There are many types of masks you can use to protect yourself and others from getting and spreading COVID-19. When choosing a mask, choose one that fits snugly.

CDC provides updates about COVID and variant

We’re learning more about COVID-19 all the time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looks at the latest available evidence to make the best...

Pastor Tom shows some love at Okeechobee Christian Academy.

Inspiring Okeechobee: Pastor Tom is well-loved in the community

Tommaso Pasquarella, known to everyone he meets as Pastor Tom...

More Coronavirus

Community

Whether you have a beloved mutt at home or are thinking of adding a dog to your family, Katribe suggests visiting your local shelter to see how you can help dogs awaiting adoption.

National Mutt Day is July 31: The top 5 reasons why mutts rule!

America has a long history of affection for mutts. Two of cinema’s most famous dogs – Spike from “Old Yeller” and Higgins from “Benji” - were mutts adopted from shelters.

Caleb Cornett speaks to Kiwanis Club

FCA Minister of Football Director of the Treasure Coast Caleb Cornett (right) pictured with Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen.

Okeechobee couple among CCK GEM winners

Communities Connected for Kids congratulates Rebecca Morgan and Stacey Wickett for winning the most recent Going the Extra Mile...

More Community

Current conditions

Observed from: Okeechobee County Airport

Fair, NA °F

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm 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 2021

View this issue

Browse other special sections

Lake levels

13.68 feet

Last year: 13.21 feet

Depth given in feet above sea level.

Water Flow Chart

Human Interest

Siblings live under the same roof at Waltonwood Ashburn for the first time since 1951

When it comes to family, no one knows us better than the siblings we grew up with. The hours spent playing, fighting ...

Volunteer gives raccoon enclosure a makeover

Volunteer paints raccoon enclosure.

Church gives away more than 200 backpacks

Saint Stephen AME Church and JustShawn Events teamed up to supply backpacks...

Special Olympic athletes compete in county games

Special Olympic athletes competed in county games last week.

Seminole Seamstress has a passion for fashion

Seminole seamstress desires to pass her skills down tot he next generation.

More Human Interest

Find Us On Facebook

Facebook

Police/Fire

Okeechobee Arrest Report

The following individuals were arrested on felony or DUI charges:

Truck hits deputy's patrol car

A deputy's vehicle was struck by a truck while he was investigating...

Employee accused of stealing lottery tickets

An employee at a local convenience store was accused of stealing lottery tickets...

More Police/Fire

Weather

National Weather Center update on Tropical Storm Elsa 2 p.m. UPDATE

The National Weather Center issued the following update on Tropical Storm Elsa at 11 a.m. on July 5:

How much water do you need for your hurricane supply?

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season...

More Weather

Schools

IRSC awarded $1,399,999 U.S. Department of Labor Grant to continue YouthBuild program

Indian River State College (IRSC) received a $1,399,999 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to support its Building Fort Pierce YouthBuild program.

Yearling’s Krista Stanley speaks at 2022 Florida Teacher of the Year Gala

ORLANDO- Krista Stanley, 2021 Florida Teacher of the Year and Yearling Middle School math teacher, spoke at the 2022 Teacher of the Year Gala.

IRSC collaborates with Adobe to build student brands on day one

Indian River State College (IRSC) has furthered its commitment to advancing digital literacy skills...

Back to School Tax Holiday starts July 30

Back to School tax holiday is July 30-Aug. 9 Floridians can save some money on school supplies during the state tax holiday. The sales tax holiday begins Saturday, July 31 and extends through …

More Schools

Sports

Free Youth Fishing Clinic set for Aug. 5, let your 8- to 14-year-old get hooked with skills

FORT PIERCE — Getting youth hooked on fishing brings a host of benefits that goes beyond developing a sport, a hobby and a skill. From building confidence to increasing perseverance, …

IRSC’s Linton Brown named FCSAA 2020–21 Male Athlete of the Year

Indian River State College Men’s Basketball team member Linton Brown has been named the 2020–21 Male Athlete of the Year by the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA).

Spiny lobster season starts soon

The 2021 spiny lobster season opened with the two-day recreational mini-season July 28 and 29

More Sports

Wildlife & Environment

Weird, noodle-shaped amphibians known as caecilians found in South Florida canal

Caecilians have arrived in Miami. Florida Fish and Wildlife biologists captured one of the obscure legless amphibians in the Tamiami Canal, the first example of an introduced caecilian in the U.S.

