Sammy Micco Sanchez earns All-American honor for second straight year Sports by Kevin Johnson - August 9, 2016August 10, 2016 HOLLYWOOD — Next summer Sammy Micco Sanchez plans to return to Canada as a defending champion in the Native American Indigenous Games. But before he hits the mats in Toronto, Sammy has plenty of other athletic endeavors that will keep him busy, notably his junior seasons in football and wrestling
Retirement ceremony honors U.S., Tribal flags Community by Kevin Johnson - August 8, 2016August 8, 2016 BRIGHTON — A quiet, peaceful ceremony on the grass behind the Florida Seminole Veterans Building in Brighton during a hot afternoon July 7 marked the inaugural flag retirement ceremony for the Tribe. Hosted by the Florida Seminole Veterans Foundation, Stephen Bowers served as emcee. Bowers was among a group of about
Three-sport standout Cheyenne Nunez concludes Okeechobee High career with 12 varsity letters Sports by Kevin Johnson - July 11, 2016July 13, 2016 BRIGHTON — As Cheyenne Nunez sat on a picnic bench wearing her purple Okeechobee High letter jacket near the ball fields on the Brighton Reservation, a voice from hundreds of yards away pierced the quiet late morning. “Hi Cheyenne,” yelled the student from far across the complex. Cheyenne responded back with a
Clinic helps players prep for Jim Thorpe All Indian Games Sports by Kevin Johnson - July 11, 2016 BIG CYPRESS — DeForest Carter’s abundance of energetic enthusiasm for basketball – as a player and an instructor – could stretch from coast-to-coast. Even though the former Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University star is too old to compete in the Jim Thorpe All Indian Games, he still hopes to make an impact
American Heritage softball wins state championship Sports by Kevin Johnson - June 13, 2016 VERO BEACH — As the American Heritage softball team gathered in right field before the start of the Class 6A state championship game, the players were about as loose as a team could be. They joked with each other, did little dances in a huddle and just appeared to have
Fire Rescue welcomes new graduates Community by Kevin Johnson - June 7, 2016June 7, 2016 HOLLYWOOD -- Six new faces became part of the Tribe’s Public Safety family May 5. The addition of firefighter/paramedics Marvin Ayers, Alain Borges, Enrique Ferreira, Kevin Herrero, Machir Marsh and William Neunzig was celebrated with a graduation and employee recognition ceremony at the auditorium in Tribal Headquarters. The importance of family – at
Alex Tommie seeks St. Lucie County seat Community by Kevin Johnson - June 6, 2016 FORT PIERCE — Alex Tommie was only 25 when he was selected to run a youth sports organization in Fort Pierce, his hometown. He recalled that not many people thought he would succeed as leader of the Buccaneers, but a decade later he’s still in charge of the non-profit that he
Seminole softball squad wraps up undefeated season Sports by Kevin Johnson - June 6, 2016 CLEWISTON — The Seminole Lightning youth softball team completed a remarkable turnaround by winning their final game May 6 to finish the season undefeated. It was only a year ago that the same group of girls with the same coaching staff encountered a winless season. What a difference a year makes. “We went
Julius Aquino finishes undefeated track season Sports by Kevin Johnson - June 6, 2016June 6, 2016 Fort Gibson Middle School seventh-grader Julius Aquino concluded an undefeated track season in Oklahoma by winning the 100-meter dash in the Verdigris Valley Conference championship April 23 in Catoosa, Oklahoma. “He never lost the 100 in any track meet,” said Fort Gibson track coach Greg Whiteley. Julius, a Seminole, crossed the finish line in 12.32 seconds to win the boys seventh-grade
Seminole teams soar at NAYO basketball tournament Sports by Kevin Johnson - May 15, 2016 CHOCTAW, Miss. — No Seminole teams shined brighter at the Native American Youth Organization basketball tournament than the girls’ Native Elite and Native Hoops. In a division that featured 20 teams, Native Elite made it all the way to the championship game in the 12-14 age group. They finished runner-up. Meanwhile,