US Postal Service to Deliver the News!
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“Around“Aroundt thehe Lake”Lake” EditionEdition Formerly Okeechobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, & The Sun Vol. 111 No. 85 Wednesday, December 30, 2020 $1.00 plus tax FDOH reports more COVID-19 deaths By Katrina Elsken has had 51 deaths related to Lake Okeechobee News COVID-19. To date 232 COVID-19 positive residents have been As Florida begins vaccina- hospitalized. As of Dec. 29, ac- tions for COVID-19, the Florida cording to the Agency for Health Department of Health continues Care Administration (AHCA), six to remind everyone to wash their Grinch gives away Okeechobee County residents are 92 bicycles hands often, wear cloth face 24 currently hospitalized related to coverings in public when they COVID-19. One of the county’s cannot maintain 6 feet of dis- eight ICU beds is open. tance from others and stay home • Glades County has had if you are sick. 11 deaths related to COVID-19. Statewide, as of Dec. 29, Flori- To date, 57 COVID-19 positive da had 61,663 residents hospital- residents have been hospitalized. ized related to COVID-19 (5% of According to AHCA, no Glades all cases) and 21,308 deaths (2% County residents are currently of all cases). hospitalized for COVID-19. (The The rural counties around county does not have a hospital Lake Okeechobee have all report- of its own.) ed deaths related to COVID-19. • Hendry County has had 49 As of Dec. 29: • Okeechobee County See COVID — Page 8 Girls soccer 36 around the lake U.S. Postal Service Lake Levels Special to the Lake Okeechobee News 15.82 feet to deliver the news! THE EVERGLADES — Betty Osceola of the Miccosukee Tribe Last Year: 13.10 feet is encouraging everyone who cares about Mother Earth to post By Katrina Elsken day it is now. The newspapers their own photos on social media with the hashtag #Defendthe- will include all the advertising Sacred. She asks that posters hold signs indicating how far 6SRQVRUHG%\ Publisher they are from the Everglades. Lake Okeechobee News inserts and special sections as they do now. The only difference OKEECHOBEE —– The New for the home delivery customers 3RJH\·V)DPLO\5HVWDXUDQW Year of 2021 brings newspaper in Okeechobee County is their Everglades walk 63DUURWW$YH delivery with your mail. newspapers will arrive with their Starting Jan. 6, 2021, all home mail. Our customers in Hendry, Source: South Florida Water delivery subscribers to the weekly Glades and Palm Beach Counties protests rule change Management District. Lake Okeechobee News will Depth given in feet above sea level have relied on mail delivery for By Katrina Elsken ity to issue dredge and fill permits find their newspapers conve- years. niently delivered right to their Lake Okeechobee News previously issued by the U.S. Army The newspaper’s partnership Corps of Engineers. See Page 4 for information about mailboxes. with USPS makes it possible THE EVERGLADES — “Time to Lake Okeechobee The Environmental Protection how to contact this newspaper. The for us to continue to efficiently warrior up!” Betty Osceola of the News Agency will hand over permit au- is pleased to partner with deliver the newspapers be- Miccosukee Tribe is calling on all the United States Postal Service thority in the Big Cypress National cause postal carriers are already who care about the Everglades to Preserve and Everglades National for delivery of newspapers to going to each home in the Lake protest the recent federal deci- our subscribers. Our customers Park to the State of Florida, she Okeechobee coverage area. The sion to allow the State of Florida explained. “Also in doing this, EPA should see a seamless transition change in our delivery method to take over administration of in delivery. The newspaper will is allowing the definition of Indian NEWS parts of the Clean Water Act. The still be delivered on the same See — Page 8 change gives the state the author- See OSCEOLA — Page 8 863-467-1545 100% Customer Satisfaction is MillersCentralAir.com Our Mission! LIC NO. CAC058675 2 Lake Okeechobee News – merger of Okeechobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, and The Sun December 30, 2020 Lake Okeechobee Weather Forecast Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph as high as 20 mph. a low around 65. Southeast wind 10 to 15 in the morning. Wednesday night: mph. Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with Partly cloudy, with a low Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near a low around 49. Calm wind becoming around 62. East-southeast 82. South-southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. north-northwest around 5 mph. Friday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low Monday: Sunny, with a high near 69. wind 5 to 10 mph. around 65. South-southeast wind around 5 Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Thursday: Mostly sun- mph becoming calm. Monday night: Clear to partly cloudy, Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high ny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 10 Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high with a low around 53. Northeast wind near 76. