Posey to meet with constituents, tour facilities

Congressman Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, next week will meet with constituents and tour facilities in Brevard, Indian River and Osceola counties.

Posey will tour Osceola County facilities Friday. He will visit the office of the Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County, a nonprofit, from 10 to 11 a.m. He will then tour the Lowes Distribution Center near Kissimmee from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The congressman or his staff will then hold office hours from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Valencia Community College. To meet one-on-one with Posey and his district staff, call 888-681-1776 for available appointments.

Waiting list to open for senior housing in St. Cloud

The Osceola County Council on Aging Housing Division is opening its waiting list at one of its independent living facilities, St. Cloud Villas II on Old Canoe Creek in St. Cloud.

Due to limitations, the waiting list will only be open for one day on Friday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Applicants must be at least 62 years old to apply.

To find out if you qualify, call 407-891-1467 for St. Cloud Villas II.

Lane closures along Hoagland Boulevard

The city of Kissimmee Public Works and Engineering Department has announced that a contractor working for the Kissimmee Utility Authority will set up and maintain lane closures along Hoagland Boulevard.

The work began Monday. The lanes on Buckley Drive and Fifth Street will be closed for crews to upgrade power poles and set up transmission lines. The lane closures will remain in effect until the work is completed.

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 407-518-2170.

Bus driver fined in Lynx fatality

Fernando Vega, the Lynx bus driver who killed a 10-year-old Kissimmee boy in November with a bus, was fined $1,000 and had his licensed suspended for six months Jan. 21 in an Osceola County courtroom.

Lynx fired Vega earlier this month after the agency concluded its internal investigation of the incident.

The former bus driver has 10 months to pay the fine as well as $33 in court costs. Vega also must complete eight hours of traffic school within three months.

Vega, 63, was issued a ticket in December by the Kissimmee Police Department for failure to yield while turning.

The boy, Matthew Robinson, and his 12-year-old brother, Mark, were crossing Columbia Avenue at Dyer Boulevard in Kissimmee on their way home from the Kangaroo Express convenience store. Matthew died on the scene while Mark suffered a broken back, among other injuries.

Vega had a green light to make a left turn onto Dyer Boulevard, however, the intersection’s left turn lane does not have a green arrow, Kissimmee Police Department spokeswoman Stacie Miller said. In this instance, Miller said, pedestrians have the right of way to cross the street at a crosswalk.

While the Robinson’s attorney, Jeremy Markman, was unavailable for comment, he previously said he hoped Lynx would “make the situation right,” adding the family does not “want to go through a lengthy

litigation.”

Pinewood Derby today

The Osceola District Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts will be today at the Starling Chevrolet dealership in Kissimmee, 2500 N. Orange Blossom Trail.

Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the races starting at 10 a.m. Cub Scouts, their families and their friends are invited. Registration is $5 per entry per Scout.

Races will be for Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos and their siblings. Trophies will be given out along with patches and prizes. There will be food available for purchase.

For more information, call Vinny Zappi at 407-334-7274 or by e-mail at zappi-one@cfl.rr.com.

Small business workshop

The next Hispanic Business Initiative Fund Workshop, Effective Strategies for Successful Businesses, will be in Kissimmee Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In this workshop, participants will learn the legal, financial, managerial and marketing strategies that will help to be more competitive.

Due to the high demand and limited space available, reservations are required. Register at www.HBIFFlorida.org or by calling 407-428-5872.

Six recommended for Orange County court

The Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission recently announced it had recommended six people to the governor for appointment to fill the vacancy of Orange County Court Judge Mike Murphy.

The nominees include Christopher Annunziato, Jeanette D. Bigney, Alfred James Craner II, John Z. Paré, Margaret H. Schreiber and Christopher L. Smith.

Former Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Murphy to fill a vacancy on the Ninth Circuit Court.