Vol. 100 No. 28 Friday, March 6, 2009 50¢ Plus tax Briefs Farm Bill meeting Marijuana grow house raided set for March 9 The Florida Farm Bureau Two suspects were arrested According to a task force de- down by the task force in that it Federation is urging agricultural producers to attend meetings Thursday morning for their al- tective about 100 plants were was located in a quiet, remote scheduled around the state in leged connection with a suspect- seized, and that each plant had area with a fenced-in yard and March by the Natural Resources ed marijuana grow house found an estimated street value of in a middle to upper class neigh- Conservation Service, USDA in Country Hills Estates. $4,000 to $6,000. (NRCS). Rulemaking is in pro- Members of the Okeechobee The detective said the sus- borhood. cess for the Food Conservation It was not known by newspa- and Energy Act of 2008, com- Narcotics Task Force, along with pected operation had been go- monly known as the 2008 farm deputies from the Okeechobee ing on for possibly as much as per deadline if the sheriff’s offi ce bill. A meeting will be held in County Sheriff’s Offi ce (OCSO), a year and that the operation would seize a 4x4 pickup, barn Okeechobee at the Okeechobee executed a search warrant on was “very well put together and or air conditioning units that Civic Center, U.S. Highway 98 the home around 11:20 a.m. on high tech.” He went on to say North, on March 9, from 3 to 5 were allegedly used in the opera- p.m. For more information, call March 5. that the home’s foundation had tion. Depending on the amount Jeff Schmidt at 561-683-0883. The suspects were in the pro- been chipped out and that fertil- cess of being booked into the izer tubs had been set into the of money owed on the home Okeechobee County Jail so their ground. and the 5 acres on which it sits, Submitted photo Set clocks one hour names had not been released as This alleged grow house the sheriff’s offi ce could also A suspected marijuana grow house in Country Hills Estates forward on Sunday of newspaper deadline. was similar to many others shut seize that property and sell it. was raided by the Narcotics Task Force Thursday. Daylight Savings time starts at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March. On Sunday, March 8, (or Saturday night before you go to bed) set the clocks one hour for- Where there’s smoke: Fire destroys home ward to “spring forward.” IRSC honors Health and safety classes available The Okeechobee Service local rancher Center of the American Red Cross will be holding the fol- By Pete Gawda spirit and exceptional business lowing the following Health Okeechobee News achievement, is a central ele- and Safety classes in March: ment of the Dan K. Richardson Monday, March 9 - Adult CPR/ The achievements of the op- erator of one of the largest and Entrepreneurship Program AED; Wednesday, March 18 - established by the IRSC Foun- Infant/Child CPR/AED; Tuesday, most diversifi ed agricultural op- erations in the southeast were dation and 13 other founding March 31 - First Aid Basics. All members to promote aware- classes are held at their Service recognized last night. Frank “Son- ness and appreciation of the Center, located at 323 N. Parrott free enterprise system. Ave. All classes will begin at 6 ny” W. Wil- liamson, Jr., of “Known for his fairness and p.m. To register, or for more in- ability to mobilize people to formation call 863-763-2488. Okeechobee was awarded work together toward a com- the Dan K. mon goal, Sonny Williamson’s School board to Richardson vision and leadership have Entrepreneur- helped to keep agriculture discuss grants ship Pro- strong and viable in Florida,” The Okeechobee County gram’s 2009 said Dr. Edwin R. Massey IRSC School Board will host a meet- Sonny Entrepreneur Williamson President. “Sonny (William- ing to inform private schools of the Year son) is highly regarded for his of federal grant opportunities Award at a dinner held Thurs- efforts to improve agricultural for the 2009-2010 school year. Okeechobee News/Charles Murphy day night, March 5, at the Indian management to sustain the in- The meeting is scheduled for All that is left from a Larkee Lakes trailer that burned Wednesday. River State College (IRSC) Rich- dustry and protect our natural Friday, March 13, at 3 p.m. and ardson Center in Vero Beach. resources. We are proud to rec- will be held in room 301 of the The award, which rec- ognize his contributions with Okeechobee County School ognizes the entrepreneurial Board Offi ce. Representatives See IRSC — Page 2 of all private schools are en- Larkee Lakes trailer gutted couraged to attend. By Charles M. Murphy Blood donors needed Okeechobee