“Around the Lake” Edition Formerly Okeechobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, & The Sun Vol. 111 No. 61 Wednesday, July 15, 2020 $1.00 plus tax What do COVID-19 numbers Parents protest mean? 45 school reopening 8% of Floridians who tested positive to date have been hospitalized By Katrina Elsken Lake Okeechobee News OKEECHOBEE — While the COVID-19 positive numbers in Florida increase each day, the percentage of COVID-19 positives who required hospitalization has de- creased. The death rate has also declined. According to Florida’s Community Injured dog rescued, Coronavirus Dashboard (a private site 40 on way to recovery that uses public Florida Department of Health data), as of July 14, 8% of Floridians who tested COVID-19 positive have been Lake Levels hospitalized, and 1.5% had died. A week ago, data showed 9% hospitalized and 12.53 feet 1.9% died. Last Year: 11.43 feet Statewide, since COVID-19 testing start- ed in March, 18,881 Florida residents who Special to the Lake Okeechobee News tested positive have been hospitalized, 6SRQVRUHG%\ according to FDOH. As of July 14, 8,051 were hospitalized. To date, 4,409 Florida Chobee Dirtbags undefeated residents who tested positive have died. TAVARES — The Chobee Dirtbags dominated once again in a tournament in Tavares 3RJH\·V)DPLO\5HVWDXUDQW For the counties in South Central on July 12. The Dirtbags went undefeated, winning fi ve games in a row. Chobee beat 63DUURWW$YH Ocala Elite 17-8, Volusia Cudas 10-9, Ocala Elite 12-7, FLX 16-1 and WGPA 18-3. The See ICU — Page 12 team also managed to hit 15 home runs during the tournament. Source: South Florida Water Management District. Depth given in feet above sea level OYDC closure brings an end to troubled history See Page 4 for information about By Richard Marion Okeechobee. the facility would bring to the local economy. how to contact this newspaper. Lake Okeechobee News First opened in 1959 as a second campus According to a report in the Sept. 11 edition for the Florida School for Boys in Marianna, the of The Palm Beach Post that year, Doizer told OKEECHOBEE — The announcement Okeechobee location was initially welcomed Okeechobee Rotary Club members that the from the Florida Department of Juvenile Jus- as a new source of jobs in the small town of school would bring in an annual payroll of tice (DJJ) that the contract for the Okeechobee about 6,000. $300,000 plus an annual outlay of $450,000 for Youth Development Center expires in Decem- At a Rotary Club meeting in Okeechobee in supplies that would be bought locally. ber 2020 and will not be renewed brings an 1955, Florida School for Boys Superintendent end to the facility’s 60-year-long history in Arthur G. Doizer pitched locals on the benefi ts See BOYS SCHOOL — Page 46 New Location ATTORNEYS Auto Accident? Slip & Fall? Steve Hoskins Call or stop in at our new Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd office. 1910 S. Parrott Ave. (Across from Walmart) Civil Trial & Jerry Lefebvre • OKEE’S DREAM TEAM 863-357-5800 HTLLfirm.com 2 Lake Okeechobee News – merger of Okeechobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, and The Sun July 15, 2020 Lake Okeechobee Weather Forecast cloudy, with a low around 75. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday: Showers and thunder- storms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Saturday night: A 20% chance of Wednesday: A 50% showers and thunderstorms. Mostly chance of showers and cloudy, with a low around 75. East wind 5 thunderstorms. Mostly to 10 mph. sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms values as high as 102. likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming East-southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance east-northeast around 5 of precipitation is 70%. mph in the afternoon. Sunday night: A 30% chance of show- New rainfall amounts between a tenth and ers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, quarter of an inch, except higher amounts with a low around 75. East wind around 5 possible in thunderstorms. mph. Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. East wind around 5 Monday: Showers and thunderstorms mph. likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Thursday: A 50% chance of showers East-southeast wind 5 and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a to 10 mph. Chance of high near 90. East-northeast wind 5 to 10 precipitation is 70%. mph. Monday night: Special to the Lake Okeechobee News Thursday night: A 20% chance of Partly cloudy, with a showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, low around 76. East Caladium Festival canceled with a low around 75. East-northeast wind LAKE PLACID — Due to the coronavirus, the official Lake Placid Caladium 5 to 10 mph. wind 5 to 13 mph. Tuesday: Times of Festival has been canceled this year. However, Happiness Farms, 704 Coun- Friday: Showers and thunderstorms ty Road 621 E., Lake Placid, will be open that weekend, July 24, 25 and 26, for clouds and sun with a shower or thunder- likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. those who wish to purchase caladium bulbs and visit the caladium fields. For East wind around 10 mph. Chance of storm possible; humid with a high near more information, call 866-892-0396 or go online to happinessfarms.com. precipitation is 60%. 92. East-south-east wind 8 to 23 mph. Friday night: A 30% chance of show- Tuesday night: Partly cloudy and hu- ers and thunder- mid, with a low around 76. East storms. “Always on Top wind 7 to 15 Mostly Hot Dogs mph. of the Job” Hot Dog Wagon Make America Great! 441 & 78 • Metal & Shingle Roofs At the Top of the Lake! • Flats & Leak Repair LUVIANO CO. ROOFING INC. FREE ESTIMATES Chili, Cheese & Kraut Hot Dogs Re-Roofing Smoked Sausage • Cold Drinks Specialists Snacks • Papa John’s Boiled Peanuts State Lic. #CCC 1327338 863-357-3838 July 15, 2020 Lake Okeechobee News – merger of Okeechobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, and The Sun 3 South Florida Fair Post #64 to offer food drive-thru 501 SE 2nd St, Special to the Lake Okeechobee News WEST PALM BEACH — The South Okeechobee Florida Fair hosted its first ever “Fair Eats Drive-Thru” event over the Fourth of July weekend and it was so successful that they 863-763-5309 have scheduled another weekend of fair food. The second event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 17; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, at the fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd. The drive-through only event gives guests the opportunity to enjoy some of their favorite fair foods six months before the annual fair happens. Guests will enter through Gate 8 and there will be a menu available with servers coming to their cars to take their orders. They will follow a vehicle queue line and get their orders filled. People must remain in their vehicles Special to the Lake Okeechobee News to maintain social distancing. WEST PALM BEACH — The Fair Eats Be safe The menu will include fried Oreos, Drive-Thru only event gives guests the fried Snickers, sausage, onions & peppers, opportunity to enjoy some of their fa- candy apples, cotton candy, three flavors of vorite fair foods. funnel cake, turkey legs, corn dogs, chicken the South Florida Fair & Palm Beach County tenders and fries, roasted corn elephant ears, and a bucket of fries (menu subject Expositions, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or- to change). Beverages will include bottled ganization. Located at 9067 Southern Blvd. drinks, iced tea and a lemonade shakeup. West Palm Beach, the 2021 South Florida during these Prices range from $2 to 11 with most items Fair will kick off with its Ride-A-Thon at 5 averaging around $6. p.m. on Jan. 14 and the full fair will be held For more information, go online to Jan. 15 – 31, 2021. For more information, southfloridafair.com. call 561-793-0333 or visit the website, south- The South Florida Fair is produced by floridafair.com. trying times She loves Doggie Day Care and the beach! and we'll return Best I need to be rehomed to as soon Rottweiler my forever family. Ever! Call Bethany : 772.321.1413 #Safe&LovingHomeWithLotsofLandPlease as we can. #SheLovesKids 4 Lake Okeechobee News – merger of Okeechobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, and The Sun July 15, 2020 Savings Clause safeguards water supply for South Florida Guest Commentary until we can find another adequate to meet our keep our utilities running smoothly. Congress to support this legislation. state’s needs and in particular, those of the 7 Fortunately, a bipartisan group of representa- We know Florida has many water issues, but million people — among them 5 million Hispanics tives in Congress is supporting a proposal to defend none is bigger for all of us than keeping our supply By Julio Fuentes — in South Florida who rely on it. the Savings Clause in the upcoming Water Re- Special to the Lake Okeechobee News Yet a loud minority wants to break the deal and sources Development Act of 2020, and it’s backed of clean, safe drinking water intact. Julio Fuentes is president and CEO of the South Floridians need to pay attention to the ignore sound water management and science by by cities, business and conservation groups. We fight going on right now in Congress that could forcing the U.S.