Deep injection wells send water very, very slowly to the ocean

Wondering what will happen when water pumped into deep injection wells comes out in the ocean? You’ll have to wait millions of years to find out.

Citizen science projects make a difference for wildlife, study finds

When public interest is high and funding is limited, researchers can rely on citizens to help them measure wildlife populations, research finds. UF/IFAS...

More Wildlife & Environment

Government

IRS cautions taxpayers about fake charities and scammers targeting immigrants

The IRS continues to observe criminals using a variety of scams that target honest taxpayers. In some cases, these scams will trick taxpayers into doing...

City fire department to close its doors August 1

Fumero gives an update on the city firefighters separation from the city.

Florida Home Rule: Local voices making local choices

Thursday evening, July 15, the Indiantown village hall was abuzz as Scott Dudley, Florida League of Cities (FLC) Field Advocacy & Federal Affairs director, presented the advocacy guide for citizens.

More Government

Veterans

Flag company surprised with gift from Marines

Several months ago, UltimateFlags.com received a request from a Marine...

WWII Veteran on 50-State, 50-Governor No Regrets Tour Launches Campaign to Raise $ Millions for Frontline Nurses.

Sidney Walton, 102, Kicks Off Campaign in Downtown Miami...

Veteran Sutherland was known for his sense of humor

WWII veteran Thomas “Jack” Sutherland was born on September 12, 1926...

New well at Veterans' Park

A new well is going in at Veterans' Park. It was donated to the veterans by Frank DeCarlo and should be big enough to run water for all of the parks.

More Veterans

Opinion

The Weekly Clothesline - Moses would have liked social distancing

What we’ve been through in the last 18 months was surely a test of our faith, trusting that our God would bring us through...

The final shot for economic recovery

Since President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in, we’ve seen unprecedented economic growth.

More Opinion

Agriculture

UF study gives strawberry growers a ray of (UV) light at the end of their pest tunnel

For a few years, University of Florida plant pathologist Natalia Peres has used an ultraviolet light system to thwart strawberry pathogens.

UF/IFAS plants flora to try to reduce pollutants going into lakes, rivers

Now, in the middle of summer, when those afternoon or evening rains come, stormwater from lawns, driveways and roofs drains down to any...

More Agriculture

Health

Alzheimer Association will hold a Virtual Caregiver College event

The Alzheimer Association will hold virtual Caregiver College - Effective Communication Strategies class on Thursday, Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Tykes & Teens announces 2021-2022 Board of Directors

Tykes & Teens, a leading provider of the highest quality, evidence-based mental health services and programs for children and adolescents for 25 years

Hanley Foundation’s HOGOC assembles overdose rescue kits to help incarcerated

The Foundation serves more than 25 counties across Florida and is the largest provider of prevention services in the state

Campers visit Raulerson Hospital

Students from an IRSC health science camp too a field trip...

More Health

Business

Chamber of Commerce Of Okeechobee County News

The Chamber is excited to invite you to attend our upcoming ribbon cutting on Aug. 11 at noon at the business of Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd.

Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee County News

Are you ready to talk fast, sharing some information? Well, Thursday, July 29 at 5 p.m. the Chamber of Commerce will host our July After Hours at the Brown Cow Sweetery.

Economic Development Corporation hopes to acquire state 'boys school' property

OKEECHOBEE – The Okeechobee County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) has been busy over the past three months ...

More Business

Traffic & Road Work

Okeechobee County Road Watch report for the week beginning Sunday, Aug. 1

The following column is the Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week beginning Sunday, Aug. 1, provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Okeechobee County Road Watch report for the week beginning Sunday, July 25

The following column is the Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week beginning Sunday, July 25, provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Okeechobee County Road Watch report for the week beginning Sunday, July 18

The following column is the Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week beginning Sunday, July 18, provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Okeechobee County Road Watch report for the week beginning Sunday, July 11

The following column is the Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week beginning Sunday, July 11, provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

More Traffic

State

Chefs leave restaurants to work in private homes

MIAMI (AP) — Melissa Sosa had a 6-year-old at home and a salary as a restaurant chef that hadn’t changed within her son’s lifetime. Forget that she was well respected among her peers and …

Disney requiring US employees to be vaccinated against virus

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Walt Disney Company has joined other large companies in requiring employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The company said in a statement Friday that it will be …

More State

National & World