Osceola County News - OrlandoSentinel.com

Osceola motel families: New face of homeless kids in Florida

By Kate Santich , Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 27 May 2012 02:05:00 GMT

In the shadow of the 30,000-acre Walt Disney World Resort, the Hampton family lives in a 300-square-foot motel room packed with possessions left over from a better life.

Bobby Sippio, recently cut by Orlando Predators, arrested on attempted-murder charge

Susan Jacobson , Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 27 May 2012 00:43:49 GMT

The former Osceola High School Kowboys quarterback and a friend beat and kicked Sippio's girlfriend's brother, deputies say.

Bobby Sippio, a wide receiver recently cut by the Orlando Predators, remained jailed without bail Saturday after his girlfriend's brother told deputies Sippio and another man kidnapped him, beat him and threatened to kill him.

Deputies: Man charged with attempted murder after shooting at couple

By Arelis R. Hernández, Orlando Sentinel — Sat, 26 May 2012 21:31:00 GMT

An Osceola County felon is accused of shooting at a couple and their toddler son as they were walking along U.S. Highway 192 on Friday, officials said.

Kelli Bordeaux: Volunteers to resume search for missing St. Cloud soldier

The Associated Press — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:53:00 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.— Volunteers are planning to resume the search for a Fort Bragg soldier missing for six weeks.

Kissimmee 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.

Rattlesnake bites kid near Lake Mary church

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:31:20 GMT

A child was bitten Friday by a rattlesnake in Lake Mary near Holy Cross Lutheran Church, according to Lake Mary police.

Memorial Day events in the Orlando area

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:18:09 GMT

Memorial Day Ceremony : 11 a.m. Friday; Starke Lake Gazebo, 125 N. Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee. Ocoee Police Department Honor Guard and Ocoee High School Air Force JROTC Color Guard. Details: 407-905-3100.

Ex-con breaks into Osceola nudist resort after trying to rob nearby Lowe's store, deputies say

By Kevin P. Connolly, Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:20:00 GMT

KISSIMMEE —Jumping the fence at Cypress Cove Nudist Resort & Spa earlier this week is the least of Milton J. Hodges Jr.'s legal troubles.

Malcom Thompson fires top aide at Osceola courthouse

By Henry Pierson Curtis , Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Finance director accused of illegally taping employee conversation

KISSIMMEE – Osceola Clerk of Court Malcom Thompson fired the head of courthouse finances this week, less than 24 hours after media outlets requested records of a months' old employee complaint.

Battling banners will fly over Disney for Gay Days

By Sara K. Clarke , Orlando Sentinel — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:25:00 GMT

Tourists in town next week could see two very different messages if they look skyward once Gay Days rolls into town: One will warn them away from an annual gay-and-lesbian celebration at Walt Disney World, while the other will welcome LGBT travelers and the dollars they spend in Orlando.

Orlando area post offices won't be closed, but rural offices' hours will likely be cut

By David Breen , Orlando Sentinel — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:10:00 GMT

TheU.S. Postal Servicehas abandoned plans to close several Central Florida post offices, but rural offices throughout the region will likely have their hours cut to reduce costs.

Kissimmee pastor Angel Perez denies sex with teen

By Henry Pierson Curtis , Orlando Sentinel — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:14:00 GMT

KISSIMMEE —Pastor Angel Perez's lawyer stressed today that the minister has done nothing wrong and his client denies sexually abused a teen member of his congregation.

Tupperware executive plans English Channel swim

By Anika Myers Palm, Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:37:00 GMT

In July, John Collingwood plans to attempt something only about 1,000 people in the world have accomplished since 1875: swim the English channel.

Kissimmee pastor charged with molesting teen

By Henry Pierson Curtis , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:22:14 GMT

Police seek more victims

A Kissimmee pastor claimed the devil made him molest a teenage boy last year, according to Kissimmee police records.

Osceola commission to consider adding initiatives to November ballot

By David Breen , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:02:00 GMT

Osceola County commissioners plan to consider adding a pair of citizen initiatives to the November ballot.

Orlando plastic surgeon sues Osceola patient over Web comments on rating site

By Walter Pacheco , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:27:00 GMT

An Orlando plastic surgeon's defamation lawsuit against an Osceola County patient could be a sign of legal struggles that will test the boundaries of freedom of speech as rating sites flourish on the Internet.

Ousted clerk back in command

By Henry Pierson Curtis , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:25:39 GMT

Osceola Clerk of Court shuffles staff after 15-week suspension by Gov. Rick Scott

Osceola Clerk of Court Malcom Thompson returned to work Monday almost four months after being removed from office.

Pawnshop registry helps find suspects in $100,000 home burglary

By Bianca Prieto , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:42:00 GMT

Victim finds some of her jewelry listed on Craigslist at Winter Park pawnshop

Two people are behind bars after Osceola County Sheriff's deputies charged them with numerous burglaries.

Celebration students, 14 and 13, arrested for shooting BB gun at occupied vehicle

By Bianca Prieto , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:22:05 GMT

Two Celebration High School students are facing felony charges after deputies say they fired a gun at a passing vehicle last month.

Reedy Creek firefighters want end to ban on picketing

By Jason Garcia , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:32:00 GMT

When it comes to negotiating for better pay and working conditions, the firefighters who protect Walt Disney World say they fall in a nebulous gap between public and private employment.

Osceola driver killed when car hits tree in Christmas

Susan Jacobson , Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 20 May 2012 03:24:00 GMT

A 52-year-old Central Florida man was killed Saturday when he crashed into a tree on Nova Road in Christmas.

Osceola County offers workers free surgeries — overseas

By David Breen and Marni Jameson, Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:22:00 GMT

Osceola County employee health plan gives incentive to have procedures in other countries

Patients who want to have their surgery for free, with a little foreign vacation on the side, may soon have that choice. Medical tourism, a concept that alarms some consumers and doctors alike, is slowly gaining national momentum, and it will soon be an option for Osceola County government employees.

Joe DuRocher fought tirelessly as public defender

Beth Kassab , Sentinel Columnist — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:06:00 GMT

Across Central Florida there are public defenders, judges, attorneys and at least one teacher united by a special common bond.

Owners say goodbye to pets during amnesty day at Gatorland

By Jon Busdeker, Orlando Sentinel — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:33:00 GMT

Sam Redding didn't want to say goodbye to the red-tailed boa constrictor.

Stunned teachers suspect scoring problem for poor FCAT writing results

By Leslie Postal , Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:53:00 GMT

Florida took the equivalent of a teacher's red pen to students' FCAT essays this week, marking up error after error and then scrawling a lousy grade at the top of the papers.