to Collect Cancer Recurrence Data

Florida will be the first state in the nation to collect cancer recurrence data – the Cancer Connect Collaborative’s first action to remove data access barriers for easy and timely research, announced last week by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis. While a survivor is in remission, the same or a different cancer may recur, called a cancer recurrence. There is currently no collective population-level data system in the United States monitoring cancer recurrence.

“Through this mission, Florida will be the first state in the country to collect cancer recurrence data on a statewide scale,” said Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis. “By having this data reported to the State, this will be a resource to help identify new avenues resulting in better care and treatment standards to help all individuals battling the fight against cancer, regardless of where they are receiving care.”

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Unincorporated Osceola County Under Burn Ban Due to Dry Conditions

In light of dry conditions throughout the county that have sent our Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) over 500, Osceola County is instituting a burn ban for all types of outside burning, including open fire pits, campfires, and yard debris within the unincorporated areas of Osceola County.

The burn ban is effective immediately and will be lifted as weather and vegetation conditions improve. The ban will be enforced by Osceola County Code Enforcement, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services personnel.

Osceola County Fire Rescue will continue to monitor conditions to determine when the burn ban will be lifted. Once the ban is lifted, another notice will be distributed, along with updates to www.osceola.org and at http://fire.osceola.org.

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By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Harmony Longhorns Advance, to Face Osceola Kowboys For OBC Championship in Boys Baseball Friday

Four Longhorn pitchers combined on a three-hitter as Harmony (7-8) trounced host Tohopekaliga, 6-1, to advance to the championship game of 2023 Orange Belt Conference Tournament. The Longhorns will face Osceola – a 10-0 winner over St. Cloud in the other semifinal — at neutral site Poinciana on Friday night at 7 p.m.

“We have struggled with our control all season,” Harmony coach Heath Williams said. “Tonight we were able to throw strikes, stay ahead of the hitters and at the end of the night that made the difference for us.”

Meanwhile, second-seeded Tohopekaliga had nothing but trouble on the mound and in the field in losing for just the third time this season in 12 games.

With one out in the second, starting Tiger pitcher Jose Montalvo walked Angel Ramos and hit freshman Shawn Brabrant with a pitch. Both players moved up a base on an errant pickoff attempt and Caden Scarborough drove in the first run with an RBI single. Brabrant would come in to score on a sacrifice bunt by Angel Medina and the Longhorns would tack on another run on the play when the Tigers threw the ball away on that bunt attempt.

A dropped fly ball for a two-base error and an RBI single by Yathniel Matos made it 4-0 in the fourth. Iziah Santiago and Angel Ramos would lead off the fifth with walks before Brabrant loaded the bases with an infield hit. Santiago would race home on a wild pitch, before Scarborough’s drive to left center fell in for a double when Toho’s outfielders collided to drive in Harmony’s sixth run of the game.

In all, five of Harmony’s runners that scored reached base via walk, hit batter or error; as the Tigers issued eight walks, hit three batters, committed four errors and uncorked two wild pitches.

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By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Osceola County Sports Roundup: Orange Belt Conference Titles On Line for Baseball, Flag Football

Two more Orange Belt Conference Championships will be determined this week as conference tournaments are held in the sports of baseball and flag football. Both tournaments will be week-long affairs, with Poinciana hosting the baseball title game and Harmony hosting the flag championship game.

Osceola will be the top seed in the baseball tournament; while Harmony will be the top seed in flag football. Both title games are scheduled for Friday night. A look around the county:

Baseball

OBC Quarterfinal games are slated for today (Mon.) with #8 Gateway at #1 Osceola, #5 St. Cloud at #4 Celebration, #6 Liberty at #3 Harmony and #7 Poinciana at #2 Tohopekaliga. Seedings were determined by MaxPrep power rankings at the end of last week. First round winners will meet on Wednesday at the home field of the highest seed. Consolation placement games will be played on the same day. The third place (4:30 p.m.) and championship game (7 p.m.) will be played Friday (Mar. 31) and will be hosted by Poinciana.

The Kowboys (8-5) enter the tournament after dropping two of their last three games — but it should be noted those games came last week to Polk County teams that had a combined record of 32-6. Junior Jason Ramos continues to lead the Kowboys in batting average (.485), hits (16) and RBI (13). In Osceola’s lone win, an 11-7 win over Lake Wales (11-2), Nick Palmi slammed a three-run homer. Tohopekaliga has the top record at 8-2, with one of its two losses coming to Osceola. The Tigers are led by a pair of players hitting above .500 through 10 games, including senior Justin Diaz batting a torrid .550 (11 of 20) and sophomore Hudson Moberly’s .519 (14 of 27).

Celebration is coming off a 2-0 week and has now won six of their last seven. The Storm have outscored its opposition 74-37 this year and is led by Alejandro Hernandez, who is hitting a county-best .600 (21 of 35) so far this season.

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Toho Water Authority to Continue Water Line Flushing This Week in St. Cloud in These Areas

Crews contracted with Toho Water Authority (Toho) will continue flushing in targeted areas of the City of St. Cloud next week, March 27-31. The map shows the area where customers are likely to experience a temporary drop in water pressure and discolored water. Water pressure and clarity will return once flushing operations in the area are completed.

Affected areas next week are:

Briarwood Estates

Esprit

Whaley’s Creek

Season’s at Deer Creek By Richmond American Homes

Northstar Painting and Pressure Washing

JT @ LA Rosa Realty