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. near 80. Light south-southeast wind becom- around 6 to 12 mph. ing south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Tuesday: Sunshine and patchy clouds, Saturday night: A 20% chance of with a high near 75. East wind around 8 to showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21 mph. 62. Calm wind. Tuesday night: Patchy clouds, with a Sunday: A 20% chance of showers. low around 51. Southeast wind around 6 to Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Light and 15 mph. Serving the Lake Okeechobee Region Lake Okeechobee News/Katrina Elsken OKEECHOBEE — The animals at Arnold’s Wildlife Center enjoy donations of since 1929 Christmas trees. Some eat the trees. Some chew on the bark and lick the sap. Some just happily shred a tree. Natural wreaths are also welcome. Please re- Jim and Monica move any ornaments, ribbons and other decorations. McCarthy Clark Donate Christmas trees to wildlife center Refrigeration • AC By Katrina Elsken Some of the animals at the center like to Lake Okeechobee News eat the trees. Others like to play with them. Ice Machines OKEECHOBEE — With Christmas 2020 The big cats consider a fir tree a toy that now a memory, are you ready to haul your can be shredded in a matter of minutes. Financing Available! Christmas tree to the curb? Do not donate trees that have been Instead of leaving a fir, spruce or pine “flocked” with fake snow. The chemicals tree for the Waste Management truck to used for flocking can be toxic to the ani- 800.763.2114 pick up, consider donating it to the animals mals. at Arnold’s Wildlife Rehabiitation Center, The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 14895 N.W. 30th Terrace, Okeechobee. daily. $2.5 million to help build hope. Learn more at publixcharities.org/hope. December 30, 2020 Lake Okeechobee News – merger of Okeechobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, and The Sun 3 New generation to run ê DQś\RƥWŬRXUORFDŝVSRQVRUƖ Gatorama in the new year RIRXU+ROLGDƯ*LYHEDFś*LYHDZDƯ By Chris Felker Lake Okeechobee News :LQQHUƖ PALMDALE — Gatorama has gone through a challenging year in 2020 just like Sponsor: M & M Auto Brokers most businesses in the tourism trade in Florida. But it has been able to maintain $20 Sublime gift certifi cate its standing as one of this state’s premier • Beverly Dinger, Okeechobee, nominated by Larry Herbst wildlife adventure parks. • Danielle Ayuso, Okeechobee With its state-licensed alligator farm, the park operation even is still adding attrac- $20 Zippy’s gift certifi cate $20 Grooming Spot gift tions and experiences, too, after around 65 • Janie Congdon, Okeechobee certifi cate years in business. • Lisa Martin, Moore Haven • Glenn Townsend, Okeechobee There is big news about a transition happening soon, though. “On Jan. 31,” park owners and operators Lake Okeechobee News/Gatorama Sponsor: Badcock Home Furniture & More of Okeechobee Allen and Patty Register have announced, The Gatorama family are (standing, $50 gift certifi cate “we will be passing the torch to the third from left) Patty Register, son-in law generation of our family, Benjamin and Jason Barker, Erica Barker, Ben and • Sandy Shreves, Okeechobee Christina, to continue and build upon our Christina Register and dad Allen Reg- • Raye Deusinger, Buckhead Ridge family’s vision and hard work in this area.” ister; (sitting) Bella Barker, Benson Register and Lily Barker. Ben and Christina Register have been Sponsor: Morgan’s Furniture intimately involved in park operations with the family for a very long time. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention $50 gift certifi cate Ben said he and Christina “are up for the (CDC) guidelines so everyone stays safe. • Allen Green, Buckhead Ridge, nominated by Darcy Green challenge and are anxious to implement a They’re offering online booking deals to • Donovan Carey, Okeechobee, nominated by Jessica Forrester few ideas for new guest experiences and make visits easier after a year of dealing shows that will attract younger generations with the COVID-19 pandemic’s fallout. and grow Gatorama’s demographics.” They’re hoping, along with everyone Sponsor: Florida Crystals They’ve been hosting guests regularly else, to be transitioning to a post-COVID $50 Visa gift card still at Gatorama, while abiding by U.S. world soon in the new year. • Anthony Manuel, Belle Glade, nominated by Maria Torres • Antonio Barajas, Belle Glade, nominated by his wife Sponsor: Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant $25 gift certifi cate • Brandon McKee, Okeechobee, nominated by Samantha Wine • Kristina Harden, Okeechobee, nominated by Lisa Edwards Sponsor: Badcock Home Furniture & More of LaBelle Lamp gift certifi cate • Trinity, LaBelle, nominated by Kyle Sponsor: LaBelle Downtown Revitalization Corporation Pair of meal tickets to Smoke Under the Oaks Rib Fest - $30 value • Shary Weckwerth, LaBelle • Emilio Soto, Clewiston, nominated by Gretchen Soto Sponsor: Darius Cochran, Remax $25 gift certifi cate to Log Cabin • Michele Bart, LaBelle GOOD.