HURRICANE NEWS

- SBA exceeds $1 billion in Hurricane Ian assistance
  
  More than $1 billion in disaster assistance has been approved by the SBA for small businesses, homeowners...
- SBA extends deadline to Jan. 12 for businesses and residents
  
  On Nov. 22, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will extend its deadline to Jan. 12...
- Hurricane deaths include two in Hendry County
  
  Florida District Medical Examiners report hurricane deaths to the Medical Examiners Commission following...

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Featured

Veteran Mixon is an aircraft mechanic, and he loves it

Veteran Scott Mixon was born and raised in Okeechobee.

The Great Florida Cattle Drive is underway

The Great Florida Cattle Drive attracted participants from all over the United States.

Corps increases lake releases to Caloosahatchee River

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will increase lake releases to the Caloosahatchee River on Dec. 3

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Health

After more than 400 farmworkers tested, more health fairs slated

About 200,000 farm laborers live in Florida and usually get little to no health care.

Yoga for Life: A yoga practice for holiday calmness

The pace of the day can be exhausting when our lives become filled every minute with working...

Mosquito spraying planned Dec. 5-7

OKEECHOBEE -- Mosquito control spraying is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 5, through Wednesday, Dec. 7 ...

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Community News

Iris Wall is proud to be a Florida Cracker

Iris Wall, 93, of Indiantown, happily shared information about Florida Crackers to participants...

The cast of "The Elves and the Shoemaker" which premiered Dec. 2 at the Firehouse Community Theatre will run through Dec. 11.

"The Elves and the Shoemaker" now playing at Firehouse Community Theatre

The Firehouse Community Theatre presents the upbeat musical play, "The Elves and the Shoemaker," which premiered Friday, Dec. 2.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was the keynote speaker at First Bank's centinnial celebration Nov. 16.

First Bank celebrated centennial celebration Nov. 16

First Bank celebrated 100 years of service and centinnial celebration at the Bronson Arena in Moore Haven on Nov. 16.

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Human Interest

Santa stops by for a trim

Auto mechanics class is connecting with OHS students

Milly Francis was the 'Florida Pocahontas'

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Current Conditions

Observed from: Okeechobee County Airport

Fair, 64 °F

Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning. Get the full forecast

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E-edition

Read the latest Lake Okeechobee print edition here.

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Lake levels

16.45 feet

Last year: 15.86 feet

Depth given in feet above sea level.

Water Flow Chart

Lake Okeechobee Real Estate

LORE - December 2022 edition

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Okeechobee Arrest Report

The following individuals were charged with DUI or felonies last week.

Gaetz friend to be sentenced on sex crimes, other counts

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida tax collector whose arrest led to a federal probe into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz has cooperated in investigations of two dozen people for sex trafficking and other …

Two killed in head-on crash on SR 78

GLADES COUNTY – Two people were killed in a head-on crash on State Road 78 on Saturday, Nov. 26 ...

CLEWISTON -- An Opa Locka man was killed early Nov. 28 when the semi he was driving collided with a train. As a result of the crash, the semi was engulfed in flames. [Photo courtesy FHP]

Semi driver killed when truck runs into train

CLEWISTON -- The semi traveled through the crossing gate and collided with the right side of the train.

Okeechobee man accused of firing into vehicle, breaking window

An Okeechobee man is accused of firing shots into his ex-wife’s truck, shattering the driver's side rear window.

Lake Okeechobee

Lake O at 16.5 feet and rising

Boaters warned of low power line on St. Lucie Canal

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Sports

Brahman basketball defeats Pahokee 49-31

The Okeechobee High School Brahman varsity basketball team defeated the Pahokee Blue Devils 49-31 on Nov. 30.

FWC adds new rules for boating safety

At its Nov. 30-Dec. 1 Commission Meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved …

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Schools

NES congratulates 1st Year Teacher of the Year

Join North Elementary School in congratulating their 2022-2023 First Year (Project ONE) Teacher of the Year...

NES congratulates Employee of the Year

Join North Elementary School in congratulating the 2022-2023 Related Employee of the Year - Mrs. Ana Waldron.

NES congratulates Teacher of the Year

North Elementary School congratulates their 2022/2023 Teacher of the Year - Mrs. Emily Streelman...

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Government

Architect says Okeechobee County Jail expansion project progressing well

According to an update given at the Nov. 22 Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners meeting, the ongoing expansion and renovation project at the Okeechobee County Jail

Is the U.S. ready for a new political party?

Does the United States need a new political party? A group of former Democrats and Republicans think so.

DeCarlo, Burroughs sworn in at County Commission

Terry Burroughs and Frank DeCarlo were officially sworn in before the Nov. 22 Okeechobee County Commission meeting.

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Veterans

Steve and Tina Lynn were refused service at Pueblo Viejo this week.

Local veteran refused service ... again

A local veteran was refused service this week when she went to have her nails done.

At the Okeechobee Freshman Campus, the JROTC participated in the Veterans' Day assembly.

Okeechobee County schools do not close for Veterans' Day and this is why

Many have asked why the schools in Okeechobee County are not closed in honor of Veterans' Day.

BBB warns veterans about scammers

As a veteran, navigating government programs and benefits is complicated. Scammers know...

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State

Florida beach erosion uncovers wooden ship from 1800s

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. (AP) — Severe beach erosion from two late-season hurricanes has helped uncover what appears to be a wooden ship dating from the 1800s which had been buried under the sand …

Florida lawmakers set to meet on ailing insurance market

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Legislature will meet next week for a special session on property insurance and property tax relief in the wake of damage caused by Hurricane Ian, officials …

Sheriff: Deputy fatally shot deputy in 'avoidable' accident

PALM BAY, Fla. (AP) — A deputy mistakenly shot and killed his roommate, who was also a deputy, as the two took a break from playing an online game with friends while they were off duty, a Florida …

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Nation & World

Opinion

Special Sections

SBA exceeds $1 billion in Hurricane Ian assistance

SBA extends deadline to Jan. 12 for businesses and residents

Hurricane deaths include two in Hendry County