News

Mark Stone Harden, 57, of St. Cloud, was arrested and charged with 10 felony counts of possession of sexual conduct by a child and one count each of promotion/depiction of sexual conduct by a child and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. (Photo/St. Cloud Police)

Mark Stone Harden, 57, of St. Cloud, was arrested and charged with 10 felony counts of possession of sexual conduct by a child and one count each of promotion/depiction of sexual conduct by a child and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. (Photo/St. Cloud Police)

St. Cloud Police makes arrest in child exploitation case

Staff Report
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
St. Cloud Police reported Wednesday it had made an arrest in the case of a man, who worked at an Osceola County school until recently, they say had hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children stored on his electronic devices.Mark Stone Harden, 57, of St.
Silver Spurs 2025-26 Big Boss Kat Whaley presents a check to the Second Harvest Food Bank at Boots, Bulls and Barrels Saturday. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Silver Spurs 2025-26 Big Boss Kat Whaley presents a check to the Second Harvest Food Bank at Boots, Bulls and Barrels Saturday. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

A Saturday Night Ride at Boots, Bulls and Barrels

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Offering a taste of what’s to come during the Silver Spurs Rodeo in February, its riding club presented the annual Boots, Bulls and Barrels Saturday and invited cowboys and cowgirls to barrel race and take on the club’s baddest stock in saddle bronc and bull riding.
National Newspaper Week is a time to reflect on and reinforce the vital role newspapers play in informing, empowering, and uniting our communities.

National Newspaper Week is a time to reflect on and reinforce the vital role newspapers play in informing, empowering, and uniting our communities.

National Newspaper Week — here's why local journalism matters

Staff Report
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Journalists are one of the few professions whose work is protected by a specific Amendment to the Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and, locally, Help Now of Osceola County will offer events throughout the month to educate and raise awareness about the issue.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and, locally, Help Now of Osceola County will offer events throughout the month to educate and raise awareness about the issue.

Events highlighting Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Ken Jackson
Monday, October 6, 2025
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and, locally, Help Now of Osceola County will offer events throughout the month to educate and raise awareness about the issue while continuing to provide essential services to survivors of domestic violence.
Osceola County Chairwoman Viviana Janer addresses hundreds of attendees of the State of the County luncheon at Osceola Heritage Park Wednesday. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Osceola County Chairwoman Viviana Janer addresses hundreds of attendees of the State of the County luncheon at Osceola Heritage Park Wednesday. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

State of the County message: Osceola is ‘Building for tomorrow, today’

Ken Jackson
Sunday, October 5, 2025
In past years, Osceola County has used its annual State of the County Address to make a bold announcement of things to come — a new logo and branding in 2021, the expansion of Osceola Prosper in 2022, new transportation technology in 2023 and new sustainability efforts after Hurricane Milton blew...
National Voter Education Week is a campaign to equip communities with all of the information they need to be informed, confident, and prepared voters. It runs this week, from Oct. 6-10.

National Voter Education Week is a campaign to equip communities with all of the information they need to be informed, confident, and prepared voters. It runs this week, from Oct. 6-10.

Osceola County's Supervisor of Elections part of national campaign to educate, empower local voters

Staff Report
Sunday, October 5, 2025
It may be a year away, but the push toward the 2026 Election has already begun, with candidates lining up to run for offices, in cities, the county, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.
Hundreds gathered Wednesday at the Council on Aging – “the place Bev built” – to honor the life of former CEO Beverly Hougland, who passed away Sept. 25. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Hundreds gathered Wednesday at the Council on Aging – “the place Bev built” – to honor the life of former CEO Beverly Hougland, who passed away Sept. 25. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Beverly’s legacy: lead with your heart, and you can change things

Ken Jackson
Friday, October 3, 2025
Beverly Hougland was remembered not just as the leader of the Osceola Council on Aging, but a dreamer, a visionary and a builder.
The owner of the Wizard of Oz Museum is selling land it planned for the attraction’s move from Cape Canaveral to Kissimmee. Plans are now to move to Cocoa Beach. (Illustration/The Wizard of Oz Museum)

The owner of the Wizard of Oz Museum is selling land it planned for the attraction’s move from Cape Canaveral to Kissimmee. Plans are now to move to Cocoa Beach. (Illustration/The Wizard of Oz Museum)

Wizard of Oz Museum makes a change; where’s it going?

Emely Albelo
Friday, October 3, 2025
The Wizard of Oz Museum’s iconic yellow brick road is stretching from West U.S. Highway 192 to the sandy shores of Cocoa Beach.
A Kissimmee Fire Department member of Station 11 shows off one of its Phoenix G2 screens. This one’s in the dining room. (Photos/ Christine Pike)

A Kissimmee Fire Department member of Station 11 shows off one of its Phoenix G2 screens. This one’s in the dining room. (Photos/ Christine Pike)

Automated system helps KPD firefighters lower turn-out time

Ken Jackson
Thursday, October 2, 2025
When you’re in fire service or a first responder, the earlier you can respond, the better.Thanks to a new fire station alerting system, there are no surprises for Kissimmee firefighters and paramedics, from the time they even walk out of the station.
Beverly Hougland, 1942-2025. She led the Osceola Council on Aging from the 1980s to 2019.

Beverly Hougland, 1942-2025. She led the Osceola Council on Aging from the 1980s to 2019.

Beverly Hougland — Osceola’s patron saint

Ken Jackson
Thursday, October 2, 2025
If you’ve lived in Osceola County for any length of time, and you didn’t get to meet Beverly Hougland, it means you may not have needed the help she gave to tens of thousands over the years.
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