Kissimmee Utility Authority welcomed Kissimmee attorney Michele Lebron to its Board of Directors, having been sworn in at the Oct. 1 meeting.
Lebron owns and is the managing attorney at Lebron Law, PLLC in Kissimmee and has been a resident of Kissimmee for 13 years.
Lebron was appointed to the board by the City of Kissimmee commission in June. The board now consists of Lebron, Chairman: Manuel Ortega, Vice Chairman Rae Hemphill, Secretary Reginald Hardee, Assistant Secretary Melissa Thacker and ex-officio member Mayor Jackie Espinosa.
Students invited to enter Florida Farm to School essay contest
"Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is inviting Florida high school students to participate in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Farm to School Essay Contest, open through Nov. 17.
Students can reflect on the vital role local farmers and producers play in feeding Florida’s communities while competing for scholarships of up to $3,000. The contest’s top three winners will each receive a Florida Prepaid 529 Savings Plan scholarship from FDACS.
All winners will be recognized in person at FDACS’ annual Florida Farm to School Conference in Tampa, in April 2026, and the first-place winner will have their essay published.
The contest is open to students in grades 9-12 who submit one essay between 500-800 words on one of these topics: Letter to a Farmer: A letter thanking a local farmer—real or fictional—for contributions to their school, community and/or overall health; Nourish Your Future: A persuasive letter to convince peers to eat more locally grown foods, emphasizing the connection between Florida agriculture and nutrition; If I Were a Farmer: Write about what to grow and why, and how the farm would contribute to its school and community.
All information to enter can be found at FarmToSchoolFL.com/Essay.
Florida recognizes National Pedestrian Safety Month
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Highway Patrol recognize October as National Pedestrian Safety Month, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With the reminder that Safety Starts With You, this month serves as a time to raise awareness about pedestrian safety and remind drivers to watch for pedestrians every time they get behind the wheel.
Pedestrians have the highest fatality rate among all road users in Florida, often interacting with motorists, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and commercial vehicle drivers at sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersections. Crash data indicates that faults are shared evenly between drivers and pedestrians, highlighting the need for caution and accountability on both sides, making pedestrian safety a shared responsibility.
In 2024, there were 12,223 pedestrian crashes statewide, a nearly 19% increase from 2023 alone. With that said, fatalities and SBIs have decrease once again for a second straight year.
