Utility releases 2011 electrical safety calendar

The Kissimmee Utility Authority on has released its 2011 calendar of electrical safety, featuring the winning entries from its annual student art contest.

The calendars are available free while supplies last at the utility’s customer service center at 1701 W. Carroll St., in Kissimmee.

Open to Osceola County students in kindergarten through fifth grade, the contest is designed to promote electrical safety and help prevent electrical accidents. This year, 27 schools submitted a combined 2,138 entries — the largest number of entries ever received in the annual contest, according to Chris Gent, utility spokesman.

A panel of judges selected 12 entries – one for each calendar month – that are featured in the 2011 calendar.

The winners are: City of Life Christian Academy, Jahaziel Serrano, grade 2; Flora Ridge Elementary, Fionna Sosa, grade 3, and Anastasia Trejo, grade 4; Kissimmee Charter Academy, Victoria Quezada, grade 5; Kissimmee Elementary School, Nicholas Cruz, grade 4; Michigan Avenue Elementary School, Jaimie Hauser, grade 5 (grand-prize winner), and Andrew Joaquin, grade 4; Pleasant Hill Elementary School, Nora Louis, grade 2; Sunrise Elementary School, Baily Palmer, grade 2, and Jameelah Patel, grade 5; Trinity Lutheran School, Robert Brea, grade 4; and Westside K-8, Deema Saeed Alharthi, grade 5.

This year marks the third consecutive win for Quezada. In addition, Hauser won previously in 2007 and Brea in 2009, Gent said.

KUA’s annual calendar project has received 48 local, state and national public relations and design awards since its inception in 1995.

Tip-A-Cop Friday at Outback in St. Cloud

In an effort to raise money for Special Olympics, Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell and sheriff’s office deputies will participate in Tip-A-Cop from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Outback Steakhouse, 4037 13th St., in St. Cloud. The event is open to the public.

Deputies will work as waiters and their tips will benefit Special Olympics, a nonprofit organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to more than 2.2 million people with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries.

Appointed to judicial nominating commission

Former Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday announced the appointment of Edward A. Storey III, 35, of Orlando, to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.

Storey is a partner with Thorne and Storey P.A. He succeeds Eric Eisnaugle.  Storey was appointed for a term beginning Dec. 30 and ending July 1, 2014.

Keith F. White appointed judge  for Ninth Judicial Circuit Court

Former Gov. Charlie Crist Monday announced the appointment of Keith F. White, of Maitland, to the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, which covers Orange and Osceola counties.

“Keith’s two decades of legal experience and his tenure as an elected city councilman will help him exercise reasoned judgment with fairness from the bench,” Crist said. “His dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to his community will be a benefit to the Ninth Circuit.”

White, 44, has practiced with Broad and Cassel since 1992 and served as a councilman for the city of Maitland from 1996 to 2001. He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Central Florida and his law degree from Florida State University College of Law.

White will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cynthia Z. Mackinnon.

Immigration issues to be considered

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos on Monday scheduled the first in a series of planned meetings on immigration and its impact on Florida.

The meetings will be led by Sen. Anitere Flores, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The meetings are designed to provide senators with a factual framework for evaluating and debating immigration policy proposals during the 2011 regular legislative session.

“It is critical that senators collect information in a comprehensive and dispassionate manner before debating the complexities of immigration policy,” Haridopolos said.  “My goal is for facts, rather than feelings, to guide us through this process. I’m confident Sen. Flores will do an outstanding job guiding committee members through this issue so that all sides are heard.”

The first meeting will focus on information-gathering and will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Room 110 in the Senate Office Building.

The meeting will frame the issues and explore how immigration affects the state, including demographically and across policy areas. It will feature presentations from invited speakers. Subsequent meetings will coincide with the Senate’s schedule of interim committee meetings leading up to the 2011 session.

Seven candidates so far for 2012 elections

So far, seven Osceola County residents have filed to run in elections in 2012 for seven different offices.

Republican Drew Locher, of Celebration, intends to run for the district 1 Osceola County Commission seat now held by incumbent Democrat Michael Harford.

Republican Tony Ferentinos, Kissimmee, is running for the district 3 commission seat held by incumbent Democrat Brandon Arrington. Arrington is the current commission chairman.

Philip Timothy Dunlap, Harmony, is a candidate for county judge, group 2, while Ernest Joseph Mullins, Kissimmee, is a candidate for county judge, group 4.

Julius A. Melendez, Kissimmee, is a candidate for district 2 Osceola County School Board.

Nereida Rios, Kissimmee, is a candidate for seat 5 (mayor) for the city of Kissimmee.

Timothy Devine, a Kissimmee Republican, intends to run as a write-in candidate against Sheriff Bob Hansell, the incumbent Democrat.