OKEECHOBEE — The Lake Okeechobee Airboat Association (LOAA) Airboat/Buggy Show is planned at the Okeechobee Civic Center, 1750 U.S. 98 N.,  on Feb. 24, 2024 from 8 a.m. to midnight.

At their Oct. 26 meeting, Okeechobee County Commissioners approved a request from Jamie Mellette representing LOAA to waive the county facility use fees for the event.  They also approved the request for the sale, serving and consumption of alcohol on the premises and to have music at the event.

Commission Chair David Hazellief said last year the airboat show brought a lot of people to Okeechobee County.

“Last year they had the entire ground covered up with some very nice displays, and the alcohol sales were very well managed. It draws a lot of people to Okeechobee, he said.

Hazellief said if the event continues to grow, they may have to move it to another county facility with more space next year.

In other business, commissioners also approved a request from Mary Smith, Career Source Heartland, to waive the facility use fees for a job fair at the Okeechobee County Center, to be held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Set up will be on Thursday. Cleanup will be immediately following the event.

Smith said they recently partnered with Florida Department of Corrections for a job fair, and they have had inquiries from area businesses about participating in a similar event. She said Career Source Heartland’s offices are too small to host a job fair.

As part of their sponsorship of the job fair, the county will have space for a table or tables from the county’s Human Resources Department to advertise the county’s job openings.

Businesses interested in participating in the job fair should contact Career Source Heartland.