Prospective princesses hone their skills at workshop Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - June 5, 2019 BIG CYPRESS — A group of eight future Miss Florida Seminole and Jr. Miss Florida Seminole contestants woke up early on Saturday, May 18 to attend a Princess workshop at the Big Cypress Boys & Girls Club auditorium. By the end of the day, they each realized it was time
Heith Lawrence stars as the Tin Man in ‘Wizard of Oz’ Arts & Entertainment Community News by Beverly Bidney - June 5, 2019June 5, 2019 MOORE HAVEN — Heith Lawrence’s theater career has gone over the rainbow at Moore Haven Middle/High School, where he starred as the Tin Man in a two-night run of “The Wizard of Oz” on May 10 and 11. This was Heith’s second year on the stage; as a freshman last year
To-Pee-Kee-Ke Yak-Ne Community Center opens in Big Cypress Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - June 4, 2019 BIG CYPRESS — The newly opened To-Pee-Kee-Ke Yak-Ne Community Center is living up to its Ela-pon-ke name; it truly is “a place to gather” in Big Cypress. Located in the old pool hall next to the Billie Johns Sr. Ball Field, the building was built by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
11 graduate from Ahfachkee Education News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - June 4, 2019 IMMOKALEE — As the 11 members of the Ahfachkee School class of 2019 crowded the stage at the Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on May 21, their families filled the enormous Seminole Center ballroom. The joyous event was a celebration of the students’ hard work and determination leading to their graduation from
Seminoles share Tribe’s culture with Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - June 4, 2019 BIG CYPRESS — Two busses filled with 75 members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians made the trip from North Carolina to the Big Cypress Reservation for a cultural exchange May 21. Some Cherokees learned they had more in common with the Seminole Tribe than they realized. The cultural exchange
Ahfachkee students rock the house at spring concert Education Top News by Beverly Bidney - May 29, 2019 BIG CYPRESS — After only four months playing musical instruments, Ahfachkee School students showed what practice and motivation can do as they performed a rousing, pop-inspired spring concert April 30 for family, friends and other students. The students demonstrated their new-found skills on guitar, bass, ukulele, keyboards and drums on songs
Preschoolers celebrate graduation Education Top News by Beverly Bidney - May 29, 2019 After a few years in the comfort and safety of preschool, preschoolers around the reservations donned caps and gowns, said goodbye to what was and took their first steps into what will be their future. IMMOKALEE One at a time, eight graduates proudly walked through a gauntlet of loved ones as they
Jetta Osceola wins Jackie Robinson Breaking Barriers essay contest Education Top News by Beverly Bidney - May 7, 2019 BRIGHTON — In February, Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School students learned that life is about breaking barriers, just as baseball legend Jackie Robinson did when he started for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. By being the first black baseball player to play on a major league team, Robinson was the epitome of
Ahfachkee wins SECME teamwork award Education Top News by Beverly Bidney - May 7, 2019 BIG CYPRESS — Ahfachkee middle school students brought home the JJ Teamwork Award from the SECME Competition on March 16 in Broward County. The Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering, founded in 1975, is an alliance of K-12 educators, universities, industry and government partners committed to engaging and preparing more minorities
Tribal preschools celebrate Week of the Young Child together Education Top News by Beverly Bidney - May 7, 2019 BIG CYPRESS — Oozing with cuteness, hundreds of preschoolers from Big Cypress, Brighton, Immokalee and Hollywood gathered together to celebrate the Week of the Young Child at a carnival just for them April 12 in Big Cypress. The youngsters were kept busy and happy in bounce houses, ball pits, a petting