News Cast for November 17th:
Is it time for your car to have an oil change? Tires rotated and balanced? Do you need new windshield wiper blades? Did you know that our league’s sponsoring dealership, Gilbert Chevrolet, can service all makes and models?
Now through November 20, please stop by Gilbert Chevrolet to have your car’s routine maintenance needs taken care of. Then, while you’re there waiting for your vehicle to be serviced, please ask the staff to let you take a test drive to benefit the Okeechobee High School Brahman Band through the Chevy Youth Sports program.
For each test drive taken, Gilbert Chevrolet will donate $25 to the OHS Band through November 30, while supplies last.
We need 20 music lovers to complete test drives so we can earn the full $2000 available through drives and sponsorship, so we hope we can count on your help!
Once your test drive has been completed, it must be validated to count towards our fundraising goal! Please ask the staff at Gilbert Chevrolet for the test drive validation key code, which you’ll need to type in at www.Chevrolet.com/Experience in order for your drive to count! If you are not given the validation key code, please reach out ohsbandboosters18@gmail.com.
Thank you for supporting local musicians!
Today we had a special guest speaker, County Commissioner David E. Hazellief, visit Ms. Rehkamp’s 7th grade civics class. Their goal was to question Mr. Hazellief on how the local government helps grow the county and local economy. The students had a blast and they thoroughly enjoyed having Mr. Hazellief as a guest speaker. We can’t wait to do it again.
City gets new businesses
The Okeechobee City Council approved the final plat with conditions for the Park Street Commerce Center.
Five lots could be developed with a Culver’s restaurant, car wash, and a hotel down the line. Some 16 acres are included in the plans.
The planning staff did have some questions about the plat and the city will require some road work from the developer.
The developer would like to start immediately.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission pushed to take more of a role in the LOSOM process, now near the end.
The concern is the lake is being held too high for too long so that other interests can benefit.
Commission member Gary Nicklaus wants to have more of a focus on water quality
Suzanne Martin said anglers are concerned about a lack of submerged vegetation due to the high water.
“Hendry County has zero, Palm Beach County has zero, Glades County has zero, leaving Okeechobee County as the only county on the lake with submerged vegetation.”
The City of Moore Haven and Glades County School Board vowed to work together to make the new elementary school happen at 500 West Avenue.
Assistant Superintendent Brian Greseth said he doesn’t understand the opposition to the location.
“There seems to be a lot of people who want to see this project happen the right way but there are a few people that don’t, and want to have it their way.”
Vice Mayor Jake Eigner complained the city had not been kept in the loop about these plans.
“We are more concerned with how they turn the power on, how they are going to flush their toilets, and where it is going to go than they are. There is no public input on location. The property being built on, (was where) the council spend $20,000 to identify as a place to put homes for teachers. We’ve lost out on another property and opportunity for housing.”
The city provides electric, water and sewer to the property.
The schools elected not to rebuild at the current elementary school because of the impacts on education from construction noise and the cost of portables, said to be at least $300,000.
Mayor Clay Browning said he is not going to argue where they put the school. He noted you could ask 20 people in Glades County their opinion and each would select another location.
“They have made a decision on where they want to put it. Now let’s do our part and get started to getting there.”
Congressman Scott Franklin hosts a veterans fair in his district in Lakeland Saturday. All vets are invited.
He hopes to bring it to other counties. The event will have several agencies that deal with veteran’s issues including the Department of Veterans Affairs, veteran service officer and have experts on toxic exposure screening, claims assistance, mental health and suicide prevention, programs for the homeless and social workers.
Highlands County residents want to know what the county is doing on code enforcement issues.
Residents complaining of junk trailers showing up in residential area.
Sara Gilbreath said residents shouldn’t be made to pay taxes if they live across from junk.
County commissioner Kevin Roberts said the county needs to inform the public that they are taking action when these issues pop up. He noted many times allegations made during public comment is untrue and misleading.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida announced Dustin Lynch will be the headliner for the annual Bright Field Day Festival, Feb. 16-18, 2024. They will celebrate 85 years.
The event also includes pro rodeo, Xtreme bull riding, Indian arts, crafts and native foods and a Seminole Culture Camp and Seminole Indian Village.
Lynch has eight number one hits