Vol. 103 No. 19 Sunday, February 12, 2012 75¢ Plus tax Man convicted of manslaughter in Commissioner has big ideas for park Tony Gehle death By Pete Gawda the U.S. when it is done, he said. The commis- receive a percentage of the sale price on each to get new trial Okeechobee News sioner believes his ideas will rejuvenate the lot and would also receive ad valorum taxes park and bring in extra income to the county. after the property is sold. At the end of the 99 Okeechobee County Commissioner Bry- years the entire park, including the RV lots, ...Page 8 His proposal involves leasing the park to a ant Culpepper has big ideas for Okee-Tantie would revert back to the county. Campground and Marina that he is excited developer for 99 years. The developer would about. “This will be the most unique park in install RV lots and sell them. The county would See PARK — Page 5 Woman New gate system would help save manatees...Page 19 accused of Okeechobee’s Most Wanted burying ... Page 15 Lake Levels cat alive By Eric Kopp 13.20 feet Okeechobee News Last Year: 12.47 feet Like a scene from the Okeechobee News/Charles Murphy movie “Fatal Attraction,” a 6SRQVRUHG%\ Brad Gibson, Chaka Smith, Marvin Roberts, Marvin Plummer, Sheila Neal, Paige local woman has been ar- Cloud, Charlie Hukriede, and Eric Williams were celebrity servers at Golden Corral rested for allegedly burying to raise funds for the Okeechobee Youth Football League. an ex-boyfriend’s cat alive. Katherine Elaine Thom- 3RJH\·V)DPLO\5HVWDXUDQW as, 53, N.E. Second St., was Katherine 63DUURWW$YH arrested Thursday, Feb. 9, Thomas New youth football league on a felony charge of cru- Source: South Florida Water elty to animals and a misdemeanor charge Management District. Depth given of stalking. She is being held in the Okeecho- in feet above sea level bee County Jail on $15,000 bond. plan gains momentum A report by Deputy Joe Gracie, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Offi ce (OCSO), By Charles M. Murphy like Lake Placid, Sebring, Hardee County, indicated that Thomas and her boyfriend Okeechobee News Desoto County, Haines City, Avon Park and were involved in an argument on Jan. 17 and she was eventually trespassed from the A board has been elected, donations are be- perhaps other communities. It will be an un- See page 4 for information about man’s home. ing accepted, and a league has been formed limited weight league based on ages. how to contact this newspaper. Okeechobee would have fi ve teams which During that argument she allegedly told to create the new Okeechobee Youth Football the man she had gotten rid of his black and League Brahman football team. include a young fl ag football team for six and seven year olds. while male house cat. He told Deputy Gracie newszap.com The board of directors and volunteers were he didn’t think much about that statement Free Speech Free Ads busy collecting donations this week at a ce- Eric Williams, Tarrance Pryor, Brad Gibson, until Thomas started leaving messages on lebrity server event held at the Okeechobee James Shockley and Scott Boyer will serve as his answering machine. Golden Corral Restaurant. head coaches of the various teams this year. According to the report, those messages The league plans to fi eld fi ve teams that will included: compete against other Heartland area teams See LEAGUE — Page 5 See CAT — Page 5 2 Serving the communitiesOkeechobee south News of Lake Okeechobee FebruaryMay 27,12, 20102012 Local scouts visit Judicial Center Roofing with the name you trust! County Judge Jerry Bryant, along with Judge Bryant let them point out landmarks Sgt. Robert Staton and Offi cer Donnie Trent around the town, seeing them for the fi rst of Court Security, recently hosted a local time from that height. Judge Bryant showed ROOFING Scout group for a tour of the Okeechobee them “Mount Trashmore,” the local landfi ll, & REPAIRS County Judicial Center. The after-hours tour which, though miles away, can be seen from Residential Commercial took the scouts to the court rooms and hear- the roof on a clear day. ing rooms, as well as through areas of the judicial center most FREE Estimates citizens never get to see, such as the prisoner holding cells, secure Licensed and Insured St. Lic. CCC046939 hallways, and the security control room. Don’t make a Mistake! The Scouts got to sit in the jury box while some of their group Call Big Lake played the role of attorney. One scout got to call his mom to the 863-763-ROOF (7663) witness stand and question her about the gift he will get for his birthday this year. The mom “took Better Hearing Starts Today! the Fifth” and remained silent. The group especially enjoyed SAVE AN the security control room, where Deputy John Koepke showed Additional them the video display from the $500 OFF judicial center’s numerous secu- Special to the Okeechobee News/Devin Maxwell Scouts with Judge Bryant in Courtroom D: Back Pair of Anthem XT Exp. rity cameras on the large bank of Judge Bryant points out landmarks to row l-r: Caleb Harvey, Jonathan Thomas, Cade Hearing Aids 3/5/12 TV monitors. Lily Maxwell, while Scout Leader Devin Pierce, Jesse Tanguma, Alex Maxwell, Triston A favorite part of the tour for Maxwell assists scouts (left to right) Gorney, Grady Pierce. In the front row: Judge Call the Scouts was the roof of the Jonathan Thomas, Cade Pierce and Jerry Bryant, Lilly Maxwell, Sophia Tanguma and three-story Judicial Center, where Jesse Tanguma. Marion Librando. (863) 467-5333 Okeechobee Forecast Book Hearing Care Centers winner 3545 Hwy 441 S • Okeechobee Elaine Jacka- more, lucky win- ner of the book “Living a Healthy Weather forecast for Okeechobee County Life with Chron- from the National Weather Service ic Conditions,” Local Forecast courtesy of Cath- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near olic Charities. 63. North northeast wind between 10 and 15 Catholic Chari- mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. ties was one Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low of the 120 ven- around 36. North northeast wind around 5 dors at the 2012 mph. Okeechobee Family Health Extended Forecast and Safety Expo. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Congratulations North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east. Mrs. Jackamore! Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. East wind around 5 mph. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near Special to the Okeechobee News/Sharon Vinson 79. 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