South Central Florida Life
Featured Story

One-time, cut-rate opportunity for Everglades ‘Eco Preservation Tour’

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Community News

Pet of the Week

Meet Heather. This sweet girl is a little shy until she gets to know you. She would love a home of her own, preferably a quiet one that would take time to understand her. Heather is almost 2 years …

Art gallery holds meeting to plan reopening

The Barron Park House Gallery has announced a special board meeting, where they will discuss their reopening plan. The meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m.

Virtual Halloween Costume Contest at Barron Library

Barron Library wants to see your costumes!

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Coronavirus Updates

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Current conditions
Observed from: Fort Myers, Southwest Florida International Airport
Partly Cloudy, 83 °F
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South … Get the full forecast
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Police/Fire

A rash of vehicle burglaries have occurred throughout LaBelle and Clewiston.

Florida Gulf Coast to Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross urges residents to test their smoke alarms and practice their escape plan as home fires continue during COVID-19.
The following individuals were arrested on felony or driving under the influence (DUI) charges by the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office during the week of Sept. 29 – Oct. 4.

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Agriculture

Florida-grown tomatoes — particularly the UF/IFAS-bred Garden Gem — pack a tasty punch for tomato juice, new University of Florida research shows.

University of Florida scientists achieved a major milestone in their quest to develop a citrus greening-resistant tree by sequencing the genome of a fruit plant that’s a close cousin to citrus trees.
By using Box or OneSpan, producers can digitally complete business transactions

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Election

Supervisor of Elections (SOE) Aletris Farnam wants all residents to know that the start of early voting on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Glades County coincides with the final day to request the vote-by-mail option.

LABELLE — From down-ballot candidates to the presidential ticket, there are a plethora of political advertisements seen along roadsides, in freshly mowed lawns, and on vehicles as Election Day …
Floridians turned out in record numbers for the first day of early voting in Florida on Monday. According to state election officials, more than 350,000 Floridians cast their ballots on Monday, when …

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Business Corner

Business Corner: Caloosa Kitchen — phenomenal artisanal goods from local baker

A relatively new artist, who’s been developing her business officially for just over a year now, has arrived back on scene despite the many challenges 2020 has created for all small, local businesses.
Pictured from left to right: Amanda Nelson, LaBelle Chamber of Commerce president; Carla Davidson and Danny Shoaf, owners of Sal Cal’s Pizza; and Diana Fidanza, executive director of the LaBelle Chamber of Commerce.

The LaBelle Chamber of Commerce announces the 2020 Business of the Year Sal-Cal’s Pizza

This year’s Business of the Year honoree is LaBelle’s local, beloved, longtime business Sal-Cal’s Pizza.

Governor DeSantis, DEO highlight Florida small business resources

In recognition of National Small Business Week, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) highlight resources available to small businesses in Florida.

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Veterans
STUART — Southeast Florida Honor Flight usually takes to the skies four times per year to bring local WWII, Korean and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built to …
LABELLE – Veteran William Harold Rentz, Harold as he’s known to friends and family, served his country for 25 years before retiring in 1973. Submitted photo: William Harold Rentz, a 17 year old …
WEST PALM BEACH — The West Palm Beach VA Medical Center has been designated as a 2020 Leader in LGBTQ Health Care Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation was …

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Sports Around The Lake

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Top Trending Stories

CLEWISTON — During the unusually brief Oct. 14 regular meeting of the Hendry Board of County Commissioners, code enforcement was the main topic of discussion. Staff and commissioners discussed …

The Hendry County Road Watch Report covering the week of Oct. 18.
Faye Dozier began her career as a school nurse with the Hendry County School District on Aug. 24, 1992. She was hired at Country Oaks Elementary School (COES) by Principal Michael Gasz. She is known …
Government

Corps breaks ground on Central Everglades Planning Project

State and federal officials gathered at the S-333 water control structure on the Tamiami Trail on Oct. 21 to celebrate the start of work on the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), which will increase the capacity to move water from Lake Okeechobee to Everglades National Park (ENP).

SBA and Treasury announce simpler PPP forgiveness for loans of $50,000 or less

On Oct. 12, the U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less.

