5A – Identifying Local Opportunities
Lake Okeechobee News: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/
Story 1:
Title: ‘Storage needed to address water woes’
Link: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/lake-okeechobee/storage-needed-to-address-water-woes/
Description of the story: A study found that there isn’t enough water storage, and the current storage projects don’t meet half that need to protect harmful freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries.
Description of problem: There just isn’t enough water storage north, south, east, or west of Lake Okeechobee to change the way the water flows.
Who has the problem? U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the city of Okeechobee, residents around these areas, fish estuaries.
Possible opportunity: This problem raises the opportunity to conduct a petition to send water to the retention ponds located in the Belle Glade area.
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Story 2:
Title: Okeechobee man dies in crash in Glades County
Title: ‘Man accused of attempting to lure kids’
Link: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/crime/man-accused-of-attempting-to-lure-kids/
Description of the story: A man referred to as Krosofsky was charged with a misdemeanor because he attempted to lure multiple children under the age of 12.
Description of problem: Children are being approached on the street and feel unsafe. The children stated, in the article, they were scared for their lives and truly believed they were about to be kidnapped.
Who has the problem? Parents, children, and the police department.
Possible opportunity: This problem raises the opportunity to create a device (like ‘Life Alert’) but for children. They will carry it around with them, and when they feel unsafe, they can push the button that sends there current location to a sheriff. In which the sheriff will arrive at the scene and make sure it is safe. This device brings help on the way with just the push of a button.
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Story 4:
Title: ‘Winter algae blooms reported in Florida waters’
Link: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/lake-okeechobee/winter-algae-blooms-reported-in-florida-waters/
Description of the story: Winter in Florida preposes the perfect conditions for algae and cyanobacteria blooms in lakes, ponds, and waterways.
Description of problem: Toxins from the algae are released into the waters, causing potential harm to ecosystems, the economy, and even human health.
Who has the problem? Local business, residents around lakes, ponds, or waterways, and Florida Department of Health.
Possible opportunity: This problem raises the opportunity to run a fundraiser to raise money to put toward research that would dimmish these bacteria’s toxins from affecting the waterways.
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Story 5:
Title: ‘Local Vietnam veteran in dire need of help.’
Link: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/veterans/local-vietnam-veteran-in-dire-need-of-help/
Description of the story: A 72-year-old retired veteran house was destroyed by Hurricane Irma. He has been living in his van, using buckets to relieve himself and going to a local gym to shower. He cooks his meals on a camp stove and uses a cooler to store his food.
Description of problem: Veterans need our help. (not just in this story but all over the United States)
Who has the problem? Veterans, the community, Hurrican Irma victims.
Story 1:
Title: ‘Storage needed to address water woes’
Link: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/lake-okeechobee/storage-needed-to-address-water-woes/
Description of the story: A study found that there isn’t enough water storage, and the current storage projects don’t meet half that need to protect harmful freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries.
Description of problem: There just isn’t enough water storage north, south, east, or west of Lake Okeechobee to change the way the water flows.
Who has the problem? U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the city of Okeechobee, residents around these areas, fish estuaries.
Possible opportunity: This problem raises the opportunity to conduct a petition to send water to the retention ponds located in the Belle Glade area.
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Story 2:
Title: Okeechobee man dies in crash in Glades County
Link: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/trafficroadwork/okeechobee-man-dies-in-crash-in-glades-county/
Description of the story: Two-Vehicle motorcycle crash. Vehicle one reduced speed in preparation to turn right into a vacant parking lot. Vehicle two failed to slow down, causing the front of his motorcycle to collide with the rear of Vehicle’s one motorcycle. The passenger of the vehicle two (motorcycle) was pronounced dead at the scene. Due to him not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Description of problem: Motorcycle riders risk serious injury due to not wearing helmets while driving.
Who has the problem? Insurance, passenger one and two, motorcycle companies, helmet companies.
Possible opportunity: This problem raises the opportunity to propose a law or petition to the state of Florida regarding helmet laws. The current law states that if you are over the age of 21, you do not legally have to wear a helmet.
