Featured

Tiny wrestler is no sissy

When the other contestants see the “girl in the pink glasses” walk in, they know they are in for a fight.

Man in cow pajamas sentenced to 15 years

Richard Bonnell a.k.a. “the man in cow pajamas” was sentenced to 15 years in state prison last week.

Cattlemen's Square honors Florida's ranching legacy

Okeechobee residents celebrated the legacy of Florida’s cattle industry and the area’s community spirit with the dedication of ten bronze cattle drive …

Photos: Brahman football kicks off season with Midnight Madness

The Okeechobee High School Brahman football program kicked off the start of their season with Midnight Madness in the early morning hours of Aug. 6.

More Featured

Lake Okeechobee

Lake O water meets drinking EPA drinking water standard, tests show

More Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee

Lake O water meets drinking EPA drinking water standard, tests show

More Lake Okeechobee

health

The COVID-19 map for July 31, 2022 from the CDC shows most of Florida high risk. Only Glades, Collier and Franklin counties are at medium risk.

Florida at high risk for COVID-19

Florida’s COVID-19 new case positivity rate remains high, at 20.7% for July 22-28, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Volunteer recognized for years of service to hospital

Over the next few days we'll be recognizing a few of our colleagues who have won an HCA Healthcare Award of Distinction.

This July 17 map from the Centers for Disease Control shows counties at low, medium and high risk for COVID-19 transmission. Okeechobee County (highlighted) is at high risk, as our Highlands, Hendry, Palm Beach and Martin counties. Glades and Collier counties are at medium risk. [Art courtesy CDC]

New covid variant blamed for increased positive cases

Most of Florida is at high risk for COVID-19 according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

More Health

Current conditions

Observed from: Okeechobee County Airport

Thunderstorm in Vicinity, 90 °F

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 102. East southeast wind … Get the full forecast

Read Lake Okeechobee News

E-edition

Read the latest print edition here.

View this issue

Browse other issues

Lake Okeechobee Real Estate

LORE - July 2022

View this issue

Browse other special sections

Lake levels

12.87 feet

Last year: 14.00 feet

Depth given in feet above sea level.

Water Flow Chart

Community

Trail of Hope Animal Shelter to close

Despite a last-ditch attempt to save it, Trail of Hope Animal Rescue is closing.

Republican Party hosts Open House

On Friday Aug. 5, the Okeechobee Republican Party held Open House at their new victory office...

Kiwanis Club donates school supplies

The Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee held their annual Real Life Children’s Ranch (RLCR) School Supply Drive...

Lake Okeechobee News recognized by Florida Press Association

Lake Okeechobee News was recognized in Multimedia Storytelling for the True Okee podcast episodes The Okeechobee Eight and Death of a Sheriff

Reading event include puppies

Okeechobee County Library and Okeechobee Animal Control Service teamed up for a reading event on Thursday, Aug. 4.

More Community

Human Interest

Adopt a pet: Meet Otis

Anyone looking for an ole soul online? Well, I'm your man!

Adopt a pet: Meet Dugg

Looking for a true love bug? Well, look no further!

Barefoot beekeeper has no fear

While most 9-year-olds are playing ball or playing with Hot Wheels, Levi English is learning how to care for bees.

Inspiring Okeechobee: Starving artists can be inspiring too

Usually, when you hear the term “starving artist,” you kind of know what it means, but don’t really take it literally.

More Human Interest

Find Us On Facebook

Facebook

Police/Fire

OCSO identifies body found in rim canal

OKEECHOBEE – The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office seeks the public’s help with information about a man whose body was found floating in the rim canal on Sunday.

Body found off U.S. 441 S.E.; OCSO investigating

OKEECHOBEE -- The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office is currently working on a death investigation in the 800 block of 441 SE. Deputies were called to the area around 9 a.m. on Sunday, …

True Okee episode 7: Crush

True Okee is a podcast featuring true crime and weird stories from the forgotten heartland of South Florida.

More Police/Fire

Weather

Areas most vulnerable to sea level rise developed faster

A new study reveals how historic building trends on U.S. coastlines overlap with sea level rise projections...

Hurricane center watching tropical wave

A tropical wave is coming off the coast of Africa.

More Weather

Schools

Indian River State College to play a key role in new CREATE

CREATE was made possible with a $7.5 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded July 1, 2022...

Traffic must stop when school bus stops

Traffic in both directions must stop for school buses. The only exception is a highway divided by a median.

Okeechobee School Board candidates answer questions ahead of election

Christine Bishop and Leslie Maynor are both candidates running for the Okeechobee County School Board District 1 seat.

