Speak Out is a reader response column. Comments may be posted on the newspaper’s website or Facebook pages, emailed to okeenews@newszap.com or mailed to the newspaper office, 107 S.W. 17th St., Suite D, Okeechobee, FL 34974.

Lake releases
• “There is so much misinformation being spread about the lake by so-called ‘environmental’ groups that is no wonder the public is confused. People who live in Lee County don’t even realize that without dry season releases, the Caloosahatchee River would go dry. They also apparently haven’t read the science that proved lake releases are not connected to red tide. Their own local basin pollution feeds the red tide more than the lake releases do. And red tide is marine algae, so freshwater would reduce its spread not encourage it.” – S. Smith

• “Col. Kelly of the Army Corps of Engineers says they are being aggressive in lowering the lake. But the little bit of water they are releasing will lower the lake by just a few inches before wet season starts. If the lake is at 14 feet on June 1, and we get hit by a hurricane or even a wet tropical storm, they will have to release a lot more freshwater to tide in the hot months. How does that make sense?” – Anonymous

Vaccinations
• “My husband tried to get his first covid shot at the VA but they didn’t have any. He was told to make a reservation to get it in Boca Raton. For us, that’s a long drive. When he went in some time after that for a surgery consult, he asked again but they were only giving the boosters. So he went to the Okeechobee Ag Center Thursday morning at 5 a.m. and waited 6 hrs, finally getting it at 11 a.m. Many more people didn’t get one. He said it seemed like there were quite a few out-of-state tags, even Canada. This is why 300-500 shots sent to Okeechobee don’t begin to make a dent in our population. We need bigger deliveries of the vaccine for the locals and the snowbirds.” – L. Richardson

• “They will never move to the next category because there’s is so many old people, it’s annoying! They should vaccinate both old and young. It seems like they want the old to live longer than the young.” – Tiffany Tipton

• “The majority of young people aren’t the ones filling up the hospital and dying. It’s the elderly and those with severe and multiple pre-existing conditions. It makes sense to vaccinate them first.” Briana Soucie

• “Please no more cattle calls for vaccines.” – Sidney A McCollum

• “If they go to the state waiting list format, it would cut down on the out-of-county people taking shots away from the local people and also stop the people lining up overnight because they are afraid that is the only way to get a shot. But does anyone know how the state system will work? Who is going to call 500 people to make the appointments every week? Does the state handle that? Does the county? Do we need to round up volunteers to man a phone bank?” – M. Jones

• “Okeechobee County pulled together all their resources and was able to give 500 hundred vaccines. Stop with the negative comments. These comments hurt the workers who have worked hard to make a difference. I know because I am one of them! Think about the 500 steps forward we took as a community fighting against this virus. To be strong, we need to stand together!” – Dorothy Ramsey

• “Tired of chasing these shots. At almost 75, why should this be worse than getting a ticket to see Willie? Last week we signed up on line. This week there were 500 shots if you want to camp half the night on the coldest night so far. Also had an all night out door line last week. My son has a transplant and needs one too. Never been more disappointed.” – Sidney A McCollum

• “I got my first vaccine at the Agri-Center. I waited from 6 a.m. to almost noon but I expected that. Everyone staffed to direct traffic and all of the logistics people who checked ID, as well as the health care professionals were efficient and kind. I appreciate all of them.” – Mimzi Haut

• “We sat there for 3 hours and were sent home without a vaccine. Sure would have been nice to have been told sooner to leave. I thought counting would have helped!” – Delores Duke Clemmons

• “Not everyone in every vehicle qualified to receive the vaccine. It would have been impossible to count without first verifying eligibility which was done when they started at 8:30 a.m.” – Priscilla Helton

• “My mother waited 6 hours, and was turned away at the front of the line. How hard is it to count the people in line, count to 500, and turn the others away so they don’t wait in line for no reason?” – Byron Close

• “They did not accept my offer to get the shot in my hip!” – Gary Mills

• “Sure would be nice to move to the next age group, too many 65+ coming from all over. Even with a doctor’s note and health conditions local people under 65 can’t get one that’s ridiculous.” – Bina Garcia

• “I am 63. I figure by the time they get to my group, I will be 65.” – Anonymous

• “If you used the online system, you are now in queue whenever Okeechobee County decides to use the online reservation system. Our Emergency Management team has been reviewing the system and had some questions on functionality. I believe when the state answers those concerns, we will use the system. When that time comes, appointments will uploaded in the system and appointments will be assigned to the date and time the reservation was made as I understand it. I fully believe Okeechobee County will implement the system shortly.” – Terry Burroughs