First Baptist gains youthful first youth director Community by Eileen Soler - October 29, 2014April 8, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Practically just out of her teens, a 20-something newcomer to Big Cypress is like gold as the first full-time youth program director at Big Cypress First Baptist Church. Tracy Hernandez, 22, a recent graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, kicked off her first job out of college Sept. 17
Native language bills could mean more school dollars for Indian Country Education by Eileen Soler - October 29, 2014April 8, 2015 WASHINGTON — Two bills pending in Congress could deliver millions into education budgets to ensure the survival of Native American languages via Native schools nationwide. The Native American Languages Reauthorization Act of 2014, sponsored by Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., would bring $17 million in grants to eligible Tribal language programs. The
Age is no barrier for Tampa’s latest high school graduate Education by Eileen Soler - October 29, 2014April 8, 2015 TAMPA — Anita Osceola admittedly spent too many of her 56 years living on the edge. "I wanted to party and that’s what I did," she said. Fast forward to August 2014 when the Tampa resident received an envelope in the mail that held the long-awaited proof that the "party" was over
Ahfachkee Student Council geared for school, service Education by Eileen Soler - October 29, 2014April 8, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Members of Ahfachkee School Student Council got a leg up on leadership by paying close attention Oct. 10 during a Tribal Council meeting. "It was a great experience," said Jazmine Billie, eighth-grade representative. At the Big Cypress Public Safety Complex, the group’s seven-member Student Council led by President Kaitlin
PECS Jacket Drive to send warm message to poor families: We care Education by Eileen Soler - October 29, 2014April 8, 2015 BRIGHTON — When temperatures dip to chilly this winter, underprivileged children from towns surrounding Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School won’t be left out in the cold. "We have to be grateful for all we have and share," said seventh-grader Silas Madrigal. Silas is among dozens who responded generously to the school’s latest Parent
Fire Prevention Week sends firefighters back to school Education by Eileen Soler - October 29, 2014April 8, 2015 No one can doubt the fun that comes when firefighters let kids aim real fire hoses at orange hazard cones with powerful jet streams of water. For Seminole Tribe Fire Rescue crews, it happened in the line of duty during National Fire Prevention Month educational activities for scores of children at
Brighton, Big Cypress students pray at the pole Education by Eileen Soler - October 29, 2014April 8, 2015 Decades have passed since 1990 when a handful of Texas teens gathered under the cover of night to pray at school flagpoles in spite of laws that prohibited organized prayer in the classroom. This year, more than 3 million students worldwide met Sept. 24 for the national See You at the
Miami Heat’s Birdman rocks as face of Hard Rock Energy Community by Eileen Soler - September 30, 2014April 8, 2015 FORT LAUDERDALE — With a mohawk doo, biker beard and ear tattoos, Chris "Birdman" Andersen’s mug may not launch a thousand ships, but executives from the Seminole majority-owned Enterprise Beverage Group hope it hurls Hard Rock Energy drink to super success. The 6-foot-10 Miami Heat power forward is the power drink’s
Tampa women sport bikinis for Hard Rock calendar, charity Community by Eileen Soler - September 30, 2014April 8, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Beasts took a back seat to beauties at Billie Swamp Safari when bikini-clad models posed in rugged wetland scenes for the 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Girls Tampa Calendar. Panthers, bears and alligators were not invited. The ninth annual bathing suit calendar featuring employees of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel &
Traveling exhibit paves road for skateboard art Community by Eileen Soler - September 30, 2014April 8, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Using decks as canvas, a dozen Tribal youth marked the opening of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum’s newest exhibit, "Ramp It Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America," by painting their own versions of colorful skateboard art Sept. 20. Some drew detailed graphics in pencil before putting paintbrushes to wood –