top.
Marcus became our friend, vis-
iting and getting us involved in
political, religious and racial dis-
cussions, as college students are
prone to do. It was more than
a year, in early May, when the
couple graduated and moved to
Atlanta, leaving me with keys to
their apartment, rent paid up for
another month.
I used that apartment as a
quiet study area, which started
changing as Marcus began prac-
ticing basketball upstairs, drib-
bling around chairs set up as op-
ponents and "dunking" the ball
over a half-open door that was his
"basket." Sometimes I would run
up the side stairs, pound on his
door and yell "Knock it off while
I'm studying." He did.
Other times, Marcus would
see me reading on the front porch
and stop to talk. Those talks be-
came strange within weeks,
dealing with Black Muslims
and various so-called prophets
preaching violent overthrows of
our government with a need to
erase the teachings and symbols
of whatever Dr. King had pro-
duced. I strongly disagreed with
my friend, who suddenly wanted
to be called "General Chenault."
He acted .so weird that I'd some-
times ask, "What color are the
suns revolving around your home
planet?" Or do similar chiding, at-
tempting to make conversations
lighter at times.
One day Marcus said that he
was going to Atlanta soon to
visit our friends. He intended to
stay in Atlanta and offered his
bicycle to me, since I regularly
walked to classes. He gave me
the chain lock key, telling me to
use it "whenever." His last words
included some distant phrases
about "dark clouds coming
soon." I asked him to send me his
new address when he got settled
in, so we could write and stay in
touch. He said, "You don't need
an address, when I reach Atlanta,
everyone will know Fm there and
where I am. My name will be in
lights." Marcus said "Good bye
Columbus" on Friday, June 28,
1974.
On Monday morning, July 1, I
was awakened at my apartment


(a block away from the porch
where I studied) by a CBS News
team out of Chicago with news-
caster Ike Pappas and his pro-
ducers, cameraman, lighting and
audio engineers ... who had been
let in by a housemate. I was sort
of closed out of my bathroom as
the TV crew used it, police had
taped off my street, road blocks
were up and traffic rerouted.
CBS gave me a few minutes
to put clothes on before the
lights and cameras came on and
Mr. Pappas asked, "How long
have you known Marcus Wayne
Chenault? Do you consider him 'a
friend'?"
I soon discovered that many
news media people as well as
the FBI, Sheriff, City Police, de-
tectives and interviewers were
going door-to-door questioning
everyone. Marcus had arrived
in Atlanta, attended the Sunday
services at the Ebenezer Baptist
Church, pulled two loaded pistols
and starting shooting.
He killed Rev. King's mother,
Alberta King, as she played, "The
Lord's Prayer" on the church or-
gan and killed Edward Boykin, the
deacon. I heard that he wounded
at least another woman before
members of the congregation
jumped on him, taking his guns,
holding him for the police.
I heard rumors that Marcus
blew kisses to the jurors at his
murder trial and pretended to be
frying in an electric chair as they
sentenced him to death. I know
that his sentence was changed
to life imprisonment and heard
that the surviving members of the
King family preferred that, likely
understanding that Marcus had
become insane. He passed away
in a Georgia prison hospital in
1995 following a stroke.
It is an amazing experience,
to watch a friend deteriorate with
harmful ideas and start acting out
in ways that get worse and worse,
yet, more often, the friend seems
normal. Marcus had begun radi-
cal religious training a few nights
per week and discussed some of
his new views, more relating to vi-
olence than to peace, more relat-
ed to sudden change than things
evolving over years or through
consideration.
He was encouraged to act on
his new beliefs by his religious
teacher. And, he did!
Over the past three decades, I
have often thought in retrospec-
tive ways about the year or so in
which I knew Marcus. Maybe like
others, especially when the mur-
ders were of important people, I
searched my mind over and over


to see where or when I might
have been able to stop Marcus, to
perhaps learn more of his mission
or at least have him go for coun-
seling. But I couldn't find any in-
stance where there was a hint of
what he would do. There were
clues as to his changing mind
set, clues of his desire to visit'At-
lanta, but nothing about his being
involved in shooting or harming
another. I had no reason to report
his conversations or reasons to
detain or question him before he
flew to "visit friends" in Atlanta.
No doubt, in his mind, he be-
came a martyr for a (very bad)
cause that he adopted as need-
ing to happen. Before he passed
away, he probably never had a
second thought or remorse about
his perverted murderous acts, be-
lieving instead that he had helped
bring about faster change benefit-
ing all blacks by removing the ori-
gins of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
within the very church that King,
Jr. and King, Sr., had their minis-
tries.
It has always been a strange
feeling that somehow, someway,
I should apologize for Marcus.
But how? Who would under-
stand my apology but maybe me?
It is like apologizing for Hitler,
Stalin, and for the "Son of Sam"
murders except, I actually knew
Marcus Wayne Chenault, and not
those others. I guess the apolo-
gies should be to everyone of any
race, of any nation, but especially
to the King family and to Ameri-
ca.
I am very sorry for what my
friend was thinking and sorrier yet
for what horrific acts of violence
he did. He did them to us all and
probably slowed the speed of our
coming together as Americans
without prejudice against other
Americans.
My prayer is that we move
beyond Marcus' mind set, and
return to Rev. King's ideals, being
seen as equal in all eyes, being
heard as equal by all ears, mov-
ing forward together, overcoming
the obstacles that are often in our
way.
At least in one way, I too have
a dream and feel a bit like Rev.
Martin Luther King, Jr. rather
than like "General Chenault." My
dream is that some day, we shall
overcome, and again give peace
a chance, expecting us to live
"as one." We have much to do,
, together, for America and for the
world.
Chuck Domm
Lorida


Upcoming Events

Tuesday, Jan. 22
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.
A.A. Closed discussion meeting from 8 until 9 p.m. at the Church
of Our Savior, 200 N.W Third St.
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.
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.
Widows and Widowers support group meets at 8:30 a.m. at
the Clock Restaurant, 1111 S. Parrott Ave., for breakfast. For infor-
mation, 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 in-
formation, 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.
Bible study at the Living Wo6d of Faith Church, 1902 S. Parrott
Ave., at 7 p.m. Informal and informative discussions bring many
Bible truths to life. Everyone is invited.
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 informa-
tion, contact Dr. Edward Douglas at (863) 763-4320.
A.A. meeting will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the First United
Methodist Church, 200 N.W Second St. This will be an open meet-
ing.
The First United Methodist Church, 200 N.W. Second St., will
be hosting God's Time -- a morning of free organized Christian
activities that includes play, instruction and interaction for par-
ents and their pre-school children. The event will be held each
Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until noon. Child care will be provided 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. 23
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 facilitator.
Another group meets in the Okeechobee County Health Depart-
ment, 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.}
A.A. meeting from 8 until 9 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church,
701 S.W Sixth St. It will be a closed discussion.
NA. meeting at 8 p.m. at the Just For Today Club of Okeechobee,
2303 Parrott Ave., The Lakes 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

Tuesday, Jan. 22

Collaborative Council meeting
The Community Collaborative Council of the Okeechobee Coun-
ty Shared Services Network will conduct their monthly meeting on
Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. in the Board Room of the Okeechobee
School Board Office. Angela Kelly and Barbara Godejohn both from
the Okeechobee County Health Dept. will be guest speakers at this
meeting. The public is invited. For more information, call Sharon
Vinson at (863) 462-5000 Ext. 257.

