November 2020 - Okeechobee the Magazine by Okeechobee The Magazine

www.okeechobeethemagazine.com

NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 5

WHAT DOES SERVICE MEAN TO YOU? A Conversation with Okeechobeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Veterans

We LOVE to CARE!

Okeechobee Health Care Facility In December of 1984 Faye Haverlock realized a dream that began when her father and father-in-law needed nursing home placement and the closest acceptable homes were over an hour away. Believing that Okeechobee deserved its own nursing and rehab facility, Faye began the daunting task of designing and building a 90-bed facility, which took 2 years to complete. She has managed it for the past 36 years and remains the CEO today. Several additions have been added since 1984 resulting in a doubling of the initial bed capacity to the current 180 beds. The final addition, consisting of 15,000 square feet, is on-time and expected to be operational in April 2021. The addition, referred to as D Wing, provides 30 new beds consisting of 10 Semi-Private and 10 Private rooms. A separate Dining room and Activity Room are being built with courtyards connecting D Wing to C Wing. Okeechobee Health Care Facility was named #1 in the state by Newsweek 2020! Faye Haverlock, Graduate/ Valedictorian of OHS and OHCF Founder/CEO

Faye and John point to an example of unique details in the new addition.

Faye with her brother, John Abney, State Certified General Contractor/Project Manager Abney Building & Consulting for the new addition and two other remodeling projects to prepare for the new wing.

Rehab Care • Long-Term Care • Memory Care • Personal Nursing Care 24/7 5-Star Federal and State Rated • 2 Time Governor’s Gold-Seal Recipient Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Nursing Care Center Accreditation Baldridge National Business Silver Award Recipient

1646 US Highway 441 North • Okeechobee, Florida 34972

HHHHH

863-763-2226 H H H H H

www.Okeechobeehealthcare.com Hiring RNs, LPNs and CNAs! Apply at 115 NE 3rd ST, Okeechobee

Board Certified Optometrist

Call Now for Appointment

Walk-ins Welcome

Dr.Charles Charles W. Dr. W.Bartels Bartels Board Certified Optometric Physician

Board Certified Optometric Physician

(863) 763-3937 863.763.3937

We Accept and Bill Most Major Insurance, Medicaid, We Accept& and Bill Most MajorHealthy Insurance, Medicare BlueCross BlueShield Kids

Medicaid, Medicare & BlueCross Blue Shield Healthy Kids

606 North Parrott Ave.

Okeechobee

863.763.3937

www.BigLakeEyecare.com

606 North Parrott Ave Okeechobee 863-763-3937 Visit : www.biglakeeyecare.com

PUBLISHERS NOTE

HONORING OUR VETERANS

Volume 14, Number 5 | November 2020

“W

e must never forget why we have, and why we need our military. Our armed forces exist solely to ensure our nation is safe, so that each and every one of us can sleep soundly at night, knowing we have ‘guardians at the gate.” –Allen West Coming from a military family, I’ve always believed that Veterans Day is one of our nation’s most important holidays. It gives us a moment to stop and say a sincere thank you to the men and women who serve our nation in a most fundamental way: by standing between us and the dangers of the world. Growing up, I had a good view of the kind of people that serve in the military. My father, his friends, and the men I knew during my short time in service were a snapshot of America. They came from nearly every racial, religious, regional, and cultural group imaginable. They weren’t necessarily the smartest or the strongest or better than civilians, although some of the most remarkable people I’ve met in my life have been servicemembers. They were just like the rest of America: just as diverse and just as human. But they had one thing in common: at some point in their lives, they decided that they were willing to pledge their lives to serve the common good. They would be the “keepers at the gate” who were willing to not only fight for our nation but to die if necessary. They pledged to be the ones to keep us safe in times of war and hardship. It is that remarkable act of unselfishness that we honor and respect. In this issue, we offer our respect and gratitude as we honor that commitment that each and every servicemember made on our behalf.

Publisher David Jones Managing Editor Rachel Buxton Editor Sonja Hassler-Jones Writers Lisa Elia Raye Deusinger Shawn Macomber Beth Wise Contributor Gauge Chandler Feature Photographer Sandra Pearce Photographers Sharon Cannon Mikaela Queen Account Executive Trish Grygo Graphic Designer Valerie Wegener

Kuimba River Publishing, LLC DBA Okeechobee The Magazine 314 N.W. Fifth St. Okeechobee, FL 34972 Phone: (863) 467-0054 www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com President – David Jones Founder – Maureen Budjinski Kuimba River Publishing, LLC DBA Okeechobee the Magazine, is published bi-monthly in Okeechobee, Florida. Copyright 2020, all rights reserved by Kuimba River Publishing, LLC DBA Okeechobee The Magazine. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher accepts no responsibility for advertisement errors beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error within the advertisement itself. The publisher accepts no responsibility for submitted materials. All submitted materials subject to editing.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

Caring Beyond Prescriptions

Heartland Discount Pharmacy

Do not fill your prescription without verifying the price with Heartland Discount Pharmacy

OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE HEALTHCARE MORE AFFORDABLE Here is how we are different... Does your pharmacy accommodate Does your pharmacy have time your special needs? to find ways to save you money Does your pharmacy keep your on your prescriptions? prescriptions up to date with refills Does your pharmacy handle and stock status, etc.? SPECIALITY PRESCRIPTIONS and Does your pharmacy have spare time on demand COMPOUNDING? to discuss your health? We have ways to help Medicare patients not fall into coverage gaps or donut holes

Now...it’s time to think about changing your pharmacy!

Tired of Waiting

The Fastest, Most Convenient & Friendliest Service in the Area! Other Pharmacies

Heartland Discount Pharmacy

Thank you for choosing Heartland Discount Pharmacy We are personally committed to providing the service and value you deserve. Thank you for trusting us with your healthcare needs. — Family of Heartland Discount Pharmacy of Okeechobee

Serving the Community Since 2010

PHARMACY THE WAY IT’S SUPPOSE TO BE

• Best cash price in town • FREE same day home delivery • We match all Competitors Generic Prescription Drug Programs • We Accept All Insurances Including Medicaid, Medicard, Part-D and Worker’s Compensation • Flu and Pneumonia shots available • Now providing non-sterile RX Compounding

EXTENDED HOURS: Monday-Friday 8am - 8pm Saturday 9am - 5pm

407 S. Parrott Ave. (Next to Arby’s on Hwy. 441) Okeechobee

863.763.7633

HeartlandDiscountPharmacy.com

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 5

IN EVERY ISSUE:

Publisher’s Note

Calendar

Mental Health Column

Labor Day

Fishing Report

Pt. 1: Okeechobee’s Wrestling Program 32 Behind the Business Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd 66

Okeechobee Cooking

Business Listings

Around Okeechobee Meals Provided by Treasure Coast Food Bank 82 Start with Hello Week

Gilbert Chevrolet Honors Teacher of the Year 84

Last Page

FEATURES: My Stolen Senior Year 18 ON THE COVER

The photos on the cover of this issue have been submitted by Okeechobee’s veterans and their families. For a guide to the people behind the pictures, please turn to page 45. PHOTOS COURTESTY: Okeechobee’s veterans and their families.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

Dr. Moore IRSC Tenure 36 Helping Vets Cut Through the Red Tape 38 Lawyer Michael Hoffman helps vets cut through bureaucracy

What Does Service Mean to You?

Conversations with Okeechobee’s veterans

2020 Gift Guide

38 4

IRSC’s Dr. Massey Honored

Come visit Dr. Matthew Schiermyer in our Okeechobee location

GET YOUR LIFE BACK! Our Mission:

to provide the very best patient care while achieving the highest quality results. At Simpson Advanced Chiropractic & Medical Center, we strive for excellence through superior patient treatment, education and satisfaction.

OKEECHOBEE

863-410-2860 319 N Parrott Ave

STUART | PORT ST. LUCIE

772-463-2344

simpsonmedical.com

This is accomplished through the utilization of the most current techniques and advanced technologies, as our staff continually expand their education and practical applications. Simpson Medical prides itself on using the most advanced technology and equipment that is available to quickly alleviate the most severe health problems.

Our Services:

• Chiropractic Adjustments • Physical Therapy • Laser Disc Relief • Cold Laser • Spinal Disc Decompression

• Neuropathy Treatment • Arthritis Relief • Massage Therapy • Internal Medicine • Weight Loss / Nutrition Counseling

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

Vicki Anderson (863) 634-4106

(863) 634-4107 Eric Anderson

Your Top Realty Company in Okeechobee That Your Family Can Trust to be There For You! Serving ALL Your Real Estate Needs 30046 E SR78 - Buckhead Ridge Okeechobee, FL 34974 Vic_Anderson@earthlink.net

Anderson Realty Co. is seasoned at aiding new and experienced buyers and sellers in all areas of real estate. Contact us if your needs include a real estate pro experienced at the business side of real estate.

Shelly Doyle Personal Assistant 863.801.8463 shellydoyle@ymail.com

For All of Our Listings, Please Visit Our Website @ www.AndersonRealtyCo.com

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C O M

COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOVEMBER General Election Don’t forget to vote!

November 3rd

DECEMBER

3rd Annual Extreme Rodeo November 6th – 7th Hosted by Double K Rodeo, Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center 4601 Hwy 710 E, (863) 763-1666

Great American Gun Show November 27th – 29th Okeechobee KOA 4276 Hwy 441 (863) 763-0231

Christmas Festival and Parade December 12th Hosted by Okeechobee Main Street –Downtown Parrott and Hwy 70 Time to be announced. (863) 357-6246

TOC Final Stop Hosted by South East Florida Barrel Racers November 20th – 22nd Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center 4601 Hwy 710 E, (863) 763-1666

Crappie Series December 19th Host by Jiganomics Outdoors C Scott Driver Recreation Park, 10100 Hwy 78 W

Festival of the TreesHoliday Cocktail Reception November 21st Okeechobee Main Street 6 pm – 9 pm 111 NE 2nd Street (863) 357-6246

37th Annual Christmas Boat Parade December 19th Begins at Burger King on Hwy 70, 6:00 pm Hosted by Okeechobee Yachette Club Arnie (863) 824-0681 or Harry (863) 467-4782

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Florida Youth Livestock Expo December 28th – 30th Hosted by Florida Youth Livestock Expo Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center 4601 Hwy 710 E, (863) 763-1666

JANUARY Yeehaw Music Fest January 19th – 23rd Hosted by Evans Media Source , Okeechobee County Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center 4601 Hwy 710 E, (863) 763-1666 Crappie Series Hosted by Jiganomics Outdoors, C Scott Driver 10100 Hwy 78 West,

January 23rd

FEBRUARY Taste of Okeechobee February 6th Hosted by Okeechobee Main Street Downtown Park Street, (863) 357-6246 Top of the Lake Art Fest February 6th – 7th Hosted by Okeechobee Main Street Downtown Flagler Park, (863) 357-6246 Gator Cup February 9th – 14th Hosted by Quail Creek Plantation 12399 NE 224th Street, (863) 763-2529 www.gator-cup.com

The Community Events section is sponsored by Total Roadside Services, and event information provided by the Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee County and Okeechobee Main Street. Do you have an event that needs to be promoted? Let us know at info@okeechobeethemagazine.com.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C O M

NATURAL GAS:

energy that works smarter, not harder Natural gas is the most efficient,

Commercial

affordable and reliable energy choice for your business. With natural gas commercial equipment, you won’t just save on energy bills every single month — you will also save right away with substantial equipment rebates!

APPLIANCE

REBATE

TANK-STYLE WATER HEATER

$2,000

TANKLESS WATER HEATER

$2,500

RANGE

$1,500

FRYER

$3,000

DRYER

$1,500

WHY CHOOSE NATURAL GAS FOR BUSINESS? SAVE

REDUCE

IMPROVE

USE

money and energy operational efficiency

your carbon footprint America’s own energy

GET REBATES

up to per ton!

Maximum

Earn rebates up to $50 per ton when you install eligible natural gas space conditioning units!

Discover how much your business can save. Contact FPU today!

Ask4Gas.com/Biz | 866.749.1159 Please FPUC FPUC.com/CommercialRebates for more 10 *Rebate restrictions O KE E apply. CHO BEcontact E TH E orMvisit A GA ZINE | NOVEMBER 2020 complete details regarding rebate categories, industry definitions and other factors that may influence rebate amounts and eligibility.

PROMO: MA19-192A 102419

The Unseen Weight STORY BY BETH WISE

“The bad stuff never stops happening; it lives in its own dimension, replaying itself over and over.” Tim O’Brien, The Things They Carried

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

We romanticize war. In stories, wars turn into magnificent pageants, soldiers perform daring rescues, and the fallen die quiet, profound deaths. Our fascination and glorification of war comes from an extraordinary place of privilege. We, the average citizens of the United States, hear about war through the sterilized lens of victory. The soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen who fought these battles experienced horrors beyond our wildest imaginations so that we could sit in the safety of our homes and watch their stories on our televisions. Even after their battles are over and these brave men and women come home, many carry nightmares with them the rest of their lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not a new affliction. Once known as “shell shock” and “combat fatigue,” it has existed for as long as there have been wars. While civilians can certainly experience traumas that can lead to PTSD, veterans are at much higher risk of developing it. Current estimates suggest 11-20 percent of veterans from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, 12 percent of Gulf War veterans, and 15 percent of Vietnam War veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD (The Department of Veterans Affairs). Given its prevalence, a tremendous amount of effort has gone into studying PTSD. We now know so much more about what causes it, how to treat it, and how we can support our loved ones who have it.

ence trauma will develop PTSD, so it should come as no surprise that so many veterans suffer from it. There are two primary areas of the brain affected by PTSD: the amygdala and the hippocampus. Both are crucial to our day-to-day functioning and both are very different in people with PTSD. When we encounter fearful situations, a tiny part of our brains called the amygdala kicks into high gear. The amygdala is responsible for triggering our “fight or flight” response, meaning that when the amygdala is activated our bodies go into survival mode. Adrenaline floods our system as we prepare to either fight off the threat or run away from it. If a person has an overactive amygdala, they will likely develop some type of anxiety disorder. In those with PTSD we routinely see the amygdala activating when there is no threat present, causing the person to experience extraordinary “If you don’t do your job, people will die... Over and over, distress and agitation for seemingly no reason. Imagine it was drilled into me that people would die if I messed going about your day feeling that everything is perfectly fine up. And nine of my guys died. So it’s been extremely and then suddenly experiencing paralyzing fear with no hard to forgive myself. ... The first guy in my company apparent cause. It’s disorienting and debilitating and without who died stepped on a bomb that was hidden under proper support, there’s nothing you can do to stop it. a footbridge... I can see his face right now.” The hippocampus is the part of the brain that helps Chris Wilson, US Marine Corps consolidate memories. When it’s working properly, your WHAT CAUSES PTSD? hippocampus takes short-term memories and converts PTSD is triggered by events so horrifying the brain is them to long-term memories, allowing you to hold on unable to process them. One in three people who experi- to important information for more than a few seconds

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

at a time. People with PTSD have smaller hippocampi than normal. It isn’t clear if they are born with smaller hippocampi, making them more susceptible to PTSD, or if PTSD damages them, but it is clear that a smaller hippocampus results in significant memory problems. People with PTSD experience frequent, vivid flashbacks and nightmares of their trauma. Instead of consolidating the traumatic memory, their memories are brought back in excruciating detail, forcing a person to constantly relive the most horrible things that ever happened to them and prevents them from successfully moving on with their life.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD? Many people are familiar with the most obvious symptoms of PTSD - flashbacks and nightmares. Sufferers report frequent flashbacks triggered by any stimulus that reminds them of the initial trauma. However, there are many more equally distressing symptoms of which few people are aware. Even those who have PTSD usually don’t recognize these things as symptoms until they begin receiving treatment: 1. Avoidance 2. Changing routines to avoid potential triggers 3. Changing the subject when conversations approach potential triggers 4. Avoiding people who may have been present at the traumatic event 5. Reactivity 6. Startling easily 7. Being constantly on guard or edgy 8. Having difficulty focusing 9. Engaging in risky behaviors 10. Mood instability

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

Experiencing depressive symptoms Frequent angry outbursts Persistent irritability Frequent feelings of guilt or shame Cognition deficits Poor short-term memory Poor memory for important details of the traumatic event 18. Poor time management 19. Negative, disorganized, and illogical thoughts about the world and the self 20. Inability to feel happy or at ease2 PTSD is not a simple disorder. Its effects are deep-rooted and can take many years to combat. Thankfully, there are very effective medications and therapies that help our veterans and civilians work through their trauma. So the question remains, if we know someone with PTSD, what can we do for them?

