Community
rallies to help homeless blind woman
In
late August, alerted to the situation by a visiting nurse, the Lake Okeechobee
News learned that a blind widow was about to be homeless. Her landlord had
died, and the home she had lived in for several years had been sold at auction.
The new landlord did not want pets, and she refused to part with her elderly
dog. She found herself legally evicted by the court. Although she had 90 days
to relocate, she was unable to find a new home, in part due to her limited
finances (she lives on Social Security disability) and in part because she
wound up in the hospital for most of that time. Her housing search was also
limited by her disability, as she needed to live somewhere within walking
distance of stores.
After
the article by Okeechobee News reporter Cathy Womble appeared in the newspaper,
community members rallied to help the woman. Cathy’s mother took the stranger
into her own home while arrangements could be made to find her more permanent
housing. Community members came forward to help with donations, and by
September Mrs. Sims was happily moved into her own trailer in a park within
walking distance of stores.
The
story was popular with readers. It illustrated the spirit of the community,
which never fails to come together to help someone in need. As a community
leader, the newspaper pointed out a problem; the community reacted to solve the
problem.
Cattle
ranches source of confusions
In
September, the Lake Okeechobee News’ ongoing coverage of the water quality
issues in the Lake Okeechobee watershed focused on the cattle ranching
industry. Recent discussions at South Florida Water Management District
governing board meetings included comments that focused blame for excess
phosphorus on cow manure from area cattle ranches. Two articles in the Lake
Okeechobee News explained the scientific data that shows the cows may the
“scape goats” but they are not the source of the excess phosphorus. Instead,
the cow/calf operations on Florida ranches are actually net exporters of
phosphorus from the basin. The articles explain how cattle ranching in Florida
works. It’s not like ranching in northern or western states. With 1,000 people moving to Florida each day,
part of the newspaper’s mission is to educate the public on the background
needed to understand the water quality issues.