SES advisory council meeting
Seminole Elementary School Advisory Council will meet on
Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 4 p.m. in the conference room in the main of-
fice. The public is invited.
La escuela Seminole Elementary van a tener su junta del Con-
sejo Consultivo para la escula, el Martes 22 de Enero 2008 a las 4
p.m., se reuniran en el cuarto de conferencias de la oficina. Todo el
public estan envitados de asistir.

CCC meeting scheduled
The Community Collaborative Council, a part of the Shared Ser-
vices Network, will host the next CCC meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 22,
at 10. in the Board Room of the School Board Office.

Hospital sponsors Ladies Health Day
Raulerson Hospital presents "Ladies Only Health Day," a lun-
cheon on Jan. 22, 2008 from noon until 1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn
Express. The guest speakers for th'e Ladies Only Health Day will be
board certified physicians, James Bradfield, M.D. FACOG (Gynecol-
ogy) and Rene Loyola, M.D. FACS (General 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 proce-
dures that are opening up regularly at the Hospital. Reservations
are required. Please RSVP to Bill Casian at (863) 824-2702. Only 50
seats are available for this event.

Top Broadway composers discussed
Presented by lan Nairnsey at the Okeechobee Library, Broadway
Music Authority Ian Nairnsey will present Top Broadway Compos-
ers at the Okeechobee Library at 7 p.m. in the Okeechobee Library
Meeting Room. They are free and open to the public. The topic Jan.
22 will be "John Mercer."' The third installment will discuss "Bob
Merrill" on Jan. 29. Next, "Frank Loesser, will be the topic on Feb. 5.
"Jerome Kern Part 1" is the topic on Feb. 12, and "Jerome Kern Part
II" on Feb. 19. For information call Jan Fehrman at (863) 357-9980.

Thursday, Jan. 24

Fair planning meetings scheduled
The Okeechobee County Fair Association will hold a fair plan-
ning meeting on Jan. 24, at 6 p.m. at the Okeechobee County Ex-
tension Office. The fair is finalizing plans for the upcoming March
Fair and would like to invite anyone interested in volunteering with
the fair to attend. If you have any questions you may contact Linda
Syfrett at (863) 763-6232 or Dianne Spann at (863) 634-3327.

Democratic Party meeting
Get fired up about the primary at our first meeting of the year!
Join us at 7 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the Village Square Restaurant. Guest
speakers will be: Supervisor of Elections, Gwen Chandler and can-
didate for Public Defender for the 19th Judicial Circuit, Donald Chin-
quina. Fo6 information call (863) 357-8680.


r+


Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 22, 2008


A







Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 22, 2008 5


Governor Crist notes importance of civil rights


By Brian Skoloff
Associated Press Writer
WEST PALM BEACH -- Gov.
Charlie Crist commemorated
Martin Luther King Jr. Day on
Monday with speeches about
the importance of protecting civil
rights, including the restoration of
voting rights for most felons who
have completed their sentences.
"People deserve second
chances," Crist told a crowd gath-
ered for a breakfast in West Palm
Beach in honor of the civil rights
leader's birth 79 years ago.


"It's all about civil rights and
doing the right thing," Crist said.
"It is not complicated but it is im-
portant."
Crist reflected on the change
in Florida law in 2003, while he
was attorney general, that now al-
lows the state to bring civil rights
actions without having to wait for
the federal government to step
in.
He said he pushed the Legis-
lature to change the law, which
eventually happened during a
2003 special session, "so that if
there is an injustice in Florida, if


there is a civil rights violation in
Florida, we don't have to wait for
Washington to come down and
do the right thing."
Crist also talked about the im-
portance of restoring voting rights
for most ex-felons.'
Last year, the Board of Execu-
tive Clemency, chaired by Crist,
approved a rule change that al-
most automatically restores the
civil rights of many ex-offenders
who have completed their sen-
tences. The change does not ap-
ply to murderers and sex offend-
ers.


"It is about justice," Crist said.
Crist also encouraged citizens
to vote in the upcoming Jan. 29
presidential primary, which in-
cludes an amendment to lower
property taxes.
"People in Florida matter and
what you say with your vote is go-
ing to be heard around the coun-
try," Crist said.
He said that the amendment,
which includes a provision that


would allow homeowners to
move without losing their exist-
ing tax cap on primary homes,
known as.homesteads, would im-
mediately boost Florida's sagging
real estate market.
Critics of the present system
say it unfairly penalizes empty-
nesters trying to move into small-
er homes and growing families
looking for a larger home.
But the amendment, which


must be approved by 60 percent
of voters, also has its critics who
claim it won't do enough. The
projected average savings per
homeowner is just $240. Some
critics also worry the measure
will mean cuts in city services and
school budgets.
Crist spoke earlier in the day
to a group in Miami and was set
to attend a reception at the gover-
nor's mansion Monday evening.


Youar


People have so much to do and so little time to do it.


To help you deal with your time constraints, we pack this little
newspaper with lots of relevant and useful information.

We want you to learn what you need to know quickly, so you can
experience and enjoy your community fully.

How are we doing?

Let us know by emailing feedback@newszap.com or calling your
editor.





Okeechobee News


Community Service Through Journalism


Okeechobee News/Pete Gawda
High rider
Jer'Marcus Bradley was riding high wide and handsome
on this unique bicycle on Monday, Jan. 21. He was part of
the crowd at Flagler Park for the parade and program to
honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.





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Okeechobee News/Pete Gawda
Holiday crowd
This crowd was gathered in Flagler Park on Monday Jan.21 to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. There was a parade, singing, a performance by the Vision Quest Steppers and
a speech to honor Dr. King. County, schools, state, and federal offices were closed in
observance of the holiday.