“I would snap on anybody for any little thing, and I’m a big guy. I’m 6 feet, 8 inches. I’m 300 pounds, so I’m a very large individual. I would literally sit at home at night and just sit up all night, staring into the darkness, waiting for somebody to come through a door that wasn’t coming through a door.” -Isiah James, US Army1

11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

“On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.” - Dan Lipinski

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Many times, people with PTSD will pull away from their friends and loved ones. While it may make them feel more secure and less overwhelmed in the short term, isolation only feeds their frustrating, frightening experience. The most important thing we can do is offer consistent, steadfast support, but how should that support look? First of all, know the signs of PTSD. When you know that a loved one is coming home from combat or has experienced something traumatic, keep an eye out for changes in mood and behavior that might indicate they are struggling with PTSD. If you notice these symptoms, try to open up opportunities to discuss them while making sure the person feels safe and loved. Let them know that you’re listening. Sometimes, they may want to share stories about their trauma. It is crucial in those moments that you be willing to listen to them with an open heart and mind. Don’t interrupt them, and

NOVEMBER 2020

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Practice Core Values • Deliver WOW service • Embrace & drive change

It’s not about your presents but it is about your presence. Therein lies the spirit of the holiday season. — Julieanne O’Connor

• Build a positive team & family spirit

Now Accepting New Patients

• Foster humility

General & Cosmetic Dentistry

n atio

Check out our mend om C

863.692.7087

• Be passionate & determined Re c

Dr. Zachary Viens, DMD Dr. Jennifer Laskey, DMD Dr. Jennifer Shiflet ,DDS

• Pursue growth & learning

TES

• Create fun • Build open & honest relationships

202 NE 3rd Street | Okeechobee, FL 34972 | www.fdofokeechobee.com WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

don’t try to offer them advice. Just let them know that you are there and you hear them. Don’t make them feel like they have to talk. More often than not, they will not want to talk about their trauma or their PTSD, and that’s okay. If you constantly badger them to talk about what they’re experiencing you will only push them to withdraw from you. If they make it clear that they’re not ready to talk about things, make sure they know you respect their decision. Be present but provide space. PTSD can make it very easy to feel overstimulated. Because of that, people with PTSD will sometimes need time to themselves. While you don’t want them to isolate themselves, you do want to respect their need for calm quiet. If they express that things are getting too overwhelming, help them find ways to remove themselves from the world for a little bit. Reassure them that you are nearby and ready when they need you, but give them that time to themselves. Help them find a reputable source of treatment. Arguably the most important thing you can do for someone

with PTSD is help them find a trusted source for therapy. The VA has poured an enormous amount of effort into building comprehensive care programs for our servicemen and women. Helping your vet get in touch with these professionals will get them on the road to recovery. Be patient if they seem reluctant at first. Admitting that something is wrong and that they need help is a big deal and can seem pretty daunting. It is your job as their loved one to come alongside them and help them navigate the task. 3 The men and women of the United States military volunteer for service knowing full well they may be walking into the worst possible places on earth. Many of them are still 18 and 19-year-old kids when they’re sent off to combat, and so many will come home exhausted, jaded, and in pain. To experience the horrors of war at such a young age is awful, but the fact that they suffer these things while fighting for our safety and comfort leaves us indebted to them. The very least we can do is tell them thank you and help them heal.

If you need help or if someone you know needs help If you or someone you know is a veteran suffering from PTSD, call 1-800-273-8255. When prompted, press “1” if you are a veteran. Visit ptsd. va.gov for more information. If at any point you feel that you may need help, please don’t hesitate to call any of the numbers below. Trained professionals would be happy to offer you whatever support you need or connect you to a service that can provide you with more information. Both numbers are free to call and are completely anonymous. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services National Helpline will connect you with local professionals to help with any mental health or addiction issues you may be facing – 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day. Please don’t hesitate to call if you need help — 1-800-273-8255.

References 1 Axelrod, Jim. “Veterans Share Their Stories to Help Others Fight PTSD.” CBS News. CBS Interactive, September 7, 2016. https://www.cbsnews. com/news/veterans-share-their-stories-to-help-others-fight-ptsd/. 2 Hobson, Jeremy. “‘I’m Still Dealing With It’: How 2 Veterans Are Learning To Cope With PTSD.” ‘I’m Still Dealing With It’: How 2 Veterans Are Learning To Cope With PTSD | Here & Now. WBUR, August 7, 2019. https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/08/07/veteran-ptsd-getting-help. 2 Goertzel, T. (1994). Belief in Conspiracy Theories. Political Psychology, 15(4), 731-742. doi:10.2307/3791630 3 National Institute of Mental Health. “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Post traumatic Stress Disorder. National Institute of Mental Health: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/ index.shtml. 4 Help for Heroes. “How to Help Someone with PTSD From War.” How to Help Someone with PTSD From War: A Guide For Family & Friends, March 20, 2019. https://helpforheroes.com/blog/ptsd/ptsd-from-war/.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

We Wish You a Merry Christmas Convenient Online Scheduling and Gift Certificate Purchases!

Head to Mistle-Toe Package Relaxation Massage Relax & Calm Facial Relaxing Spa Pedicure 2hrs 40 min $159

Elf Express Package

30min Relaxation Massage Refresher Facial 60min $75

WILLIAMSON CATTLE COMPANY Presents:

Miz Betty’s Depression Era Memories Born 1933

Author, Betty Chandler Williamson

863.824.8782 • 609 SW Park Street Okeechobee, FL 34972 www.ThePurpleOrchid.amtamembers.com MM37227

A memoir based on Miz Betty’s life with family and friends in Okeechobee. She and her husband, Sonny, are both fifth generation Floridians who are proud of their family roots and look forward to sharing their stories. . . The 1st book signing will be held at the Williamson Conference Center at the Indian River State College Dixon-Hendry Campus on December 7, 2019, from 10am – 1:30pm. Proceeds from this event will be dedicated to the IRSC Foundation, Inc.

Submitted by Betty Chandler Williamson

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

My Stolen Senior Year SAYING GOODBYE TO HIGH SCHOOL AND HELLO TO COLLEGE DURING THE PANDEMIC STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAYTON BUXTON

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

For the last nine weeks, I have thought about how to begin this story, and for nine weeks I could not find the right words no matter how hard I tried. How do you convey an experience such as this? How do you properly tell your story when billions of other people have their own? Well, all you can do is try. Even before taking your first steps on a high school campus, it is ingrained into yours and every other teenager’s brain that “those will be the best years of your life.” You wake up every day for four years before the sunlight even has the chance to paint the sky with the colors of dawn. You go to your classes, participate in too many extracurriculars, pour over unthinkable amounts of homework, and work part-time while also trying desperately to be a good friend and a good daughter. All the while, throughout those years, you are constantly reminded of the whole point behind the chaos: graduation day. You are told everything you are doing in high school is to get to that point, to get to take those steps — the most important steps of your young life so you are told — across the stage and say you did it. That it will be something to celebrate with your family and friends and show them all the hard work was actually worth it. But what if, all of a sudden that very idea and that notion, and everything that leads up to it, was stripped away with no warning and no remorse like a rug pulled out from under your feet? And then, to make matters worse, you had no idea who did the pulling. Well, that’s what happened to me and that’s what it felt like to have a completely normal high school beginning and an ending like one never imagined. For me, 2020 started as any other year would. I returned to school after winter break with high hopes of enjoying every last minute of my final semester in high school. I was adjusting to new dual enrollment classes, gearing up for FFA’s busiest time of the year, and anxiously awaiting the end-of-the-year senior activities. I had maybe heard of this “coronavirus” once or twice, but it was hundreds, even thousands of miles away, and all that mattered was my final days as an OHS Brahman. By late February I was completely engulfed in my schedule. From studying for tests to hosting FFA events to applying for universities and scholarships I dreamt about for years. Needless to say, I was, by every definition of the word, busy. I was busy though excited nonetheless about what was still to come, yet in desperate need of a break.

Fortunately, Spring Break was right around the corner, only that’s when things started to enter the unknown. On March 13th, I woke up and went to school like I would any other day, however, this day was a little more exciting as it was the last day before my much-needed week-long break. There was talk about an extra week off as this new virus loomed closer. It was supposed to be a “just in case” precaution, but no one really batted an eye. When the final bell rang that afternoon, my classmates and I had no idea we would be going home only to never return. Then, over the next two months, we received one devastating blow after the other. The activities meant to highlight seniors’ accomplishments and bring everything to a close were seemingly “X’d” out on the calendar with little hesitation. The CTE Completers breakfast, a time to celebrate with our friends and instructors for the passing of industry certification tests we worked towards for three years – X’D OUT. Awards Night, when administrators honor us with medals and chords to showcase our achievements throughout the years in front of our loved ones – X’D OUT. Scholarship Night, the night our families and the community come together to award us with support for the next monumental stage of our lives; a night very special to me in particular - X’D OUT. Senior Prom, an escape for one night to just have fun and make lasting memories - X’D OUT. I, like many of my friends, will never get to know what prom is like, as we did not attend junior prom for one reason or the other. Baccalaureate Service, a time for faithful students to lean into a message regarding the next part of their lives and what role faith can and will play in it - X’D OUT. Class day, one final parade around the place we spent most of our time the last four years making friends, laughing, and discovering who we are - X’D OUT. Spring sport senior athletes never got to play their final season. I was fortunate in that my sport is in the fall. Senior band members never got to perform their final concert. Clubs all across campus and the students who devoted time and energy to them faced heartbreaking losses. For me, there was one club in which I felt the most loss. Anyone who knows me knows the role FFA played in my life. I dedicated seven years to this organization, and it has made me the person I am today. Having my last months in this organization end the way they did was something I never would have imagined. My last contests I spent all year preparing for were moved to online, my senior banquet

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

was never organized, and worst of all, I did not get to go to my last Florida FFA State Convention. FFA State Convention is the biggest event of the year, garnering more than 5,000 FFA members and guests from across the state to celebrate the achievements of these brilliant students throughout the school year. Because of the passion and love I hold for the FFA, seeing the news that my last convention was to be held virtually devastated me like nothing else. After weeks of bad news, this is what brought me to a breaking point.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

All of this led up to the one day they always said was most important, and that was graduation day. In the preceding weeks, many were unsure if a graduation ceremony was going to take place. The school had no plans of â&#x20AC;&#x153;X-ingâ&#x20AC;? this one out, but most of us were wary of letting our hopes get too high. Finally, after being told a plan was waiting to be approved, we were informed an announcement was coming. The administrators were thrilled to make this announcement, in which we were told graduation would take place, however, students would not be permitted to bring guests. How could they think that was better? How could they think that was a solution? To say we were thankful to even have that opportunity would be an understatement, but not having our friends and family in the stands to support us and commemorate that moment with us almost made it seem pointless. I in no way want to discredit those who made efforts to ease our wounds. The love and support from the community was undeniable, and that is one thing I have always loved about calling Okeechobee home. I hope each and every person who took an action to ensure we felt encouraged and strengthened knows how truly appreciated they are. Just days later, a new announcement was made, and we were told we would be given two tickets. Now came the question, which two people in our lives would get to witness this moment. The answer for some may have been clearer than for others. There are many students, including myself, with large families who have supported them throughout their entire lives. There are also students, again including myself, who have divided families that include certain individuals that have watched them grow and played their own role as a parental figure. These students

NOVEMBER 2020

and I had to make this gut-wrenching decision atop everything else we were doing our best to stomach. On the big day, as I got up and calmly began to get ready, I remember a feeling I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had before. It was a frustrated, anxious, yet happy feeling. As most graduations are, it was a bittersweet day. For this class though, there was something deeper. It felt like school had ended months ago and this was our last chance to be together as one. On a day in which we were supposed to be closer than ever, we were constantly reminded to stay apart. Sitting alone in our spaced-out seats, as we were instructed not to move about, we looked up into the stands to find our parents and loved ones only to try to look past the yellow caution tape forcing them to stay apart as well. I sat there throughout the ceremony listening to the words of administrators and fellow students with the same bewildered thoughts as my peers. How did this go by so fast? Why did it have to end like this? As the ceremony was brought to a close, the students were filed out. We anxiously awaited our loved ones to descend from the stands and searched through the crowd to find them. Hugs and tears were exchanged, and congratulations and excitement filled the air. Even though it was just my parents with me, this was the first thing that felt normal in a very long time. Over the summer, I did everything I could to focus on what came next and move on from the past. It was time for the next big chapter I had thought about for years: college. I dreamt about going to college since I was in middle school. It was all I wanted and worked for. With each passing day and the positive COVID cases rising, I became more and more fearful this too would be taken from me. I dissected every email from the university, looking for clues as to whether or not the school was to be open. I took all the necessary steps to prepare despite the threat of it all being for nothing. I submitted forms, signed up for orientation, and applied for on-campus housing. I soon learned my orientation would be an online two-day event, shattering any and all excitement surrounding that. Fortunately, however, it was soon announced that the university would be welcoming students back to campus for the spring semester. Finally, on August 13th it was here: move-in day. After days of packing and planning it was finally time. We loaded

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

the truck and my car and started the drive to Florida Gulf Coast University, my new home for the next two years. For me, this day was much scarier than I ever thought it would be. As my tour planned for March had been canceled and my orientation moved to online, the day I moved in was the first day I ever set foot on this campus. This day was only my second time ever being in Lee County. Instead of smiling faces, we were met with masked ones and signs everywhere reminding us to space out and keep our masks on despite the heat pelting down on us. I walked into my building to see ropes sectioning certain areas off, and stickers littering the floor telling us where to go. To this day, those stickers and ropes remain to ensure we do not get too close. The following Monday it was time to start classes. Instead of experiencing a bustling college campus for the first time, I was stuck at my desk in my dorm with an hour-long virtual call. Many classes in the first week were held online in the hopes of sorting uncertainties out. I am one of the lucky ones, in that most of my classes are still face-to-face. Two are fully in person, two have been divided in half to where one group meets one day and the other group on another day, and one is entirely online. Many students were not so lucky and whose classes have been moved to strictly online. College is hard enough but having classes online to any degree makes it even harder. We are not learning new things, rather we are just completing tasks. Professors are barely teaching, but rather providing us information to do it ourselves. Students are struggling and cannot stay motivated. First-time students like myself who are alone in a new environment are almost completely unable to make new friends. With muzzled faces and the only thing visible being a blank stare, it’s difficult to tell who will mind being approached and who will not. While trying to live normal lives and continue to move forward, we are constantly reminded of the mess we are in and how tragic it is when all we want to do is just get our work done. By every sidewalk there are signs telling us to keep our distance. In every building and every classroom there are green and blue disks protecting every other seat to prevent us from sitting next to one another. On every door there are stickers pushing guidelines in our faces telling us how to behave in the room, on the stairs, and in the elevator, not unlike that of rules plastered on the wall of an elemen-

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

tary school classroom. The latest precautionary idea of the university is an online daily health screening. This is to be filled out every time an individual leaves their dorm, plans to come to campus, or simply begins to feel unwell. The effectiveness of this screening, of which it is rumored the university paid top dollar for, could certainly be questioned. There is nothing preventing us from not doing it, nor is there anything preventing us from simply filling it out with false information. Not to mention, I guess I was wrong to think I would not have to tell someone every time I left home anymore now that I’m in college. Sadly, there is discussion of not returning to campus after the Thanksgiving holiday. The fear is that as students return to campus after going home to visit their families, they will bring more cases back with them. This raises a whole new onslaught of questions. Will face-to-face classes be able to quickly transition to online? Will all finals be online? What does this mean for spring semester? Will students be reimbursed the thousands of dollars spent to live on campus? Will they make us pay full tuition just for all of our classes to be online? With any luck, these questions will never have to be answered. While my first few months in college were not exactly what I had imagined, I still would not want to be anywhere else, and I definitely do not want my time here to be cut short. I truly hope no other class has to endure what mine did. I hope no other generation is faced with these challenges in their transition from childhood to adulthood. That time in anyone’s life is already daunting, but these new challenges made the unknown that much deeper. Most importantly, I hope those in charge do not let fear take these moments away and rule the lives of those who are not fearful. I hope those still in school are given a choice and a voice, unlike we were. These monumental and essential moments in every young person’s life that were taken from me and my peers will never be given back to us, yet our resilience has proven us to be remarkable, and that is something we will always share. Even though this story may be filled with losses, and I may not understand why this had to happen, this time has taught me something, nonetheless. This year of my life has taught me that I am much stronger than I thought I was. I do my best to live life one day at a time, and though I cannot control everything that happens, I do not have to let it control me.

