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Former OCOA president/CEO, Beverly Hougland, and granddaughter Brynnlee Hougland, tout the Council on Aging’s Senior Santa program. PHOTO/OSCEOLA COUNCIL ON AGING

Former OCOA president/CEO, Beverly Hougland, and granddaughter Brynnlee Hougland, tout the Council on Aging’s Senior Santa program. PHOTO/OSCEOLA COUNCIL ON AGING

COUNCIL'S CORNER — 30 years of the Senior Santa Adoption Program

Wendy Coschignano Ford
Thursday, December 5, 2024
For more than three decades the Osceola Council on Aging (OCOA) has hosted its Senior Santa Adoption initiative. Each holiday season the OCOA “adopts” seniors, hosts festivities, gives holiday gifts, provides meals, and spreads Christmas cheer to thousands of Osceola seniors.
Hurricane Milton was powerful enough through Osceola County to bring some trees down onto power lines Oct. 10, like this one at Emmett Street and Randolph Avenue near downtown Kissimmee. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Hurricane Milton was powerful enough through Osceola County to bring some trees down onto power lines Oct. 10, like this one at Emmett Street and Randolph Avenue near downtown Kissimmee. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Mighty 2024 Atlantic hurricane season draws to a close; Floridians sigh

Ken Jackson
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
While it seems to be odd to be talking about tropical systems during a week where “Florida winter” has brought chilly weather, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season came to a merciful close Saturday. It kept Osceola County residents, leaders and emergency managers on their toes.
Story and photos by Katie Williams

Story and photos by Katie Williams

Welcoming the Christmas season in Kissimmee

News Staff
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
It’s beginning to look a lot like … well, you know. New Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa presided over the city’s tree lighting ceremony at City Hall Saturday.The city’s tree is back on Church Street after City Hall construction forced moving the tree to the police department in 2023.
A Kissimmee man won a $1 million prize earlier this year among three prizes he claimed in the Florida Lottery's 500X THE CASH scratch-off game. PHOTO/FLORIDA LOTTERY

A Kissimmee man won a $1 million prize earlier this year among three prizes he claimed in the Florida Lottery's 500X THE CASH scratch-off game. PHOTO/FLORIDA LOTTERY

Solivita man wins $1 million among three wins in Florida Lottery scratch-off game

Staff Report
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
A Kissimmee man won a $1 million prize earlier this year among three prizes he claimed in the Florida Lottery's 500X THE CASH scratch-off game.Lottery officials this week announced John Schaafsma, 68, won a $1,000 prize, a life-changing $1 million win in August, and another $1,000 prize in November.
The amount raised worldwide since the movement became a wave in 2012 has gone from tens of millions to the billions. GRAPHIC/GIVINGTUESDAY.ORG

The amount raised worldwide since the movement became a wave in 2012 has gone from tens of millions to the billions. GRAPHIC/GIVINGTUESDAY.ORG

Help strengthen your community on #GivingTuesday

Staff Report
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
After Thanksgiving are the "holidays" that send consumers toward Christmas, with names you've heard for years:Black Friday.Small Business Saturday.Take a Break Sunday (Okay, we made that one up).Cyber Monday.
An arrest affidavit details the deadly shooting of a St. Cloud woman early Sunday by her fiancé.

An arrest affidavit details the deadly shooting of a St. Cloud woman early Sunday by her fiancé.

Police report sheds light on deadly early Sunday St. Cloud shooting

Ken Jackson
Monday, December 2, 2024
An arrest affidavit released in the Sunday fatal shooting shed light on the death of Natalie Du Mee, 58.She was the fiancé of Timothy Hyder, 57, who police say shot and killed Du Mee after the two had a drunken argument about if she would ever marry him.
Temperatures expected to dip into the 30s in Osceola County Tuesday night have kicked in emergency protocols.

Temperatures expected to dip into the 30s in Osceola County Tuesday night have kicked in emergency protocols.

Cold weather shelter to open Tuesday night

News Staff
Monday, December 2, 2024
Ahead of temperatures that could drop into the 30s in Osceola County Tuesday night, First United Methodist Church of St. Cloud will open at 5 p.m. as a cold weather shelter for those experiencing homelessness.
Richard Lawrence and Frances Fernandez, who operate a tour boat company on East Lake Tohopekaliga, made initial appearances in front of a judge Sunday after their arrests in connection with sexual battery on a teenage employee. OSCEOLA COUNTY

Richard Lawrence and Frances Fernandez, who operate a tour boat company on East Lake Tohopekaliga, made initial appearances in front of a judge Sunday after their arrests in connection with sexual battery on a teenage employee. OSCEOLA COUNTY

Lake Toho tour boat captain, fiancée charged with having sex with live-in minor employee

Ken Jackson
Monday, December 2, 2024
On Saturday, St. Cloud Police arrested the man who captains the Toho River Boat Adventures and his girlfriend after a report that they had sexual relations with a 17-year-old company employee living with them.
The detour to use for the Orange Blossom Trail onramp to northbound 417 on Thursday and Friday night as the onramp is repaved. MAP/CFX

The detour to use for the Orange Blossom Trail onramp to northbound 417 on Thursday and Friday night as the onramp is repaved. MAP/CFX

December begins with State Road 417 construction, ramp closures

News Staff
Sunday, December 1, 2024
As work nears completion on the expansion of State Road 417 from International Drive to State Road 528, ongoing for about four years now and expected to be completed by early 2025, a few ramps will be closed overnight this first week of December.
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