Vol. 111 No. 30 Sunday, March 8, 2020 $1.00 plus tax GIve your child a 2 Head Start Piper Aircraft offers 3 apprenticeshps Lake Levels 12.57 feet Last Year: 12.65 feet 6SRQVRUHG%\ Special to the Lake Okeechobee News/Ivan Meneses/Insomniac Events 2020 OMF concerts include light shows and pyrotechnics 3RJH\·V)DPLO\5HVWDXUDQW OKEECHOBEE — After a year hiatus in 2019, the Okeechobee Music Festival returned to Sunshine Grove in northeastern 63DUURWW$YH Okeechobee County, March 4-8. Approximately 30,000 or more fans were expected to attend. For the story, see Page 7. Source: South Florida Water Management District. Inspiring Okeechobee... Depth given in feet above sea level See Page 4 for information about Sam Smith has ‘no regrets’ how to contact this newspaper. By Cathy Womble offi cial teaching assignment. “He looked like He had been in Panama City doing his student Lake Okeechobee News a kid himself,” said his sister-in-law, Susan teaching and liked it there but was having Smith. Sam’s brother John and his wife, Su- trouble fi nding a job. OKEECHOBEE — Sam Smith arrived in san, had moved to Okeechobee in 1972 after He was promised a job at the junior high Okeechobee in 1973, a 20-year-old man fresh John came back from Vietnam. They loved it out of college and ready to take on his fi rst here, and Sam followed them the next year. See SMITH — Page 7 863-467-1545 100% Customer Satisfaction is MillersCentralAir.com Our Mission! LIC NO. CAC058675 2 Lake Okeechobee News March 8, 2020 AA meetings in Okeechobee County OKEECHOBEE — Area churches host AA meetings each week. • United Methodist Church, 200 N.W. Second St., hosts open meetings at noon, Monday through Friday. • Okeechobee Christian church, 3055 S.E. 18th Terrace hosts a closed “Wake up group” on Mondays at 6:30 a.m. and a closed meeting at noon on Thursdays. • Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 901 S.W. Sixth St., hosts a closed men’s meeting on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. • Presbyterian Church, 312 N. Parrott Special to the Lake Okeechobee News Ave., hosts a “Heard it through the grape- vine” open meeting on Mondays at 6:30 Big and Little brothers of the year p.m. On Saturdays a closed “Keep it simple OKEECHOBEE — Ken Keller and his little brother, Levi, were recognized by group” meeting is held at 7:30 p.m. Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties Special to the Lake Okeechobee News • Church of our Savior, 200 N.W. Third as the Big Brother/Little Brother team of the year on Feb. 29. Congratulations! St., hosts a closed meeting at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. On Thursdays there is an open Cole is Champion women’s group at 6 p.m. and a closed Big The Okeechobee County Fair seeks contest participants of Champions Book Study at 8 p.m. On Fridays there is OKEECHOBEE — The Okeechobee County Fair Association is seeking adult and youth contest an open speaker meeting at 8 p.m. Then on OKEECHOBEE — In his first experi- participants for the upcoming fair March 17-22. The contests consist of quilting, sewing, leatherwork, Sundays there is an open Step Study at 7:30 painting, drawing, photography, horticulture, woodworking and more. There will also be food com- ence at the Florida State Fair, Cole p.m. petitions such as home baking, canned goods, a vegetable competition featuring garden vegetable, Verrano took first place senior in fruit and vegetable and largest vegetable categories. This year we will again be having the educational the Dairy Champion of Champions Weather Forecast posters and educational displays competitions. contest, third place in showman- Individual youths may enter the Educational Poster Contest and 4-H Clubs or FFA Chapters may ship, third place FFA judging team, enter the Educational Display Contest. The top three club/chapter displays will win awards of $150, second place for Frances (his cow) $100 and $75 for their programs. You may enter online and download the entry forms and rules at the in her class, first place for Holstein Okeechobee County Fair Web site at okeechobeecountyfair.com or pick up copies of the 2020 Premi- bred by exhibitor and the Florida um Book at the Okeechobee County Extension Office, 458 U.S. 98 North. The deadline for entries is State Fair Bill Carey Sportsmanship March 6. For further information, call Dianne Spann at 863-634-3327. Award. Congratulations, Cole! Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near Give your child a Head Start 71. Windy, with an east wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Special to the Lake Okeechobee News SSI, to foster children, and to those who are VPK certificate. Certificates and additional Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. OKEECHOBEE — Northside Head Start in currently homeless. information are available from the Early Sunday night: Partly Okeechobee is now accepting applications Why choose Head Start? The Head Start Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin and cloudy, with a low around for the 2020-2021 school year. Don’t miss this Program in Okeechobee County is operated Okeechobee Counties at 877-220-1223. 