NOVEMBER 2020

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Music was provided by Johnny Debt.

Vendors included treats for your pets.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

Johnny Debt entertains young fans.

NOVEMBER 2020

LABOR DAY FESTIVITIES BRING A LITTLE PIECE OF NORMALCY TO RESIDENTS STORY BY RACHEL BUXTON | PHOTOS BY MIKAELA QUEEN After months of quarantine and not being social, residents of Okeechobee County were able to enjoy a little piece of normalcy on Monday, Sept. 7 as they made their way downtown to Flagler Park to participate in the much-anticipated Labor Day festivities. Once again hosted by Okeechobee Mainstreet, Labor Day in the Park kicked off with the annual Labor Day parade. Okeechobee royalty, political candidates, and local organizations and businesses filled the parade route smiling and waving to the crowds who were all too eager and excited to be outside and finally having some fun with fellow community members. Following the morning parade, individuals walked the park visiting the several tents set up with arts and crafts, handcrafted goods, and food vendors. Music and entertainment was provided by Florida native and one-manband, Johnny Debt.

A fun atmosphere for the whole family.

Big Lake Hobbies introduces the joys of RC Monster Trucks.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Bridgette Waldau and Maureen Budjinski with make-shift masks.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

FISHING REPORT

FAST BREAK BAIT & TACKLE TEAM TOURNAMENT STORY BY GAUGE CHANDLER | PHOTOS BY MIKAELA QUEEN Summertime on Lake Okeechobee ended with a bang as tournaments were plentiful this summer on the Big O. Fast Break Bait & Tackle in partnership with Florida B.A.S.S. Nation hosted the Fast Break Bait & Tackle Team Tournament on August 29th. The partnership allowed anglers the opportunity to qualify for the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation Championship tournament. The Fast Break tournament drew 87 teams all competing for a grand prize of $10,000.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

You read that right. Fast Break Bait & Tackle guaranteed $10,000 to the first-place team. One hundred percent of the entry fees were paid out in prizes for a total of $18,900 in winnings. Fast Break Bait & Tackle paid up to eight places as well as first and second big fish. Eighty-seven boats and 174 anglers set out to catch a combined five-fish limit of largemouth bass. More than half of the teams weighed-in their limit for a total weight of 820 pounds. The average weight of a single bass was 3.4 pounds. A total of 241 fish crossed the scales on that hot August afternoon. The competition was stiff. Bags had to exceed 21 pounds to cash a check. Okeechobee local, Justin Morgan, and his partner, Garrett Folbrecht, weighed in an 8.16-pound bass to win the big fish grand prize that included a payout of $1,800. A close second, weighing 7.6 pounds, was brought

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

in by Ozzy DeAngelo and Yoan Alvarez for a payout of $900. Other big fish contenders included Mikey Keyso and John Perry. Keyso and Perry had a close third weighing 7.49 pounds. Their largest fish was not heavy enough to win the big fish prize, but they shook the scales when they weighed in their five-fish limit weighing 26.48 pounds earning them the overall grand prize of $10,000. Other prize winners included: Junior Solis and George Short with 24.19 pounds for a second-place finish and $2,000; Zach Ford and Anthony Ford with 22.37 pounds for third place and $1,500; Michael Frost and Keruit Rusell with 21.88 pounds for fourth place and $1,000; Chris Schirling and Keith Brunner with 21.41 pounds for fifth place and $700; Buck Durrance

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

and Case Durrance with 21.28 pounds for sixth place and $500; Justin Whidden and Will Hall with 21.10 pounds for seventh and $300; and Jason Blair and Justin Bryant with 21.06 pounds for eighth place. The August heat didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep these avid anglers from competing and giving it their all. The late summer months can be unpredictable, but this pool of anglers have refined their craft. Making key adjustments during extreme weather

conditions is a game-changer. The competition on Lake Okeechobee is far from short. Many anglers travel hundreds of miles to see what Lake O has to offer. Fast Break Bait & Tackle will be releasing their 2021 tournament schedule this fall. All of the Fast Break tournaments are open to the public. Be sure to follow their Facebook page for details, or stop by Fast Break Bait & Tackle to get the latest news.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Seven state qualifiers. Back row from left: Jose Monrroy, Travis McKenna, Jamie Scurry, Isaac Herron, Cody Deloney. Front row from left: Charlie Armstrong, Gabe Bowen.

OKEECHOBEE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING: TEACHING VALUES THROUGH SPORT STORY BY MIKAELA QUEEN | PHOTOS BY CURTIS TYSON To some, wrestling is just a sport, but for Curtis Tyson, it changed his life. Curtis began wrestling after he was convinced by a friend to join the team. In 1990, he won the state individual tournament and, in 1991, he defended his title. He is Okeechobee’s only athlete to win a state title back to back. At the beginning of his career, Curtis described himself as a “mediocre” wrestler. However, three things took place during the offseason before his junior year which brought him to the next level. At that time, a wrestler saw about

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

30 matches per season. Curtis was able to gain the experience of about 10 seasons as he saw 300 matches in just one off-season. In addition, he was given the opportunity to coach younger wrestlers in the club program. But, most importantly, his mindset changed. Curtis shared that he was saved and in conjunction, his mindset began to shift. “I went from what can I do to win to I simply want to try to do my best.” Though he didn’t wrestle his whole childhood, Curtis still gained the core values of honesty, respect, and hard work. He said that

NOVEMBER 2020

without wrestling he wouldn’t have gone to college and most likely wouldn’t have even fished high school. Now, Curtis spends his free time instilling the same traits wrestling taught him into the youth of Okeechobee. As a coach for both the high school and club program, he has the ability to make a similar impact to the one that changed his life. The Okeechobee High School wrestling team is coached by Jonathan Kemp, Curtis Tyson, Bobby Jablonski, and Todd Jones. Up until this year, Bruce Jahner had taken on the role as head coach but recently turned that title over to Jonathan. Before Curtis began working with the high school wrestling program, Bruce was the only coach for the team. This upcoming season will be Curtis’s sixth year, and he has seen the team has grown both in skill and character. Core values from leadership stem down and plant positive seeds into the kids. A positive attitude and outlook have elevated the team past many obstacles. In some ways, it can be seen that the odds are stacked against them. The only practice space they have is in the school’s cafeteria. They were put into a new district last year with kids from down south, and those schools are able to recruit their athletes from all over.

Instead of looking at adversity and giving up, the team pushed past the odds and made it to the state tournament. At the state level, they lost by one match and were placed as the eighth highest team in the state. Curtis described their achievement as, “just amazing.” Charlie Armstrong, Travis McKenna, Jose Monrroy, Gabe Bowen, Jamie Scurry, Isaac Herron, and Cody Deloney represented Okeechobee High School in the state individual tournament. Charlie and Travis advanced to the top 12 and Jose made it to the top eight. Wrestling is more than just a sport. It’s more than an activity to do after school. It’s more than a form of exercise. It’s more than the negative connotations that are stuck to its name. It is respect. It is honesty. It is discipline. It is a family. To some, wrestling might be just two guys trying to pin each other to the ground, but for others, it saves them. It gives them a sense of belonging. A sense of worth. A family. Wrestling is an opportunity to pass down lessons way beyond the skills to win a match. After talking to Curtis, you get the impression that that is what he strives for. He cares for the kids and wants them to succeed. He is tough on them but loving. He said that he always tells them “you’re probably going hate me, but if you stick with me, I promise you, you will love me by the time it’s over if you do what I ask you to do.”

From left: Bobby Jablonski, Curtis Tyson, Bruce Jahner, Jonathon Kemp.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

DR. EDWIN MASSEY HONORED FOR 47 YEARS OF VISION AND SERVICE PHOTOS COURTESY OF INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE

Dr. Edwin R. Massey speaks during a special dedication ceremony where the Indian River State College Main Campus in Fort Pierce was renamed the Edwin R. Massey Campus on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. IRSC’s third and longest-serving president, retired on August 31 after a distinguished career spanning 47 years—more than 31 years as president.

On August 31, Indian River State College’s third and longest-serving president, Dr. Edwin Massey, retired after a distinguished career spanning 47 years with the college. Leading up to his final days, receptions and celebrations were held to honor the visionary as well as the many accolades he helped IRSC achieve during his tenure. Receptions were held at each of IRSC’s four branch campuses, ending on August 25 at the College’s flagship campus in Fort Pierce where a dedication ceremony was held to announce the renaming of the campus as the Edwin R. Massey Campus. For the ceremony, community members, civic and business leaders, and IRSC faculty, staff, administration, and students socially distanced across the commons area to honor Dr. Massey and see his name permanently enshrined on the campus.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

“When a leader like Dr. Massey honorably serves their college and community for 47 years—more than 31 as president—there are few gestures grandiose enough to properly say, thank you for what you have meant to us,” said José Conrado, IRSC District Board of Trustees Chair. “Dr. Massey’s leadership has elevated IRSC to heights we could have never dreamed decades ago. His fingerprints are everywhere we look, and everywhere we look there is a success story.” Under Massey’s leadership, IRSC has received great national attention earning itself several national accolades including IRSC’s highest honor to date, the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The award is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among the more than 1,000 colleges like IRSC, positioning the institution as a “Top College in the Nation.”

NOVEMBER 2020

Dr. Edwin and Jo Massey with their great-granddaughter Palmer Jo during the dedication ceremony.

IRSC also earned the designation as “#1 in the Nation in Technology” by the Center for Digital Education in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) during Massey’s tenure as he supported and ensured the needed investments in technology infrastructure happened. This ultimately led to the creation of the IRSC Virtual Campus. Along with prestigious awards and honors, Massey’s dedication and commitment have helped IRSC experience substantial growth and expansion at all five of the College’s campuses. Together, they now encompass over 700 acres and more than 1.5 million square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms, lab space, and operational facilities. Enrollment has increased more than 300 percent, and the number of degrees and certificates awarded annually has nearly doubled over the past decade. Massey pursued partnership opportunities at the local, state, and national level, working to build the College and the communities it serves, most notably working to establish 20 needed workforce Baccalaureate degrees, an expansion of mission which evolved Indian River Community College to become Indian River State College. Massey also expanded grant writing capacity securing approximately $170 million in funding since 1990 and grew IRSC Foundation assets from $6.5 million to nearly $117 million, allowing for an average of $3.5 million in scholarships to be given

Outgoing IRSC President Dr. Edwin Massey shares an elbow bump with Audrey Delaune, Student Affairs.

Toby Overdorf, Fl. House of Representatives—83rd District, and Gayle Harrell, Fl. State Senate—83rd District, during the Edwin R. Massey Campus dedication ceremony.

annually to IRSC students. In recognition of his many accomplishments, Massey was additionally distinguished with the title President Emeritus at the August 2020 meeting of the District Board of Trustees. Massey’s leadership presence will not soon be forgotten. And thanks to his unwavering commitment to student success, hundreds of thousands of students will receive the necessary knowledge and skills to find gainful employment and greater opportunities.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

DR. TIMOTHY MOORE BEGINS TENURE AS PRESIDENT OF INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE PHOTOS COURTESY OF INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE

Dr. Timothy Moore, Indian River State College’s new president.

On September 21, Dr. Timothy Moore became Indian River State College’s fourth president following Dr. Edwin Massey’s retirement in August. Moore, a military veteran with a 35-year career in higher education, federal, commercial, military and start-up sectors, comes to IRSC after an extensive national search. Moore begins his tenure at IRSC with great excitement and optimism. He feels strongly that the challenges presented by the global pandemic have not and will not deter the institution’s responsibility to create a superior learning environment for all current and future students.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

“I intend to move the College forward in this COVID era in a safe and efficient manner,” Moore said. “I have four preliminary thrust areas for our College. They are supporting growth of entrepreneurial and small businesses; expanding our impact in healthcare and healthcare-related fields; deepening our engagement with service members— we owe so much to our veterans and their families; and expanding our regional cyber workforce pipeline, which is critical to the health of our service district, the state and the nation.”

NOVEMBER 2020

GOOD. CLEAN. FUN. A SAFE BET

You bring the luck, while we handle making sure everything is safe and sound. Enhanced protocols are in place, plus more space for you to win. Come play and dine with peace of mind. Time to double down on fun.

NEW MEMBERS SEMINOLE BRIGHTON CASINO 17735 Reservation Road Okeechobee, FL 34974 800.360.9875 â&#x20AC;˘ seminolebrightoncasino.com

Must be 21 years old to play slots and table games. Must be a Seminole Wild Card Member to participate in casino promotions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1.888.ADMIT.IT. New Member Offer only available to new Seminole Wild Card members. Total actual loss up to $200 in Free Play. Offer paid in two each equal to 50% of your total account within 7-10EEC days loss amount redeemable over two visits. Offer is up to $200 in Free Play only. First Free Play offer will be auto loaded onto your WWW.OK H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM of playing at your favorite slot machine. Only actual slot losses on same day of enrollment with your Seminole Wild Card inserted will be included in total slot loss amount.

MICHAEL HOFFMAN’S NEW MISSION: HELPING VETERANS BREAK THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY STORY BY SHAWN MACOMBER | PHOTOS COURTESY MICHAEL HOFFMAN By the end of the American Civil War, the practice of binding important documents with red ribbon was common throughout the western world. Civil War veterans’ records were bound in red ribbon, and the difficulty in obtaining those records to file pension claims led to the modern American use of the term “red tape.”

In the most literal sense, “red enjoys ‘a great deal’ or ‘fair tape” is a relic of the past. At the amount’ of confidence among National Archives webstore, for 83 percent of U.S. adults,” example, you can purchase a dwarfing their faith in the chunk of memorabilia hewn from federal government at-large to shatterproof acrylic and housing “do what is right ‘just about a piece of authentic United States always’ (3%) or ‘most of the government red tape. (The time’ (14%).” product tagline? “Rise above the To find the way to the other bureaucracy and put your desk in side—i.e. to the most favorable The United States National Archives order with this stunning red tape decision from the Department paperweight.”) of Veterans Affairs possible— The metaphorical reality, alas, remains frustratingly can often require an empathetic, knowledgeable, and, contemporary for many military veterans who, in the quest perhaps above all, fierce advocate. to tap the resources and benefits promised to them by an That’s where Michael Hoffman comes in. overwhelmingly grateful nation, all too often find themAs lead attorney for the VA benefits practice of Gordon selves lost in a labyrinth of paperwork and byzantine & Partners, Hoffman is known for digging deep, playing the regulation. A 2019 Pew Center survey found the “military long game when necessary, and getting real, life-changing

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

results for veterans. For him, it is not simply a job, but a covenant. Hoffman is, after all, a United States Navy Veteran who served both with a F/A 18 Hornet squadron aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in Japan and as a Combat Master Driver for U.S. Forces in Afghanistan at the height of the war. And these are not merely clients, but his brothers and sisters in arms. Whether they served with him, after him, or even decades before him—indeed, some of Hoffman’s clients saw action in World War II—that is a bond that endures. “I wouldn’t trade my time in the military for anything,” Hoffman replies when asked if he sees his current law practice as a sort of spiritual continuation of his military service. “But I’m also very glad to be living the life I’ve built since moving on from active duty. Part of the reason I love my job so much is that it keeps me connected to the military community while outside of it, if that makes any sense… It can be difficult, but it’s also very fulfilling, very positive. It’s not like I’m representing people in a divorce or criminal case. I’m helping vets and active duty service people get the benefits and money they need to live the best life they can. So there’s a real sense of purpose and camaraderie there—without having to scrub all the toilets I did back in the service.” In recent years, Hoffman has sat on the committee that helps a Florida senator nominate aspiring midshipmen for one of the coveted spots at the Naval Academy—kids who, as Hoffman notes, “were born wanting to do it; their entire childhood is devoted to it.” His own path to service was a bit more circuitous. It wasn’t as if the thought of enlisting never crossed Hoffman’s mind during his high school years. Particularly as a freshman when his older sister, a senior who had Naval Academy dreams, passed away.

