Dates set for St. Cloud city-wide garage sales
During the Nov. 11 City Council meeting, St. Cloud officials set the dates for this year’s Citywide Garage Sales, to be held on April 19-21 and on November 15-17. On those dates, residents in the City can hold garage sales without obtaining a City permit.
Osceola’s financial reporting honored for 33rd straight year
Osceola County reported it has received, for the 33rd year in a row, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR), the highest honor in governmental accounting and financial reporting.
This award is for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2022, and issued by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).
“For 33 years in a row Osceola County has displayed a model of excellence as a paragon of fiscal stewardship. This is evidence of a consistent commitment to high standards and unwavering professionalism, as well as the diligence of a dedicated staff,” said Osceola Commission Chair Cheryl Grieb. “As the world undergoes constant change, Osceola County remains a beacon of financial transparency that continues to inspire others.”
Per a release, the ACFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.
Kissimmee man faces federal drug charges
A Kissimmee man has been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and fentanyl.
If convicted, Maximo Espinosa, 44, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. Because Espinosa was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense, he will also face an additional sentence for violating his terms of supervised release.
According to the Middle District of Florida’s criminal complaint, on three dates in November and December 2023, Espinosa and others were part of a criminal conspiracy that distributed kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl throughout the Middle District, including Polk and Osceola Counties. On Jan. 2, 2024, Espinosa again attempted to distribute controlled substances, and was arrested with 10 kilograms of cocaine and 2 kilograms of fentanyl. A search warrant executed at Espinosa’s home revealed another kilogram of cocaine, a half-kilogram of fentanyl, two firearms and several hundred pills.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
