Homler

Hawkins Chief Executive Officer

Tiffany Homler Hawkins, 51, has been named LYNX’s new chief executive officer (CEO). She served as interim CEO since August 2022 when former CEO James (Jim) E. Harrison unexpectedly passed away.

Hawkins has worked with or for the agency for more than 20 years most recently as chief administrative officer overseeing the planning, marketing, grants and government affairs teams. With more than 25 years in Central Florida, she also has held positions in the private sector and Osceola County government. A favorite project of Hawkins during her time with LYNX was overseeing the construction of the iconic LYNX Central Station. She has served as president of the WTS Central Florida Chapter, and as a board member for the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando and the Community Hope Center Board of Directors.

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Osceola County Chair, District 2 Commissioner Viviana Janer named as Chair of SunRail during January 26 board meeting

Osceola County Chairwoman and Commissioner for District 2 Viviana Janer was named Chair of SunRail during the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission (CFCRC) meeting on January 26. J

Janer was elected to the County Commission in 2014 and is currently serving her third term.

In addition to being the Chairwoman of the Board of County of Commissioners, Commissioner Janer is the Chairwoman of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission (SunRail), and the Vice-Chairwoman of the LYNX Oversight Board.

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Get ‘Wild’ About Reading and Get Into Wild Florida For Free February 4

Looking to get ‘wild’ over reading? Just head over to Wild Florida Saturday February 4 from 10am – 2pm and receive FREE admission to Central Florida’s gator park with an Osceola Library Card.

Enjoy some ‘wild’ activities in the morning and entertainment in the afternoon while exploring the park’s wild animal exhibits, sponsored by the Veterans Memorial St. Cloud Library.

Wild Florida is located at 3301 Lake Cypress Rd. in Kenansville, and is only a 15-minute ride from St. Cloud.

Toho Water Authority to Continue Water Line Cleaning with Flushing Efforts Jan. 30-Feb. 3

Crews contracted with Toho Water Authority (Toho) will continue flushing in targeted areas of the City of St. Cloud next week, Jan. 30-Feb. 3. 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:

• Pemberley Pines

• The Blackberry Recovery Center

• Summer Cove

• Disston Sugar Mill Ruins

• Hamilton Disston Sugar Plantation

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150th Silver Spurs Rodeo to Hit the Dirt

February 17-19 at Osceola’s Silver Spurs Arena, Monster Bulls February 11

The Silver Spurs Riding Club will host the 150th Silver Spurs Rodeo on February 17-19, 2023 at the Silver Spurs Arena at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee.

During the rodeo, fans will watch contestants from all over the nation compete in rodeo’s seven traditional events: bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, women’s barrel racing, steer wrestling, and team roping for an entire year of bragging rights and $52,500 in cash. Plus, rodeo fans will be entertained by the Spurs’ rodeo clown and talented Silver Spurs Quadrille team, who perform a square dance on horseback, something the club has performed since its inception over 79 years ago.

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Creative, Talented and Inspiring High School Students Chosen for This Year’s Disney Dreamers Academy at Disney World

A budding artist, an aspiring neurosurgeon and a creative storyteller are among the 100 talented high school students selected for this year’s Disney Dreamers Academy, an educational mentoring program hosted at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

The 100 students from across the country will descend on Walt Disney World Resort March 23-26 for the 16th annual event, aimed at broadening career awareness and creating exclusive opportunities for Black students and teens from underrepresented communities across America.

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State Representative Paula Stark for District 47 to Hold “Meet and Greet” at New Office Opening February 2

State Representative Paula Stark, District 47, and her staff will host a “Meet & Greet and Open House” at her new district office in Kissimmee on February 2 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. During the community “meet & greet” Representative Stark will share information from the “committee weeks” currently taking place at the state capital in Tallahassee, as well as her hopes for the upcoming Florida Legislature general session that will convene for 60 days March 7 through May 5, 2023.

In addition to the Meet & Greet, there will be a ribbon cutting with The Osceola Chamber & the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce. Stark is a graduate of Osceola High School and attended Florida Technological University now known as UCF. She went on to work as Sales Director and then Publisher with the Osceola News Gazette.

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Florida Launches 2023 Black History Month Student and Educator Contests

The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida has officially launched the 2023 Black History Month student art and essay contests with the theme of “Celebrating the Achievements of African American Floridians.” These contests will run through Tuesday, February 7, 2023. Black History Month is celebrated each year in the month of February.

“African Americans have a long and proud history in our great state of Florida, and Black History Month is the perfect occasion to celebrate their many achievements,” said Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “Learning about African American achievements is central to learning about Florida and America itself. I have no doubt that this year’s art and essay contest submissions will be outstanding.”

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Florida Department of Health in Osceola County to Distribute Narcan Nasal Spray kits

The Florida Department of Health in Osceola County (FDOH-Osceola) is announcing the availability of free Naloxone (Narcan) Nasal Spray kits. This lifesaving medication could reduce thousands of substance abuse deaths across the state.

Naloxone is available to people who use drugs, people with a history of drug use, others at risk of experiencing an overdose, friends, family members, and others who may witness an overdose. Kits consist of two Naloxone nasal sprays that are administered even without a health care professional present.

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Man fatally shoots another man over $5000, then drives him to the hospital, Osceola sheriff says

Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has announced that they have arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting Monday night. Osceola Sheriff Marcos Lopez said that 42-year-old Gany Djurabayev was arrested following the shooting that took place in the 1200 block of Arisha Drive near Kissimmee around 8:30 p.m.

According to Sheriff Lopez, Djurabayev was in a fight with 31-year-old Bekzod Nishonbove over $5,000, which was supposed to be a down payment on a piece of property. Lopez said Nishonbove struck Djurabayev, who then went to his car and got a gun which he used to shoot Nishonbove. Djurabayev multiple times. Djurabayev then drove Nishonbove to the hospital, according to the sheriff.

When asked about the suspect driving the shooting victim to the hospital Sheriff Lopez replied, “You know, that is unusual, it’s a first for me.”

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