Okeechobee News/Pete Gawda
Good view
These children had a good view of the crowd watching the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade
as they rode in this in the truck. The parade was held in downtown Okeechobee, Monday,
Jan. 21.


~~ I II ------------------------- ----


a'







6 Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 22, 2008


Health News in Brief


Hospital sponsors
Ladies Health Day
Raulerson Hospital presents
"Ladies Only Health Day," a
luncheon on Jan. 22, 2008 from
noon until 1 p.m. at the Holiday
Inn Express. The guest speak-
ers for the Ladies Only Health
Day will be board certified phy-
sicians, James Bradfield, M.D.
FACOG (Gynecology) and Rene
Loyola, M.D. FACS (General Sur-
gery). 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
required. Please RSVP to Bill Ca-
sian at (863) 824-2702. Only 50
seats are available for this event.

Health and Safety
Expo planned
The Okeechobee Family
Health and Safety Expo will be
held at the Agri-Civic Center on
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 from
9 a.m. until 2 p.m. We are cur-
rently seeking vendors to share
health and safety related infor-
mation at the Expo. If your busi-


ness/organization is not health
related, you can still participate,
call for more details. Free admis-
sion, free parking, 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 Department (863)
462-5781 or Donnie Arnold -
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue
(863) 634-6464.

Diabetes Support at
Raulerson Hospital
Raulerson Hospital offers a
monthly Diabetes Support Group
which meets on the second
Thursday 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".

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. 16th St., from
5:30 until 6:30 p.m.
-For information, call (863)
462-5781.

Depression support
group forming
Depending on Christ is a new
support group forming for wom-
en suffering from depression.
Once the group is organized it
will meet every Thursday. For in-
formation, call (772) 597-0463.

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.

Addiction
consultation offered
Problems with drug or alco-
hol addiction in someone you
know, but don't know where to
turn? The Drug Rehab Resource
service can give you the help you
need. Contact the Drug Rehab
Resource at (866) 649-1594 for a
free confidential consultation. Or,
go to the website at www.drugre-
habresource.net.

Cancer support
group to meet
Okeechobee County Cancer
Support Group meets on the first
Thursday of each month. All can-
cer patients, survivors and sup-
porters are welcomed to attend,
support and encourage each
other. They meet the first Thurs-
day of each month at,5:30 p.m.
at First Baptist Church, 401 SW
4th Street, Okeechobee, FL 34974
(entrance is the door to the W in
front of church). Please contact
Susie Pickering at (863) 467-5831
or First Baptist Church at (863)


Obituaries


763-2171 for more information.

Cancer Society
seeks volunteers
The American Cancer Society
is recruiting volunteers who are
interested in making a difference
in the fight against cancer. Volun-
teers with the American Cancer
Society's Florida Division par-
ticipate in programs that support
research funding, educate the
community, deliver services to
patients and advocate for policies
that help defeat cancer. To get in-
volved, call the American Cancer
Society at (800) ACS-2345.


Narcotics group
to meet Tuesdays
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.

Healthy Start
can provide help
Are you pregnant? Have you
been turned down for Medicaid?
Healthy Start may be able to help.
For information, call Becky Smith
at (863) 462-5877.


Landscape & Irrigation Installation
Professional Lawn & Landscape Maintenance
Serving The Lake Okeechobee Area Nearly 3 Decades
Licensed & Insured

(863) 763-5069


Jerry Worth Maddox
Jerry Worth Maddox, age 66,
of LaBelle, passed away May 9,
2007. He was born Nov. 20, 1940.
He was a lifelong resident of the
area. He proudly served a tour of
duty at Ft. Clayton, Panama as a
topographic field assistant in the
US Army. After discharge, he re-
turned to the area and lived in
Okeechobee for many years. He
worked for Glades Electric Co-Op
for thirty-two years before retiring
in 2001.
He was preceded in death by
his wife, Martha Nell, his parents,
Harney K. Maddox and Velma El-
len Arnold, brothers, Earl, John
and Virgil.
He is survived by his children,
Christine Delean. Mage, Trampas
Worth Maddox, Ric Jerrid Mad-
dox and Michael Lee Maddox;


brother, Harold Maddox; sisters,
Emily Rudd of Clewiston, Dora
Maddox of Clewiston and Inez
Kelley of Havana, numerous niec-
es, nephews and other family and
friends.
A memorial service will be
held Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at
noon at Fort Denaud Cemetery
with Pastor L.W. Howard and
Seth Howard officiating. Family
will receive friends following the
service at Community Harvest
Worship Center in LaBelle.

Claudia Jean Howard
Claudia Jean Howard, age 58
died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008 at her
residence in Jacksonville. Born
Oct. 8, 1949 in Pahokee, she had
been a resident of Okeechobee
for most of her life.
She is survived by her sons,


George Davison of Reno, Nev.,
Jason (Petra) Howard of Jack-
sonville, Johnathan Howard of
Jacksonville; daughters, Rochelle
Davison of Jacksonville, Jen-
iffer Consiglio of Okeechobee,
Catherine Howard of Merritt
Island; sisters, Gail Preusch of
Okeechobee, Lorna (Jim) Green
of Okeechobee; father to her chil-
dren, Michael Howard of Jack-
sonville; stepfather, Earl Davis of
Okeechobee. In addition, she is-
survived by seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday,
Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. until service
time at 11 a.m. in the Buxton Fu-
neral Home Chapel.
Friends who are unable to at-
tend may send condolences at
www.buxtonfuneralhome.com.
All arrangements are under
the direction and care of Buxton
Funeral Home and Crematory.


Carroll Gordon Rush
Carroll Gordon Rush, age 92 of
Clewiston died Saturday, Jan. 19,
2008 at his residence in Clewiston,
Born March 8, 1915 in Carlyle, Ill.,
he had been a resident Clewiston
for the last 33 years and was of
Christian Faith.
He is preceded in death by his
wife, Louanna Lee Rush.
He is survived by his sons,
Clyde (Imogene) Rush and Robert
Rush all of Clewiston. In addition,
he is survived by three grandsons,
three great grandsons and three
great- great grandsons.
There are no plans for a ser-
vice. Friends may send condo-
lences to www.buxtonfuneral-
home.com.
All arrangements are under
the direction and care of Buxton
Funeral home and Crematory.


Ted Schiff, M.D. and Dwayne Montie, D.O. lead the Water's
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Memorial Tribute
Remember a loved one
who has departed with a special
Memorial Tribute in this newspaper.

