News

The Ramirez family—mother Karina, father Joel and now 2-year-old Jalen got a Healthy Start to life, familyhood and parenthood thanks to the Osceola County non-profit, which held its annual awards ceremony Tuesday, below. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

The Ramirez family—mother Karina, father Joel and now 2-year-old Jalen got a Healthy Start to life, familyhood and parenthood thanks to the Osceola County non-profit, which held its annual awards ceremony Tuesday, below. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Healthy Start primed to help more Osceola parents, babies in 2026

Ken Jackson
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Healthy Start of Osceola County stands ready to help expecting mothers and parents of newborns make sure everything is okay.Thanks to community partnerships, this non-profit, one of 32 such coalitions in the state, is poised to help even more mothers, fathers and newborns in Osceola County.
Navy veteran Pat Rudd, left, during World War II (Photo/Rudd Family) and being honored for her contributions at a recent Silver Spurs Rodeo (Photo/Taylor McFee).

Navy veteran Pat Rudd, left, during World War II (Photo/Rudd Family) and being honored for her contributions at a recent Silver Spurs Rodeo (Photo/Taylor McFee).

Fair winds and following seas to World War II Navy veteran Pat Rudd

Terry Lloyd
Thursday, December 11, 2025
If you have spent any time at all around the Osceola veterans community, you most likely met or at least saw St. Cloud resident Dorothy “Pat” Rudd, who recently passed away at age 104.She was a steady presence. Born in Illinois in 1921, she enlisted in the U.S.
The ceremonial groundbreaking for Osceola County’s first White Castle on West U.S. Highway 192 included a special proclamation from a Town Crier and a “blessing of the onions” tradition. It’s slated for a Spring 2026 opening. (Photo/Jennifer Chalifoux)

The ceremonial groundbreaking for Osceola County’s first White Castle on West U.S. Highway 192 included a special proclamation from a Town Crier and a “blessing of the onions” tradition. It’s slated for a Spring 2026 opening. (Photo/Jennifer Chalifoux)

Have fun storming the White Castle—for some sliders!

Jennifer Chalifoux
Thursday, December 11, 2025
A new castle is coming to Osceola County!White Castle will open its Kissimmee doors in spring 2026, on U.S. Highway 192 near Old Town. The 3,430-squarefoot eatery will host indoor and outdoor seating, as well as two drive-through lanes.
Representatives were on hand taking donations at the St. Cloud Holiday Festival last weekend, and the Osceola County official drop-off location Friday is in the Celebration Town Center.

Representatives were on hand taking donations at the St. Cloud Holiday Festival last weekend, and the Osceola County official drop-off location Friday is in the Celebration Town Center.

How to ‘Share Your Christmas’ Friday

Jennifer Chalifoux
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
It’s the season of giving—and the annual Share Your Christmas food and fund drive is doing just that.In its 40th year, the donation drive surpassed its Giving Tuesday goal of $400,000 by raising $487,177 to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
Osceola County School Board District 3 member Anthony Cook announced via social media that he will step down from his seat on the Board effective Jan. 19, 2026.

Osceola County School Board District 3 member Anthony Cook announced via social media that he will step down from his seat on the Board effective Jan. 19, 2026.

School Board District 3 member Anthony Cook announces resignation

Ken Jackson
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Calling it, "One of the hardest messages I’ve ever had to share," Osceola County School Board District 3 member Anthony Cook announced at Tuesday's meeting that he will step down from his seat on the Board effective Jan. 19, 2026.Since the next Board meeting is Jan.
Osceola Sheriff Chris Blackmon gives the details of a pair of murder cases that went cold, but have been solved by a Cold Case Program the agency formed in October 2024. (Photo/Osceola County Sheriff's Office)

Osceola Sheriff Chris Blackmon gives the details of a pair of murder cases that went cold, but have been solved by a Cold Case Program the agency formed in October 2024. (Photo/Osceola County Sheriff's Office)

Osceola Sheriff's Office cracks a pair of cold cases — one from 2007

Ken Jackson
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon Tuesday shared that the Office's Cold Case Program had solved two outstanding homicide cases — one dating back to 2007 — and that the unit would continue to work 32 other cold cases, with the public's help.
Subscribe to