News Cast for March 10th:
The Sheriff awarded the community action team that helped an Okeechobee family who lost their home and vehicle in a fire.
Noel Stephen also honored Our Village and the Okeechobee Pregnancy Center for helping the family with food, lodging, cash, and food.
Chief Deputy Michael Hazellief said the fire occurred during a cold snap and left the family stranded.
“They were kids, standing outside, with few clothes and no shoes. It was a very dire situation.”
Hazellief added that the family was completely displaced, there was a lot of need, and it was frigid cold.
“No one stepped forward more than these two agencies, they bent over backward to make sure these members of the community had what they needed.”
Seacoast National Bank announced a merger with Heartland National Bank of Highlands County.
Heartland has branches in Sebring, Avon Park and Lake Placid.
Seacoast officials said the expansion is part of the banks merger and acquisition strategy to add a stable high-quality franchise to its growing market.
They also said the expand their presence in a key Central Florida banking market.
Seacoast has 77 full-service branches in Florida.
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue annual report showed call volumes remained steady.
Deputy Fire Chief Justin Hazellief reported there was an increase in structure fires to 48 and brush fires up to 150.
He said they plan to do more public education this year.
The report said the agency handled a total of 7,448 calls that included 5,989 EMS or ambulance calls.
Another successful FFA competition for Okeechobee Schools.
The OHS Dairy Evaluation team won the state title. Team members included Josh Larson, Kathryn Montes de Oca, Lillie Bandi and Ruby Keith. The coach is Travis Larson.
The OHS Milk Quality and Products team also won the state title.
Team members include Sophia Caves, Rachel Thompson, Hannah Butler, and Lily Larson.
The Osceola Middle School Dairy Evaluation team also took home the state championship.
Team members included Lexi Bishop, Brylynn Diaz, Jenna Walpole and Addyson Lyng. The coach was Jacob Larson.
Several Hispanic business owners appealed to the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners for help.
They claim they are losing business because many of their customers are illegal aliens, who are afraid to go out doors amid fears of deportation.
Jose Miranda said his business is legal and it is still suffering.
“This is not fair, this is not justice,” he told Commissioners.
“Our business and customers are being targeted. Our hard-working taxpaying residents are afraid to leave their homes due to fear of being racially profiled by law enforcement.”
He said his customers are too afraid to shop, eat or participate in any public activities.
The BOCC referred him to the Sheriff who controls law enforcement policies in the county.
The Okeechobee Cowtown Rodeo had a payoff of $47,267 this year. The all-around cowboy was Marcus Theriot who took home $2,181 in prize money.
The winners included Bodee Lammers in the bareback riding, Sam Dixon in the street wrestling, Keven Daniel and Parker Carbajal in team roping, Kody Rinehart in saddle bronc, Ike Fontenot in tie-down roping, Ryleigh Adams in barrel racing, and Ernie Courson Jr in the bull riding.