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commemorate an anniversary of your loved one's birth or passing. You
can add a photograph of your loved one, lines from a poem or
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Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 22, 2008


Pomegranates are rich in nutrients


If you want a little variety in
your diet, consider pomegranates.
Pomegranates are bright red
fruit filled with juicy seeds. Pome-
granate juice is tart and has a deep
red color.
Pomegranates are high in anti-
oxidants, which help the body rid
itself of toxins. Pomegranates are
a gooc, source of potassium and
Vitamin C, and contain calcium
and iron.
Until recently, the only thing I
knew about pomegranates came
from mythology. According to
Greek mythology, Persephone was
the daughter of Demeter, goddess
of the harvest. Hades, the Greek
god of the Underworld, fell in love
with her and kidnapped her to be
his wife. Demeter was so upset
when her daughter disappeared
that she refused to let anything
grow, the world turned cold and
barren. In order to save the Earth,
the Greek god Zeus, sent the mes-
senger Hermes to Hades to make
him release Persephone, because
she had not died, and so should
not have been in the Underworld.
Hades argued that because Perse-
phone had eaten part of a Pome-
granate (some legends say she ate
pomegranate seeds) she could
not leave. They finally agreed on
a compromise. Persephone could
return to her mother, but had to
spend part of each year with Ha-
des, as she had eaten part ofa fruit
of the Underworld. According to
the legend, each year when Perse-
phone returns to Hades, Demeter
is so sad that the world grows cold
with winter.
Many cultures have legends
that include pomegranates. Ac-
cording to some Jewish texts, it
was a pomegranate not an apple
tree that caused all the trouble in
the Garden of Eden.


A
Healthier
Life

with Katrina Elsken
Pomegranates are red fruit
filled with "arils" little juice sacks
that each contain one seed. Some
people just want the juice, but the
seeds themselves are considered
edible and a good source of fiber.
The white membrane that sur-
rounds the arils is bitter and not
recommended for consumption,
according to the California Pome-
granate Council.
- In North America, the com-
mercial harvest season is from Oc-
tober through January. They grow
best in hot, dry climates.
Pomegranates are not harvest-
ed until they are ripe, so if you see
fresh pomegranates for sale, they
are ready to eat. Choose the best
pomegranates by picking them
up, the heavier the fruit, the more
juice it contains.
The council suggests, three
methods for juicing pomegran-
ates. If you juice your own, be
careful. because, pomegranate
juice stains.
JUICER METHOD: Cut the
fresh pomegranate in half as you
would a grapefruit. We recom-
mend using a hand-press juicer.
to juice a pomegranate. If you use
an electric juicer, take care not to
juice the membrane, so that the
juice remains sweet. Strain the
juice through a cheesecloth-lined
strainer or sieve.
BLENDER METHOD: Place 1-
1/2 to 2 cups seeds in a blender;
blend until liquefied. Pour through
a cheesecloth-lined strainer or


sieve.
ROLLING METHOD: On a hard
surface, press the palm of your
hand against a pomegranate and
gently roll to break all of the ar-
ils inside (crackling stops when
all seed sacs have broken open).
Pierce the rind and squeeze out
juice or poke in a straw and press
to release juice. Rolling can be
done inside a plastic bag to con-
tain juice that leaks through the
skin.
The Pomegranate Council of-
fers these ideas for cooking with
pomegranates:
Pomegranate, Orange,
Papaya and Kiwi Salad
1-1/2 teaspoons white wine vin-
egar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
flakes
1/4 cup olive oil
1-1/2 quarts mixed greens
2 oranges, peeled and sliced
2 medium papayas, peeled, sliced
4 kiwis, peeled and sliced
I medium pomegranate, seeded
(about 3/4 cup)
To make dressing, combine
vinegar and next three ingredients;
whisk in oil. Toss greens with 2-
1/2 tablespoons dressing; arrange
on a serving platter. Alternate or-
ange, papaya, and kiwi slices over
greens. Drizzle with remaining
dressing. Sprinkle with pomegran-
ate seeds. Serves 6.
Chicken with Walnuts
and Pomegranate
2-3/4 pound fryer chicken
2 cups walnuts, finely chopped
3 tablespoons shortening
3-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning


1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 cup fresh pomegranate juice
3 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
Prepare chicken for frying. Sau-
t6 chicken with poultry seasoning
in shortening until light brown, set
aside. In a large pot saut6 the on-
ion in 3 teaspoon butter until gold-
en brown. Add tomato sauce and
saut6 for a few minutes. Add wal-
nuts to the onions and saut6 over
medium heat about 5 minutes,
stirring constantly. Add water, re-
maining seasonings, lemon juice, ,
and pomegranate syrup. Cover
and let cook on low about 35
minutes. Taste the sauce and add
sugar if needed. Arrange browned
chicken pieces in the sauce cover
and let .simmer 20-25 minutes.
Serve over white rice. Serves 6.
Girl Scout Cookie Time
Remember, all things in mod-
eration. Remind yourself of the
importance of moderation when
tempted with the delicious annual
treat of Girl Scout cookies. And re-
member to read the labels. When
you consider the calorie content
and carbohydrates per serving,
make sure you know how many
cookies are considered a "serv-
ing." Also, remember that these
cookies freeze well, so you don't
have to eat the whole box "before
it gets stale."
- Before making any change to
your diet or exercise routine, con-
sult your doctor. This is particu-
larly important if you are. on any
prescription medications. Some
drugs interact badly with foods.
that would otherwise be consid-
ered "healthy."


I
I


Red Cross youth respond

to increase in house fires


Project to educate
improve community
WEST PALM BEACH -
American Red Cross Greater
Palm Beach Area Chapter
Youth Volunteers irr conjunc-
tion with the Martin Luther
King Jr. Day of Service are
responding to .a significant
increase in house fires. Youth
club members will be painting
house numbers on the curb in
front of area residents, saving
emergency responder's valu-
able time when looking for an.
address; in addition to distrib-
uting fire safety information.
Teams of five Red Cross
youth volunteers and. one
adult will scour our area in the
communities of Lake' Worth
and Pqhokee, painting house
numbers on curbs and distrib-
uting Red Cross fire safety in-
formation. In the communities
of West Palm Beach and Palm
Beach Gardens Fire safety in-
formation will be distributed.
"The greatest disaster threat
throughout the country and in
our community, is house fires,"
said Mary Blakeney, Director of
Emergency Services. Blakeney
added, "By providing house
fire safety information and
painting house numbers on
curbs'throughout the commu-
nity, our youth program is as-
sisting both the Red Cross and
emergency services personnel
throughout the county."