Crossing guard donates 168 backpacks

Mr. C's fundraising hike around Lake Okeechobee ended with a bang when he was able to donate 168 filled backpacks to students in Okeechobee who needed them.

More Schools

Sports

Big O Teen Anglers host August tournament

The Big O Teen Anglers held their July tournament on Saturday, July 30, out of Okee-Tantie with 19 anglers participating.

Chobee Dirtbags secure top ten finish in Cooperstown

The youth travel baseball team Chobee Dirtbags represented Okeechobee well during a tournament held in Cooperstown, New York, in the first week of July.

From the Archives: 2005 OHS baseball team advances to state final four

In 2005 the OHS Brahman baseball team won the regional championship and advanced to the state tournament

More Sports

Wildlife & Environment

Butterfly expert addresses questions on the monarch’s plight

On July 22, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the migratory monarch butterfly...

Florida Wildlife Corridor protects native wildlife

As new residents move to Florida at the rate of 1,000 people a day, an effort is underway to preserve green spaces ...

Florida manatee death count at 600

Manatee deaths in 2022 are on track to be even worse than in 2021.

More Wildlife & Environment

Government

WM to phase in new garbage trucks in City of Okeechobee

City of Okeechobee residents will pay $30.50 per month for garbage collection starting Oct. 1.

Okeechobee City Council votes to lower property tax

The Okeechobee City Council opted to roll back the property tax millage at their Aug. 2 meeting.

Are you OK with paying more taxes?

City residents and business owners received a flyer last week urging them to attend Tuesday’s city council budget meeting.

More Government

Veterans

Veteran Fite served his country in the Navy

Navy veteran Clarence Fite recently celebrated his 99th birthday. Looking back on his life, you might be surprised to learn that he originally planned on being a horse jockey.

Friends of Army Aviation to host event at Okeechobee Airport

Friends of Army Aviation will be coming to the Okeechobee County Airport on Thursday November 10...

Subscriber exclusive

Veteran struggles after botched surgeries

Veteran Christopher Stephens thought things were going to get better after he had surgery on his shoulder, but instead, they were exponentially worse.

June is PTSD Awareness month

June is PTSD Awareness month, and local veteran Gregg Maynard shared his thoughts on the subject.

More Veterans

Opinion

Cowboy, buckaroo, waddy, cow hunter ... what’s in a name?

In 2022, the Great Florida Cattle Drive will hit the trail, driving approximately 1,000 cattle...

Rene: Travel and tourism’s role in our recovering economy

Two years after the pandemic scrapped many people’s vacation plans, travelers are seeking new experiences...

More Opinion

Agriculture

UF study shows why ‘aromatic’ blueberries taste better

They may be called “aromatic” blueberries, but they don’t just smell nice -- they taste good.

Cattle ranching started in Florida

The National Day of the Cowboy, celebrated each year on the third Saturday in July, honors the hard working pioneers who helped establish the American west.

More Agriculture

Health

HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital hosts students

IRSC - Indian River State College’s Intro to Healthcare students visited HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital...

Our Village Okeechobee partners with Compass Health

Our Village Okeechobee is helping patients obtain insurance.

FDOH issues safety alert for fentanyl overdoses

The State of Florida has seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl.

Listeria cases linked to Sarasota creamery

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released information regarding the outbreak of ...

More Health

Business

Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee News

NOTE: DATE Change: Our August After Hours will be hosted by and held at Lake and Trail USA...

Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee News

You don’t want to miss being one of the first to tour the new facility and congratulate them on providing the various services...

Charging station availability determines electric car sales

During the July 18 Clewiston Board of Commissioners meeting, Vice Mayor Greg Thompson urged officials to look into installing …

More Business

Traffic & Road Work

Notice of road closure

Okeechobee County has scheduled a road closure at westbound NW 144th Drive (Potter Road) to install...

Subscriber exclusive

City public works department hires first female 'in the field' employee

The city of Okeechobee hired its first "in the field" female employee in March of this year.

One lane access at N.W. 344th Trail during drainage work

Okeechobee County has scheduled a partial road closure (one-lane access will be provided) at N.W. 344th Trail...

Temporary road closure today and tomorrow

Okeechobee has issued a traffic advisory for a temporary road closure.

More Traffic

State

Florida man filming sunrise killed when sand dune collapses

HUTCHINSON ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — A 35-year-old Florida man who was recording the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean died when a sand dune collapsed on top of him, sheriff's officials said. A …

3 dead in shooting at Florida Narcotics Anonymous meeting

EDGEWATER, Fla. (AP) — Three people are dead following a shooting and hostage situation at Narcotics Anonymous meeting in Florida, police said. Officers responded to a report that a man was …

More State

National & World