But… “Well, let’s just say I wasn’t the best high school student you ever met in your life,” Hoffman says. “I ended up dropping out and getting my GED. Which was kind of a big deal because I come from a family where you go to college. That’s what you do. So I was looking around for a plan, if you will. And the military seemed to me to be a good thing to do for myself and my country while I figured out just what that plan would be.” This was how Hoffman ended up at Navy boot camp in 2005 as wars in Afghanistan and Iraq raged overseas. “[The wars] definitely were a factor for me [in enlisting],” he says. The stakes felt heightened, the need intensified. “Also, it may be silly,” he adds with a laugh, “but I’m rather political—have been since I was a child—and I figured if I went and did my tour I’d earn myself the right to complain about whatever I wanted to in that respect.” The experience exceeded his expectations. From his first duty station in Japan, he traveled the world and saw amazing things. It was important work, he knew, but the calling to face the crucible of the moment before his four-year hitch ended was strong. Hoffman volunteered to go to either Afghanistan or Iraq. He ultimately served in the former. While in the Navy, Hoffman completed correspondence courses and CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests— many free for active-duty military. He also received some college credits for some specialized segments of his Navy training. Then, after he left active duty, he went to the University of Central Florida to finish up an undergraduate degree in political science with a focus on international relations. As he completed his degree, a

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

vague childhood dream of attending law school came into sharper focus, which would soon come to fruition at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago where he earned both his JD (Juris Doctorate) and LL.M (Master of Laws) in trial advocacy and dispute resolution with honors. It didn’t take Hoffman long to realize there could be synergy between his military and civilian lives. “My service is a real asset,” he says. “First of all, veterans are just more comfortable with veterans generally. Just how it is. And when I’m advocating before the VA on somebody’s behalf I can speak from personal experience as opposed to just my client’s experience, if that makes sense. That also helps.” Hoffman tells the story of a close brother from the military who was struggling back stateside. Four kids, broke, on the verge of losing his car. Six months after he picked up the case, the VA had paid out what his friend was owed, the car was saved, the kids were flourishing, a house was bought. “Stuff like that is just super gratifying,” Hoffman says. “It’s almost difficult to describe.” And this certainly is not an isolated incident. Hoffman estimates he’s represented around 50 people he personally served with at this point. The question, of course, is how, in a nation with such high levels of respect for the military, can those who served have such almost fantastical difficulties in accessing the benefits they are due. “People just don’t know,” Hoffman answers. “There’s a lot of support for the veterans’ community, but there’s also a disconnect between that support and the reality of what life is actually like for that community. It’s not their fault, really, because it’s tough to understand the obstacles until you’ve been through them. Most people would be surprised at how difficult it is for someone to get properly compensated for the injuries or the physical ailments they developed in the service.” That inside/outside perspective cuts both ways. “When you’re in the military there’s a culture of grinding

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

through pain,” Hoffman explains. “You know, you don’t go to medical. You don’t complain. You suck it up, move forward. Combine that with the fact that the overwhelming majority enlist right out of high school. So you’re 18 to 22, in your prime, something happens, but there’s youth and adrenaline and self-treating with your buddies because everyone is having the same experience and understands what everyone else is going through. You ignore it. Then you get dropped back into Montgomery, Alabama or Waco, Texas or wherever home is, and three or five or 10 or 20 years later, all of a sudden, your knees hurt or you’ve got chronic headaches or there’s a mental ailment that’s getting harder to cope with. There isn’t the same support system; it’s a vacuum. “The truth is, what a young, single vet in his early twenties is able to simply power through is very different than what a 35-year-old with a wife and kids or a 65-year-old on the verge of retirement can,” he continues. “Yet, even if an issue is clearly service-related, if you never approached anyone about it while in the service, the immediate question is, ‘Why didn’t you say something back then?’” The process of drawing that line to the VA’s satisfaction can be extremely arduous and time-consuming—and, without the right allies in your corner, isolating. And the stakes could not be higher: A 2019 report commissioned by the VA found the suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times the rate for non-veteran adults, after adjusting for population differences in age and sex. Recognizing this vast need and potential impact, Gordon & Partners does not give Hoffman’s advocacy short shrift. “I’m very fortunate at my firm,” Hoffman says. “I have all the support I could ever hope for. It’s a big, diverse firm with a leadership that is absolutely dedicated to giving back and making a real difference. It’s not fleeting at all. They’re willing to be engaged in cases for as long as it takes—years and years if necessary.” Hoffman, in fact, just won a case for a client who had been represented by the firm for nine years. “If I need a resource

NOVEMBER 2020

for a case, I know I’ll have it. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that both as a lawyer here and as a veteran.” Denied because of essentially a technicality on an appeal, Hoffman’s client was eventually awarded $640,000 in back pay plus $3,800 a month for the rest of his life. Is it perfect? Of course not. In a perfect world, veterans wouldn’t have to fight for what has been promised or wait years for judgments. But this isn’t a perfect world. And so, when Hoffman secures more than $500,000 in back pay and a monthly stipend for a client who had been denied mental health-related disability benefits for decades based on what essentially amounted to a series of technicalities, that is a win. It’s a win even though we should—like Hoffman does—recognize the injustice of this client suffering through years of ultimately unnecessary financial stress, of not having access to free medical care, of no property tax reductions or free college for kids or car registration discounts, of simply a much more difficult, disability-aggravating life than he deserved. It’s still a win. And those wins will continue to be necessary until our nation, as well as its relevant bureaucracies and political structures, actualize the love and respect the American people possess for those who serve by fully keeping the promises made to them. That is the mission of Michael Hoffman. That is the meaning of his work. And at Gordon & Partners, it continues today and every day, for as long as it takes—until the “red tape” truly is relegated to nothing more than a desk organizing paperweight.

Title Insurance • Real Estate Closings 202 NW 5th Street • Okeechobee, FL 34972 Telephone: 863.824.6776 Fax: 863.824.6778 titleandlegal@ymail.com

PROVIDING EXCELLENT CARE

Since 1976

“If you’re not here, you’re missing out!” - OKEECHOBEE RESIDENTS Judy M. & her friends

Our Roots Run Deep IN OUR COMMUNITY

863-824-6770

OWNED & MANAGED

GrandOaksOkeechobee.com

GOOKEE OKEE Mag Ad JUN20.indd 1

AL#11944 6/4/20 2:04 PM

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

See page 45 for a guide to these photos. 42

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

WHAT DOES SERVICE

MEAN TO YOU? recognizing okeechobee’s veterans STORY BY LISA ELIA The names and dates of the places where they fought may not be at the tip of their tongues anymore. Their dress uniforms and fatigues are probably gathering dust in their closets. Their once bright, smiling pictures are fading in scrapbooks and photo albums. Their service spans the globe and many decades. But Okeechobee County veterans have one thing in common - they are proud of their military service.

On this Veterans Day, which was originally known as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I, which Congress changed to Veterans Day in 1954, it is uncertain if the traditional ceremonies honoring veterans will take place because of COVID-19. But some ways to recognize veterans are to learn more about their lives, hear their compelling stories of sacrifice, and understand their experiences when they were called to duty to serve the nation. There is a total of 2,969 veterans in Okeechobee County; 202 are female and 2,767 are male according to County Veteran Service Officer for Okeechobee County, Sarah Carter, who is a 10-year U.S. Navy veteran. A handful of local veterans talked about their time in the military and why it’s important to them. Here are their stories.

James Surles, U.S. Navy

James Surles, 94, said he served in the U.S. Navy for two years, nine months and three days — from August 1943 to May 1946. He was born in Pelham, Ga., and grew up on a farm in Cairo and joined the military when he was 16. He begged his mother to sign a waiver allowing him to enlist at a younger age. He said as a young boy, he dreamed of being in the Navy after reading about other sailors’ adventures at sea. His father James Surles Sr. served during World War I as a nurse and had been exposed to mustard gas, and he had great-great-uncles who served during the Civil War. He became an aviation machinist. Before he was shipped overseas, he served at the Chicago Navy Pier in the middle of winter and caught pneumonia and spent three months in the hospital. When he got shipped overseas, the U.S. had already dropped the atomic bombs on Japan and the war was over, but he went to Japan on the USS Monroe – a carrier ship that provided supplies and services to ground troops. Surles said they ran into rough seas on their way to Japan and had to navigate their way through a typhoon before arriving in Sasebo. He spent nine months in Japan, but there is one day he will never forget. He was sitting around and a high-ranking

Santosh Kanthety- www.apertureclicks.com WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM 43

James Surles as a young, Navy enlistee. Photos courtesy Kathy Geren.

officer was visiting and asked him if he wanted to go for a ride. They rode to Nagasaki where the bomb had been dropped a short time earlier. Surles said he had never seen such devastation. “It’s unreal what radiation can do to the landscape. There was nothing there but rubbish. The steel beams from the buildings were just gone. We never want that to ever happen again,’’ he said. After the war, he worked for General Mills making feed for farm animals, and moved to Okeechobee in the 1970s and worked as a supervisor for Hector Feed Mills, and Hughes Feed and Grain Company. His daughter Kathy Geren of Tellico Plains, Tenn., said her dad never talked much about his military service, but she will always remember the day she and her husband took her father to see the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. in 2007. While there, her dad ran into about 10 tourists from Japan who called her dad a hero, wanted to talk to him about his service, and get their picture taken with him.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

Top: James Surles visiting the World War II Memorial. Bottom: James Surles greets a fellow vetran at the World War II Memorial.

Their attention left her dad touched and emotional and he later told his daughter that he didn’t consider himself a hero. “As far as dad was concerned, he was just doing his duty and serving his country. It was nothing out of the ordinary,’’ Kathy said. Surles was married to his late wife Evelena for 65 years and they have three daughters and a son and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

NOVEMBER 2020

OKEECHOBEE SERVES It seems unfair to celebrate just a few of the servicemen and women who find their roots in Okeechobee, and I wish we had space to acknowledge more of them. Although that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possible, I am happy to share some of the

pictures that they shared with us while we were putting together this issue of Okeechobee the Magazine. I hope you will help us honor them and the sacrifices that they made in service to this country. 1 Jack Nash, U.S. Marine Corps, in bootcamp, 1991. 2 Jim Pippin, U.S. Army, Fort Bragg, N.C., drop zone, 1964. 3 Pippin Pippin, U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne, 1963.

4 Jennifer Rosario, U.S. Navy, served for eight years and is pictured with colleagues.

5 Scott Viens, U.S. Army, is currently a teacher at the Okeechobee County School Board.

5 4

6 Jack Nash (in rear, looking toward camera) in Somalia, 1992.

6 8

7 Charlie Clegg, U.S. Navy, served in the Phillipines during World War II in the Construction Batallion (Seabees). 8 Gary A. Walker, U.S. Navy (Ret.), an OHS graduate, served for 22 years. His oldest daughter will receive her Air Force commission in August, 2021. 9 Russell Powell, U.S. Army, served in Vietnam. 10 Jennifer Rosario pictured onboard ship.

11 Tamara R. Kurey, U.S. Army, lived in Okeechobee as a child and is pictures in her Battalion change of command ceremony in 2018 after two years of command of a detachment at Ft. Sheridan, IL. She currently serves as a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army Reserves.

12 John E. Stretch, Sr., U.S. Army, during the Korean War. 13 Tom Brickenden, U.S. Army, graduated from OHS in 1969. entered the Army shortly after. He is pictured at Bien Hoa Air Force during the Vietname War.

14 Gary A. Walker pictured in unit photo. 15 David Kiese, U.S. Army, pictured in Pleku, Vietnam ca. 1970.

16 Tamara R. Kurey pictured in her most recent official Department of the Army photo.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Jim Pippin, U.S. Army

about 75 airplane jumps. He said at first, he was scared Jim Pippin, 77, was born and raised in Dalton Ga. and but once he got the hang of it, he loved it. “It’s a whole different world floating around up there. served in the U.S. Army from Dec. 12, 1960 to Dec. 11, 1970. You just can’t explain it,” he said. He described himself as a rowdy teenager who didn’t know He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort what he wanted to do after graduating high school. One Bragg, N.C. His first tour was in the Dominican Republic day, he heard a recruiter talk about being part of the Green Beret special forces unit. What really got him hooked was during a civil conflict. He and his fellow soldiers were inwhen they described jumping out of airplanes, because, volved in street fighting that required them to clear buildings of rebel troops that were trying to take over the at that time, he had never flown in an airplane. After his basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., he entered government. One night, while he was on patrol, a sniper shot at him. Jump School at Fort Benning, Ga., and became airborne He felt blood run down the side of his face and was able qualified. He said during his 10 years in the Army, he completed to retrieve the piece of ear that had come off, and he put it in his pocket. Pippin said he arrived at the MASH hospital about an hour later and the surgeon looked at him and asked where his missing ear was. Pippin pulled it out of his pocket, and the surgeon sewed his ear back on. Pippin said he recovered, and the surgeon did such a good job that when you look at his face, you would never know half of his ear had been blown off. Pippin received a Purple Heart for that act of bravery. Coincidentally, Vice President Hubert Humphrey was visiting the island during this time. When he was reviewing the troops in the Dominican Republic, he was told about the sniper attack, and Humphrey decided to pin the Purple Heart on Pippin. Pippin returned to Fort Bragg in September 1966 and became Special Forces Qualified with military clearance and specialization in weapons and demolition. He was assigned to D Company 6th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg. Pippin’s second tour of combat was in Vietnam, serving from January 1968 to January 1969. Army veteran Jim Pippin, squad leader with the 101st His first night in Vietnam was an Airborne Division, in Vietnam. Photo courtesy Jim Pippin. initiation by fire. The Viet Cong had

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

dug under the Air Force compound where Pippin was staying. They started to fire mortar and machine gun rounds into his base, which was part of the larger Tet Offensive which targeted multiple cities and air force bases. Pippin said half of the barracks was blown up. “I was thinking, ‘What the heck have I gotten myself into,’” he said. “I was scared. I was trying to find a safe place to get my butt down,’’ he said. A week later, a colonel assigned him to search and destroy missions in the 101st Airborne Division — not to the Green Beret team for which he had been trained. He was a squad leader assigned to help find enemy patrols along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the A Shau Valley. He took shrapnel to the ankle and chest — just below the heart — wounds from which he was able to recover and to continue fighting. When he left Vietnam, he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant E6. Pippin credits the Huey helicopter pilots for getting the troops to safety during the heavy fighting in Vietnam. He said the helicopter pilots would fly into firefights with bullets coming from all directions. Soldiers would be out in the jungle for months on end and as soon as they heard the sound of those chopper blades, they knew that water, ammo, food, and a ride out of the jungle had arrived. “They were a salvation. They never get enough credit. They were the key to keeping everybody alive in the Vietnam War,’’ he said. During his time in the Army, Pippin received the Senior Parachute Badge, became Jump Master qualified, received the Vietnam Campaign Medal and Service Medal, earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal as well as the Good Conduct Medal and he was

Making Dreams Come True for 30 years Mack “Hoot” Worley

A State Certified General Contractor St. Lic. CGC1507657

Hoot and Joy Worley

110 NW 5th Street, Okeechobee, FL 34972

863-467-2541

gmworleyinc@gmail.com • www.facebook.com/G.M.Worley, Inc.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

awarded the Combat Infantry Badge (for both conflicts), a Purple Heart, and two Bronze Stars. “I value the awards I earned, but most of all, that I survived. I credit God for watching over me and keeping me alive,’’ he said. After his military service ended, Pippin returned home to Dalton, which was the carpet and tile capital of the U.S. Upon return, Pippin decided the town had grown much too industrial and didn’t see himself working in those factories. So, he decided to move to Florida. He chose Okeechobee because it had a small-town, rural, old-country boy feel. He worked for a while as a butcher in the meat department of the U-Save supermarket. During this time, he met his future wife who was a teacher, and she convinced him to become a teacher. He worked at Okeechobee High School teaching math, business, and economics, and then was the dean of students, for a total of 23 years. He retired in 2005. Pippin said he is proud of his military service, and it is an honor to be an American. Being in the military taught him discipline and to serve others. “If it wasn’t for the military, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we have today. Sometimes, we take that for granted,’’ he said. Today, he said he is a lifetime member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Organization and president of the Okeechobee Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. The group meets the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. in the back room of Brown Cow Sweetery. He is married and has five children and 12 grandchildren.