In fiscal year 2006, the
American Red Cross Greater
Palm Beach Area Chapter re-
sponded to 190 house fires,
tending to the displaced fami-
lies immediate emergency
needs. Last fiscal year, the Red
Cross responded to 195 fires
and so far this year the Red
Cross has responded to 17
fires.
Funding for this project was
secured through a grants from
American Red Cross Head-
quarters in Washington? D.C.,
with a matching funds gen-
erously provided by DiVosta
Homes. MAB Paints in West
Palm Beach donated all paint
supplies.
About the -American Red
Cross:
The American Red Cross is
a humanitarian organization
led by volunteers who provide
relief to victims of disaster and
help people prevent, prepare
for and respond to emergen-
cies. For 90 years, the American
'Red Cross Greater Palm Beach
Area Chapter, which includes
Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee
and Palm Beach Counties, has
been providing shelter for fam-
ilies during a hurricane, flood
or fire, and teaching First Aid,
CPR, AIDS Prevention and Wa-
ter Safety. To learn more about
the work of the Red Cross in
communities, or to make a
donation, please call 561-833-
7711 or visit the Website at
www.redcross-pbc.org.


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Board Certified Radiation Oncologists
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Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 22, 2008


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All personal items under $5,000

ABSOLUTELY FREE!


Announcements ........100
Employment .......... 200
Financial ...... ..... ..300
Services ............400
Merchandise ........500
Agriculture ........... 800
Rentals .............. 900
Real Estate .......... .1000
Mobile Homes ....... .2000
Recreation ........ .3000
Automobiles ........ .4000
Public-Notices ........ .5000


BMIT YOUR FREE CLASSIFIED AD


TODAY AT


EWSZAP.COM/CL SIFIEDS
Published 3 weeks' in oil of our Florida papers: Caloosa Belle, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat,
Immokalee Bulletin, Okeechobee News and Advertiser, and The Sun
Ads will run in Wednesday daily.editions and weekly publications.


or call
1-877-353-2424 (Toll Free)


issue



AnnouncementsI


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
reserves 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.
Some classified categories
t require advance payment.
These classifications are
denoted with an asterisk *.
Independent Newspapers will
never knowingly accept any
advertisement that is illegal or
considered fraudulent. In 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
S Attorney General's Consumer
Fraud Line at 1-800-220-5424,
and/or The Better Business
Bureau, 800-464-6331 for pre-
vious complaints.
Auctions 105
pCar umPool : 110
$Shareiadride 115
Card of Thanks 120
InjMemoriam f 125
Found A 130
LLost 100-Fmlelte35
Give Away 14 0


900 Numbers 160



AFRICAN GREY PARROT -
Lost in Oak Park area. Gre


1/19, vic. of NE 6th Ave.,
(863)634-0556 ask for Jay
CHOCOLATE LAB 10 mos
old, REWARD,; missing from
Okee Gardens area on
1/17/08. (863)357-3222
LOST DOG Female, last seen
Friday morning in Basswood.
Answers to Roxy
(863)697-3457


COUPLE IN THEIR FIFTIES -
Seeking Other Couples w/
Similar interested to hang out
with. 863-261-7589


CLEAN UP
Will pick up your junk!
Heavy & Farm Equipment-will
pay CASH. Call Michael @
(863)634-4780


READING A
NEWSPAPER MAKES
YOU A MORE INFORMED
AND INTERESTING
PERSON.

(D o wonder newspaper
readers are more popular


u-Uae


Emlymn
Full Tim


IGre


Emlymn
Full Tim


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

GILBERT CHERVOLET
Has openings for the following positions:
*Service Technician *Truck Mechanic *Collision Technician
Benefits include paid holidays, paid vacations,
health insurance, 401 K plan.
Apply in person at our Service Department or Collision
Center, or call (863)763-3154 Mon-Fri 7:30AM-5:30PM
EOE, DFWP ...


Emp 1bents


Employment -


Job 22,nn 6 2052
Employment -
Medical 210
Employ ent -
Employment
Job InformiiationI 225
Job Training 227
Sales 230



EXP'D PROJECT
MANAGER/SUPERVISOR
for plumbing company,
FT w/benefits,
(863)763-6461 DFWP
YTB TRAVEL
Looking for Reps. Earn Cash,
Be your own Boss, Travel for
Less. No obligation Seminar
Jan 22, 6:30 pm Beef O'Bra-
dy's or call (863)634-7311

1 102,


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


Financial



Business
Opportunities '305
Money Lenders 310
Tax Preparation 315




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.

When doing those chores
Is doing you In, It's time
to look for a helper In
the classifleds.


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Syndicated Conten


Available from Commercial News


.

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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. Turn
your trash to treasure
with an ad In the classl-
feds.


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Place your





CLASSIFIED AD








* Ad Appears In the Newspaper ad0 Online
Free of Charge!
Reasonable Rates For Private Party Ads
Place Your Ad Online, From the Comfort
of Your Home

WANT TOI s
new, zp.com/class. "ll 8


E omenti
[Full Time


Emlioiment
F ullTime 'I'll


IMMEDIATE OPENING

WATER TREATMENT PLANT
OPERATOR TRAINEE
for the Okeechobee Utility Authority. Must possess
a High School Diploma or equivalent and a valid
FL Drivers License. Only those with a three year
clean driving record need apply. Shift work and
week-ends are required. Applications will be ac-
cepted until opening is filled at the Okeechobee
Utility Authority located at 100 SW. 5th. Avenue,
Okee, FL 34974. An Equal Opportunity Employer,
Drug Free Work Place.

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

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


Merchandise

I--EI


WANTED:
Fish & Wildlife mounts
or any related wildlife items.
Also any older Sports
items & Golf clubs, etc.
(863)946-3123

How do you find a Job In
today's compptltive
market? In the employ-
ment section of the clas-
sifieds


Rentals


- 'Apatment


BEAUTIFUL
SAMANTHA'S GARDEN
APARTMENTS
In Town, 2br/2ba, $900
mo. + $600. sec. dep.
Includes Washer & Dryer
(863)634-5780 or
(863)467-9250
EFFICIENCY APT 1br, All util.
paid. Clean. Furnished with
washer facilities. $450 mo.
(812)989-3022
OKEECHOBEE, 2br, lba, Near
town. $800 mo. incids wa-
ter. 1st month FREE! Annual
Lease. Call 561-255-4377
Okeechobee, 2Br/1.5ba, car-
peted, ceramic tile, w/appl's
incl. dishwasher, $700 mo.
+ $700 sec. (863)763-8878
OKEECHOBEE, Backlash RV
Park Apt, 1 br avail, on the
Rim Canal. For details. 863-
763-7783/561-968-2083
Looking for a place to
hang your hat? Look no
further than the classi-
fleds.


