Jo Thacker joins Broad and Casse

C. David Brown II, chairman of the statewide law firm Broad and Cassel, recently announced the addition of Jo Thacker to the firm’s Orlando office as a partner.

Brown said Thacker brings to the firm a wide variety of expertise and will practice in various areas of law, from corporate matters and governmental relations to real estate and land use.

“Jo is a tremendous leader in this region and the state. A lifelong resident of Osceola County, we are honored that she is returning to private practice and joining our team,” Brown stated in a press release.

Thacker has served in a number of local and statewide leadership positions, including her work with the Florida Association of Counties, Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce and the Osceola District of the Boy Scouts of America, who recently honored her at the annual Golden Eagle Boy Scout Dinner. A Kissimmee native, Thacker will remain active in her community service and leadership.

During her 13-year tenure as county attorney, Thacker also served as interim county manager. Prior to this, she served as a partner in the law firm of Overstreet, Ritch and Thacker.

A University of Florida graduate, she also received her law degree from UF’s Levin College of Law. Thacker now serves as a trustee for the College of Law.

Broad and Cassel established its Orlando office in 1975, and it has become the largest office in the firm. The firm’s Orlando attorneys focus their practices primarily in the following areas of law: affordable housing and tax credit, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, commercial litigation, corporate and securities, eminent domain, estate planning, government relations, intellectual property, labor and employment law, land use and environmental law, real estate and public finance and capital projects.

Broad and Cassel, founded on Jan. 1, 1946, has more than 160 lawyers and 200 support personnel located in eight offices throughout Florida. For more information, visit www.broadandcassel.com.

County offices to close Friday; three furlough days repealed

With the exception of public safety and other specific operations, all Osceola County Commission offices and departments will be closed Friday, in observance of an unpaid staff furlough day, with offices to re-open Monday.

Most commission departments and buildings, including libraries, human services, road and bridge, animal control, permitting and others will be closed to the public for the furlough day.

At its Sept. 20 meeting, the commission approved 10 employee furlough days for the fiscal year, which began Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30. However, at the June 6 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to approve amended furlough dates for the remaining fiscal year for commission employees in order to offset the 3 percent impact to employees caused by the State’s FRS Pension reform, which becomes effective July 1.

As a result of this action, the final three scheduled furlough days have been repealed, which means all county offices and departments will be open on July 15, Aug. 12 and Sept. 16.

Weisheyer files for School Board

Timothy P. Weisheyer, of Kissimmee, has filed to run for Osceola County School Board district 3.

Weisheyer is president of the Osceola County Association of Realtors. Incumbent Cindy Hartig, the current chair of the School Board, filed earlier for the seat.

The race is nonpartisan and the first election will be in August 2012, followed up by a run-off in November 2012, if needed.

City to host summer concert festival

The city of Kissimmee Parks and Recreation Department will host a Summer Jubilee Concert Festival Saturday.

The free event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Chambers Park Community Center.

The festival will showcase the talents of local gospel musicians, singers, poets and dancers and will be the first of four festivals hosted by Chambers Park this summer.

The community center is at 2380 N. Smith St.

For more information about the event or opportunities to be a vendor or to perform, send an email to Jamie Paul at jpaul@kissimmee.org or call 407-518-2599.

CVB accepting tourism grant applications

Applications for the Osceola County Tourist Development Council’s 2011-12 Tourism Enhancement Grants Program are now available at the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1925 E. U.S. Highway 192, in Kissimmee.

Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, July 1.

Government and nonprofit organizations based in Osceola County for at least two years may apply for a grant. The program makes funds available for qualified organizations to conduct special events or develop projects that enhance the county’s tourism promotion efforts.

Since its inception, more than $14 million has been awarded to various organizations in Osceola County.

Grant applications also can be obtained by going to www.kissimmeecvb.com/b2b/grants.

For more information, contact Teresa Cole, public relations coordinator, at 407-742-8211 or tcole@visitkissimmee.

Block grant meeting in St. Cloud

There will be a public community meeting in St. Cloud Tuesday, June 28, to discuss the needs of the community and provide input on the draft 2011-12 Osceola County Community Development Block Grant Program annual action plan.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and will be at the St. Cloud Senior Center, B Hall, 3101 17th St.

Circuit judge nominees announced

The Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission recently announced the nominees who have been recommended to Gov. Rick Scott for consideration and appointment to fill the vacancy of Circuit Court Judge Maura T. Smith.

The nominees are Christopher Annunziato, Mark Blechman, Leticia Marques, Wilfredo Martinez, Margaret H. Schreiber and Christopher L. Smith.

New edition of ‘Commissioners’ Corner’ now available

The latest edition of “Commissioners’ Corner” has been posted on the Osceola County government website.

In “Commissioners Corner,” each county commissioner discusses his current priorities, events and goals.

Some of the topics discussed in the May edition include the 2011-12 budget, the upcoming district 3 town hall meeting, economic development, hurricane preparedness, impact fees and community meetings.

To access each commissioner’s monthly message, go to www.osceola.org.

For more information, contact the Osceola County Community Outreach/Public Information Office at 407-742-0101.