2. When it comes to fact, it is the most famous lake you bass fishing Lake Okeechobee is at the list for great places to catch bass. In will find anywhere in the world for the best bass fishing opportunities.

3.  The Okeechobee hurricane, or San Felipe segundo hurricane was a deadly hurricane. It struck all of Florida! OVER 1,200 people were killed! The hurricane caused devistation throughout it’s path.

4. This mural on the Freshmen Campus was created in 1996 on the centennial anniversary of the first permanent settlers in what is now Okeechobee, Florida. It depicts the arrival in 1896 of the Peter and Louisiana Chandler Raulerson family from the Basinger area to a spot less than one half mile sout of this location. The center cameo of the mural shows their log house built three years later. Also depicted is a typical Seminole village of the time including picture of 8 Seminole clan symbols. They are toad, snake, otter, bear, deer, panther, bird, and wind. The Okeechobee historical Society recognize those who joined them as mayor contributors and made this mural possible: Barnett Bank of Lake Okeechobee, Big Lake National Bank, Florida Power and Light Corporation, Okeechobee County School Board, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Sun Trust Bank of Okeechobee. It is located on the North side of the gym located on our Freshman Campus. It was painted by: John Gutcher.

5.  By November 1837, the Second Seminole Indian War had been going on for almost 2 years. Taylor left Fort Brooke (Tampa) on the 27 th day of November and proceeded to the Kissimmee River where he ordered the construction of Fort Gardner, located just North of Lake Kissimmee. On December 19, leading a force of 1,032 men, Taylor headed South along the West side of the river with orders to move forward and “destroy or capture” any of the enemy. After garrisoning Fort Basinger, Col. Taylor moved his troops across the Kissimmee River and headed toward Lake Okeechobee. He had learned form captured Indians that a large body of Seminoles has camped East of the river near the lake.  The Battle of Okeechobee took place December 25 th, 1837, Col. Taylor reported that 26 whites were killed and 112 wounded. The Seminoles, out numbered 2 to 1, had approximately 11 killed and 14 wounded. During the battle, the Indians were forced to withdraw and retreat and Easterly direction. Col. Taylor, because of the heavy casualties was unable to persuade the Seminoles. On December 27 the troops began the return trip to Fort Basinger, arriving the following day. They then proceeded on the Fort Gardner and arrived there December 31, 1837.

6.  Welcome to Okeechobee county airport. The function of the Okeechobee county airport is to provide a safe and well- maintained facility to serve the current and future commercial corporate business, governmental,and general aviation: needs of Okeechobee and the state of Florida.

7.  Lake Okeechobee’s nick name is the Big “O”. Lake Okeechobee is the largest lake in the state of Florida. It is the 7 th largest fresh water lake in the U.S.A and the 2 nd largest fresh water lake in all of the lower 48 states.

8.  The Florida Panther is an endangered subspecies. The Florida Panther is also our state animal. The Florida Panther can be brown or black. In 1967, the Florida Panther was declared and endangered species by the US Fish and the Wildlife Service. Today, it is estimated that only 80 -100 exist, making them the most endangered cats in the world. The Florida Panther a.k.a the cougar, mountain lion, or catamount is a subspecies of a puma.

9.  Manatees are large, gray, and aquatic mammals with bodies that tapped like a paddle shaped tail that flaps. Manatees are mammals that live in Okeechobee, Florida. They are warm blooded and stay deep under the water so they can stay warm. They feed their young milk and everywhere they go they go together. Manatees are the most important animals we need to care for because some people go fishing out in the sea, and the manatees were so curious and friendly that they went closer to the boat and got killed. That’s why we need to take care of them because they keep vanishing.

10.  The weather in Okeechobee is MAGNIFICENT !!! October 27 th, 2011 the temperature today is 84 F and mid temperature is 68 F. Yesterday’s temperature was 68.4 F. Today mostly sunny high : 76 F, low : 45 F.