Negotiations to begin for county manager

Osceola County commissioners Monday agreed to begin negotiations with Interim County Manager Don Fisher to make him the county manager.

Commissioner Michael Harford, who previously had pressed the commission to begin a national search for the county’s top administrator, said he was now convinced that Fisher could do the job and that the money saved by not conducting the search could be better spent elsewhere.

County human resources staff will negotiate with Fisher and bring back a contract for the commission’s consideration no later than June 21.

Fisher assumed county manager duties April 4, the same day the commission fired Michael Freilinger from the position.

Fisher said he would not be offered the opportunity to be county manager without the support of county staff, county elected officials as well as staff and elected officials from the county’s two cities.

Blood drive at Ford dealership

There will be a blood drive at Poffenbaugh Ford Lincoln Mercury Tuesday, June 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The dealership is at 1118 13th St., St. Cloud

Participants are asked to eat and drink before donating. The drive is being conducted by the Community Blood Centers of Central Florida.

Hart withdraws from county race

Donna Hart, currently St. Cloud mayor, announced Wednesday morning she was pulling out of the district 4 Osceola County Commission race.

Hart, a Democrat, said she needed a break from politics and that she needed more time with her family. Hart said she would be contacting the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections office Wednesday to file the needed paperwork for withdrawing from the race and for closing down her campaign.

Remaining Democrats include Bob Healy Jr. and Donald Miers. Republicans still in the race include Frank Attkisson, Lester Centurion, Melani Jane Davis, Donald Shroyer and Melvin Welch. Joseph Cólon is running with no party affiliation.

Qualifying for candidates starts Monday and ends Friday. All candidates for the district except Cólon would be on the Aug. 24 primary ballot, if they qualify. The general election will be Nov. 2.

Four Corners Hurricane Expo set for June 19

Osceola County officials invite residents to join them at the fourth annual Four Corners Hurricane Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at the Vista Del Lago Community Center, 14465 Vista Del Lago Blvd.

Held in conjunction with Orange, Polk and Lake county offices of emergency management, this free hurricane expo will feature informational stations and booths from a variety of agencies, including local fire departments and disaster volunteer organizations. The expo will include hands-on activities and presentations from emergency responders on topics ranging from NOAA weather radios, food safety, children coping with disasters and creating a disaster supply kit.

“When it comes to disaster readiness, we all have a part to play. I encourage everyone to come out and learn how to be prepared in case of an emergency,” Osceola County Emergency Management Director Dave Casto said. “Our preparedness message this year is, ‘Are You a Survivor?’”

From Kissimmee, residents should travel west on U.S. Highway 192 past State Road 429 and turn right onto Vista Del Lago Boulevard. Follow the boulevard just past the stop sign and turn right at the community center/club house.

For more information, contact Osceola County Emergency Management at 407-742-9000.

Construction to start on Kissimmee business incubator

The University of Central Florida will join officials from the city of Kissimmee and Osceola County from 5 to 7 p.m. June 24 for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the UCF Business Incubator-Kissimmee in the City Centre building at 111 E. Monument Ave., Kissimmee.

Gordon Hogan, director of operations for the UCF Business Incubation Program, said the UCF Business Incubator-Kissimmee will use more than 8,000 square feet of office space on the fourth floor of City Centre and that incubator facilities would open in about two months.

“The UCF Business Incubator-Kissimmee will offer a wide range of support services to help promising enterprises accelerate their growth and generate new jobs in the Kissimmee area,” Hogan said.

Research has shown that 87 percent of incubator graduates are still in business five years after graduating from an incubation program, said UCF’s Business Incubation Program founder Tom O’Neal. He also said business incubators rank among the most cost-effective ways to generate sustainable local economic growth.

The UCF Incubation Program currently operates facilities at Central Florida Research Park and in Orlando, St. Cloud, Sanford, Winter Springs and Leesburg.

Horner picks up national endorsement from Mike Huckabee

Former presidential contender, former governor of Arkansas and current FOX News host Mike Huckabee recently announced his endorsement of freshman state Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, in his re-election bid for the 79th district.

“Huck PAC and I are pleased to endorse Mike Horner in his re-election bid ... Mike has distinguished himself as a commonsense conservative leader in the Florida Legislature, a committed economic and social conservative who does not shy away from the tough fights,” Huckabee said. “Mike Horner understands the limited role government should play in our lives and our economy.”

"Mike Huckabee is a leading conservative voice in our country and his support means a great deal to me," Horner said. "Governor Huckabee and I share the same commonsense conservative values that led the Reagan revolution. Those uniquely American principles can and will guide us once again to prosperity in Florida."

Huckabee will host a reception in support of Horner’s re-election from noon to 1 p.m. June 17, at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, 233 N. Hoagland Blvd. Prior to the reception, he will facilitate a policy roundtable with select local business and community leaders. Call Adam Lovejoy at 407-963-3519 or e-mail him at adam@gohorner.com for more information or to reserve a space for the event.