Lake County News - OrlandoSentinel.com

Groveland resident Ric Baysinger to share dad's role in D-Day planning

By Amy C. Rippel, Correspondent — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

GROVELAND — For decades, Ric Baysinger held a small piece of World War II history in a box in a closet. On Memorial Day, he'll share it with Groveland residents and beyond.

Mount Dora buys land needed for parking garage

By Ludmilla Lelis , Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

MOUNT DORA — City officials agreed to buy an $85,000 property that will be used for an exit driveway from the downtown parking garage.

Leesburg man recounts epic World War II battle on Okinawa

By Earl Watson, Correspondent — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

LEESBURG — Sugar Loaf Hill, Shuri Heights and Horseshoe Ridge — far-off places but not too distant in the memory of Bill Cumbaa, 91, who left some of his buddies at those places in 1945.

Winter Park man convicted in Lake County internet child-sex sting

By Ludmilla Lelis , Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

TAVARES — A 45-year-old Winter Park man, arrested during a Lake County child-sex sting, was found guilty of traveling to a vacation home in hopes of having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

Water-powered jet-pack rides offer 007-style thrills | Video

By Ludmilla Lelis , Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 27 May 2012 01:42:00 GMT

Travis Wolf flipped a switch on his water-powered jet pack and took off over Little Lake Harris, soaring more than 20 feet above the surface.

Beverly Johnson Wesling: Her love of history was rooted in wartime service

By Eloísa Ruano González, Orlando Sentinel — Sat, 26 May 2012 20:33:00 GMT

Beverly Wesling walked away from nurses' training the day she was assigned to a maternity ward. The experience had her convinced that she would never want kids.

Lake commissioners reject Summit Greens traffic light

By Eloísa Ruano González, Orlando Sentinel — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

For the last year, Judy Proli and her neighbors in Summit Greens fought hard for a traffic light at the entrance of their subdivision in Clermont. But they won't be getting one anytime soon.

Stickers aim to discourage illegal alcohol purchases

Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Safe Climate Coalition partnered with law-enforcement officials last week for the Seventh Annual Lake County Sticker Shock Project, with the goal of discouraging adults from buying alcohol products for minors. Thirteen adults, eight officials and 29 students participated, said Cindy Smith, the coalition's project coordinator.

Fish and Wildlife urges boater safety on Memorial Day weekend

Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Plenty of Lake County residents will be hitting the water over the Memorial Day weekend, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a couple of words of caution: Stay safe.

Water levels on Lake Minneola too low to allow swimming

By Rosemarie Dowell, Correspondent — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

CLERMONT — Visitors to Waterfront Park will be disappointed if they were planning on taking a refreshing dip into Lake Minneola over the Memorial Day weekend — the swim area has virtually disappeared thanks to an extended drought.

Memorial Day services

Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Several communities have scheduled Memorial Day services featuring military tributes and speakers, honoring those who fought for freedom and gave their lives in battle.

Leesburg boater found dead in Lake Eustis

By Eloísa Ruano González, Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:43:00 GMT

TAVARES — A boater was found dead in Lake Eustis, state officials reported this afternoon.

Marine recruiter arrested in Craigslist sex sting

By Erica Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:01:00 GMT

Veteran agreed to meet with fictitious stepmother and 14-year-old for sex

A Marine recruiter from Kissimmee was arrested Friday after responding to Craigslist ad in which a detective posed as a stepmother offering sex with herself and her 14-year-old daughter.

Man accused of beating toddler with plastic flower

By Erica Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:57:00 GMT

Man said the girl hit him first with the flower

Lady Lake Police arrested a 25-year-old man Thursday accused of beating a 2-year-old girl with plastic flower as a punishment.

Deputies bust meth lab in Bassville Park

By Eloísa Ruano González, Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:08:00 GMT

BASSVILLE PARK — Deputy sheriffs said they have busted another meth lab in this community about eight miles east of Leesburg.

Lake elementary students sickened by insecticide on school bus ride

By Erica Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:48:31 GMT

Several Lake County elementary students were sickened by the smell of insecticide on a school bus Friday morning, prompting the school to call for emergency medical attention, officials said.

County to collect unwanted appliances, garbage during Sorrento clean-up event

By Eloísa Ruano González — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:30:59 GMT

SORRENTO — More than 30 tons of garbage was hauled off during the recent Spring Community Clean-up. Lake County officials organized the event last week to allow businesses and residents to clean up their storefronts and yards and beautify the rural community.

Villages Honor Flight to take 25 World War II veterans to D.C. to visit memorials

Staff report — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

LEESBURG — Royal Highlands resident Walter Hixenbaugh, 87, is thrilled that he'll finally get a chance to see the World War II Memorial during a whirlwind trip toWashington, D.C.

Lake food drive vital to feeding kids during summer

Lauren Ritchie — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Quick, raid your pantry!

Lake shuffles school leadership, district positions

By Erica Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Lake County school district is in the midst of shuffling several principals, planning to add positions and revamping positions that oversee academics for the district's 40,000 children.

Leesburg borrows airboat to clear air at warehouse after trailer fire

By Julia Glum, Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

LEESBURG — Firefighters today used an airboat loaned by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to clear the air at a refrigerated warehouse where smoke and unsafe carbon-monoxide levels were found after a trailer fire outside.

Oglethorpe University wins Division II men's golf event at Mission Inn

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS — Ryan Dagerman of Emory University in Atlanta, above, lines up a putt during the 2012 NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship at Mission Inn Resort & Club. But it was another Atlanta institution, Oglethorpe University, that prevailed during the event last week that brought 40 collegiate golf teams to Lake County for several days of competitive driving and putting.

Work under way on New Beginnings job-training, tutoring center

By Rosemarie Dowell, Correspondent — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

CLERMONT — After several months of delays, an area ministry has finally started renovating an abandoned former church it plans to use as center to help the rising number of homeless and jobless people in south Lake.

Tavares ready to sell seldom-used water-taxis

By Ludmilla Lelis , Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

TAVARES — City officials are ready to sell two water taxis that have been seldom used since 2008.

Eustis, Mount Dora libraries to close for construction

By Ludmilla Lelis , Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Libraries in Eustis and Mount Dora will close briefly this summer for necessary construction work.