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FWC thanks volunteers for helping with Lake O research project

Mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit in LaBelle July 25

The Florida Department of Health and the Florida Division of Emergency Management have partnered to offer a mobile vaccination unit in LaBelle.

CDC advises all eligible Americans be vaccinated against COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control last week warned the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant is likely to become the dominant strain in United States.

Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Unit to provide vaccinations June 18

The Florida Department of Health and the Florida Division of Emergency Management have partnered to offer a mobile vaccination unit at Las Gemelas Food Store...

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Community News

Calusa Waterkeeper documentary warns of dangers posed by algae

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA- Calusa Waterkeeper has made the 2019 documentary “Troubled Waters: The Public Health Impacts of Harmful Algae Blooms” available, for free, to the public. Calusa …

Boil water notice lifted

LABELLE. – The precautionary boil water notice in effect for the Port LaBelle Utility System service area has been lifted. Bacteriological tests run on the water returned with passing …

U.S. Sugar to restore 101-year-old steam engine and use train for tours

A steam locomotive that traveled the Florida rails 100 years ago will soon have a new home in the “Worlds Sweetest Town.”

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Police/Fire

DeSantis signs bill supporting LEO canines

Governor Ron DeSantis supports bill to help LEO K9s injured in the line of duty

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Agriculture

Florida farmers meet with national lawmakers

Florida farmers, ranchers and small business owners spoke up for agriculture during Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Hill to the Field Advocacy Week, June 1-4, 2021.

UF/IFAS, Miami chocolatier cook up winning recipes with Florida-grown vanilla

What happens if you mix a cacao bean with a vanilla bean produced from a specific Florida-grown vanilla cultivar? The outcome was a winning combination...

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Wildlife & Environment

UF wildlife ecologists teach public to help boost bluebird population

As pest-eaters, Eastern bluebirds benefit Florida farmers. Not only that, they’re cute. Two good reasons Hance Ellington has started a program to preserve them.

Reef-wide outplanting of corals susceptible to stony coral tissue loss disease begins

Reef restoration experiments in Florida have never been replicated on such a large scale before, with 24 outplanting sites spanning from Martin County down the coast of southeast Florida to Key West.

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Business Corner

Sweet tea via drive through is just one of the ice-cold refreshments available at Munchies Drive Thru, a new business that will be opening in LaBelle on June 19.

Business Corner: Munchies Drive Thru offers ice cold refreshments and more

LABELLE- Soon to be serving up sweet tea, lemonade, and other ice cold refreshemnts, Sanjuanita and Javier Molina are the owners of the Munchies Drive-Thru, a new local, small business that will …

Locally famous hot sauce wins Golden Chile award

FELDA- Some like it hot, and local hot sauce and BBQ expert Buddy Taylor knows it. “After years of fine tuning, taste-testing and fiddling around with a pinch of this and a dash of that, …

Black-owned businesses encouraged to attend meeting

CLEWISTON- Close to half of Black small businesses have closed down in 2020, as the pandemic presented challenges to minority communities disproportionately

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Veterans

Veterans remembered at Ft Denaud Ceremony

One of the largest crowds in years attended the Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Ft Denaud Cometary by the American Legion Post #130 on Monday, May 31.

Stories sought for Veterans History Project

VENICE, FL – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) is encouraging local veterans to share their stories.

LaBele Fire Department helped place flags.

Volunteers place flags on veterans' graves

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” — Audrey Hepburn

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Weather

Make a hurricane plan for your pets

When a hurricane threatens, do you have a plan for your pets? Do you have a safe spot for them in your home? What will you do with them if you can’t stay in your home?

2021 Hurricane Season: Be prepared

Weathering storms is a part of every Floridian’s life. As the 2021 Hurricane Season begins, please take a few minutes to review some of the mandatory supplies.

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Sports Around The Lake

New wrestling club welcomes ages 6 and up

HENDRY COUNTY- A new wrestling club has been established, with practices being held at LaBelle High School on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

$5,000,000 in scholarship funds for SWFL youth at Immokalee Freedom Day event

IMMOKALEE- A Juneteenth Freedom Day Block Party is planned for June 19, 2021. Jonas Mervilus, owner and founder of MySpeedyX, has announced $5,000,000 in scholarship funding will be available

Watch the Undersea World of the Florida Keys from anywhere!

This summer Friends of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park will install a webcam at the Mosquito Banks patch reef, one of only a handful of underwater webcams...