Paul Bowers Sr, Marine Corps

Paul Bowers Sr. served as a corporal in the Marine Corps. His service began in 1967 at boot camp at Camp Pendleton in San Diego and he served for nine months in 1968 and 1969 in Vietnam. Bowers, who is a Seminole Indian, said he was born in Fort Pierce and lived on the Seminole Indian Reservation in Dania, near Hollywood, Fla, for a short time. He then moved to the Brighton Indian Reservation in Glades County and attended school in Okeechobee County from third grade to eighth grade.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

He graduated from Moore Haven High School in Glades County and attended junior college in Lawrence, Kan, where he played football for two years. After he was done playing football, he searched for something to do. His brother Dan Bowers was in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, and after talking to him and a college recruiter, he decided to join the Marines. He was an infantryman or grunt and he said his platoon’s job was to go and fight where the reconnaissance teams had identified enemy troops. During one of his first patrols in the demilitarized zone, he saw a mortar kill a machine gunner. The sergeant told him to stop standing there and watching, and pick up the machine gun and keep going. Bowers said that’s how he became a machine gunner. He said the fighting was difficult because you never saw the Viet Cong enemies who were hidden in bunkers, underground tunnels, or in camouflage. “I just wanted to stay alive and come back home.” One day, a spotter plane warned his platoon about some movement in the bushes near where they were patrolling. Bowers said he got ready to fire his gun, but it wasn’t the Viet Cong coming at him; it was a black bear. Bowers shot and killed the animal. He and his fellow soldiers had been out in the jungle for a couple of days and had run out of food and were hungry. He took part of the bear’s hind leg and cooked it over a small fire and ate it. At first, the other soldiers were reluctant to try it, but Bowers said, “when you’re hungry, anything tastes good.” The next day, that bear was almost picked clean of meat, leaving nothing but skull and bones. Bowers left Vietnam when a tank he was riding in ran over a mine and blew out his eardrum. He earned two Purple Hearts for being wounded by enemy fire. Bowers said he was proud of his military service because he fought for freedom, and the military gave him discipline and made him more mature. He said the Vietnam vets weren’t appreciated for a long time, but he said the antiwar protestors wouldn’t have those freedoms if it weren’t for the soldiers. “Freedom ain’t free, because you have to fight for it,” he said. After the war, he took a job wrestling alligators but after a gator bit a finger off, he took jobs as a rancher, herder,

NOVEMBER 2020

and cowboy around Okeechobee County. He also competed in rodeos locally and around the country. Today, he is retired and lives on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation with his wife. He has three daughters and two sons. A few years ago, he never felt more appreciated for his service than when a soldier in his platoon called him from the Netherlands and thanked Bowers for warning his fellow Marines about a tripwire. Bowers remembered that he told his fellow soldiers, who were in front of him, to stop advancing because they were about to walk into the dangerous explosion. “I remember telling them about that, and I enjoyed talking to him and hearing that what I did saved lives,’’ Bowers said.

Quinton Speed, Marine Corps

Quinton Speed, 30, born and raised in Okeechobee, and attended Okeechobee County public schools. He was inspired to become a U.S. Marine after seeing first-hand his grandfather’s close friendships with a group of Vietnam veterans. He said his grandfather had been friends with the veterans for about 40 years, and they would get together every year to hunt or fish and tell funny stories. He liked the idea of joining the Marines because they were the first military group to go in and fight during a war, and he was up for the challenge. Speed was in the Marine Corps for four years — from 2008 to 2012. His job was a motor transportation operator, which meant he hauled gear, ammunition, water, fuel, and food to the bases and transported people to training

Air Conditioning Heating Refrigeration

863-623-6203

•APPLIANCES• Sales / Service / Parts

Christ. May this Christmas fill your homes with the peace and joy of y to yours. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our Famil

HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY 8am-5:30pm

317 SW Park Street • Okeechobee, FL • Papa’s Shrimp & Asparagus Pasta

863-763-2220

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

sites. In Afghanistan, he ran a team that was responsible for retrieving vehicles that had been hit by explosives. This included checking the ground and making sure that there were no further dangerous devices around the vehicle, and then assessing how much damage was done to the vehicle and deciding if it had to be fixed on-site, demolished, or towed away. In Iraq, he was part of a moving team that demilitarized bases, which meant moving important items off the base. Speed said being in the military taught him teamwork and to never give up because the platoon is depending on you. He said he especially learned this in his 13 weeks of boot camp on Parris Island in South Carolina. He said he would be hot and tired for days on end and it was the most difficult thing he had done in his life — up to that point. But he said he learned mental toughness and learned to endure pain — such as when he had a knee injury and had to finish his last hike at boot camp. “My attitude was, ‘I’m here and this is what I’m here to do,’ and I just had to push through and get it done,’’ he said. Today, Speed works as a road patrol deputy for the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office. He has been there since April 2014 and his time in the military has helped him deal with different situations that have come up on the job, such as stress management, conflict resolution, and problem-solving, especially when people call in about landlord-tenant or domestic disputes. His time as a lance corporal in the Marines also taught him about leadership and responsibility, completing tasks, and making decisions. He is grateful for the experience because if he got a regular 9-to-5 job or went to college, instead of joining the military, he doesn’t think he would have gained those skills. Just like his grandfather, Speed developed those close bonds with his Marine buddies, and he now has good friends who are scattered across the country. He talks with them on Facebook a couple of times a week, and they have sporadic reunions. “If I’m ever in California, Nevada, Rhode Island, or New York, I can call up one of my friends, and I always have a place to crash,’’ he said.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

Larry Saucier, Marine Corps

Larry Saucier, 73, lives in Okeechobee and was brought up in a military family. His father was from Michigan, and when World War II broke out, his dad went to Canada and joined the Canadian military to help fight the Germans in 1938. Saucier lived in Flint, Mich., until he was 11 years old. When his mother remarried a captain in the U.S. Army, they moved to Alaska for four years and then lived in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and finally settled in Port Malabar in Palm Bay when his stepfather retired. He graduated from Melbourne High School and started Brevard Junior College. The academic life wasn’t for him, and he was more interested in hanging out on the beach and having a good time with his friends. So he changed career directions and joined the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam for 13 months. He was a rifleman or a grunt. Saucier said he was always in the jungle with a pack on his back. He was a squad leader and saw quite a bit of fighting in the demilitarized zone and was attacked by missiles and rockets. He took shrapnel to his left lower leg and lower back. He recovered from his injuries and was sent back to finish his tour of duty. He said about half of his battalion was wounded or killed, and he remembers putting a lot of dead Marines in body bags. After his tour of duty, he left the Marine Corps and joined the Army and was stationed in Quantico, Va., doing clerical and other administrative duties. He eventually got his bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida State University and an accounting degree from Central Florida University. He then spent the majority of his career as a supervisor and trainer for ROTC programs in Tennessee, Louisiana, Washington, and Missouri. He also trained a brigade that served a short deployment in Desert Storm in Iraq. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and went to Fort Lewis in Washington State where he was assigned as senior advisor to the ROTC program in the Northwest. He finished his military career in Fort Leonard Wood as an assistant commandant who oversaw the training at the military police school. A majority of those whom he trained served in Iraq after the 9/11 attacks. His last assignment was creating the Okeechobee High School Junior ROTC, where he was a teacher and supervisor from 2003 to 2010.

NOVEMBER 2020

He said he is proud of his 33 years of service in the military. “I felt I was like serving my country and preserving freedoms, such as religious freedoms and citizens’ rights, such as choosing who we want to be in charge of our country and the right to bear arms,’’ he said. He said the military taught him discipline and service. “There were times that there were things you didn’t want to do, but if you weren’t in charge, it was your duty to do them,” he said. He is married and has three children. Today, he volunteers at the American Legion in Okeechobee doing administrative duties. “Whatever needs to be one, I’ll do it. It’s been bred in me to serve.”

Jarrod Akins, U.S. Navy

Jarrod Akins, 35, born and raised in Okeechobee, and served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation boatswain mate from 2003 to 2007, and attended Okeechobee public schools.

He said he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life after he graduated from high school but he remembered reading a book about careers in the Navy while in middle school and that appealed to him. When he talked with a Navy recruiter in high school, Akins was persuaded that a Navy career was the right fit for him. Akins was stationed in Norfolk, Va., and his job was to move fighter jets and other aircraft on the ship to where they needed to be. He also was deployed for nine months in the Persian Gulf, off the coast of Africa. Akins said everyone on the ship was required to be trained in firefighting. At first, he didn’t think firefighting would be a career for him, but once he completed the training, he loved it. “At first, I thought, ‘Who wants to do that? Everyone is running out of a burning building, who wants to run in.’ But once I did the training, I loved it, and it grabbed a hold of me,’’ he said. Working on the ship for 12 to 15 hours a day, carrying heavy equipment around, and dealing with 40-foot swells in the ocean made him grow up fast. He also learned to

Jarrod Akins on deployment to Persian Gulf during Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo courtesy of Jarrod Akins.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Gregg Maynard, U.S. Army

Jarrod Akins being promoted to the rank of Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Aircraft Handler Petty Officer 3rd Class by the captain of the ship. Photo courtesy of Jarrod Akins.

work with different types of people. He said he lived and worked in tight quarters. The place where he slept wasn’t much bigger than a seat on a commercial airplane. His ship was nine stories high out of the water and was as long as the Sears Tower (now called Willis Tower in Chicago) and had 5,500 people on it. Moving around multi-million-dollar aircraft without getting it damaged taught him responsibility. Akins said his job gave him a sense of accomplishment because he could complete a task successfully. Although the days were long and sometimes monotonous, he loved what he did. “I know when I went in, everybody was on the 9/11 high. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I wanted to get out of Okeechobee,’’ he said. “I wanted to do something that was bigger than myself. The military taught me a skill and to give back to my country.’’ Today, Akins is a lieutenant firefighter/paramedic for Okeechobee County Fire Rescue — a job he has been doing for eight years. He is married and has two children and lives in Okeechobee. Akins said being in the Navy also taught him discipline, how to multitask and work under pressure, and to be early to everything. He said there’s an old saying in the Navy that he still follows today. “If you’re fifteen minutes early, you’re on time, and if you’re on time, you’re late.”

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

Gregg Maynard, 45, born and raised in Okeechobee County, spent four and a half years in the Army. Part of that time, he was stationed in Sarajevo helping to gather facts about the genocides that took place there. Maynard said he joined the Army because he wanted to feel like he was contributing to something bigger than himself and because it was his patriotic duty. His family’s military service stretches back to his grandfather who was in World War II and was wounded in Iwo Jima, and his dad who did search and recovery missions in Vietnam. Maynard said he considered attending a technical school after high school, but his family couldn’t afford it. He didn’t want to see his father take a second job to help him pay for school. “My father was getting up there in age, and I didn’t want to put that stress on him,’’ he said. Maynard said he spent 18 months in Bosnia helping investigators piece together what happened in the Bosnian genocide where thousands of Bosnian Muslims were killed. He said they would go out in the field where killings had taken place, and he would help investigators record facts about the genocide. “I was a small cog in a giant machine,’’ he said of trying to figure out who was responsible for one of the largest genocides since World War II. He suffered from PTSD when he returned home and had a hard time finding a job. With family in West Virginia, he moved there with only a bag of clothes and $200 in his pocket. He landed a job driving a semi-truck and enjoyed it because it allowed him to see the country and be on his own. He eventually returned to Okeechobee and worked parttime driving a semi-truck and started a non-profit group called, Thank You for Your Service, which helps struggling veterans with small home repairs, such as building a wheelchair ramp or updating their bathrooms. Maynard said he is proud of his service and is happy to help other veterans. “These veterans signed away years of their life to defend their country. What’s a few days of my time to help them out,’’ Maynard said. In the Army, Maynard was always taught to never leave a brother behind. He said that phi-

NOVEMBER 2020

More than 23% of the children in Okeechobee County struggle with hunger.

losophy still guides his life today. “I couldn’t live with myself if I knew a fellow veteran needed help and I could help and did nothing,’’ he said. He started the nonprofit roughly two years ago, but he doesn’t keep track of the number of people he has assisted. “It’s not about the numbers; it’s about getting work done for the veterans who need help.”

Sponsor a child’s meals at stophunger.org

Jack Nash, Marine Corps

Jack Nash, 47, was born in Columbus, Ohio, at the Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base but came to live with his grandparents in Okeechobee when he was about nine years old. He said he admired his grandfather, Jack McMunn, who was a Marine in World War II. “I wanted to be everything he was. I looked up to him. He was part of one of the greatest generations that ever lived in society,’’ he said, referring to the strength that generation had to endure during the Depression and World War II. “I was drawn to what he was as a man,’’ Nash said. “He had respect and he respected others. He would always stop to listen to people. I wanted to strive to be that type of person who he was,’’ he said. Nash said he signed up for the Marine Corps in 1990 — as a junior in high school. He served active duty for three years and eight months before injuries he sustained in a helicopter crash resulted in him leaving the service. He was in the Marines for a total of four years and three months. His job was a tow gunner, which meant he operated a 50-pound tow missile, which was powerful enough to blow up tanks and helicopters.

Mission: Our mission is to alleviate hunger by obtaining and distributing food and other essentials in Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee Counties. s t o p h u n g e r . o r g

Treasure Coast Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.

facebook.com/ tcfoodbank twitter.com/ tcfoodbank instagram.com/ tcfoodbank

Accident? Call

I N J U RY AT TO R N E Y •

Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer

•

Over 40 years experience

•

Free consultations, in person or virtual

•

Walk-ins also welcome

•

No fees unless we win for you

•

Se habla Espanol

•

Located in the old Jerry Lefebvre office Free appointment, call now

863-357-5800 HTLLfirm.com 1910 S. Parrott Ave.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

He was deployed to Somalia in November 1992 for about seven months as part of Operation Restore Hope. He was part of the security forces and did some ground fighting. “I took care of my friends, and they took care of me,’’ he said. He said he learned a lot about himself in the military, such as how important it is to serve his fellow man and his country. It made him realize the importance of integrity. “If you need help, don’t be fearful to tell Demetre Riles, U.S. Army veteran, is well-known as Okeechobee High School boys’ someone you need back up. If basketball coach. you mess up, say that you messed “I love this country, I love this community, I would go up,’’ he said. “Thinking through a problem honestly helps back and serve again. It has made me a better person,” you make the right decision in dangerous situations.” If you make a mistake, admit it, learn from it and move Nash said Today, Nash, who is a supervisor and community relaon, he said. “It makes people respect you more because tions liaison in the sheriff’s office, is married and has two they know they will get an honest answer from you.” When he got back from Somalia, he joined the Combined children. Anti-Armor Team, (CAAT) which is a special-weapons company. These units were trained to be the first ones to Demtre Riles, U.S. Army Demetre Riles, 47, was born and raised in Okeechobee enter a combat situation. After the Marines, he worked as a corrections officer in and joined the U.S. Army to make a better life for himself. Glades County and then worked as a community policing He served for 20 years from May 1993 to May 2013; nine of supervisor and was eventually hired as a sheriff’s deputy those years were in the military police, and he was a recruiter for six years and special operations recruiter for five years. in Okeechobee County in 2000. He said his service has meant a great deal to him because Nash said he has great respect for all the veterans. “Whether they went to war, whether they worked in the he represented the U.S. and helped keep the country safe. “I learned what sacrifice means,’’ he said. “You’re helping supply room or whether they were a ground-pounder, everyone signed a part of their life away to give to this others and letting Americans see that they can lay down country and to make it stronger. It’s amazing to honor and sleep at night with peace of mind because we are keeping America safe. I also learned that whatever I do, I those people. I‘m proud of our veterans.” He is also proud to be a U.S. Marine. As a young man, can’t quit. I have to figure it out and persevere. You are he didn’t know if he had the inner fortitude to make it as doing something that’s bigger than yourself.’’. The father of six children said that drive has helped him a Marine. “I can say, I did it.” “For those who go off and make the ultimate sacrifice, with his current job as the boys’ basketball coach at it’s important to remember them and their families. Don’t Okeechobee High School. Having discipline and having to be goal-oriented — skills that he learned in the Army — also let their memories be in vain.” His country means everything to him, and he would give help him in his coaching job and as a mentor with his his life a thousand times over so his children and his nonprofit group, Chobee Nation, that helps young people with tutoring, leadership skills, and problem-solving. children’s children can enjoy this country’s freedoms.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

Regional nonprofit organizations serving veterans: VFW Post 10539 — South County branch, 3912 Highway 441 South, Okeechobee (863) 763-2308 VFW Post 4423— North County Branch, 300 Northwest 34th, Okeechobee (863) 763-0818 VFW Post 9528 — 29012 FL-78 Okeechobee— Buckhead Ridge VFW (863) 467-2882 American Legion, Post 64, 501 SE 2nd Street, Okeechobee (863) 763-2950 Serves low-cost meals: Taco Wednesday, Friday dinners of shrimp, fish, and chicken, lunch on Monday. Bingo on Sunday. Wreaths Across America Takes place second Saturday in December. Volunteers place wreaths on veterans’ graves in Okeechobee County and across the country. www.wreaths across america.org. County Veteran Service Officer for Okeechobee County Sarah Carter, 10-year navy veteran, helps veterans and their family members access counseling, medical help, and other VA benefits as they are entitled to under federal and state laws. www.co.okeechobee.fl.us/departments/ (863) 763-6441 ext. 5. Thank you for your Service Veteran Gregg Maynard’s nonprofit group, helps veterans with small home repairs and minor home renovations thankyouforyourservice34972@gmail.com (863) 447-5049.