* 0 O


YARD.

SALE





Place Your
YARD SALE
ad today!

Get FREE signs!

Call Classifieds
877-353-2424


IHpecil No


*b *


I Handyman S







Okeechobee News, Tuesday, January 22, 2008


IU____----------------------------


1Spia Ni


ISel Noic 01


Seial Notice015


fif- inlMlS
46AN ANN


C"Copyrighted Material


+Syndicated Content


Available from Commercial News Providers"


Employmet


Emlymn


Okeechobee 1-News-1





7he Okeechobee News is currently seeking an
energetic, self motivated PART TIME circulation
assistant.

The right applicant must have:
Cash Handling Experience
Knowledge of local area or ability to read map
Work Night and Weekends
References
The Daily Okeechobee News offers:
Potential for advancement
A unique work environment where
employees are trusted and empowered
Competitive pay and benefits
Benefits Package
Generous time off program
The Daily O kxbe Neas Is An Equal OpeORuny Empl yer



NO


TAYLOR CREEK CONDO -
1 BR, 1 BA, Furnished. Pool,
W&D Facilities. $700 mo.
(863)610-1281'
Taylor Creek Condos -
1BR/1BA, fully furnished,
$650 mo. + $350 sec.
(863)763-6576
VILLA -2 br, 2 ba, remodeled
kitch, w/d, covered screened
patio, Irg yard, avail 2/1/08.
May be seen now by appt.
(863)634-3414 or
(863)634-3251


BASSWOOD New house in
good location, 3br, 2ba
w/garage, $1200/mo, 33rd
Rd (561)379-9417 or
(561)683-9754
BETWEEN OKEECHOBEE &
INDIAN TOWN 3 BR, 2 BA
$1350 mo. & a 2 BR, 1 BA
$850 mo. Both on 10 acres.
Horses and Pets welcome.
Call (772)260-3068
BRAND NEW 4/2 $1095,
mo., 1st. & sec. No-pets
863-484-0809
BRAND NEW- Rent or Buy
3hr/2ba, 1700 sqft, garage,
laundry, tiled, $1100/mo.
reat. $5,000 applied to pur-
cfae of $149,900 after 1
year, 3429 NW 40th Dr.
B wood r(561)718-2822
BUCKHEAD RODGE 2/2, fully
tuon, o canal, seasonal &
yait, 1(3)824-0381
Nt GF O -Cm0E- cotage,
lhr, faly firn,* de & sate Iti
indto, BO pet., $700/mro +
$500 dep, (863)467-1950
NEW DUPLEX- x /2 $1000
per month + lot, last &
$ 5 00 see dep,
(863)465-0053
OKEECHOBEE 3/2 on 20
acres, 15 mIutes fNorth of
town, $1500/mo
(863)447-0352
OKEECHOBEE ESTATES -
3BR/2BA, pool, fireplace,
1401 SE 8th Dr, 1st & see,
Call to see (863)885-1347
TREASURE ISLAND, 3/2 Very
clean! On canal. Lg. storage,
$850 mo. + 1st & sec. dep,
863-824-0981



LAKEHOUSE in Lake Placid for
Seasonal rental. Furnished
with dock. (863)465-0053


Real Estate



Business Places -1i0
Sale 1005
Commercial
Property Sale 1010
Townhouses Sale1015
Farms Sale 1020n
Houses Sae) 1025
Hunting Property 1030
Investment
Property -Sale 1035
Land Sale 1040
Lots Sale 1045
OpeniHousen fil
Out of State e-
Property Sale 1055s


Sale a 1070&
Property Insp7ction-77


Real Estate Wanted1065
oWaterfront property 100




CHEVRON Gas Station,
C- Store, Deli, Carwash. $1.1
million. Fin avail. Broker



CBS HOME 3/2/2 In gated
community. Open fir plan w/
family rm. Vaulted ceilings.
Community pool/club house.
Safe area for walks & biking.
$229,500 (863)763-7721
OKEECHOBEE 4BR, 2BA,
over 1900 sf,on 1 acre, new
paint, in/out, new flooring,
ixie Ranch Acres,
$224,500 (321)723-6581 or
(863)763-1090
OKEECHOBEE
Builder has 3 nice lots
left in good area.
Ready to build
Your plans or ours. Call for
more details 561-762-2233
OKEECHOBEE
Zero Down. $999. mo.
4br, 2ba CBS Brand New.
Prices $139,900. 3824 NW
7th St. 561-248-3879 or
863-484-0809
Find It faster. Sell It soon-
er n the classifileds


GOOD LOCATION: 5 Acres,
Fenced. 2006 Scott Built
Home; 4 stall horse barn.
$290,000. (863)824-0402


OKEECHOBEE 2.5 beautiful
acres, 2 ponds, Call
(954)258-8565 for informa-
tion


BLUE CYPRESS- Golf & RV, 1
Lot, Lg. pad. Screen rm.,
Pool/Club House. Jayco 5th
Whl. 35 Ft. 304-543-6107.
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

Mobile Homes



Mobile Home Lots 2005
Mobile Hompe Parts 2010
Mobile Homes Rent 2015
Mobile Homes Sale 2020




OKEECHOBEE
Rental, SE 23rd Court,
For information.
(863)763-4892 or 763-5419



OKEECHOBEE
Singlewide 2br, 2ba,
located on a Ranch. $650
mo. Call (863)763-2838



CHOICE OF 3BR, or 2 BR, 2
ba D/W's No pets, yrly lease,
starting @ $600/mo +
$1000 sec. 863-763-4031
LARKEY LAKES 2br, 1ba, Ig
screen room, carport,
$800/mo, 1st, last & sec
(863)467-4982



BANK REPO'S
MOVE TO YOUR LAND
Mobile Home Angels
561-385-4694


LORIDA at Mallard MHP #3,
12'x60', 2BR, 1BA, Florida
room, carport, 2 sheds, pier
on canal to Lake Istokpoga.
Call 863-655-3791
MOBILE HOME & LOT
WITH OWNER FINANCE
Ortona-14x70 Single Wide
with Ig. screened rm. on 1/4
acre lot. City water & Sewer.
1 blk. to boat ramp. 15 min.
to LaBelle. $56,000 with low
down pymt. (321)733-7120
OKEECHOBEE '91 DWMH,
3br, 2ba, $25,000 or best
offer, you move
(863)634-5421
PALM HARBOR HOMES
4/2 Tile Floor, Energy Package
Deluxe loaded, over
2,200 sq.ft.
30th Anniversary Sale Special
Save $15,000.
Call for FREE Color Brochures
800-622-2832
VANTAGE OAK 35' w/Florida
room, Loaded, has nearly new
apple Tile & wood firs.
Call (270)723-1427

Recreation

Ti i i-


SEAQUEST 20', Center con-
sole. 150 Johnson Kicker mo-
tor. Tandem trailer. Very good
cond. $3950. (863)214-9747

Time to clean out the
attic, basement and/or
garage? Advertise your
yard sale in the classl-
fleds and make your
clean in a hreezel


MONTANA FIFTH WHEEL 35' -
3 slides, awnings, full size
W/D, many extras, can be
seen in Clewiston
(863)983-8229 will return
calls.
Buying a car? Look In the
classlfieds. Selling a
car? Look In the classl-
fleds.


