Community events …
Help save lives by donating blood
The need for blood donations doesn’t stop for summer vacations. If you are in good health and over the age of 17, you can help One Blood ensure area hospitals have a safe blood supply ready to handle emergencies. Blood drives in Okeechobee include:
Tues., Aug. 28 — Walmart, 1:30 – 7:00 $10 WM Gift Card, $5 Golden Corral
Legion will host 5-card bingo
American Legion Post #64, 501 S.E. Second St., will host five-card bingo on Monday, Aug. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. with lunch served at 12:30 p.m. For information, call 863-763-5309.
BHR Moose serve dinner
The Buckhead Ridge Moose Lodge, 1016 Linda Road, will offer a spaghetti dinner with all the fixings on Monday, Aug. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m., all for a donation of $7. The public is welcomed.
Big Lake post serves up tacos
Big Lake Post #10539, 3912 U.S. 441 S.E., will host a taco night from 5 to 7 p.m., and five-card bingo will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 20. Pizza night from 5 to 7 p.m. with Karaoke from 6 to 9 p.m. will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 21. On Wednesday, Aug. 22, enjoy patty melts and Philly cheese steaks from 5-7 p.m.
Healthy Start BOD to meet
Okeechobee County Healthy Start Coalition Board of Directors will meet Wednesday, Aug. 22, at noon at The White House Plaza, 1132 S. Parrot Ave. The meeting is open to the public. The coalition is part of a statewide network responsible for planning and implementing services for pregnant women and infants. The coalition is made up of citizens interested in promoting healthy pregnancies and healthy birth outcomes for Okeechobee County residents. For information, contact Kay Begin at 863-462-5877.
Legion serves tacos
American Legion Post 64, 501 S.E. Second St., will serve margaritas and tacos from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22. The grill will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entertainment by Jay runs from 3 until 6 p.m.
VFW will serve Wednesday beef dinner
The VFW Auxiliary will serve a beef brisket dinner on Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Post 9528, 29012 S.R. 78 W. All proceeds will benefit Florida military veterans in distress. For information, call 863-467-2882.
BHR Moose to serve pork dinner
Buckhead Ridge Moose, 1016 Linda Road, will have a pork chops dinner, fried or grilled, with all the fixings for a $7.50 donation. Dinner is served on Wednesday. Aug. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. The public is welcome.
Fall prevention lecture is set
A fall prevention lecture is set for Thursday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m. at Raulerson Hospital, 1796 U.S. 441. Join four-year FSU Medical Students in the Raulerson Hospital Cafeteria as they provide an educational community lecture about falls prevention. Refreshments will be provided.
Okeechobee Friends of NRA Annual banquet set
Okeechobee Friends of NRA will host it’s annual banquet on Friday, Aug. 24. The doors will open at 6 p.m. at the KOA, 4276 U.S. 441. For information or tickets, call Jeff at 863-634-9474, Carrie at 863-634-8678, Katie at 863-801-7789 or Julie at 954-482-2935.
Legion will host dinner
On Friday, Aug. 24, come and enjoy dinner at the American Legion, 501 S.E. Second St. Everyone is welcome. Dinner will be fish, shrimps or chicken and french fry baskets, for a $6 donation and is served from 5 until 8 p.m. with music from 6 to 9 p.m. For information, call 863-763-5309.
Auditions set for community theatre
Okeechobee Community Theatre will hold open auditions for adult acting/singing roles in the Broadway musical “Oklahoma!” on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 27 and 28, at 7 p.m. at the freshman campus auditorium, 610 S.W. Second Ave. Participants will be asked to read from a provided script, and sing a song of their choice without accompaniment. No previous experience is necessary. For information, visit the website: okeechobeecommunitytheatre.com or call 863-763-1307.
Labor Day parade is Sept. 1
The 2018 Labor Day parade will be held Saturday, Sept. 1. A poll was conducted through Facebook and the community voted to change the event from traditional Monday to Saturday to help kick-off Okeechobee Main Street’s festival in the park and Cattlemen Association’s weekend rodeo events.
