New law enforcement Purple Alerts to begin July 1
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will begin issuing Purple Alerts in Florida on July 1.
This new class of alerts, similar to Amber (missing children) and Silver (missing seniors) alerts will be used to assist in the location of missing adults suffering from mental, cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The criteria for issuing a Purple Alert are:
The person is 18 or older and does not qualify for a state- or local-level Silver Alert; The person has an intellectual or developmental
The person has an intellectual or developmental disability, brain injury or another physical, mental or emotional disability that is not related to substance abuse and does not have Alzheimer’s disease or a dementiarelated disorder;
The local law enforcement agency’s investigation concluded the disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to the missing person and they can only be returned to safety through law enforcement intervention;
There is a detailed description of the missing person suitable for distribution;
The missing person information has been entered into Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC);
The law enforcement agency of jurisdiction recommends activation. When issued, Purple Alert information will be
When issued, Purple Alert information will be distributed to citizens who have signed up to receive the alerts and displayed on dynamic highway message signs when applicable. The alerts will also be posted on the FDLE public website.
To sign up to receive Florida Purple Alerts through email or text messages, go to: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/ PurpleAlerts/Purple-Alert-Plan.aspx.
Toho Water Authority issues call for charity sponsorships, community groups fund applications
Toho Water Authority’s annual sponsorship program is currently accepting requests for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
To apply, non-profits and community groups should submit online at: tohowater.com/outreach prior to the July 15 deadline.
Requests for funding will be reviewed by an internal committee and recommended for approval by the Toho Board of Supervisors at its September meeting for allocation, when the fiscal year begins.
The goal of Toho’s annual sponsorship program is to support a range of organizations in the categories of environmental stewardship, social services, investment in youth, community outreach programs and community events.
Toho annually budgets a symbolic $1 per customer to the program, which resulted in more than $115,000 being given back to the community last fiscal year.
While Toho may review sponsorships requests at other times of the year, this annual call for sponsorships is the primary timeframe for the program. Any questions, please contact pio@tohowater.com or
Any questions, please contact pio@tohowater.com or 407-944-5123.
Local attorneys honored at Florida Bar Convention
The Florida Bar will honor 605 attorneys and senior counselors for 50 years of dedication to the practice of law during this week’s Florida Bar Annual Convention.
To be recognized, attorneys must have been members in good standing of The Florida Bar, active or inactive, as of Jan. 1 of their admittance to the practice of law anniversary Bar year.
Locally, Kissimmee’s Fred Cumbie (Overstreet, Miles, Ritch & Cumbie, P.A.), Charles Tiffany and Robert Rao of Kissimmee and Melvin Pearlman and Robert Zippin of Celebration earned the honor.
LYNX running on holiday schedule July 4
LYNX will be operating a holiday schedule on Independence Day. (If a service runs on Sunday, it will offer the same schedule on the holiday.) Find details here: https://www.golynx.com/news
Find details here: https://www.golynx.com/newsevents/independence-day-schedule-2022.stml
The call center will be open its regular hours (8 a.m.-8 p.m.).
