Brightline unveils Orlando passenger rail station, ticket sales to begin next month

Brightline unveiled its highly anticipated Brightline Orlando Station at Orlando International Airport on Thursday, opening a new era of passenger rail that will connect two of the fastest growing regions in the state: Central and South Florida.

Brightline also announced that Orlando ticket sales will launch in May for future dates, with one-way fares starting at $79 for SMART and $149 for PREMIUM. SMART fare bundles for families of four will be available for less than $199 one way.

More than 300 invited guests took part in the Brightline Orlando Station reveal, the latest milestone moment for Brightline and transportation in America. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Kevin Thibault joined Brightline CEO Mike Reininger, President Patrick Goddard and Brightline teammates to celebrate the historic occasion. Elected officials, dignitaries and community leaders, including the tourism and hospitality sectors, stepped inside the first intercity passenger rail station of its kind, located in the Orlando International Airport.

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Guardian Ad Litem Foundation of Osceola County to host annual golf tournament in St. Cloud

The Guardian Ad Litem Foundation of Osceola County, a powerful advocate and voice for Osceola’s children, will host their annual golf tournament at the St. Cloud Royal Golf Links beginning on Saturday April 29th, at 8am.

The $100 entry fee includes 18 holes of golf with cart, breakfast, lunch, prizes, awards, and much more. For more information or to register call Tina Campbell at 407.758.4140, or go to GALgolfOsceola.com.

We advocate for the best interests of abused, abandoned, and neglected children by supporting the development, growth, and continuation of the Guardian ad Litem Program in Osceola County.

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Osceola Sherriff’s Office to Host Kickball Palooza, Providing Awareness and funds for Special Olympics Florida

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, along with the City of Kissimmee, will host the 2023 Kickball Palooza tournament benefitting Special Olympics Florida beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 22nd at the Fortune Road Athletic Complex. The event includes a three-game guarantee, fun team themes, music, and more.

This year Kickball Palooza is open to businesses, organizations, individuals, and groups that would like to come together to support Special Olympics. The teams must have 10 players, five males and five females. The team entry fee to participate is $300.

Kickball Palooza is part of the various local fundraising events of the law enforcement community’s year-round support of Special Olympics Florida.

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Gas prices up in Florida and are projected to rise

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline increased by twelve cents since last week to hit $3.67. In Florida, the average price is $3.61 per gallon, with Osceola drivers seeing the average price for a gallon of regular at $3.65.

The main culprit for the increasing gas price is the high cost of oil, gasoline’s main ingredient, which is hovering in the low $80s per barrel. The national average has risen daily since March 29.

“When the cost of crude oil crosses the $80 a barrel mark, that puts a lot of upward pressure on what we pay at the pump,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, “and as long as oil costs remain at the current level, drivers will likely see incremental price increases for now.”

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April is National Safe Digging month & Sunshine 811 offfers tips to homeowners

With warmer temperatures and April kicking off the best time of year to plant, spring means more people are heading outdoors to upgrade their landscaping, install a fence and overall improve their home’s curb appeal. Given that it’s the most active season for home beautification projects, Sunshine 811 encourages homeowners and professional contractors to dig safely, especially as landscaping and fencing combined cause the most damage to underground utility lines – resulting in costly repairs, service interruptions and even injuries.

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By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Harmony Longhorns get defensive, rout Horizon for district title in flag football

Stepping on the gas early and never letting up, the Lady Longhorns flag football team hammered Horizon, 27-0, on Thursday night to claim the FHSAA Class 2A, District 9 championship.

It was the Longhorns second consecutive District crown and 10th in school history. Harmony will now wait to see who and where they will play on Wednesday in a regional quarterfinal as they move to within three games of the State Final Four.

“I would not be truthful and I told you I wasn’t concerned about tonight’s game,” Harmony coach Paul Strauch said. “Horizon is a really talented team and they certainly caught my attention when they manhandled St. Cloud (a 19-2 win) in the semifinals. We had several girls rehabbing injuries and several others that were battling illness. I was extremely proud of how we played tonight, especially on defense.”

Horizon opened this year and the upstart Hawks came into the tournament with a 14-1 record in their first season. They were also allowing less than four points per game. The Hawks big win over St. Cloud in Tuesday’s semifinal came just three weeks after the Longhorns needed a touchdown with just 20 seconds remaining to beat St. Cloud, 7-0, in an Orange Belt Conference Tournament semifinal game.

Still, the Longhorns dominated in all phases of the final.

After Horizon won the toss and deferred, Harmony quarterback Martha Edwards drove the Longhorns down the field in nine plays – hitting Drea Thompson on a 6-yard scoring pass for a 6-0 lead.

Thompson would then extend the lead just four plays later, intercepting Mirian Athay and returning it 30 yards for a score and then catching the conversion for a 13-0 lead. The play would end up being the theme for the night as Harmony would record five interceptions and hold Horizon to just 121 yards of total offense on 29 plays.

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