Reading challenge at the library
The Okeechobee Library, 206 S.W. 16th St., will team up with Scholastic from now through Sept. 7, as students take the pledge to read as many minutes as they can this summer! To join, simply call the library at 863-763-3536 or come in to sign up with a librarian. Students will receive a pledge certificate along with a username and password. By logging reading minutes on the Scholastic website, students can unlock digital rewards and complete weekly reading challenges online. Reading minutes will also count towards special summer prizes and events at the library. Join the fun and sign up today!
Sacred Heart Church hosting bingo
Sacred Heart Church, 901 S.W. Sixth St., will host bingo on Monday, Sept. 10. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the fun will begin at 7 p.m.
Caregiver Conference set for Sept. 20
An Okeechobee Fearless Family Caregiver Conference will take place Thursday, Sept. 20, at the IRSC Williamson Conference Center, 2229 N.W. Ninth Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with lunch included. Learn to balance family, work and caregiving, plus much more. There are limited free tickets for caregivers. For information or to register, call 877-829-2734 or visit caregiver.com.
Ladies conference set: True Woman 2018
Open Hands Health Center is pleased to offer a free livestream of True Woman 2018. This ladies conference is led by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and will be held at The Big Lake Baptist Association, 210 N.E. Seventh St. This conference livestream starts Sept. 27 with Session 1 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Sept. 28 Session 2 from 9 a.m. to noon, Session 3 from 2 to 5 p.m., Session 4 from 7 to 10 p.m., and Sept. 29 Session 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. Topics include: The truth about sin, sexuality, gender identity, priorities, marriage, children, circumstances, the truth about consequences, emotions, God and His word. The conference concludes discussing The True Woman movement: where do we go from here. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each session. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged for each session, as seats are limited and registrants will have preference. Call 863-801-7737 to register or sign up on Facebook at Open Hands Health Centers Event Page.
Skate Park is open again
The Parks & Recreation Department is proud to announce the re-opening of the Okeechobee Skate Park at Kiwanis Park located at 350 N.W. Sixth Avenue. The Skate Park had been closed for several months in anticipation of installing new skate-lite wood surfaces on all of the ramps and some structural repairs to several modular frames. The Skate Park is open seven days a week from dawn to dusk.
Blood Roundup volunteers needed
Looking for a place to volunteer? Check out the Okeechobee Blood Roundup. The 13th annual Blood Roundup will be held Nov. 17 and 18. Find out how you can help save lives while having a lot of fun and satisfaction. For more information, call Raye at 863-467-2557.
Fire/Rescue offers free blood pressure checks
Starting May 1, 2018, Okeechobee County Fire/Rescue ill offer free blood pressure checks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at:
• Fire Station #1, 504 N.W. Sixth Street,
• Fire Station #2, 3511 S.E. 38th Ave., and,
• Fire Station #4, 1199 N.E. 168th St.
Please understand that if you stop by a station and there is no staff there, they are out on an emergency call. Please stop back later.
Vietnam Veterans will meet
Vietnam Era Military Service Personnel are invited to Gladys’ Restaurant, 511 S.W. Park St., every Wednesday about 7 a.m. No membership required. For information, contact Chapter President Dan Hunt at 863-447-3662.
Tai Chi at the Senior Center
Beginning July 9, 2018 Okeechobee Senior Services will again be offering Tai Chi classes on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:30 – 10:30 at the Lottie Raulerson Senior Center. Tai Chi offers many potential benefits to seniors such as relieving the physical effects of stress, reducing bone loss in menopausal women, improving lower body and leg strength, reducing arthritis pain and reducing blood pressure. Tai Chi is also known to increase energy by releasing endorphins, increase mental capacity and concentration, improve balance and stability by strengthening the ankles and the knees, and promote faster recovery from strokes and heart attacks. This is a great opportunity to do something good for your mind, body and soul, and who knows, you may make some new friends along the way. These classes are offered to beginners and the experienced at no cost. The Lottie Raulerson Senior Center is located at 1690 NW 9th Avenue, just south of the IRSC campus. For further information, please call Senior Services at 863-462-5180.
The Okeechobee News is published every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