Don’t quit hunting just because it’s summer - try wild hog hunting instead

If you’re looking for a hunting opportunity this time of year, you might want to consider wild hog hunting.

Florida traditional Thanksgiving: Gators and ’taters

Whole gator cook-offs are certainly a fun and unique way to celebrate Florida’s rich history.

Schools

UA names Redish to Dean’s List

Kassidy Redish of Labelle was named to the Deans List.

LaBelle Kiwanis Club offers scholarships for adults

LABELLE- Adult scholarships are available through the LaBelle Kiwanis Club, and they are currently accepting applications.

Free virtual series to share home maintenance tips

The next series in the free “Living Well Wednesdays” virtual workshop will offer tips to repair and maintain common issues seen inside and outside the home...

Jan La Belle Scholarship helps Florida residents with disabilities with post-secondary dreams

FLORIDA- The Jan La Belle Scholarship Program was established in 2009 to provide a financial resource to Florida residents with disabilities who desire to pursue their personal and career goals …

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Government

Hendry BOCC commemorates Juneteenth

Hendry County will honor June Nineteenth

Hendry County honors Alcee Hastings

HENDRY COUNTY- The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners honored and recognized, posthumously, The Honorable Alcee Lamar Hastings on June 8, 2021, during a regular BOCC meeting. Alcee Lamar …

Scam Alert: FEMA calling? It’s yet another government impostor scam

A new United States federal program is helping to pay funeral expenses of people who died from COVID-19. Unfortunately, scammers are using this...

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Health

Live, Love and Laugh through Yoga

Breaking through unproductive thoughts and behaviors requires attention to a new dimensional awareness beyond “the now.”

Harmful Algal Blooms have been visible from LaBelle Bridge, in the Caloosahatchee River, for over a month now.

CDC begins new study on the health effects of cyanotoxins

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will start a new study in south Florida during the 2021 algal bloom season to assess the health effects of exposure to …

Keep your family safe this summer tips from your Poison Control Center

As we swing into summer, Florida’s Poison Control Centers - Jacksonville is providing some helpful tips to keep your family safe.

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Entertainment

Monthly Nights at the Museum return to South Florida Science Center

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is bringing back everyone’s favorite monthly nighttime event starting on June 25.

Vibra Urbana Music Festival announces phase one artist lineup

On May 10, Vibra Urbana Music Festival announced its biggest artist lineup to date, bringing a diverse array of Latin music’s brightest stars and respected veterans...

Insomniac CEO confirms plans for 2022 Okeechobee Music Festival

OKEECHOBEE – It’s official. Insomniac plans for Okeechobee Music Festival to return to Sunshine Grove in northeastern Okeechobee County in 2022.

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Traffic & Road Work

Hendry County Road Watch report for the week beginning Sunday, June 13

HENDRY COUNTY — The following column is the Road Watch report for Hendry County for the week beginning Sunday, June 13, provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Hendry County to perform roadwork project on Fort Denaud Road

Beginning Monday, June 14, Hendry County’s contractor, Community Asphalt Corp., will be conducting construction services and roadwork on Fort Denaud Road...

Some Port LaBelle street names to change

Some streets in Port LaBelle will soon have new names. At the June 8 meeting of the Glades County Board of County Commissioners...

Hendry County Road Watch report for the week beginning Sunday, June 6

The following column is the Road Watch report for Hendry County for the week beginning Sunday, June 6, provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

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Opinion

A look into Florida’s 2021 legislative accomplishments

We are blessed by the Good Lord to live in the Sunshine State. Here in Florida, we’re surrounded by natural beauty, plentiful food and endless opportunity.

New House Bill 419 and Early Learning

I have been a preschool director for 10 years here in LaBelle. Not much has changed in the Voluntary Pre- Kindergarten Program that has been governed by the state.

Kiwanis Club of LaBelle thanks the community

The Kiwanis Club would like to thank the community for all donations. Your donations gives the club the opportunity to give back to the community.

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State News

Bodies of two young girls pulled from South Florida canal

LAUDERHILL, Fla. (AP) — The bodies of two young girls were found, hours apart, in a South Florida canal, and investigators are treating the case as a homicide. The body of the first girl, who …

Florida governor: Students will be taught communism is evil

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Civics education will be expanded in Florida, including instruction about communist and totalitarian governments, and state universities will be prevented from quashing …

Death penalty phase next in Florida double slaying trial

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jurors will determine if a Florida man should get the death penalty or life in prison after he was convicted of killing his girlfriend and disabled daughter. The penalty phase …

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