Lake County News - OrlandoSentinel.com

Fruitland Park could settle lawsuit involving former City Manager Ralph Bowers for $150K

By Eloísa Ruano González, Orlando Sentinel — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

FRUITLAND PARK — The city could end up paying $150,000 to settle a federal sexual-harassment lawsuit that alleges former City Manager Ralph Bowers forced one of his employees to continue a sexual relationship with him, according to city records.

Valencia: No tuition hike for lower-division courses

By Denise-Marie Roadway, Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:51:40 GMT

Trustees at Valencia College voted this morning not to increase tuition or fees for lower-division courses for the coming school year.

Rabies alert prompts Lake to temporarily close night-drop kennels

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:51:31 GMT

CLERMONT — A rabies alert issued after a raccoon tested positive for rabies has forced Lake County Animal Services to temporarily suspend usage of night-drop kennels for residents giving up their pets.

Howey seeks $40K grant to fix up Sara Maude Mason Nature Preserve

By Michael Scott Davidson, Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS — The town has applied for a matching $40,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection Recreational Trails Program to renovate and refurbish the Sara Maude Mason Nature Preserve.

Florida Forest Service's Roy Cribb wins Firefighter of the Year Award

By Michael Scott Davidson, Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

In the early afternoon of April 4, 2012, Roy Cribb emerged from the smoke of one fire in the Ocala National Forest and entered another.

The dual-enrollment shuffle: School districts now must pay for popular program

By Denise-Marie Ordway, Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:18:53 GMT

Gov. Rick Scott signed bill requiring districts, not colleges, to pay tuition for students

Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed a bill requiring Florida school districts to start paying for the classes that teenagers take at local colleges through their high schools' dual-enrollment programs.

Florida Hospital Waterman CEO Ken Mattison tapped for Flagler hospital

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:52:00 GMT

Ken Mattison, longtime CEO of Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares, is swapping jobs with his counterpart at another Adventist Health System hospital in Flagler County, a Waterman spokesman said Monday.

Finalists chosen for entrepreneur award

Orlando Sentinel staff report — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:35:00 GMT

Eight Central Florida business executives have made the short list of 30 finalists for this year's Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Florida awards, which will be announced Thursday night.

Dollar General expands

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Angela Vega of Mount Dora, above, shops for groceries last week at a Dollar General store in Mount Dora.

Softshell turtles bust a move on land, water

Sherry Boas — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Before leaving the property to do errands in town, we stopped at the barn so Ralph could look for some tools he needed. While my husband searched, I waited in the car wondering if this unexpected delay would be long enough for me to read a few more pages of the novel I'd brought along for just such a situation.

Options lacking for parents of disabled kids at F schools

By Lauren Roth and Leslie Postal , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:47:00 GMT

The notice in the mail told Carmen Olmeda she could transfer her profoundly disabled daughter out of Orange County's F-rated Magnolia School.

Luxury drug-rehab center in Umatilla to offer recovery in style

By Eloísa Ruano González, Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:33:00 GMT

Recovery Village will open in old Florida Elks Children's Hospital

Troubled celebs struggling to overcome addictions might start pointing their limos in an unlikely direction: the remote Lake County town of Umatilla.

Teachers get the bad news: Don't expect a raise soon

By Erica Rodriguez, Staff Writer — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:26:00 GMT

Lake County's 4,700 teachers and school workers aren't likely to get raises for the current school year after lengthy union wage negotiations wrap up.

Senior Spotlight: Leon Zaffer

By Lori Carter — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Special to the Orlando Sentinel

Lake School Board narrowly OK's $2.9 million Umatilla Middle School repairs

By Erica Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

School Board members agreed 3-2 to move forward with a campus makeover managed by Gilbane Building Co. despite concerns that cost estimates were over budget.

Lake County School Board members narrowly approved $2.9 million worth of upgrades for Umatilla Middle School even though the project will be more than $1 million more than initial estimates.

Advocates for people with special needs celebrate legislation eliminating 'R' word

By Eloísa Ruano González, Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Lawmakers have passed a bill to strike the word "retarded" from state laws and publications, an initiative taken on by activists across the state, including Mark Swain, CEO and president of The Arc Sunrise of Central Florida located in Leesburg.

Clermont location is Goodwill Industries of Central Florida's first 'American-made' retail store

By Rosemarie Dowell, Correspondent — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Goodwill Industries of Central Florida has opened its first "American-made" retail store and Job Connection Center at 1855 S. Grand Highway, Clermont.

Edee Waite Robinson, first female commodore, presides over Mount Dora Yacht Club centennial

By Lori Carter, Correspondent — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

MOUNT DORA — Edee Waite Robinson is at the helm and making history.

Dr. Richard Bosshardt: Niacin can boost effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering drugs

By Dr. Richard T. Bosshardt, Correspondent — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Question: I have been on medications for my cholesterol but, so far, the improvement has not been enough. Now, my doctor wants to start me on Niacin. I have read a little about this but am worried about the possible side effects. Can you tell more about this?

Low teacher pay in Lake drives off best and brightest

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

As a semi-retired teacher who went from one thankless job (law enforcement) to another part time, I can emphatically endorse Lauren Ritchie 's assertions in her column Wednesday regarding teacher salaries driving off the best and the brightest people.

Northwest spotlight: James Norris of Lady Lake

By Lori Carter, Special to the Sentinel — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Age: 20.

Fire departments must come to rescue regardless of political boundaries

Lauren Ritchie — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Second of two parts

Umatilla police Chief Doug Foster to defend job at termination hearing

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

UMATILLA — Police Chief Doug Foster is scheduled to meet behind closed doors May 31 for a termination hearing with City Manager Glenn Irby. Foster, who has been chief for 21 years, was placed on paid administrative leave earlier this month following an incident in which one of his officers detained and questioned two 13-year-old middle-school students in an aggravated-assault incident without the presence of their parents, according to Irby. He said the chief broke city rules banning interviewing kids without their parents in the room and now could be fired, pending the outcome of the meeting. "The tone of the meeting will be for the Chief and his attorney to present reasons to me as City Manager why I should not follow through on his termination," Irby said in an email. Irby said Foster has the right to appeal to the City Council if he decides to fire the chief. That hearing would be opened to the public.

Leesburg church effort to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes for needy kids winding down

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:39:35 GMT

LEESBURG — The Rev. John Christian, above right, pastor of the Christian Worship Center, and Tamara Chaplin show some of the shoes donated to Men of Distinction's Walk a Mile in My Shoes campaign.

Bill would protect water-authority lands from artifact looters

By Eloísa Ruano González, Orlando Sentinel — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:14:00 GMT

Treasure hunters have long pilfered arrowheads, pottery and other archaeological artifacts on state lands, risking jail time if caught.