Residential Remodeling New Construction 1147 4th St, Okeechobee, Fl

Kallkellbuilders827@gmail.com

www.kallkell.com

ARE YOU TURNING 65 OR NEW TO MEDICARE?

Need a Medicare plan for 2020? Local sales agents are ready to help you! Call your local, licensed sales agent for a free consultation* Diana Stark 863-447-3651 (TTY: 711) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Se habla español

Y0040_GHHHXDFEN_20_C

*No obligation to enroll.

455710_GHHHXDFEN_Ad_4.8125X4.75_4C.indd 1

7/29/20 1:50 PM

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

` FILE PREPARED BY HUMANA’S INTERNAL CREATIVE SERVICES | FINAL PRINT READY PDF FILE FOR JOB: 455710_GHHHXDFEN_Ad_4.8125X4.75_4C

THE HIVE – CREATIVE SERVICES FILE NAME: 455710_GHHHXDFEN_Ad_4.8125X4.75_4C DATE: JULY 29, 2020 1:49 PM

CLIENT: Jennifer Martin LOB: Local Medicare FILE ISSUE AND COLOR APPROVAL CONTACT:

COLOR: TRIM: BLEED:

4C PROCESS 4.8125 x 4.75 Yes

Color Proof Sign-off required MAIL 10 PRINTED SAMPLES TO:

2020

Okeechobee

Gift Guide For 2020, we are happy to bring you a selection of suggestions from our local advertisers. We know you’ll find thoughtful and fun gift ideas in these pages. We encourage you to shop locally in any year, but this year it is more important than ever before. This year, with the difficulties many companies have faced during government shut downs and a tough business climate, when you buy your gifts locally you aren’t just

buying something for your friends and loved ones. When you shop locally, you are actually supporting your neighbors and their businesses. Beyond that, you’re supporting local jobs and doing your part to help strengthen Okeechobee’s local economy. For 2020, we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Thank you for continuing to do your part to make Okeechobee’s future a little brighter!

For Outdoors Adventures

Truck Gear by LINE-X Coolers are available at Gilbert Outdoors now! Made using rotationally molded plastic, it can hold up to serious abuse while keeping ice frozen and your drinks cold. Throw it onto your LINE-X bedliner and hit the road. Call us at 863-763-6434 to get yours. Gilbert Outdoors 315 S. Parrott Ave., Okeechobee, FL 34974 Phone: (863) 763-6434 www.gilbertoutdoors.com

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

Imagine your home, totally organized!

Custom Closets Garage Cabinets Home Offices Wall Beds Wall Organizers Pantries

Laundries Wall Units Hobby Rooms Garage Flooring Media Centers and more...

40% Off Plus

Free

Installation Terms and Conditions: 40% off any order of $1000 or more or 30% off any order of $700-$1000 on any complete closet system. Not valid with any other offer. Free installation with any complete unit order of $600 or more. Offer expires in 30 days. Not valid at all franchise locations.

SPECIAL FINANCING

FOR 12 MONTHS! With approved credit. Call or ask your Designer for details. Not available in all areas.

Walk in Closet

Garage Cabinets

Call for a free in home design consultation and estimate

(863) 825-7758

www.closetsbydesign.com

OM Follow us

Home Office

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

For Keeping Cool

Glades Air Conditioning doesn’t just offer 50 years of experience and a great reputation; they also have a fun selection of your favorite Tervis Tumblers—the perfect gift for sports fans (or yourself )! Glades Air Conditioning 804 N Parrott Ave., Okeechobee, Fl 34972 Phone: (863) 763-2114 www.gladesac.com

M Christmases ER R Y C H For a Cozy

and a H appy

Badcock Home Furniture & More is keeping

the season cozy. Just in time for the holidays, select one of their specially-priced fireplaces for just $399!

Badcock Home Furniture & More 512 NW Park St, Okeechobee, FL 34972 Phone: (863) 763-3823 www.badcock.com/okeechobee-fl

For a Relaxing Break Morgan’s Furniture is selling these La-Z-Boy recliners. Since 1983 this family-owned furniture store has been serving local markets with great prices and high quality, brand name furniture. Come in for details.

Morgan’s Furniture 707 SW Park St, Okeechobee, FL 34972 Phone: (863) 467-2072 www.morgansfurn.com

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

For the Love of Fishing

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Stop by today & taste our Authentic Mexican Food that will keep you coming back for more!

Serving Great Mexican Food in Florida and the Treasure Coast Since 1999

Thank you Okeechobee!

Open for Lunch & dinner

H R IST M A S

y N ew Y ear!

7 Days a Week • 11:00am to 10:00pm Full Liquor Bar! Happy Hour 7 Days a Week All Day Long Draft Beer, House Margaritas and House Sangria

H 2 for 1H

3415 US Hwy 441 South • Okeechobee, FL (Located at the Publix Shopping Center)

863.357.9641 • www.puebloviejofl.com

Now Offering Catering!

It’s everything you would ever expect in a traditional tackle shop and convenience store all under one roof. Stop by to see their amazing selection of goods.

Fast Break Bait & Tackle 1505 State Road 78 West Okeechobee, FL 34974 Phone: (863) 824-3474 www.okeechobeebassfishingguide.com

Have a Very Merry Christmas

Refrigeration ~ AC ~ Ice Machines Serving the Glades Since 1929 Jim and Monica McCarthy Clark

Okeechobee 863-763-2114 804 N. Parrott Ave. Okeechobee, FL 34972

Clewiston 863-983-8111 311 E. Sugarland Hwy. Clewiston, FL 33440

Carrier

St. Lic. #CMCO54668

Happy Anniversary Serving Your Community for 90 Years

TERVIS TUMBLER DEALER

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

The Gift of Indulgence For the overworked (and often underappreciated) person in your life that deserves a little relaxing indulgence. For a limited time, The Purple Orchid is offering Gift Certificates for the Head to Mistle-Toe Package (2 hrs. 40 min -$159.00) and the Elf Express Package Relaxation Massage Refresher Facial (60 min $75.00 ). Bring this page in to get this special offer!

M ER R Y C H

The Purple Orchid

609 SW Park St, Okeechobee, FL 34972 Phone: (863) 824-8782 thepurpleorchid.amtamembers.com

and a H appy

For Conevenience & Stylish Decor Stop into Royal’s Furniture today to get a “Diamenton” Chair Side End Table for only$98. It features a USB port and electrical outlets. Available in white, dark brown, medium brown, black, and almost black.

Royal’s Furniture 804 North East Park St. Okeechobee, FL 34972 Phone: (863) 763-6293 www.royalsfurnitureinc.com

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

H R IST M A S

y N ew Y ear!

For the Seafood Lover A family-owned and operated store, Okeechobee Fish Company brings in a wide variety of fresh seafood daily at great prices! For the seafood lover on your list, you absolutely must shop here.

Custom Home Building & Remodeling

Okeechobee Fish Company 3265 NW 12th Terrace, Okeechobee, FL 34972 Phone: (863) 357-7500

863.467.1933

221 NE Park Street

Okeechobee, FL 34972 STATE LICENSED & INSURED - Lic #CRC1331883

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

For Top Brand Name Appliances For 28 years, Don’s Appliances has served Okeechobee with a large selection of top name brand appliances and local service technicians to help keep your appliances problem-free. Visit the showroom for great holiday selection and deals.

Don’s Appliances Inc. 317 SW Park St, Okeechobee, FL 34972 Phone: (863) 763-2220 www.donsappliancesinc.com

M ER R Y C H

and a H appy

For So Much More than You Expect Rabon’s Country Feed is so much more than feed. Rabon’s carries a wide array of products for Horse, Cattle, Show, Backyard Flock, Pets, Wildlife, Sporting Goods, Farm & Ranch, Outdoor Living and more! Look to Rabon’s for the best savings and sales around!

Rabon’s Country Feed 1852 NW 9th St, Okeechobee, FL 34972 Phone: (863) 763-3447 countryfeedokee.com

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

H R IST M A S

y N ew Y ear!

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

For Sweet Indulgeence Stop in today for a great deal on a dozen chocolate-dipped strawberries or other tasty treats from your favorite sweetery, Brown Cow Sweetery.

Brown Cow Sweetery

M ER R Y C H

103 SW Park St, Okeechobee, FL 34972 Phone: (863) 357-3357

and a H appy

For the Gift of Vision The Big Lake Eye Care experience is about seeing things differently: a unique environment with enjoyment and freedom of choice coupled with a genuinely caring staff. Give someone you care about a gift certificate to help them have the gift of 20/20 vision.

Big Lake Eye Care 606 North Parrott Ave Okeechobee, FL 34972 (863) 763-3937 www.biglakeeyecare.com

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

ing rat rs! b e l a Ce Ye 9

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

0% FINANCING FOR 48 MONTHS

SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION DRYER VENT & DUCT CLEANING

Sandwiches • Salads • Quiche • Coffee Lattes • Frozen Blends • Chocolate • Ice Cream

y N ew Y863.357.3357 ear!

103 SW Park Street • Okeechobee6 Monday - Friday. 7am-6pm • Saturday 8am-6pm Hours Subject to Change

MEETING ROOM AVAILABLE

863.467.1545 www.MillersCentralAir.com

CAC058675

H R IST M A S

Passionate About Customer Service

*The Wells Fargo Home Projects credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and Equal Housing Lender. Special terms apply to qualifying purchases charged with approved credit. Minimum monthly payments are required during the promotional (special terms) period. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date at the APR for Purchases if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period. Paying only the minimum monthly payment will not pay off the purchase balance before the end of the promotional period. For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. This information is accurate as of 1/01/2019 and is subject to change. For current information, call us at 1-800-431-5921.

Celebrating 90 Years Serving the Glades

r ll Majo

Make it Your Home!

ds & Branturers

www.RoyalsInc.com

ac Manuf

TV A & e l c otorcy EPAIRS

M SERVICE•RCESSORIES S PART

& AC

Family owned business since 1929

Five Convenient Showrooms: Okeechobee, Belle Glade, Clewiston, Immokalee and Sebring Like us on Facebook

863.357.0334

1460 HWY 78 WEST • OKEECHOBEE, FL 34974

(863) 763.6293

In Store Financing Available.

804 E. North Park Street, Okeechobee, FL 34972 WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

BEHIND THE BUSINESS Attorneys Steve Hoskins with daughter, Taylor and Office Manager Susie Pickering in the largest of three conference rooms.

HOSKINS, TURCO, LLOYD AND LLOYD STORY AND PHOTOS BY RAYE DEUSINGER

Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd and Lloyd 1910 S Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 Email: Susie@htllfirm.com www.htllfirm.com Hours Mon. – Fri. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

Although he doesn’t reside here, attorney Steve Hoskins has been part of Okeechobee for 16 years after expanding his law firm to Okeechobee in 2004. Hoskins was admitted to the bar in 1980 and in the same year married his wife, Beth. He recently received a plaque from the Florida Bar Association celebrating 40 years in practice. He opened his practice in Fort Pierce where he still lives in the same home where he grew up, on land purchased by his great grandfather in 1908. From the time he entered college until the time he graduated law school, Hoskins worked in a bank in St. Lucie County and became friends there with a ‘guy’ named Jerry Bryant (who later became a judge in Okeechobee). During his internship in the state attorney’s office, he became friends with a young prosecutor named Jerry Lefebvre. Coincidentally, in April Hoskins’s firm moved into the office previously occupied by Lefebvre here in Okeechobee. Family is important to Hoskins, both his law family and personal family. He and Beth have two daughters. Younger daughter Page works in the biotech field and oldest daughter Taylor is now a lawyer in the firm Hoskins worked diligently to build. Hoskins began his career working with attorney Vincent Lloyd, the father of two attorneys who are now partners in Hoskins’s firm. Lloyd’s office originally dealt in workers’ compensation and referred his personal injury cases to a West Palm Beach firm. Hoskins said, “After working for a year, I thought I’d like to start handling personal injury work and told him [Vincent Lloyd], ‘Why don’t

NOVEMBER 2020

you let me start on some of the smaller personal injury was a godsend that she came to work with me. She’s had cases and you send big ones to West Palm Beach. I’d like five years to learn and with her tech background, she’s a to learn this. If we did it here, you’d be making money here, lot better prepared to deal with the future of practicing not sending it out.’ He agreed and since then my sole law. practice has been in personal injury litigation for 35 years.” “Today’s practice is conferences, virtual meetings, and Hoskins opened his practice in 2000 and now has offices depositions by Skype or Zoom. Judges hold virtual hearings. in Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Vero, and Okeechobee. There High-speed internet and a satellite dish mean an office are 10 attorneys in the practice covering this area which is could be located anywhere. Clients today are offered the also known as the 19th Judicial Circuit -- Indian River, opportunity to come to the office to meet with us or we can Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie Counties. His firm do it electronically from their home. This is the new norm. follows a model he always had in his mind. “We have to be able to operate in both worlds. That is Hoskins said, “All our attorneys live within the 19th Circuit. why having Taylor with me is a bonus, both for us and for We try to hire only local people to work in each of our offices our clients. We offer free initial consultation in everything because they know their communities. In our practice, the we do in all our offices and the many fields of law in which money that is made through wages and profits is recycled we practice. Even in the COVID-virus world, we both think commuback into these communities. Most law firms do not follow that model. Susie Pickering is an Okeechobee native who nication is important, SO we will still communicate with has been with us eight years and serves as our Okeechobee you by phone.” office manager. Partner Louis Turco’s practice is in social security disability and veteran’s disability. Partner Ian Lloyd deals with disability law and partner Colin Lloyd works in bankruptcy and mortgage foreclosure defense. Clients do not need to travel to other offices as ALL attorneys work in ALL offices of our firm. Whatever the legal need, the attorney best able to handle that need will come to the office where the client lives. Daughter Taylor, upon graduating in law five years ago, decided to follow her father in the practice of personal injury law and serves all offices. She grew up with a love of horses. As a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, in 2012, she placed 12th in the AQHA World Championship. Dad said, “I thought she’d be a horse trainer, but she decided to go to law school instead. “She has come into the firm at a very good time. So much of our world now is based on technology and electronics. I’ve learned a lot from experience and hard knocks and she has command of technology which makes a good combination. Trials in the future will be elec- Steve Hoskins, daughter Attorney Taylor and Office Manager Susie tronic and we are set up for that. I do think it Pickering at their new office.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

OKEECHOBEE COOKING

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

OKEECHOBEE COOKING

NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S HOLIDAY SIDE DISHES UNIQUE RECIPES TO IMPRESS YOUR CROWD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON STORY AND PHOTOS BY RACHEL BUXTON

Where did the year go? I can’t believe we are heading into November and the holiday season. Of course, we all say this every year, only this year, I seriously mean it. With the pandemic and everyone sticking to themselves for the majority of the year, I feel like it flew by with what seems to be, very little to show for it. However, the one thing COVID did do, is it forced me to get back into the kitchen. I love cooking, and I love trying out new dishes and, of course, gadgets. For this issue of Okeechobee the Magazine, I had planned on only featuring soups. But, I realize we live in Florida and, even during winter, we don’t exactly have the best weather for body-warming soups. So, I compromised. I have included one soup that you don’t have to feel guilty for eating in the least bit, a possible side dish for your holiday spreads, and a nice yummy dessert dip that is easier than easy to make (I know that isn’t a thing, but you know what I mean). When you look at the roasted cauliflower and Brussels sprouts soup pictures, I know they aren’t exactly flattering, but I can assure you, if you like both vegetables, you will LOVE this soup. It is super healthy as well, which is something I strive for, but I know others may not care about. To roast the vegetables, I used the air fryer mode on my Ninja Foodi. If you haven’t heard of the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer, please do yourself a favor, and check it out. It is sort of like every kitchen appliance

in one. I couldn’t tell you the last time I used the oven. I even used the fancy little appliance for the pearl couscous dish. Pearl couscous, also known as Israeli couscous or ptitim, is basically little balls of rice-like pasta. It would make for a different and interesting side dish at one of your holiday gatherings. I added green peppers to mine because that is what I had on hand, but you can easily swap the peppers out for spinach or broccoli or leave the vegetables out altogether. And if you want to make it for a meal, add a piece of salmon for protein. I used the pressure cooker mode on the Foodi and made everything right in the one pot. Easy cleanup and quick cook time. I’m not a huge dessert or sweets person. More times than not, I’m going to pass on dessert, yes, even on the pumpkin pie. This pumpkin pie dip, though, is so easy to make and you can make it to snack on. To make, it is as easy as just mixing all the ingredients together and, BAM, you have yourself a semi-quasi dessert. This year has been difficult and stressful enough, make you holiday cooking a breeze. All three of these dishes could rightfully have a place in your holiday spread and take virtually no time to make. Plus, I can almost guarantee you, no one else is going to be bringing these dishes. I wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season. May you spend it with family and friends, and ring in the new year with laughter and love!

