Government

City discusses 100th anniversary, Florida City Week, city clerk position, and more

At its October 6 meeting, the Okeechobee City Council voted to temporarily close some city streets for the 100-year Building Celebration and Festival.

SFWMD announces upcoming public meetings for October

Join the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) for upcoming public meetings in the next few weeks.

City votes to replace Chamber of Commerce roof

The Okeechobee City Council voted to move funds from its capital projects budget to replace the Chamber of Commerce building roof.
HURRICANE NEWS
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Hurricane expected to make landfall in Florida Panhandle

While rain is expected this week, it's not from Hurricane Isaias, according to information shared at the Oct. 8...
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Newspaper accounts chronicle 1926 hurricane that wiped out Moore Haven

On Sept. 18, 1926, a hurricane devastated what had been the thriving and growing town of Moore Haven.
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A record-breaking hurricane season? Reasons to stay prepared with FPL

With the Atlantic on track to potentially set a new record for the latest first hurricane of the season ...
Current conditions
Observed from: Okeechobee County Airport
Fair, 86 °F
Clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Get the full forecast
Lake levels
12.32 feet
Last year: 13.85 feet
Depth given in feet above sea level.
Human Interest
Mayor Watford has officially proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of Okeechobee! We were proud to see Martha’s House Executive Director …
What a blessing! Thank you so much to everyone who donated food and their time for our Mission…
Okeechobee lost a beloved member of the community last month when Luis Rivera was killed in a car crash.
Schools
On Oct. 8, The Florida Bar announced the commencement of its annual High School Appellate Brief Writing & Moot Court Competition, an event that provides ...
Yearling Middle School is proud to announce its winners for Teacher of the Year, School Related Employee...
Osceola Middle School FFA officer team went to the COLT conference for Chapter Officer Leadership Training...
Wildlife & Environment
The deadline to submit comments is Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Your backyard can be a place where people encounter mosquitoes capable of transmitting dengue …
Community
GLADES COUNTY -- Lakefront Estates is under construction off SR 78 west of Buckhead Ridge in Glades County. [Photo by Katrina Elsken/Lake Okeechobee News]

Families moving into Lakeside Estates in Glades County

On Oct. 8, a youtube.com video was posted of families moving into homes in Lakefront Estates in Glades County.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to children including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster.

Operation Christmas Child drop-off locations open Nov. 16-23

Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week...
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An extra hour in bed? Your pet may have other plans when the clocks fall back

With daylight saving time ending Nov. 1 across most of the U.S., veterinarian Dr. Kelly Hood explains how to prepare dogs and cats ...
Police/Fire
Overnight American Red Cross volunteer members of the Disaster Action Team, from the Southwest Florida Chapter, responded to a home fire ...
Law enforcement was notified recently by a DCF caseworker that an 11-day-old baby they were trying to take custody of, was missing
Opinion
AMAC Certified Social Security Advisor answers questions about Social Security.
Advertisements for personalized GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are now as pervasive as they are dangerous.
For those of us who farm in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), the land is more than where we work. It is where many of us were raised ...
Thursday, Oct. 8, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) provided testimony opposing...
Television coverage of all the rebuilding after Hurricane Ian, made me think of Moses, the Israelites and the Red Sea, and you must remember the movie ...
Veterans

Buxton Funeral Home is the place to bring your worn out flags

Matt Buxton from Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory has been disposing of worn-out flags for the community for many years.

Benefit planned to help the family of a local veteran

The family of an Okeechobee veteran needs help from the community. The benefit has been moved from Veterans Park to Speckled Perch Park (Park #2).
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Agriculture
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association has named Publix Super Markets, Inc. its 2026 Customer of the Year, recognizing the ....
Looking to refresh your snack routine this fall? Florida families can try a homemade option that pairs peanut butter and chocolate ...
For many nursery and landscape workers, back pain does not send them home. It's something they work through ...
Health

Florida receives $16,740,989 in federal funding to deliver home visiting services to families

On Oct. 7, Florida received $16,740,989 in federal funding through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program 

5 questions to ask before choosing a health plan

Millions of Americans review their health plan options during open enrollment each fall, often the only time they can choose or change coverage.

HCSEF presents virtual 2025–2026 Area 15 HIV Care Needs Assessment Findings

The Health Council of Southeast Florida (HCSEF) will give a presentation of findings from the 2025 – 2026 Area 15 HIV Care Needs Assessment.

Palm Health Foundation marks 10 years of Train the Brain with launch of Brain Health Network

Arts on the Muck for Glades Elders will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m.–2 p.m., in Pahokee
Business
A lucky player won $198,200 U Pick’em bingo jackpot during a regular bingo session on Tuesday, Oct. 6...
WASHINGTON, DC – In July Representative Laurel Lee (FL-15), Representative Valerie Foushee (NC-4), and Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-9) introduced the Stealth Bot Prohibition Act (H.R.9915), a …
First Bank has received an honorable mention in the Independent Community Bankers of America’s (ICBA) 2026 National Community Bank Service Awards.
Traffic & Road Work

Hendry County Road Watch Report for week Oct. 11-17

The following column is the Road Watch report for Hendry County for the week beginning Sunday, Oct. 11 ...

Okeechobee County Road Watch Report for week Oct. 11-17

The following column is the Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week beginning Sunday, Oct. 11 ...

Glades County Road Watch Report for week Oct. 11-17

The following column is the Road Watch report for Glades County for the week beginning Sunday, Oct. 11 ...

AAA: Florida gas prices declined 29 cents last week

Florida drivers are finally seeing relief at the gas pump after a sharp run-up in prices last month.
National & World

Nurses fight conspiracy theories along with coronavirus

Los Angeles emergency room nurse Sandra Younan spent the last year juggling long hours as she watched many patients struggle with the coronavirus and some die. Then there were the patients who …
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