SFWMD prepared for potential heavy rainfall

Stalled front forecast to drop several inches of rain in South Florida; residents and communities urged to stay prepared during storm season

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Schools

FSW Radiologic Technology Program achieves 100% pass rate

Over the past 15 years, FSW’s Radiologic Technology Program graduates have maintained a 99.7% pass rate for the national certification exam.

West Glades School Citizens of the Month for September

MUSE – West Glades School congratulates Citizens of the Month for September: KG-2nd Grade: Rainey Stokes, June Beer, Jason Williamson, Hadasha Villanueva, Gael Moreno, Corbin Clement, Tyson …

Life in space – UF/IFAS faculty awarded three grants for further exploration

The NASA Biological and Physical Sciences Division’s Space Biology Program recently announced 18 grants that will advance our understanding of how living systems respond to life in space.

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Health

Brain Bus to host virtual events

The Alzheimer’s Association Virtual Brain Bus raises awareness about Alzheimer’s and related dementia from any device connected to the internet.
Pregnant woman standing beside crib, mid section, side view

Avoid use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that use of NSAIDs around 20 weeks or later in pregnancy may cause rare but serious kidney problems in an unborn baby.

Enroll kids for Florida KidCare

Head-to-toe coverage is available for all Florida kids from birth through the end of age 18, even if one or both parents are working.

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Entertainment

Sheer Fear will soon be here!

It’s the scariest time of the year again, Halloween! Time for all the scary, scary things to come out and do what they do best! Are you brave enough to come out and play? Find out this weekend, …

Brewfest/Food Truck Rally seeks auction items to benefit Shy Wolf Sanctuary

Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience Center is pleased to announce that the second annual WolfStock: Brewfest and Food Truck Rally will take place Nov. 14.

Real Bodies: The Exhibition showcases & explores human anatomy

WEST PALM BEACH — No bones about it! The South Florida Science Center is announcing the fall blockbuster exhibit, Real Bodies: The Exhibition presented by the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation.

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Opinion
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) on ranches and dairy farms represents tremendous potential to benefit the Florida cattle industry.
By Yakira ChuSpecial to the Immokalee BulletinIMMOKALEE – Covid-19 has posed considerable challenges to nearly every family, but none moreso than migrant women and children living in domestic …
Is a requirement to wear a cloth face covering in public spaces an infringement on individual freedom? Some Florida counties and cities have made masks mandatory in public buildings. Others …

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Traffic & Road Work
LaBelle Road Watch Report for the week of Oct. 4

State Road 80 from Captain Hendry Drive to Lashley Street: (Construction project) Crews will landscape the stormwater ponds along SR 80 from Captain Hendry Drive to Lashley Street. Please use caution …

Intermittent lane closures on SR 80

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State News
In the battle against PFD, UF/IFAS scientists have developed the Citrus Advisory System (CAS), which sends web-based alerts to citrus farmers via mobile devices.

A cellphone alert tells citrus growers when to spray for a disease

In the battle against PFD, UF/IFAS scientists have developed the Citrus Advisory System (CAS), which sends web-based alerts to citrus farmers via mobile devices.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Charlie Morton walks off the mound after being relieved during the sixth inning in Game 7 of a baseball American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Charlie Morton quietly becomes dominant postseason pitcher

Charlie Morton has slowly and quietly become one of the most dominant postseason pitchers ever.

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Nation & World
Jen Cox poses for a photo on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, after voting early at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta. The arena, where the NBA's Atlanta Hawks play, is one of many professional sports venues around the country that has opened its doors for voting or other election-related activities. With dozens of voting machines and ample space for social distancing, they provide a safe and efficient way to vote during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Kate Brumback)

Arenas, stadiums find new life as safer options for voting

ATLANTA (AP) — With long waits making headlines during early voting across the country, professional sports venues have emerged as bright spots, repurposing huge spaces mostly devoid of fans into …
CORRECTS DAY OF DEATH TO TUESDAY, OCT. 20 INSTEAD OF MONDAY, OCT. 19 - FILE - In this Friday, June 29, 2007, file photo, James Randi is shown in front of a poster at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Florida-based James Randi Educational Foundation announced its founder died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, at 92. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)

James Randi, dazzling magician and skeptic, dies at 92

James Randi, a magician who later challenged spoon benders, mind readers and faith healers with such voracity that he became regarded as the country’s foremost skeptic, has died, his foundation …

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