The employment situation in Central Florida continues to be a mess and we feel for all of our community members that remain out of work.

That being said, we are considering developing an Employment Area / Section on KSIB (one of many new features) and need your feedback to make sure it is something the community would benefit from and use. The idea is that Osceola County residents and employers could post their resumes and / or job openings (employment opportunities) easily and intuitively. Our readers would be able to see who is hiring, and who is available for work, and the poster’s would be able to de-activate their posting once they find work or the position is filled.

If you are on Facebook (and why wouldn’t you be??) please join our discussion:

New Employment App For KSIB Discussion

You can also navigate to GHN On Facebook and “Like” the page and get updates to this discussion and future ones should we see enough interest.

Thank you in advance for your participation! With your involvement, we can develop something for our community that can easily help a growing number of our unemployed citizens as well as some of our understaffed businesses.

Best Regards,
- Marcus Tilghman
http://guardianhost.com

KSIB will be undergoing a series of server upgrades over the next few weeks. We are scheduling this to minimize any interuptions in viewing for our readers.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Best Regards,

Marcus Tilghman
http://guardianhost.com

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

Our best wishes to all of you for a fantastic Independence Day weekend! We have compiled a quick list of some of the events scheduled for the weekend for your convenience. If you would like to add to this list, please feel free to add a comment for our review.

Osceloa County Fouth of July - Independence Day Events

• Independence Day Celebration - Kissimmee Lakefront Park
  July 4, 2010
  4th of July Celebration 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  Fireworks - 9:10 p.m.
  Learn More >>
   
  
• St. Cloud Lakefront Celebration
  July 4, 2010
  Entertainment - Noon to 10:00 p.m.
  Fireworks - 9:30 p.m.
  Learn More >>
   
  
• A Flashback 4th of July -Celebration Town Center
  July 4, 2010
  Entertainment - 5:30 p.m.
  Fireworks - 9:30 p.m.
  Learn More >>
   
  

Orange County Fourth of July - Independence Day Events

• 4th of July Celebration
  July 3 & 4, 2010
  Entertainment begins - 7:30 p.m.
  Fireworks - 9:45 p.m.
  SeaWorld Orlando
  
• Fireworks at the Fountain
  July 4, 2010
  4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
  Lake Eola Park
  
• Celebrate American Fireworks
  July 4, 2010
  9:00 p.m.
  Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
• Olde Fashioned 4th of July Celebration
  July 3, 2010
  9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  Central Park, Winter Park
• Red, Hot & Boom
  July 3, 2010
  Concerts - 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  Fireworks - 9:30 p.m.
  Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs

Fireworks Tips from Osceola County Sheriff’s Department

Fireworks Safety Tips

Fireworks can be dangerous, causing serious burn and eye injuries.

LEAVE FIREWORKS TO THE PROFESSIONALS!

But if fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to set them off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials
• Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned
• Keep a bucket of water in case of a malfunction or fire

Read more >>

25 Cent Hot Dogs at Circle K

Finally, one of our favorite local businesses is offering their spectacular hotdogs at just 25 cents a piece * again all month while supplies last!

In addition to hotdogs, they are also featuring a variety of popsicles for 25 cents each, so it’s a great stop for something cool on these hot summer days.

* See the Circle K on 192 and Michigan Avenue in St. Cloud for details.

Find your way to Circle K in St. Cloud >>

Please be safe out there everyone and remember, don’t drink and drive. The life you save might be your own or one of your loved ones!

- KSIB

The St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce has passed along this information to us and we thought we would share.

• Richard Carl, husband of Betty Carl, St. Cloud Travel, passed away this week. He had been ill for some time. Betty’s sister is Sara Lewis, former Mayor of St. Cloud. A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 27, 4 p.m. at Fisk Funeral Home. There will be no calling hours.

• Frank Woodsby of the Koffee Kup entered the hospital this week and had triple by-pass surgery Thursday. He has responded well and was on his feet this morning (Friday). He is out of intensive care and expected to be home early next week. He is at Osceola Regional Medical Center on Oak Street, Kissimmee.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families mentioned above.

- Marcus
GuardianHost Networks, L.L.C.
http://guardianhost.com

ST. CLOUD – A state prisoner who escaped Thursday from a work release program has been caught after a man hunt that locked down nine Osceola County schools ended in his capture.

The lockdown was lifted shortly after 1:15 p.m. Friday, when authorities caught up with Michael France at a Canoe Creek Church.

For more information, see
Carl Cricket’s Post!

As always, anyone with information about this crime or any other is asked to call the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at (407) 348-2222 or Crimeline at (800) 423-TIPS (8477). Crimeline offers a reward for information that leads to a felony arrest.