News No one was hurt Wednes- Florida’s Blood Centers is day after a double wide home looking for blood donors in caught fi re at 9338 SE 61st Rooney backs Okeechobee. For information Drive, Assistant County Fire on blood drives call 561-845- Chief David McCain said. 2323, ext. 1203 or 772-215-8360. Fire crews responded just All blood types are needed. after noon and found fl ames Obama’s policy There is no upper age limit, and coming from the roof of the many medications and condi- home. Six units and nine fi re- tions are acceptable. men and volunteers quickly attacked the fl ames and had it on war in Iraq under control. Some 5,000 gal- lons of water was used. By Pete Gawda with reporters on Wednesday Drought Index “It was a good aggressive at- Okeechobee News afternoon, March 4. Both con- gressman had served together tack on the fi re,” Chief McCain In spite of partisan disagree- Current: 686 in the army and both are cur- said, “Flames were showing, ments on the president’s eco- Source: Florida Division rently on the House Armed Ser- there was a lot of smoke, and nomic policies, at least one of Forestry vices Committee. Mr. Murphy crews made entry quickly.” Democrat and one Republican Local Burn Ban: None and Mr. Rooney’s brother both Chief McCain said water agree on the president’ policy and smoke damage was exten- served in Iraq. Okeechobee News/Charles Murphy on the war in Iraq. sive inside the home and fi re Mr. Murphy said that as Lake Levels Lt. Ron Suit throws debris from Wednesdays fi re off the In a bipartisan show of sup- Democrats and Republicans damage was confi ned to the roof of the double wide trailer. port for the president’s plan rear of the home. “One of the they were making good on to end the war in Iraq, Florida their pledges to fi ght as hard as 12.62 feet neighbors noticed smoke com- approximately four hours. The and spread inside the home, Republican Congressman Tom ing from the rear of the home. occupant of the home was the report added. they could for veterans. Last Year: 10.07 feet Rooney and Pennsylvania Dem- The president plans to rede- The owner wasn’t home and identifi ed as Paula Robas of The American Red Cross ocratic Congressman Patrick no one was injured. It was a Okeechobee. was dispatched to help the fam- Murphy held a conference call See Rooney — Page 2 6SRQVRUHG%\ pretty quick knockdown of the The fi re report from para- ily in their time of need, Captain fi re and we saved quite a bit of medic Dale Fulwider said the the structure,” he said. origin and the cause of the McCain added. 3RJH\·V)DPLO\5HVWDXUDQW The estimate of property fi re was not immediately de- The State Fire Marshall was 63DUURWW$YH damage was placed at $80,000. termined. It appeared the fi re contacted to investigate the Firemen were on the scene for might have started on the porch cause of the blaze. Source: South Florida Water Management District. Depth given in feet above sea level Index Residents to March for Babies Classifi eds ..........................10-11 By Pete Gawda spirit stations to supply water To date 32 teams have reg- Community Events ....................6 Okeechobee News and other refreshments. They istered. They include the fol- Crossword ............................... 11 Okeechobee will be joining will be sponsored by Bank of lowing returning teams: Bank Obituaries .................................. 6 more than 900 communities to- America, Visiting Nurses Asso- of America, Cassels & McCall, Opinion ...................................... 4 morrow in the March of Dimes’ ciation, Publix and Wemmer Clock Restaurant, Eckerd In- Speak Out ................................. 4 largest fund raiser. Family Orthodontics. tensive Halfway House, Ev- Sports ...................................... 11 Teams and individual walk- At the conclusion of the erglades Elementary School, walk, various prizes will be Sudoku .................................... 10 ers will take part in March for Gilbert Chevrolet, Healthy Start Babies, formerly called Walk awarded. There will be prizes Coalition, National City Bank, Weather ..................................... 2 Submitted photo for America. The event will start for the top fi ve teams, the top North Elementary School, at 7:30 a.m. with registration in individual, the best T shirt, the Okeechobee Schools Transpor- See Page 2 for information about fi rst fi nisher, the top new team March of Dimes how to contact the newspaper. Flagler Park Number 4. There tation Bus Buddies, Okeecho- will be breakfast and warm up and the team with the most bee Juvenile Offender Correc- Osceola Middle School Student Council Offi cers present- exercises. Then the walk begins walkers.