A look back — The stories of 2023

If 2023 was a good year for you, then you have memories to last a lifetime. If it wasn’t to your liking, then there’s good news: you and the rest of us get a new start Monday morning— and how often can you say you’ll be looking forward to a Monday?

This week we are looking back, to the stories that held the attention of our state and community the most during the year.

DeSantis starts second term—but spends much of it elsewhere
Gov. Ron DeSantis was sworn in Tuesday for a second term, offering a theme of “freedom”.

“These last few years have witnessed a great test of governing philosophies as many jurisdictions pursued a much different path than we have pursued here in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said during a 16-minute address, where the stage was backed by a pair of banners proclaiming DeSantis’ 2022 campaign theme of “The Free State of Florida.”

As he did throughout his re-election campaign against Democrat Charlie Crist, DeSantis accused the federal government of leaving the nation weaker through pandemic restrictions, inflationary spending and energy and immigration policies he opposes, while maintaining “we will never surrender to the woke mob.”

He did not address a run for the Republican 2024 president nomination at that time—that came later in the year. After that announcement, he spent much of the year campaigning in other states, like Iowa, which holds the first primary caucuses in January.

Mecum car auctions shatter records— again
Mecum Auto Auction, held at Osceola Heritage Park from Jan. 3-15, posted $234 million sales. That broke the 2022 record of $217 million, and is the very first auto auction to have back-to-back years exceeding $200 million in sales.

The Auction gets a chance to break another record when it convenes again at OHP on Jan. 2.

Celebrating the Big 1-5-0
The Silver Spurs Rodeo held its 150th event Feb. 17-19. The bi-annual event has come to be known as “The largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.”

The members of the traditional Quadrille riding team made news later in the year, as it was selected to be one of the few equestrian teams to ride in this New Year’s Tournament of Roses Parade, which you can watch live on ABC from Pasadena, Calif.

Vision realized—St. Cloud Boys & Girls Club officially opens
In St. Cloud, reality has met perception on a project that an entire community can take a little credit on.

The Boys & Girls Club of St. Cloud, located at 10th Street and Virginia Avenue, opened earlier this year, and held its official grand opening Friday—the culmination of two years of work and community involvement—in front of hundreds of community members, law enforcement and other stakeholders.

In 2021, the club was merely an idea in the heads of people of the community They worked to secure a facility, then approached the community to raise $600,000—three years worth of operating expenses—and in early 2023 the club opened and came to fruition.x It’s the third club in Osceola County, joining the Tupperware Brands branch in Kissimmee and one in Buenaventura Lakes.

“I don’t know if I’ve seen this much energy and support in one place,” said BGCCF President/CEO Gary Cain, who was on hand for the unveiling.

Kissimmee’s Cassidy sets Guinness record for running—a lot
Megan Cassidy made it into Guinness for eclipsing the consecutive number of days running an ultra-marathon for a female. That’s 50 kilometers, or 31.1 miles. From Dec. 17 to Jan. 8, Cassidy ran it. Every. Day.

She ran in the Lake Nona area to take advantage of better trails—and the company she’d meet running each morning.

“I’m absolutely hooked on running,” Cassidy said. “The adrenaline rush at the end, and the connections with the running community I’ve made, made it all worth it.”

Downtown St. Cloud reopens—finally
There were construction and material delays, and hurricane-related weather delays, but the street-scaping projects on Pennsylvania Avenue and 10th Street in downtown St. Cloud officially ended and re-opened those streets, to the happiness of merchants on them.

During two March special events, many downtown shops and other businesses extended their hours for a March festival, and restaurants experienced a boost in their Saturday night diners.

Gun violence and crime shakes community, urges leaders to act
A number of shootings in the area called for local leaders and law enforcement agencies to gather at least one vigil for action at the state level, in the way of stricter gun control laws.

The opposite actually occurred, with the Legislature passing a “constitutional carry” law during the state session that did away with Florida gun owners from need a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

And Sheriff Marcos Lopez and State Attorney Monique Worrell came to a war of words in March— the Sheriff calling Worrell’s low prosecution rates of drug cases “sad”, and the State Attorney responding that Lopez and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office manipulated arrest data to make her look bad.

Nonetheless, Gov. DeSantis removed Worrell from office during the year, citing how her office chose not to prosecute case, or under-prosecuted those it did.

Poinciana residents oppose energy plant
Residents who live along Pleasant Hill Road and Reaves Road opposed to plans for a renewable energy technology facility in the area made their voices heard to the Osceola County Commission.

Their vehement opposition to the potential dangers of hydrogen and lithium ion manufacturing led to France-based CMG Clean Tech to cancel those plans, “After very carefully considering the opposition and protests from the local community.” But residents still voiced concerns that the facility would replace a planned regional park for the area.

Kissmmee gets a new top cop; schools get new leader
Former Kissimmee Police Department Deputy Chief Betty Holland was named KPD’s new chief, replacing outgoing retiring Chief Jeff O’Dell in May.

“It’s my goal to keep the department moving forward and continuously improve,” she said. “We need to continue training to keep up with what’s going on in the world today. We’re going to keep getting better.”

Camille Alicea and Wilson Munoz were tabbed as deputy chiefs.

And Dr. Mark Shanoff, a former school principal in Orange County and district administrator in Volusia, was named new School District of Osceola County and began on July 1, as former superintendent Dr. Debra Pace also retired.

Get out and vote! In Osceola, you may do it 4 times this year
The 2024 election season will get off to a fast start for some residents of Osceola and Orange County. When Rep. Fred Hawkins resigned his district 35 state House of Representatives seat, it created a special election. Republican Erika Booth and Democrat Tom Keen won their party nominations in November and will square off in a Jan. 16 special election.

That will be followed by the “usual”—the March 19 presidential primary, Aug. 20 primary election and Nov. 5 general election.

In sports. . . The Orlando Magic brought potential NBA starts to Kissimmee
The Orlando Magic moved its NBA G League development team from Lakeland to Osceola’s Silver Spurs Arena. The Osceola Magic took to the floor for the first time on Nov. 16, and will play games in the 2023-24 season through March.

Osceola, St. Cloud “cross the canal” for the 100th time
It’s the fifth-longest active rivalry in Florida high school football, and on Sept. 29 the Kowboys and Bulldogs played their landmark 100th game. Pre-game festivities included honoring those who’ve played and coached in that game, going back to the 1950s.

Gateway’s girls reach Hoops Final 4 for first time; a 4-time state wrestling champ
They didn’t win an Orange Belt Conference title, but the Gateway Panthers ran roughshod through the district and regional playoffs to reach the Class 5A girls basketball Final Four for the first time in school history. The Panthers were the first to qualify to play in the state tournament in Lakeland since St. Cloud made it in 2019 and City of Life won a Class 2A state championship in 2018. Osceola High wrestler Cooper Haase concluded his career with his fourth FHSAA state championship.

In memory—those we lost in 2023

Guillermo “Bill” Hansen, a pillar of Osceola County’s Hispanic community and found of the El Osceola Star newspaper, passed away on July 1 at age 65.

Jim Shanks, known community- wide— far beyond where he was CEO of Park Place Behavioral Health Care—for being an “institution” for his contributions, passes away Aug. 18 at age 87 after a brief illness.

Former Osceola Sheriff Charles Wayne Croft , 74, best known as “Charlie” to all of his family and friends, died June 23 at his Panhandle home in Lee, Fla., following an extended illness.