TRACKER '2000, 26', Wood
slide out, NA/C, Sleeps 6, Walk
around bed, New tires. Great
cond. $4350 (863)214-9747

Automobiles

n'iI 3


CHEVY PICKUP 2004 31K
mis., 5 spd., 6 cyl. Work
truck. $7950 (772)260-3068


CHEVY HHRLT 2006 Exc.
cond. 1 Non Smoking owner.
Only 9K mis. Clear title.
$16,000. (863)357-3627
FORD EXPEDITION '06 4x4,
low miles, leather, TV,
$23,000 (863)674-1239


0III a


CARE AND PROTECTION
TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
DOCKET NUMBER: CPr07WOO93
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
children) 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
child(ren) named herein, if it finds that
the children) is/are In need of care
and protection and that the best Inter-
ests of the children) 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 if
the court determines that you are indi-
gent, the court will appoint an attorney
to represent you.
If you fail to appear, the court may pro-
ceed with a trial on the merits of the
petition and an adjudication of this
matter.
For further Intormation call the Office of
the Clerk-Magistrate at 508-791-7109.
Craig D. Smith
Clerk Magistrate
DATE ISSUED: 12/13/07


WITNESS:
Carl A. Erskine
FIRST JUSTICE
256418 ON 1/15,22,29/08
NOTICE OF ACTION
CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE PROPERTY
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 19TH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA
GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION
CASE NO.: 2007-CA-283
FORECLOSURE OF MORTGAGE
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
EARL K. OMAN, TRUSTEE
PLAINTIFF
vs.
HAWKS LANDING II CORP. a Florida
Corporation (HAWKS), E.M. CRISSON
/ia ELLIS M. CRISSON (CRISSON),
DAVID HALL (HALL), HOWARD
WONG (WONG), STEVE WANG
(WANG), SCOSTA CORP., a Florida
Corporation (SCOSTA), GARY CREP,
MELANIE CREP, ERIK CREP, SEAN
CREP (CREPS), PRIMERA LOBBE
(LOBBE), AND PHYLLIS HOLLEY
(HOLLEY)
DEFENDANTS
TO: HAWK'S LANDING II CORR,
a Florida corpration
13015 NE 4 Terrace
Okeechobee, Forida 34972
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED-that an ac-
tion to foreclosure a mortgage on the
following property in Okeechobee,
Floridda:
Lotll, OKEECHOBEE GOLF ESTATES
PHASE ONE, according to the Plat
thereof, recorded In Plat Book 6, Page
70 Public Records of Okeechobee
County, Florida. ("Real Property")
has been filed against you and you are
required to serve a copy of your writ-
ten defenses, if any, to it on John C.
Sullivan, Jr., Esquire, attorney for the
Plaintiff whose address is Sullivan, Ad-
mire & Sullivan, 2555 Ponce De Leon
Blvd., Suite 320, Coral Gables, Florida
33134 and file the original with the
Clerk of the above styled Court on or
before the thirtieth (30th) day from the
date of the first publication of this no-
tice otherwise a default will be entered
against you for the relief prayed for in
the complaint or petlion.
This notice shall be published once a
week for two consecutive weeks in the
OKEECHOBEE NEWS.
WITNESS my hand and seat of said Court
at Okeechobee, Florida on this 15th
day of January, 2008.
Shaon Robertson
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Okeechobee County, Florida
By: Kathy Arnold
As Deputy Clerk
John C. Sullivan Jr., Esq.
Attorney for Plaintiff
2555 Ponce de Leon Blvd..
Suite 320
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
Phone:305-444-6121
Flonda Bar No.: 079248
257291 ON 1/22.29/08



READING A
NEWSPAPER MAKES
YOU A MORE INFORMED
AND INTERESTING
PERSON. .
o wonder newspaper
readers are more popular


Chasey Jacoby JR Breanne
Bass Johns Gomez Lee


Local students selected to


I


Wrangler All

Denver Leaders of the National High
School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), the old-
est youth rodeo organization in America,
appointed Chasey Bass, JR Gomez, Jacoby
Johns and Breanne Lee of Okeechobee to the
Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team,
the first-ever corporate-sponsored youth ro-
deo team.
The Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo
Team is fashioned after Wrangler's Champion
Pro Rodeo Team, which includes superstars
like Trevor Brazile, Joe Beaver, Dan Mortensen,
Dustin Elliot, Kelly Kaminski, Will Lowe, and
Hall-of-Famer Jim Shoulders. Chasey, JR, Ja-
coby and Breanne earned a position on the
Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team
based on leadership qualities, academic eligi-
bility and athletic achievements.
"We are excited to again this year expand
Wrangler's rodeo sponsorship program at
the high school level," said Karl Stressman,
special events manager for Wrangler Rodeo.
"As always, it gives us, a tremendous sense of
pride to associate the Wrangler brand with
promising young men and women. We're
confident each member of the team will be
an outstanding goodwill ambassador for the
sport of rodeo."
Members of Wrangler High School All Star
Rodeo Team receive official competition ap-
parel consisting of Wrangler Twenty X shirts
embroidered with the team logo and two
pairs of competition jeans. In addition, team
members receive and official team certificate
signed by Wrangler Jeans Shirts President,
Phil McAdams.
"Wrangler's NHSRA sponsorship is a natu-
ral extension of our professional and colle-
giate rodeo programs," said Karl Stressman,
director of Special Events for Wrangler. "We
are confident the NHSRA partnership will re-
inforce Wrangler brand loyalty with the youth
market.".
"The NHSRA owes much of its success to
the support of its national sponsors," said Kent
Sturman, general manager of the NHSRA,
"and we are excited to have a prominent com-
pany like Wrangler once again step forward
to help us meet the ever increasing challenges
facing our young people today. Cowboys can
always depend on Wrangler to support the in-
frastructure of rodeo, 'and our members are
thrilled to have Wrangler as a sponsor and are
proud to wear their products in and out of the
competition arena."
This is the second year that Chasey has


OHS Girls stomp Forest Hill


By Charles M. Murphy
Okeechobee News
Okeechobee got off to a slow start but was
still able- to shake it off as they went on the
road and defeated Forest Hill, 42-24, Thursday
night.
It was a key win for Okeechobee, as they
improved to (7-8) on the year and also won a
key district game.
"We played well, we did a good job mov-
ing the ball up the court and with moving
the ball around and passing the ball," Head
Coach Tammy Wright remarked, "We played
very well, and played as a team, I like that."
Okeechobee did it without Monica Koger
for most of the first half. She was saddled with
three quick fouls and had to ride the pine. Per-
haps that was one of the biggest reasons that
Okeechobee could only score 14 points in the
first half.


