By Judy Weeks NAPLES — The Naples community received special recognition for their outstanding contribution to the annual City of Naples Christmas Parade, which took place on Dec. 18. After viewing 186 entries, judges from the Naples Merchants’ Association unanimously selected the Juanita Osceola Center float to receive the 2012 Heritage Award.

BIG CYPRESS — Lions, tigers and bears – not exactly, but during winter break camp on the Big Cypress Reservation children did get eyes full of vultures, deer, wild pigs and buffaloes during Wildlife Adventures day in the ‘Glades. The two-hour event, hosted by the Big Cypress Wildlife Department and the

BIG CYPRESS — Tribal members and staff welcomed 2013 like a huge, happy family – with lots of laughs, food and fun on Jan. 3 under the big chickee on the Junior Cypress Rodeo grounds. "Today is about community appreciation," Big Cypress Councilman Mondo Tiger said. "It’s a fun way to

BIG CYPRESS — When Ted and Judy Beatty, of Ontario, get tired of Canadian cold, they pack their things into a compact house on wheels and drive thousands of miles to their home away from home – Big Cypress RV Resort. "We’ve been coming here for nine years just to miss

BIG CYPRESS — To address safety concerns brought up by Tribal Council, several Seminole Tribe of Florida departments joined efforts to widen the intersection of Wind Clan Road and Farmer Road on the Big Cypress Reservation. The result is a safer, more accessible road. "The road was really narrow and cars couldn’t

HOLLYWOOD — Jason Don Billie graduated from the Tribal Career Development (TCD) Program last month. He joins an elite group of fewer than 10 graduates and plans to continue his career with Seminole Gaming. Billie currently works at Hard Rock Live where he books entertainment for the venue. Operated by Seminole

By Andrea Holata BRIGHTON — After 21 years of dedication to the Seminole Police Department (SPD) and a life devoted entirely to service, Brighton’s Jerry Meisenheimer retired on Dec. 31. Family, friends and fellow officers came together to honor and celebrate Meisenheimer during a retirement party at the Elder’s Building in Brighton

It’s hard to imagine living below the federal poverty line of $23,050 per year for a family of four. But on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, some families struggle to survive on $3,800 per year. In October 2011, a few Seminole Tribal members watched an ABC News documentary about

By Kathryn Stolarz WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Tony Sanchez Jr. took home new ideas for preventative health care and networked with Department of Energy officials regarding solar energy at the White House Tribal Nations Conference on Dec. 5. He joined 565 other federally recognized Native American Tribes, and Alaska Native Villages,

BIG CYPRESS — Snake Road has a shape so distinctive it can easily be identified from 40,000 feet in the air. With 34 curves, the narrow two-lane road clearly resembles a snake writhing its way from Interstate 75 to the Big Cypress Reservation over the course of 19.6 miles. A