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Story 3:Description of the story: Two-Vehicle motorcycle crash. Vehicle one reduced speed in preparation to turn right into a vacant parking lot. Vehicle two failed to slow down, causing the front of his motorcycle to collide with the rear of Vehicle’s one motorcycle. The passenger of the vehicle two (motorcycle) was pronounced dead at the scene. Due to him not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Description of problem: Motorcycle riders risk serious injury due to not wearing helmets while driving.
Who has the problem? Insurance, passenger one and two, motorcycle companies, helmet companies.
Possible opportunity: This problem raises the opportunity to propose a law or petition to the state of Florida regarding helmet laws. The current law states that if you are over the age of 21, you do not legally have to wear a helmet.
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Title: ‘Man accused of attempting to lure kids’
Link: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/crime/man-accused-of-attempting-to-lure-kids/
Description of the story: A man referred to as Krosofsky was charged with a misdemeanor because he attempted to lure multiple children under the age of 12.
Description of problem: Children are being approached on the street and feel unsafe. The children stated, in the article, they were scared for their lives and truly believed they were about to be kidnapped.
Who has the problem? Parents, children, and the police department.
Possible opportunity: This problem raises the opportunity to create a device (like ‘Life Alert’) but for children. They will carry it around with them, and when they feel unsafe, they can push the button that sends there current location to a sheriff. In which the sheriff will arrive at the scene and make sure it is safe. This device brings help on the way with just the push of a button.
----------------------------------
Story 4:
Title: ‘Winter algae blooms reported in Florida waters’
Link: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/lake-okeechobee/winter-algae-blooms-reported-in-florida-waters/
Description of the story: Winter in Florida preposes the perfect conditions for algae and cyanobacteria blooms in lakes, ponds, and waterways.
Description of problem: Toxins from the algae are released into the waters, causing potential harm to ecosystems, the economy, and even human health.
Who has the problem? Local business, residents around lakes, ponds, or waterways, and Florida Department of Health.
Possible opportunity: This problem raises the opportunity to run a fundraiser to raise money to put toward research that would dimmish these bacteria’s toxins from affecting the waterways.
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Title: ‘Local Vietnam veteran in dire need of help.’
Link: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/veterans/local-vietnam-veteran-in-dire-need-of-help/
Description of the story: A 72-year-old retired veteran house was destroyed by Hurricane Irma. He has been living in his van, using buckets to relieve himself and going to a local gym to shower. He cooks his meals on a camp stove and uses a cooler to store his food.
Description of problem: Veterans need our help. (not just in this story but all over the United States)
Who has the problem? Veterans, the community, Hurrican Irma victims.
Possible opportunity: This problem raises the opportunity to bring awareness and conduct a fundraiser to help support veterans who are now homeless and need help getting back on their feet.
Hi Savannah,
ReplyDeleteI was able to resonate with both your 1st and 4th story as I am from a town where this water storage and algae has become a huge problem. In my version of this assignment I also focused on similar news stories. It's tough to see how widespread this issue has become and all the people/communities that it affects. I read about how these small towns may try and even sue the U.S. Army Corps in order to stop this dumping and creation of toxic algae, but in the mean time there should be more short-term solutions put in place, such as creating dam-like filters or more storage areas.
Savannah,
ReplyDeleteFresh water is so precious that I cannot believe not half of the necessary storage is met to retain the fresh water that Lake Okeechobee provides. I find it highly unfortunate when I see someone operating a two-wheeled motorized vehicle in Gainesville. A helmet could mean life or death. I myself was in a motorcycle accident and suffered multiple injuries, but had it not been for my helmet, I would be dead today.
Hello Savannah,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I really like the possible opportunity you thought of for the life alert for kids when they feel like they are in an unsafe position. I think it is terrible for those kids to have to worry about strangers approaching them making them feel uncomfortable and to have them actually think they were about to be kidnapped. I do believe a safety button or some sort of deice that alerts authorities of the exact location and maybe a short biography of the child pressing the device for help would be super helpful.
Hello Savannah,
ReplyDeleteI think you picked a great topic because water is such an important resource in our world today. Your story #5 was so sad to read but Im glad you included it in your post. Stories like those are the ones that open readers eyes to see the importance of the issue. I think its important that we help veterans anyway we can. Great post!