Dorothy Burkhardt had a good night with
11 points. She had plenty of help as Kitaki Rob-
erts had 10 points, Jarelle Conn and Heather
Fipps had six points, and Koger chipped in
with five points. Jewel Buck and Dadrika Riles
each had two points for the Lady Brahmans.
Koger had four steals, Roberts had
three steels, and Conn had five assists for
Okeechobee. Ramirez led Forest Hill with 11
points.
Okeechobee led for most of the game as
they held a 6-4 advantage'after the first quar-
ter and a 14-9 lead at the half. Okeechobee
scored 28 points in the second half and held a
27-15 advantage after three quarters.
It was Okeechobee's third straight win.
"It was a good game even though we
didn't put a lot of points on the board. We
broke their pressure defense and it was a
good night," Coach Wright added.


Sports News in Brief


OCRA sign-ups
for Baseball/Softball
Signups for the 2008 OCRA Baseball/Soft-
ball season continue Sat. Jan. 26, Saturday,
Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 9 from 9 a.m. until
2:30 p.m. Birth certificates of the child will be
needed when sign ups are done. For more in-
formation please call OCRA at (863) 634-1437.

Tennis fundraiser
to benefit OHS teams
Costopoulos & Helton, P.A. will host their
Sixth annual adult tennis fundraiser to raise
funds for the Okeechobee High School Ten-
nis teams.
The event will be held Saturday, Jan. 26
and Sunday, Jan, 27 at the Okeechobee Coun-
ty Sports Complex tennis courts, 580 N.W. 27'"
Lane.
For an entry form or information, stop by
Costopoulos & Helton, P.A., 195 S.W. 281h 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.
Entry fees are $30 per group entry. All en-
trants 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 Ten-
nis team for $7. The event is open to any adult
and consists of A and B levels in doubles men,
women and mixed doubles.

Little League
Baseball Softball Sign-ups
Okeechobee Little League baseball and
softball sign-ups are set for Jan. 26- 27 from
10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Beef O'Brady's.


Ten Star All
Star Basketball Camp
Applications are now being evaluated
for the Ten Star All Star Summer Basketball
Camp. The Ten Star All Star Summer Basket-
ball Camp is by Invitation only. Boys and Girls
ages 10-19 are eligible to apply. Past partici-
pants include: Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan,
Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse, Grant Hill and
Antawn Jamison. Players from 50 states and
10 foreign countries attended the 2007 Camp.
College Basketball Scholarships are pos-
sible for players selected to the All-American
Team. Camp locations include: Babson Park,
Fla., Prescott, Ariz., Thousand Oaks, Calif.,
Gainesville, Ga., Champaign, Ill., Glassboro,
N.J., Lebanon, Tenn., Commerce, Texas, and
Blacksburg, Va. There is also a Summer Camp
available for Boys and Girls ages 6-18 of all
skill levels. For a free brochure on these sum-
mer camps, please call (704) 373-0873. or go
online at www.tenstarcamp.com.

U.S.C.G. Flotilla
seeking new members
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 57
in Okeechobee is seeking new members to
become involved in the Auxiliary's programs.
The Auxiliary is a volunteer service orga-
nization composed of men and women who
actively support recreational boating safety
and other Coast Guard missions.
The Auxiliary also provides recreational
boating safety support to sate and local au-
thorities.
Members could be involved in patrols,
communications, administration, seaman-
ship, piloting/navigation, weather or search
and rescue.
For information, call (863) 763-0165.


Emlymn


I ro


I^pcil Ntie


Star Team

been appointed to the Wrangler High School
All Start Rodeo Team. Senior Chasey Bass has
qualified for the State and National Team his
freshman, sophomore and junior years. The
last two years Chasey was titled the State of
Florida Saddle Bronc Champion, Jacoby Johns
was titled State of Florida Reserved Champion
Bareback Rider. Breanne and JR also qualified
for State Finals. With their talent and ambition
these four will make their goals to compete in
the Collegiate and Professional Rodeo Circuit.
Chasey, JR, Jacoby and Breanne and the
Okeechobee High School Team still has a
very busy schedule and a lot of traveling to do.
Make a note that the team will be competing
here in Okeechobee on February 2nd and 3rd
come out and support these young athletes.
Below is the schedule for this year:
*February 2nd, and 3rd Okeechobee will
be at the old Cattlemen's Arena on Hwy 441 N
- There will be a cutting following the rodeo
on Saturday location TBD
February 22nd and 23rd Ocala
March 29th and 30th Pierson- There will
be a cutting following the rodeo on Saturday
-April 5th Green Cove Springs
*April 26th and 27th Williston
May 3rd and 4th Arcadia
June 19th 22nd STATE FINALS Silver
Spurs Area Kissimmee
*July 14th 19th INTERNATIONAL FI-
NALS Shawnee, OK ,
*July 20th 26th NATIONAL FINALS
- Farmington, NM
For additional information about the team
contact Darlene Bass at 863-634-5815.
Wrangler, Inc., headquartered in Greens-
boro, NC, is the maker of the official je and
shirts of the NHSRA, NIRA, Texas Team Rop-
ing, CPRA, PBR, USTRC, PRCA and AQHA.
Wrangler is a division of VF Corporation, one
of the world's larges publicly owned apparel
companies. For the nearest Wrangler retailer,
call 1-888-4-WRANGLER or visit the compa-
ny's website, www.wrangler.com
The mission of the NHSRA is to help today's
young people become responsible, dedicated
adults through the sport of rodeo. High school
rodeo has come a long way since its start as
a single event held in Hallettsville, Texas in
1947. It now features over 10,000 members
and 1,250 sanctioned rodeos in 39 states, five
Canadian provinces, and Australia. To contact
the NHSRA call 1-800-466-4772 or visit their
website at www.nhsra.org