Paul Owen out of commission race

The Osceola County Commission district 4 candidate slate became one contender smaller this week with Republican Paul Owen dropping out, according to the Supervisor of Elections website.

Owen is a former county commissioner and commission chairman. Three Democrats – Bob Healy Jr., Donald D. Miers and Donna Hart – remain in contention as do five Republicans – Frank Attkisson, Lester Centurion, Melani Jane Davis, Donald A. Shroyer and Melvin C. Welch. Joseph L. Cólon is running with no party affiliation.

The primary election will be Aug. 24 while the general election will be Nov. 2.

Qualifying week for candidates begins at noon Monday, June 14, and runs through noon Friday, June 18.

Five corrections employees have discipline overturned

Four terminations and one five-day suspension at the Osceola County Corrections Department were overturned recently by Deputy County Manager Beth Knight after employees appealed their respective disciplinary actions.

County policy allows employees who have been disciplined or terminated to use a grievance process if they feel that they have been treated unfairly. Several Corrections Department officers who were disciplined as a result of an escape from the facility in February are making use of this process. Corrections Department officials had recommended in early April that 30 corrections staff face discipline ranging from oral counseling to termination.

Most of the recommendations for disciplinary action were upheld, according to a county press release.

“There were some cases where the disciplinary action was not appropriate given the evidence, and in those cases we have overturned the disciplinary recommendations,” Knight said. “This is why we have a grievance process, to ensure fair and proper action is taken in these circumstances.”

Several more employees have yet to meet with the Knight as part of their appeal. Should they desire, the next step would be to meet with the interim county manager, whose decision is final.

Those employees who were returned to work may receive back-wages and/or other forms of lesser discipline. Disciplined employees had ten days from the date of termination to make an appointment with the deputy county manager to discuss their case.

Buckle up or be ticketed

The Kissimmee Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies around the nation May 24 through June 6 for the annual Click It or Ticket campaign.

The purpose of the program is to encourage drivers and their passengers to buckle their seat belts or possibly receive a ticket if stopped by a law enforcement officer. During the campaign period, motorists should be prepared for stepped up enforcement activities that will take place around the clock.

If law enforcement finds you on the road unbuckled at anytime or anywhere, you can expect a ticket, not a warning.  A violation of the seat belt law is a $118 fine.

In 2008, 12,671 motor vehicle occupants died in crashes nationwide between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nearly two-thirds of those who died were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

“Nighttime drivers and passengers continue to be among those least likely to wear seat belts,” Kissimmee Police Chief Fran Iwanski said. “Consequently, they are also among those most likely to die in a motor vehicle crash. This is why the Kissimmee Police Department is supporting enhanced nighttime enforcement of the seat belt law during the Click It or Ticket campaign.”

FWC leads the way in managing reptiles of concern

Reptiles of concern in Florida may soon be reclassified as conditional species as a result of draft rules approved at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s meeting in Tallahassee on April 28.

By reclassifying reptiles of concern, which include the Burmese python, the commission will no longer allow future personal possession of these animals as pets. Current owners of these species as pets may continue to possess the animals as long as the licensed pet lives. Commercial reptile breeders will be allowed to possess these reptiles for export out of Florida.

The commission also approved draft rules for the regulation of reptiles of concern held by dealers for the purpose of export. The proposed rules provide regulations for housing the animals, set standards for commission inspections, require a critical incident plan to be filed and set up record-keeping and reporting procedures. In addition, the commissioners approved new draft rules that address containment of the species during transport to ensure the safety of anyone involved in handling the species during exportation out of Florida.

They also approved new draft rules for relinquishing non-native pets. The proposed rules allow for amnesty when a reptile of concern is turned over to a reptile of concern license holder or a conditional species permit holder, but the acceptance of these animals must be reported to the commission within 72 hours. The FWC wants to ensure that all current owners of reptiles of concern have an option to surrender pets if they can no longer keep them.

Two representatives from the reptile industry and The Nature Conservancy addressed the commission and gave their approval to the draft rules. The Humane Society of the United States also supported the rules but urged the commission to go further by banning all breeding and sale of the reptiles for export.

“This is not an end to the process,” Scott Hardin, the commission’s exotic species leader, said. “We will continue to gather biological information, including threats to the environment and human safety and we will continue working with stakeholders.”

The commission directed staff to bring back final rules to the June 23 meeting in Lake Mary.

For more information on reptiles of concern, go to MyFWC.com/ROC.

Osceola County Hydrilla Field Day

Experts will be at Kissimmee Lakefront Park pavilion (near boat ramp), 101 Lakeshore Blvd., Kissimmee, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday to discuss the problems associated with aquatic weeds (particularly hydrilla and hygrophila - both invasive aquatic weeds that plague our waterways) and the $2.9 million Demonstration Project Grant awarded to Osceola County from the Environmental Protection Agency to study this environmental and economic problem.

There will be airboat tours of treatment areas for registered attendees and exhibits highlighting demonstration results for this project, aquatic plant displays, and more.

Osceola County commissioners and other local officials, experts from the University of Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and representatives from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and South Florida Water Management District will be on site.

Call the Osceola County Public Information Office for more information at 407-742-0100.

Open house Thursday for new cancer center

The Florida Hospital Cancer Institute recently opened its newest center at Florida Hospital Kissimmee.

The center, 1300 W. Oak St. in Kissimmee, will offer the community the latest in diagnostic imaging, including a Varian linear accelerator which can pinpoint a tumor to the millimeter for more accurate radiation treatment. Residents also have access to PET and CT scans even without being a patient at Florida Hospital, making it easier for people to get the tests they need quickly and conveniently.

The center also offers medical and radiation oncology services including chemotherapy, clinical trials and access to sub-specialty services such as bone marrow transplant, surgical oncology and pediatric oncology. Patient support and education programs are also available.

An open house for the community will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the center. To RSVP for the event, call 407-303-1700.

"The center offers a wide range of services to the residents of Osceola County,” said Ernesto Lopez, assistant administrator of the hospital. “This new center will provide a convenient location for cancer patients and their families to come for a wide range of services with state-of-the-art technology.”

Appointed to Ninth Judicial Circuit Court

Gov. Charlie Crist Thursday announced the appointment of Patricia A. Doherty to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, which covers Orange and Osceola counties.

Doherty, 55, has practiced privately with Wooten, Kimbrough, Gibson, Doherty and Normand since 1983.  Previously, the firm has operated under the names Wooten, Honeywell, Kest and Martinez, as well as Wooten, Honeywell and Kest. She also worked as a physical therapist from 1977 to 1980. Doherty earned both her bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Florida.

Doherty will fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Robert Wattles.