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

OKEECHOBEE COOKING

Roasted Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts Soup Ingredients (Yields four servings) 1 head of cauliflower cut into florets 16 oz Brussels sprouts, halved 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup chopped shallots or onions 3 Â˝ cups vegetable broth 3/4 tsp kosher salt Black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450F. 2. Line a large baking sheet with foil. Place the cauliflower and Brussels sprouts cut side down on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Roast in the oven 25 minutes, tossing half way. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using an air fryer, set temp to

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

450F and toss the olive-oil coated vegetables into the basket. Shake half way until slightly browned. 3. While vegetables are roasting, add a little olive oil to a large sauce pan over medium heat. Cook shallots or onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the salt and broth, simmer for another 5 minutes. 4. When vegetables are done, save about one cup and set aside, or keep warm on the baking sheet. 5. Transfer the rest of the vegetables to the pot and simmer for a few minutes. Using an immersion blender, blend until soup is smooth. You can also use a blender to blend in two batches. 6. Serve in bowls topped with the roasted vegetables and pepper, to taste.

NOVEMBER 2020

Pressure Cooker Tomato Pearl Couscous Ingredients (Yields four servings) 2 tbsp unsalted butter 1 cup pearl couscous 1/2 cup diced onion 1 green bell pepper, diced 2 ¼ cups vegetable stock Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tbsp minced garlic 1/2 tsp paprika 1 can tomato paste 6 oz 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Directions

1. Set pressure cooker mode to ‘Saute’ on medium heat. Melt the butter and saute oinion, peppers, and garlic until tender and fragrant. 2. Add pearl couscous to the pot and toast for a few seconds. 3. Add vegetable stock and season with paprika, salt, and

pepper. Turn ‘Saute’ function off and give everything a good stir. 4. Add the tomato paste to the pot but do not mix it into the other ingredients. Simply place on top of the couscous. 5. If you’re adding salmon to the dish, season fish and place rack in the pot and lay salmon on top. 6. Close the pressure cooker and set the pressure release valve to ‘Sealing’. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. After the 5-minute cook time has completed, perform a quick pressure release (QPR). 7. Once the pressure has been released, open the pot and remove the rack and salmon (if cooking). Stir the couscous to finish mixing in the tomato paste. Add mozzarella and stir once more to blend. Serve in bowls with grated cheese of your liking if desired.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

OKEECHOBEE COOKING Pumpkin Pie Dip Ingredients

15 oz can pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, or more to taste 6 oz fat-free Greek yogurt 8 oz tub of frozen whipped topping, thawed Sliced apples and graham crackers, for dipping

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

Directions

1. Mix pumpkin with brown sugar, vanilla, and spices. 2. Blend in yogurt and whipped topping. 3. Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

NOVEMBER 2020

1852 NW 9th Street Okeechobee, FL 863-763-3447

Catfish Fresh fish daily from Lake Okeechobee processed in house!

STORE HOURS: M-F 7:30AM-6PM SAT 7:30AM-3PM PRODUCTS INCLUDE: Bagged Feed, Bulk Feed, Molasses, Hay, Fencing & Ranch Supplies, and Pet Food & Supplies

Seafood and much more! RETAIL AND WHOLESALE

7841 Hwy. 78 W. • Okeechobee, FL 34974

1505 State Road 78 West • Okeechobee, FL 34974

863.763.0973 LIVE BAIT

•

TA C K L E

www.okeechobeebassfishingguide.com •

FUEL

•

A P PA R E L

•

GROCERIES

Professional Guide Services

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Cattle Drive Sculpture Project

CATTLE RANCHING Presented by Okeechobee Main Street’s Arts & Culture Alliance

Please donate today! We invite you to be part of this project. A variety of sponsorship and donation levels available.

No amount is too small!

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

To commemorate the historical and economical importance of Cattle Ranching, Okeechobee Main Street’s Art & Culture Alliance is raising funds to produce a life size bronze cattle drive sculpture to be installed to enhance the Okeechobee’s downtown Flagler Park. Artist J. Michael Wilson has begun the project with the clay sculpting stage in preparation for bronzing. Shown is a sneak peek of the Brahma Bull that will be a part of the project. You may also notice a horse in the background. Installation 2021

863-357-6246

111 NE 2nd St. - Okeechobee, FL 34972 art@okeechobeemainstreet.org Okeechobee Main Street, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 not for profit organization

Thanks to Okeechobee The Magazine for your Media Support O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E |

Visit our website for more info and to donate online:

www.okeechobeemainstreet.org

Arts Alliance Tab / Cattle Drive Sculpture

NOVEMBER 2020

OPEN FOR BUSINESS A/C & HEATING CONTRACTORS A-1 Air Solutions

863-623-6203 A1airsolutions@okee.com 8:00 – 5:00 Monday – Friday 24 hour Emergency Service

CRS 863-467-4733 250 NW 102nd St www.crsincokee.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday -Friday Emergency after hours and weekend service

Glades A/C 863-763-2114 804 N Parrott www.gladesac.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday 24 hour Emergency Service

Miller’s Central Air 863-467-1545 www.millerscentralair.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday 24 hour Emergency Service

AGRICULTURE

Williamson Cattle Company 863-763-4740 9050NE 12th Dr www.williamsoncattleco.com

ATTORNEYS

Hoskins, Turco,Lloyd & Lloyd 863-357-5800 1910 S Parrott www.hoskinsandturco.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS Gilbert Chevrolet

863-204-2203 3550 US Hwy 441 www.gilbertchevrolet.com 8:30 - 7:00 Monday -Friday 8:00 - 1:00 Saturday

Gilbert Ford 863-204-2206 3175 US Hwy 441 www.gilbert-ford.com 8:30 - 7:00 Monday -Friday 9:00 - 5:00 Saturday

Gilbert Outdoors / Gilbert LINE - X 863-763-6434 315 S Parrott www.gilbertoutdoors.com

8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday 8:00 -1:00 Saturday

Gilbert Fleet & Commercial 863-824-3518 3592 US Hwy 441 gilbertchevroletworktrucksolutions.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS Treasure Coast Food Bank 772-489-3034 401 Angle Road, Fort Pierce www.stophunger.org 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

CHILD CARE

A Childs World 863-763-5453 703 SW 6th St 863-467-1400 4664 U.S Hwy 441 achildsworld@embarqmail.com 6:30 - 6:00 Monday -Friday

COLLISIONS SHOPS

Gilbert Collision Center 863-824-3553 3550 US Hwy 441 www.gilbertchevrolet.com/collision 7:30 - 5:30 Monday - Friday

COMPUTERS

ICS Computers 863-467-9090 403 S Parrott 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday www.icsflorida.com

CONSTRUCTION/CONTRACTORS Abney Building& Consulting 863-623-4459 207 ne 2ND ST www.abneybuild.com 8:00 -4:00 Monday-Friday

Closets by Design 863-825-7758 3209 SW 42nd Ave Palm City, FL 7:30 -6:00 Monday - Friday

GM Worley 863-467-2541 110 NW 5th St gmworleyinc@gmail.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Thursday 8:00 - 4:00 Friday

Kallkell Builders LLC 772-340-5989 1147 4th St. Kallkellbuilders827@gmail.com www.kallkell.com

Platinum Performance Builders 863-467-1933 221 NE Park St loriplatbuilders@gmail.com 7:00 - 2:00 Monday - Friday

DENTAL

Everglades Pediatric Dentistry 863-357-7338 2029 Hwy 441 N www.evergladespedodent.com Okeechobee Office 8:00 - 5:00 Monday and Friday Sebring Office 8:00 - 5:00 Monday and Friday

Family Dentistry of Okeechobee 863-763-2765 202 NE 3rd St www.fdofokeechobee.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday- Wednesday 7:00 - 4:00 Thursday and Friday

Tenniswood Dental 863-763-3909 208 NE 3rd ST www.tenniswooddental.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thrusday and Friday

Wemmer Family Orthodontics 863-467-2332 2025 Hwy 441 www.wemmerorthodontics.com 8:00 - 4:00 Monday - Thursday 8:00 -1:00 Friday

EDUCATION

Peace Lutheran School 863-763-7566 750 NW 23rd Lane www.plokee.com 7:00- 5:30 Monday - Friday

ELECTRICAL

Bass Electric 863-467-8705 2801 SW 3rd Terr bass2801@hotmail.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

EVENTS/ENTERTAINMENT Dolly Hand

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

OPEN FOR BUSINESS 561-993-1160 1977 College Dr Belle Glade 33430 palmbeachstate.edu/theatre/DollyHand/ Temporarily Closed

Okeechobee Community Theatre 610 SW 2nd Ave www.okeechobeecommunitytheatre.com Closed for 2020—2021 Season

Seminole Casino Brighton 800-360-9875 17735 Reservation Road www.seminolebrightoncasino.com Open 24 Hours

EVENTS/ENTERTAINMENT (CONT.) Sunrise Theatre

772-461-4775 117 S 2nd St, Fort Pierce www.sunrisetheatre.com All Shows Postponed/ Re-scheduled/ or Cancelled thru August 31st

EYE CARE

Big Lake Eye Care 863-763-3937 606 N Parrott www.biglakeeyecare.com

8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday, Walk-ins 8:00 11:00 and 1:300 - 3:00 Monday - Friday

Value Specs 863-357-2250 1611 S Parrott www.okeechobeevaluespecs.com 9:00 - 6:00 Monday - Friday Walk-ins 9:00 - 11:00 and 1:30 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

FARM EQUIPMENT TRAILER SALES Eli’s Trailer Sales

863-467-4620 908 NW Park St www.elistrailersales.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

BANKS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES CenterStateBank

863-763-5573 2100 S Parrott Ave. www.centerstatebank.com Drive-in Service Only 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Thursday 8:00 - 6:00 Friday 9:00 - 12:00 Saturday

Edward Jones Investments 836-357-4724 107 SW 17th St Ste J www.edwardjones.com 9:00 - 4:00 Monday - Friday Call for Appointment

FISHING & FISHING GUIDE SERVICES Fast Break

FEED SUPPLY

Rabon’s Country 863-763-3447 1852 NW 8th St www.countryfeedokee.com 7:30 - 5:30 Monday - Friday 7:30 - 1:00 Saturday

863-763-0973 1505 St Rd 78 West www.okeechobeebassfishingguide.com 5:00 - 8:00 Sunday - Thursday 5:00 - 9:00 Friday and Saturday

FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES

Buxton Bass Funeral Home 863-763-21111 400 N Parrott www.okeechobeefuneralhome.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

FURNITURE SALES / HOME DÉCOR Badcock Furniture

863-763-3823 512 W North Park St www.badcock.com 9:00 - 6:00 Monday - Friday 9:00 - 5:00 Saturday

Morgan’s Furniture 863-467-2072 707 SW Park St www.morgansfurn.com 9:00 - 6:00 Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9:00 - 4:00 Wednesday 9:00 - 5:00 Saturday

Royal’s Furniture 561-996-6581 324 SW 16th St www.royalsfurnitureinc.com 9:30 - 6:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:30 - 6:00 Wednesday and Saturday 76

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

HEALTHCARE

Addiction Alternatives, LLC 772-618-0505 266 NW Peacock Blvd Port St. Lucie www.addictionalternatives.org 1:00 - 7:00 Monday - Friday

Okeechobee Health Care 863-763-2226 1646 U.S Hwy 441 www.okeechobeehealthcare.com No Visitation due to COVID - 19

Raulerson Hospital 863-763-2151 1796 Hwy 441 N www.raulersonhospital.com Visiting Hours are from 6:00 - 8:00. One visitor (age 16+) may visit at a time. Visitors are restricted for COVID - 19 positive patients and persons under investigation (PUIs) for the virus with pending test results.

South Campus 4664 Hwy. 441 SE Okeechobee 863.467.1400

North Campus 703 SW 6th Street Okeechobee 863.763.5453

Infants-Pre–K Before and After School Care VPK-ELCIRMO

Locally Owned and Operated

Malissa Morgan

Sharon Poirier

Gold Seal Accredited

License # C190K0016 and C190K0022

Simpson Chiropractic 863-410-2860 319 N Parrott www.simpsonmedical.com 9:00 - 1:00, 3:00 - 6:00 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 - 11:00 Tuesday and Thursday

Grand Oaks Assisted 863-824-6770 203 SE 2nd St www.grandoaksokeechobee.com Due to COVID 19 Window Visits Only Monday and Thursday

Government

Florida Public Utilities www.fpuc.com

HOBBIES

Big Lake Hobbies 863-357-3200 513 SW Park St www.blhobby.com 12:00 - 6:00 Monday - Friday 11:00 - 6:00 Saturday

Family Owned & Operated Heating • Air Conditioning • Commercial Refrigeration • Mini-Split Systems • Ice Machines Sales • Service • New Installation • Warranty • Maintenance • Residential • Commercial

24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE • REPAIRS ON ALL MAKES AND MODELS

Indoor Air Quality 100% FINANCING AVAILABLE • FREE ESTIMATES

863.467.4733 / 863.634.2836 www.CRSOkee.com

CALL US FOR HONEST & DEPENDABLE SERVICE

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

INSURANCE

Carpenter Insurance 863-824-0885 3960 SE 18th Terr. www.miltoncarpenterinc.com 9:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday Closed daily 12:00- 1:00

Gretchen Robertson/State Farm 863-763-5561 309 NE 2nd St wwwgretchenrobertertson.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 - 5:00 Thursday

Humana 863-447-3651 Okeechobee 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

Murray Insurance 863-763-5551 210 SW 2nd St www.murrayinsuranceservices.com 8:30 -5:00 Monday - Friday Closed Wednesday 12:00 - 1:00

Prtichards & Assoc. 863-763-7711 1802 S Parrott www.pritchardsinc.com 9:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

MASSAGE/SPAS

The Purple Orchid 863-824-8782 609 SW Park thepurpleorchid.amtamembers.com 9:00 - 3: 00 Monday and Wednesday 9:00 - 5:00 Tuesday, Thursday, Fridayi 9:00 - 1:00 Saturday

MOTORCYCLE SALES & SERVICE D-4 Powersports

863-357-0334 P.O. Box883 www.d4powersports.com 9:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

PEST CONTROL

Highland Pest Control 863-467-6707 804 SW 2nd Ave www.highlandpest.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

OIL COMPANIES

Gilbert Oil Company 863-763-0666 303 NW 9th St

www.gilberthasit.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday Gas Pumps 24/7/365

PHARMACY

Heartland Pharmacy 863-763-7633 407 S Parrott www.heartlanddiscountpharmacy.com 8:00 - 8:00 Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:00 Saturday

Okeechobee Fish Company 863-357-7500 7841 Hwwy 78 W www.okeechobeefishco.com/ 9:00 - 5:00 Monday – Wednesday 9:00 -6:30 Thursday – Saturday