Saving on prescription drugs in Florida has never been easier. The Florida Discount Drug Card is now available to all Florida residents without restriction and is accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies nationwide. Florida residents who qualify based on age or income status are eligible to receive additional savings. Signing up is simple and activation is instant.

If you are a Florida resident and would like to participate, click here http://www.floridadiscountdrugcard.com/ to get started.

Enroll by Telephone: 1-866-341-8894 or TTY Users may call: 1-866-763-9630

We found this alert of a jury duty scam that is spreading rapidly on a blog serving the Oak Park, IL and surrounding areas - http://TheSoPBox.com.

Most of us take Jury Duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty that a new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced…

The caller claims to be a “Jury Coordinator”. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo, your identity was just stolen.

Eleven States including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado have reported this insidious swindle. When someone calls and asks for information, be aware and stay safe.

Communities in Florida, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, California, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Hampshire reported scams or posted warnings or press releases on their local websites in the past and it would appear that there may be a re-emergence of this scam.

As always, please remember that you should never give your information out over the telephone, email, or text message to someone that has contacted you. Even if you have initiated the contact, be sure you know who you are giving your information to, and the reason that it is required.

As you can see from the above quote, scammers and thieves will think of creative ways to steal your identity and everyone should be wary of these vultures.

- Best Regards,

Marcus Tilghman
http://guardianhost.com

The Osceola County Extension Service Program provides many classes and seminars to the public. Registration is required for ALL programs. Classes are taught in English and are free unless otherwise specified. Please call 321-697-3000 or the number provided for registration and more information.

If you are someone who enjoys the out of doors, likes sharing adventures with others, enjoys learning about nature, wildlife and our local surroundings…then one of our guided Woods Walks may be something you would truly enjoy!

We will begin holding Woods Walks shortly. To be notified directly, please email your name and phone number to Cindy Rutherford at crut@osceola.org or call 321-697-3000 to get on our list!

Upcoming Schedule of Events

• Friday, February 5, 2010
  Insomnia - Wellness
  4:30pm - 5:30 pm
  Sheriff’s Office - 2601 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Many people suffer from one or more forms of insomnia and don’t know what to do. Since more and more research is indicating that sleep is essential to good health, learn the tricks to sleeping better and know when to get this condition treated.
• Wednesday, February 11, 2010
  Take Control of Your Money - Wellness
  9:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm
  Extension Services, Osceola Heritage Park
  1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee
  Located at the intersection of Bill Beck Blvd. & US 192.
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Stop wondering where money went and letting it control you. Instead establish financial goals, discover your financial potential and develop a plan to make your money work for you.
• Thursday, February 18, 2010
  Homeowner Irrigation Workshop
  10:00 am - noon
  Saint Cloud Civic Center
  3001 17th Street, Saint Cloud
  Registration is required. Please call 407-957-7344
  Learn how to: Save on your water bill, operate your irrigation controller, keep your landscape healthy, check your system for leaks.
• Wednesday, February 22, 2010
  Take Control of Your Money - Wellness
  5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
  Extension Services, Osceola Heritage Park
  1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee
  Located at the intersection of Bill Beck Blvd. & US 192.
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Stop wondering where money went and letting it control you. Instead establish financial goals, discover your financial potential and develop a plan to make your money work for you.
• Tuesday, February 23, 2010
  Finding Money to Save
  3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  Osceola County Admin Building
  1 Courthouse Square Kissimmee FL - Rm. 4727
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Find the money you’ve been searching for and implement different saving strategies into your management of personal finances.
• Wednesday, February 24, 2010
  Good Carbs vs. Bad Carbs
  11:30 am – 12:30 pm
  Historic Courthouse Room 315
  3 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Americans are spending billions on low - carb foods. Learn the clever labeling lingo and the difference between complex and simple carbohydrates and why all carbs are not bad.
• Wednesday, February 24, 2010
  Using Power Pay to Get Out of Debt
  1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
  Osceola County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  Is debt stressing you out and keeping you up at night? Use PowerPay to create a debt reduction plan to better manage current debt and get out of debt faster.
• Friday, February 26, 2010
  Green Industries Best Management Practices Training
  9:00 am – 3:00 pm
  Extension Services, Osceola Heritage Park
  1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee
  Located at the intersection of Bill Beck Blvd. & US 192.
  Registration is required. Please call 321-697-3000.
  For landscape professionals; fulfills the training requirement for the new Limited Commercial Fertilizer Applicator Certificate.

Find out more about this program by visiting their website.