Okeechobee News Busy Busy Busy

The Okeechobee News has been busy in the month of April! The month kicked off with our local March of Dimes walk on Saturday, April 2. The Okeechobee News has a team and was able to raise funds to help support the March of Dimes.

On Friday, April 8, Okeechobee have a very special visitor! The Football star Tim Tebow came to speak at a local fundraiser for an organization called The Pregnancy Center. Not only that but he also took time to visit the Okeechobee High school and encourage the kids to succeed in school and look forward to graduating.

Then Project Prom was the following weekend on Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17. This annual event is put on by the B.R.A.T. Club; a youth organization in Okeechobee, is always spear headed by Okeechobee News own Tammi Kelly for the last three years. Each year collecting more and more donations to help children in need for formal attire to attend not only prom but other formal dances that the town holds in the month of May. This year they were able to collect 350 dresses, 87 pairs of shoes, 50 suits and accessories. Every student gets one complete outfit for free!  Each year we help hundreds of students all over Okeechobee County.  

The Okeechobee News office is the drop off point for all the donations.

“I know that I would not be able to help so many students if it wasn’t for my wonderful coworkers at the Okeechobee News, without them it would not be possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!” said Ms. Kelly.

On Saturday, April 23 Okeechobee again had another special visitor! Jim Sackett retired WPTV news anchor was a guest speaker at the annual Martha’s House dinner and game show. This fun event is held to help raise money for women, men and children affected by domestic violence. They play “The Price is Almost Right” with a “Bob Barker” of sorts. Tammi Kelly is the Vice President of the Martha’s house board and helps out with the event each year.

Last but not least! The month closed out with the Sunfest music festival. Now this is held in West Palm Beach however a group of young girls that are in the B.R.A.T. Club in Okeechobee went to go help volunteer at Sunfest. After working the Okeechobee Music Festival in March the group of girls couldn’t wait for the chance to work another one. Tammi Kelly went as a chaperone and also volunteered with the girls. The group got to see Duran Duran, Salt and Pepper, Flogging Molly and so many more artists perform while working up close to the stages. The girls say they are ready for next year Okeechobee Music Fest!

That is all for April! Can’t wait to see what May brings the Okeechobee News!

What Story Would You Tell?

Milford Chronicle and Journal news editor Jennifer Antonik visited her daughter's preschool class April 28. They made pirate hats and "business jackets" from newspapers. Good times! She read the class her column (copied here) and felt as it truly resonated with the class. One thing for certain, the kids enjoyed finding out you can do something "fun" with the newspapers.

From the Editor: Why Trump won’t be my biggest story

By Jennifer Antonik

News Editor

I’m sure you’ve heard by now: Donald Trump came to town.

Friday afternoon, I put on my business-best to get a glimpse of our famous visitor. I donned my wrinkle-free suit jacket, a nice shirt, make-up and jeans — because a suit jacket and jeans is kind of the unspoken attire for reporters.

I even got a new haircut. Now, I didn’t get into all this for Mr. Trump. He’s not a fan of the media, so I assumed I wouldn’t get too close to the presidential candidate. I would, however, see a lot of friends and new acquaintances there.

After I found my way through security, I found Harrington’s Mayor Anthony Moyer and Police Chief Norman Barlow.

We chatted briefly about the spectacle before Mayor Moyer gave me a Harrington lapel pin. I wore it with pride. Because ultimately, in my world, Harrington is bigger than Mr. Trump.

He has come and gone already in the span of a few short hours. But all of the people at the rally, at prom Saturday night, at the Bug & Bud Festival in Milford Saturday afternoon... all of these people will continue to stay and thrive in our communities.

In my world, Donald Trump coming to town is just one story. It was fun. I took a selfie with my media tag. But then it was over.

But the people in our community? Each one of them have a lifetime of stories I get to explore with you.

What story would you tell?

Salisbury Independent Represented at Tech Fair

The Salisbury Independent team manned a table at a recent tech fair, sponsored by local association of Realtors. The Independent publishes a monthly real estate guide – Wicomico Real Estate Now – in partnership with the association. Pictured (from left) are Greg Bassett, the paper’s editor and general manager; marketing consultant Cathy Koyanagi; publisher Darel La Prade; and marketing consultant Greg Ardis.

Arianna Grainey

East Valley office News Services Assistant Arianna Grainey was featured in the Arizona State University Cronkite Journal. She is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

"I was an intern with the ASU team photographer who also is the (Arizona) Cardinals team guy. The managing editor of the Cronkite Journal wanted to feature a picture of me shooting because he would always see me at the end of the game on TV. I was shooting the ASU vs Notre Dame game with a 600mm lens that I handheld during the games. The other photo was during my first season as an intern with just some of the gear we would use. Both photos were taken by Peter Vander Stoep, ASU team photographer," Arianna said.