Pueblo Viejo VI

RADIO

WOKC 863-467-1570 3936 S.E. 18th Terr. www.wokc.com

REAL ESTATE SERVICES Anderson Realty

863-634-4106 30034 SR 78 www.andersonrealtyco.com 8:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

Berger Real Estate 863-763-5335 425 SW Park St www.coldwellbanker.com 9:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

Clear Title & Legal Services 863-824-6776 200 NW 5th St titleandlegal@yahoo.com 9:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

Gilbert Realty 863-763-1155 401 S Parrott www.gilbertrealtyflorida.com 9:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

Mixon Real Estate Group 863-763-6000 1306 SW 2nd Ave www.mixongroup.com 9:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

RESTAURANTS/CATERING Brown Cow Sweetery

863-357-3357 103 SW Park St 8:00 - 4:00 Monday - Saturday

Crossroads 863-763-8333 5050 NE 128th Ave. 5:30 - 2:30 Monday -Saturday 7:00 - 2:30 Sunday

Los Cocos 863-467-0922

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

107 NW 5th St www.eatloscocos.com 10:30 - 8:00 Tuesday – Thursday 10:30 - 9:00 Friday and Saturday Closed Sunday and Monday

NOVEMBER 2020

863-357-9641 3415 Hwy 441 S www.puebloviejofl.com 11:00 - 10:00 Sunday - Saturday

RETAIL/SPECIALTY SHOPS Don’s Appliance

863-763-2220 317 SW Park St. www.donsappliancesinc.com 8:00 - 5:30 Monday - Friday

Eli’s Western Wear 863-763-2984 907 NW Park St www.eliswesternwear.com 9:00 - 6:00 Monday - Saturday 11:00 - 5:00 Sunday

Park Street Gallery 863-357-3200 513 SW Park St 12:00 - 6:00 Monday - Friday 11:00 - 6:00 Saturday

Teez 2 Pleez 863-467-0580 620 S Parrott Facebook Teez 2 Pleez 9:00 - 5:00 Monday - Friday

ROADSIDE SERVICES

Total Roadside Services 863-357-8772 3176 Hwy 710 www.totalroadsideservices.com 7:00 - 5:00 Mon -Fri 8:00 - 1:00 Sat. 24 Hour Roadside Service

WELL DRILLING American Drilling 863-763-3221 405 SW 2nd St www.americandrillinc.com 8:00- 5:30 Monday - Friday On Call Technician 8:00 - 5:00 Saturday

BERGER REAL ESTATE Philip Y Berger and Lori C Berger, Licensed Real Estate Brokers 50 YEARS AS A REAL ESTATE BROKER

863.763.5335

425 SW Park Street, Okeechobee FL 34974 www.cbbergerrealestate.com

NATIONALLY ACCREDITED Peace Lutheran School We accept VPK and Step Up for Students • Serving Children ages 2-K • Small Class Sizes Now accepting enrollment for the 2020-21 School Year Office: 863-763-7566 750 NW 23rd Street • Okeechobee, FL 34972 • peaceschoolinokeechobee@yahoo.com • FMI visit www.peacelutheranschool-okeechobee.org

Celebrating 40 Years of Service and Dedication to the Okeechobee community and the entire Lake area as a 3rd Generation, family owned and operated funeral home & crematory. Thank you for allowing our family to serve yours. 400 North Parrott Avenue, Okeechobee, FL 863-763-1994 - Time/Temp 863-763-0123

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Give Blood, Give Life at Annual Blood Roundup STORY BY RAYE DEUSINGER The Okeechobee Blood Roundup is an annual two-day all-volunteer blood drive that, over the past fourteen years—only two days per year—has drawn 5,584 units of blood. Held the weekend before Thanksgiving, the Roundup is a “party” where donors not only get to help their neighbors but have fun doing so. The Roundup’s effectiveness at building blood supplies for One Blood has earned it recognition as Florida’s largest volunteer drive, and in 2016 garnered top awards from the Florida Association of Blood Banks (FABB), American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and the Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals (ADRP) at each of their conventions. The Roundup is a blood drive derived, in 2006, from a concept conceived by Joan

Dyer, a retired Okeechobee teacher. She enlisted the help of Raye Deusinger, who wrote weekly newspaper columns on blood donation, in having a blood drive to thank Okeechobee for their response to community needs. The first drive was so successful, with 346 units drawn in the two days, it was continued in succeeding years. Raye assumed leadership of the drive in 2007, eventually enlisting volunteer help. The number of volunteers has since grown to more than 40 adults with an additional 25 to 30 youth participating, who work on the drive over a six-month period. The Roundup will be a smaller event in 2020 as they mark their 15th anniversary. All of Okeechobee is urged to turn out and show that COVID-19 is not going to

stop the good work of Okeechobee. There will be differences: masks and social distancing will be required; there will be no prizes to hand out as the Roundup is sure our donors would not want to take gifts from businesses in town which have suffered great economic losses. The Roundup invites all of Okeechobee and surrounding communities and cities to help save lives—not just of COVID sufferers, but of those injured in other ways and with other diseases, who need blood transfusions. The 2020 Roundup will be held November 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and November 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Freshman Campus Auditorium. Appointments are required. Go online to OneBlood.org to make your appointment now.

2020 Okeechobee Blood November 21 • 9 AM - 5 PM November 22 • 9 AM - 5 PM 700 S.W. 2nd Ave. • Freshman Campus (behind Golden Corral)

All donors receive the prized Roundup T-shirt and the joy of knowing your donation has saved as many as 3 lives.

OKEECHOBEE

C A R PE N T E R I N S U R A N C E

REPAIR Home For All Your Insurance Needs

Established 1935

• Home • Auto • Boat • Motorcycle • Motorhome • Workers Comp • Commercial • Health • Bonds • Life

Peggy Carpenter-Brady

VP & Commercial Account Specialist

3960 SE 18th Terrace, Taylor Creek Plaza • Okeechobee, FL 34974 • 863-824-0885

We Come to You! Mobile RV Service

863.261.3892 Denykay1@yahoo.com

Dennis Reynolds, Owner, Certified Technician LICENSED AND INSURED

DON’T FORGET to submit photos from past events and details for upcoming events to us to publish!

Send them to: info@okeechobeethemagazine.com

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Around Okeechobee

Where friends, family and neighbors meet

240,000 MEALS PROVIDED BY TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK WITH A GRANT FROM THE HUMANA FOUNDATION, THOUSANDS WILL BE FED IN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

Above: Ashley Marshall and Vicente. Below: Tammy Holander and Patricia Lewis. Photos courtesy Jacqueline Kenny.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues with no end or cure in sight, more and more communities are in need of assistance, including food security. Thanks to a very generous donation and commitment from The Humana Foundation, Treasure Coast Food Bank will be able to continue to offer slight relief and assistance in the way of 240,000 meals to surrounding communities, including Okeechobee County. “We are grateful to The Humana Foundation for this grant that will assist us in getting needed food to people in our most rural area where some of the greatest need exists on the Treasure Coast,” said Judith Cruz, President and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank. The Humana Foundation announced in April that they would commit $50 million to coronavirus relief and recovery efforts to select groups and organizations supporting essential workers, food security, behavioral

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

Above: Judge Jerry Bryant. Below: County Commissioner Terry Burroughs and Mayor Dowling Watford. Photos courtesy Jacqueline Kenny.

health, and local communities. The Foundation’s donation was part of that commitment and has helped Treasure Coast Food Bank’s mission to fight hunger which has included providing food to the Okeechobee community. “The Humana Foundation understands the far-reaching strain the pandemic has placed on many organizations working on the front lines to provide healthcare, food, and employment for those disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 health crisis, and our aim is to remove barriers and help them respond, recover and rebuild,” said Walter D. Woods, Chief Executive Office of The Humana Foundation. “Our intention with this commitment is to not only help provide immediate crisis relief but also serve as a catalyst in building sustainable achievement and long-term community resilience.”

As we prepare to turn the page on 2020, (thankfully), we’ve all spent more than our fair share of time at home this year.

LIFE IS SHORT, LOVE YOUR HOME. Contact us and allow us to make your dream home a reality in 2021. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Wes, John, Frank, Jessica & Nicole Your exclusive dream home team, ABNEY BUILDING & CONSULTING

WES, SHEAMUS & NICOLE

863-623-4459 • ABNEYBUILD@GMAIL.COM

207 NE 2ND STREET • OKEECHOBEE FL 34972 US LIC #CBC058152

CA LIC #32599

A name you can trust.

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Around Okeechobee

Where friends, family and neighbors meet

START WITH HELLO WEEK AT CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL On September 15, the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, Okeechobee City Police, Okeechobee County Fire and Rescue, and Okeechobee City Fire Department helped Central Elementary School kick off “Hello Week,” where students were encouraged to build empathy, healthy relationships, and social awareness.

GILBERT CHEVROLET PRESENTS FLORIDA’S TEACHER OF THE YEAR WITH A 2020 TRAIL BLAZER Florida’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, Krista Stanley, was presented with a Chevrolet 2020 Trail Blazer at a recognition ceremony at Gilbert Chevrolet on October 15. Krista, a 6th grade teacher at Yearling Middle School, is now on sabbatical as she will be traveling through Florida’s 67 counties to “inspire teachers across Florida with professional learning opportunities, which is very exciting,” she said. As she was presenting the car, Christa Luna, owner of Gilbert Chevrolet, said, “We need to celebrate what Krista has accomplished. We are so proud she will be representing Okeechobee. Thank you for what you do.” Carlos Latour, Director of Dealer Drives for General Motors, was present for the award. Krista, who was chosen from among more than 176 thousand teachers

Christa Luna presented a 2020 Chevrolet to 2020 Teacher of the Year, Krista Stanley, on behalf of Gilbert Chevrolet.

across Florida, received a $20,000 cash award and was named Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. Ken Kenworthy, Superintendent of Schools said, “We’re extremely proud

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

of Krista, a product of Okeechobee’s School System. She has a passion and desire to serve the children.”

Above: Second-grade teacher Delores Tores and her class. Below: Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department shows support.

Okeechobee Police Department Sgt. Belen Reyna and Officer Ryan Holroyd.

Subscribe Today! Every issue is filled with stories about the people and events that shape the community. For just $18 per year (6 issues), you can keep up with everything that Okeechobee has to offer! To subscribe, enclose a check for $18 made payable to Okeechobee the Magazine and mail along with name, complete address, and phone number to:

Okeechobee the Magazine 314 NW 5th Street, Okeechobee, FL 34972 W W W.OKEECHOBEETHEMAGAZINE .COM

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

DON’T FORGET to submit photos from past events and details for upcoming events to us to publish! Rick Chartier (863) 467.9090 • Sales • Service • Audio Visual • Networking Send them to: info@okeechobeethemagazine.com

COMPUTERS

• Phone Systems • Cabling • Accessories

403 South Parrott Avenue Okeechobee, FL email: sales@icsflorida.com www.icsflorida.com

ADVERTISER INDEX A-1 Air Solutions............................................................49 A Child’s World ..............................................................77 Abney Building & Consulting.......................83 American Drilling ...................................................... 87 Anderson Realty................................................................7 Badcock Furniture........................................................17 Bass Electric......................................................................83 Berger Real Estate .....................................................79 Big Lake Eye Care ............................................................1 Brown Cow Sweetery...............................................65 Buxton Bass Funeral Home ..........................79 CRS................................................................................................77 Carpenter Insurance ............................................... 81 Clear Title & Legal Services............................... 41 Closest by Design ..................................................... 57 D-4 Powersports...........................................................65 Don’s Appliance............................................................49 Edward Jones....................................................................79 Everglades Pediactric.................................................6 Family Dentistry .......................................................... 15

FastBreak.............................................................................. 73 Florida Public Utilities........................................... 10 Gilbert Family of Companies DJ...........IBC Glades A/C...........................................................................59 Gordon & Partner ......................................................23 Heartland Pharmacy.................................................. 3 Highland Pest ................................................................76 Hoskin, Turco, Lloyd & Llyod..........................53 Humana.................................................................................55 Humana AEP.................................................................. BC ICS Computers ............................................................. 87 Kallkell Builders LLC...............................................55 Miller’s Central Air.....................................................65 MixonRealty....................................................................... 27 Morgan’s Furniture.................................................... 81 Murray Insurance........................................................63 Okeechobee Fish Company............................ 73 Okeechobee Health Care.................................IFC Okeechobee RV Repair ......................................... 81 Peace Lutheran School.........................................79

Platinum Performance ......................................... 61 Pueblo Viejo VI...............................................................59 Rabon’s Country Feed............................................ 73 Royal’s Furniture..........................................................65 Sandra Pearce Photography............................86 Seminole Brighton Casino............................... 37 Simpson.................................................................................... 5 Teez 2 Pleez.........................................................................79 Tenniswood...........................................................................11 The Purple Orchid........................................................17 Total Roadside Services......................................8-9 Treasure Coast Food Bank................................53 VNA- Grand Oaks ...................................................... 41 Wemmer Family OrthonticsTG.....................31 Williamson Cattle Co...............................................17 WOKC.......................................................................................86 Worley Constrution ................................................. 47

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

LAST PAGE

Community Photos | Melissa Thomas Courson

Community Photos: Okeechobee’s Angel Wings Angels come in all shapes and sizes. This angel is Gregg Maynard, a veteran providing service to “any veteran in need”. He spearheaded the reconditioning of the tank in the park and now wants to return the two guns on display there to proud condition. He created a 501c3 called Thank You For Your Service through which the community can make donations to the account in that name at W & W Lumber and Domer’s, companies Greg uses for his veteran projects and individual needs. Stop by either company and earn your wings.

O KE E CHO BE E T H E M A GA Z I N E

NOVEMBER 2020

“Buying from Gilbert is always fun, so we keep going back. We walk in and they’ll ask us something like “what’s your new adventure?” They’re very friendly and answer all of our questions and help us make the right decision but are never pushy or make us feel obligated. We know we’ll get the vehicle that’s the right fit for our business and our personalities.”

- Lee & Tracy Lightsey

Owner & Operators of Lightsey Family Ranch

3175 US Highway 441 South, Okeechobee, FL 34974 (863) 204-2206 www.Gilbert-Ford.com

WWW.OK EEC H OBEET H EMA GA Z INE.C OM

Get the Service & Benefits You Want Those who choose Humana for Medicare coverage know that it protects them from the unexpected, with care that puts people first every step of the way. Listening to what matters most to people, so they can focus on their health. It’s what we call human care.

THE BENEFITS YOU WANT FROM PLANS IN YOUR AREA 1 copay on Tiers 1 and 2, $20 copay $ on Tier 3 and $75 copay on Tier 4 prescription drugs**2

5 $ 50 $

1,200

copay for specialist visits2 each month for approved groceries on select special needs plans3 per year to spend on select over-the-counter items, such as face masks, hand sanitizer, and gloves3 Vision includes annual exam and $400 credit for eyewear or contact lenses3

THE PERSONAL SERVICE YOU DESERVE • Award-winning customer service here for you 24/7*** • Care that’s tailored to your needs • A strong network of doctors and hospitals • All from the largest Medicare Advantage plan in Florida****

SEE HOW MUCH YOU COULD SAVE WITH OUR HUMANA HONOR HMO PLAN Up $ to $144 of your Part B premium REFUNDED back to you each month.

1,728 180

$15 monthly to spend on qualifying over-the-counter items.

1,908

of annual savings

SEE IF YOU QUALIFY TO JOIN HUMANA TODAY! The Annual Enrollment Period is from October 15– December 7. Contact a Humana licensed sales agent to learn more.

1-800-222-8234 (TTY:711)

¿En Español? Llame gratis al 1-888-287-7034 8 a.m.–8 p.m., seven days a week

Palm Beach county. Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO organization and a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. Humana is also a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Florida Medicaid program. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. **The copays apply to Tiers 1-4 medications using any preferred pharmacy. ***Ranked #1 In Customer Service among health insurance companies by Newsweek in 2020. ****According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Advantage (MA) Membership Reports, August 2020. 1The benefits listed above may not be available in all areas, on all plans, or offered in a single plan benefit package. 2 Available on select Humana Medicare Advantage plans in the area. 3Available to those eligible for both Medicaid & Medicare on our Humana Gold Plus SNP DE Plan H1036-104A. Important! At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Kreyòl Ayisyen (French Creole): ATANSYON: Si w pale Kreyòl Ayisyen, gen sèvis èd pou lang ki disponib gratis pou ou. Rele 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Y0040_FLHKVZREN_M