59. East wind around 10 by Economic Opportunities Council of Indian opportunity to register your child/children Although the EOC receives federal funding mph. River County (EOC). EOC has a 55-year (ages 3 and 4). Head Start is a free full-day, for the Head Start Program, a 20% local Monday: Mostly successful track record of helping children sunny, with a high near school-year early childhood education pro- match is required. Donations from caring become kindergarten ready. Head Start is 75. East wind 5 to 15 mph, gram for eligible children and families. Head community members are needed. For every NAEYC accredited and uses evidence-based dollar invested today, savings range from with gusts as high as 20 Start invests over $8,700 in the education of curriculum. Teachers have degrees. Head $2.50 to as much as $17 in the years ahead mph. each child each year. To be eligible, your child Start engages the family in the child’s learning (per the U. S. Chamber of Commerce). Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low must be 3 or 4 on or before Sept. 1. Services and provides the family with training opportu- EOC is a Community Action Agency around 59. East wind 5 to 10 mph. will be provided to families with a house- nities and resources. Children receive daily working to transition at-risk individuals and Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near hold income at or below the federal poverty breakfast and lunch. They also receive health families from poverty to self-sufficiency. EOC 77. East-southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. guidelines, to those who are receiving certain and dental screenings. EOC has six Head Start has a successful track record of providing Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low forms of public assistance such as TNAF or centers throughout Indian River County and high-quality programs and services, in- around 59. East wind around 5 mph becom- one in Okeechobee County. cluding Head Start, to economically disad- ing calm after midnight. Head Start is a VPK (voluntary prekin- vantaged children and families. For more dergarten) provider. Parents of 4-year-old information or to make a tax-deductible children must donation, visit eocofirc.net, or call “Always on Top of the Job” obtain a 772-562-4177. valid Hot Dogs Hot Dog Wagon Make America Great! 441 & 78 Re-Roofing Specialists At the Top of the Lake! • Metal & Shingle Roofs • Flats & Leaks Repair FREE ESTIMATES Chili, Cheese & Kraut Hot Dogs State Lic.#CCC1327338 Special to the Lake Okeechobee News Smoked Sausage • Cold Drinks OKEECHOBEE — Head Start children 863-357-3838 enjoy dramatic play. Snacks • Papa John’s Boiled Peanuts March 8, 2020 Lake Okeechobee News 3 IRSC seek applicants for apprenticeship 5RR¿QJZLWKWKH Special to the Lake Okeechobee News benefits package. At the end of the training, aircraft and is the first general aviation aircraft QDPH\RXWUXVW VERO BEACH — Piper Aircraft is now students take exams to become qualified manufacturer in the world to certify Garmin accepting applications for its 2020 Appren- journeymen in aircraft assembly and are pre- Autoland. The single-engine M-Class series — ticeship Program. The two-year program, pared to eventually take on supervisory and the M600SLS, M500 and M350 — offers busi- presented in cooperation with Indian River management roles at Piper. nesses and individuals elegant performance, State College, began in August 2019, in Qualifications for participants and the value and a superior ownership experience. response to the increasing demand for program application can be found on the The Personal Class Seneca V, Archer LX and high-quality manufacturing candidates at Piper website at piper.com/careers. Questions Archer DLX balance proven performance, regarding the program can be directed to Piper Aircraft. The first nine apprentices are efficiency and simplicity in a piston powered [email protected]. The apprenticeship ROOFING currently entering their second semester aircraft. The Trainer Class Pilot 100/100i, of the program, shadowing skilled aircraft program is registered by the Florida Depart- & REPAIRS Archer TX, Archer DX, Arrow, Seminole and assembly workers and learning all aspects ment of Education Division of Career and 5HVLGHQWLDO &RPPHUFLDO of aircraft fabrication and assembly while Adult Education. Seneca V aircraft form the most complete taking related IRSC-delivered coursework. The application deadline is April 30. technically advanced line of pilot training The 2020 apprenticeship cohort will begin About Piper Aircraft aircraft in the world.