TGIF! It has been quite a week so we’ll get right to it.

Lots and lots of rumors regarding the timing of a possible “gift” to the county manager by Schoolfield employee Ken Baker just prior to the awarding of a shared contract with the son in law of Tommy Tompkins, awarded by the one and only county manager! The alleged gift, according to the comment section in the last blog shows a copy of an email regarding seats to the Miami/UCF game in Orlando. We do know the seats in question were going for a minimum of $100, per seat for that particular game. But hey, it’s just college ball, right? And, we’re sure there was no motive or ill will behind the alleged gift and certainly had nothing to do with the selection of who was named as the winner of the county contract!

[More:]

Keeping with all the guessing, we’d like to know who the manager took to the game IF he indeed went. Couldn’t be family because the family is in Idaho, we’re told. We wonder who….(tap,tap,tap….)

So, all those who want the SunRail please raise your hands, ONLY if you took showers this morning! You will all be comforted that while some of us can go to a job, and some of us cannot, our Legislators are in “special session” in Tallahassee trying to come up with a choo choo plan for the State. At stake are millions of Federal dollars, but also the very strong probability of one of the highest taxes ever passed on to the residents of Florida. Of course, this tax will be passed under the guise of added gas taxes, and who knows what else. In case you didn’t know the cost to Osceola County,(and some Commissioners had no clue a couple weeks ago) it will be a $27 MILLION initial Capital Cost, PLUS at least $1.3 MILLION annually for running the train to nowhere! But, be comforted as our Representative, Mike Horner is in Tallahassee, as we write this, protecting our interests! Sorry, can’t keep straight faces!
Horner has been in favor of this train and appears ready to support it in Tallahassee if he gets the chance to vote. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer had claimed he had the needed 21 votes to push this thing through but late last night a State Senator pulled out and said he had too many concerns and the cost to citizens would be too great! At least there’s one elected official actually considering the citizens. Mr. Horner should get with that fellow!
We also did some checking and not as many jobs as had been alleged to be coming from this choo choo actually will. That’s because the tracks will be owned/maintained by CSX and they will receive money FROM SunRail for maintenance. Guess you cannot believe everything you’re told, even by an elected official! We are just so surprised!

The Jay Wheeler saga has not yet died down. After Cindy Hartig stated that Mr Wheeler appeared to have violated election law, school policies, and State law, many have been researching to see just what it is he violated. Meanwhile, school employees who actually, physically hung the Wheeler banners upon the fences on school property have not even been told to not ever do such a thing again. As for the Principals who ordered the banners hung, again we’re told, they were simply told by the Superintendent not to do that again. It ended with them. So, what’s the lesson here? Well, do we have rules and policies covering such behavior? YES. Do we EVER enforce those policies and rules? NEVER *Unless you’re a student, then they will throw the book at you! BUT, you can steal from the Board of Education with absolutely no concerns for being prosecuted, violate school board policy and, with the exception of one board member, know the remainder of the board will just sit upon their hands. We do hope our students have learned their lesson for today. Wait until you’re an adult, get a job with the school system, then, forget all the good things you were taught because rules mean nothing when you work for them!

Oh, and if anyone is wondering, the State Attorney’s Office, under Lawson Lamar, issued an email to a couple folks saying they weren’t interested in such complaints and they should be sent to Tallahassee. That email has been forwarded to Tallahassee, not necessarily the Department the fellow who wrote the email suggested!

Over in the City of Saint Cloud the City Manager and City Attorney received their evaluations last night. Lots of talk and suggestions, but overall both received satisfactory evaluations with no pay increases. Jarom Fertic suggested hiring a Full Time Attorney but that idea was quickly shot down by the rest of the Council who had the sense to realize the costs involved with doing so. Council member Hopper brought up the idea of a teen center, again, and most agreed to workshop it with the Mayor saying she’ll make sure the Boys & Girls Club would be present to make their suggestions.

**The Saint Cloud Employee Christmas Party will be held again this year, at no cost to taxpayers. We heard the City Manager is once again paying the entire costs for the party, as he did last year. We just wonder how many Council members offered to chip in. Anyone?

Once again, we’ll just remind you to please consider helping out with giving Osceola County’s less fortunate children a Christmas. Look at our previous blog for the information on how to share. To the foolish letter write in the Gazette who had silly words for Mr. Nagy, anyone with common sense knew his statement was a suggestion. To make any more of it is a waste of ink and time, both of which you appear to have plenty to give away!

Our thoughts today are with you all. Times are NOT getting better. The economy stinks, jobs are scarce, but certain county officials continue to spend, or attempt to spend, OUR money on things THEY want. It’s important to tell them IF you want them or not. Even when we say we don’t, some will tell us not to be so small sighted. Our answer is, stop wearing pants with such deep pockets and get the right fit! Until they listen, we’ll continue bitching. Have a great weekend! God Bless each and every one of you. Be healthy and always be safe!

Now, some messeges:

Suspect Arrested for 96 Counts of Lewd & Lascivious Molestation

Osceola County – Today, Osceola County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Keum San Yi and charged him with 96 counts of Lewd & Lascivious Molestation, 3 counts of Sexual Battery and 1 count of Sexual Performance by a Child. The investigation began on November 9 when deputies took a report of possible sexual battery. The 18-year-old victim told deputies since September of 2004, Yi, a relative made sexual advances toward her and touched her inappropriately numerous times. She told deputies this has been ongoing since she was 15 years old and that Yi also purchased sexual toys and gave them to her.
On November 17, Yi was picked up at his store, Key West Market on Old Dixie Highway and brought to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning. He cooperated with detectives and, based on the information and evidence, a felony warrant was issued for his arrest. Today, deputies with the Warrants Unit arrested Yi and booked him into the Osceola County Jail with no bond.
Keum San Yi (DOB 5/24/54), 2857 Bay Avenue, Kissimmee
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Boggy Creek Road Culvert Replacement, Detour

Osceola County, Florida – Osceola County Public Works will be replacing two culverts under Boggy Creek Road beginning December 14, 2009. Work is scheduled to be completed by January 4, 2010.

Boggy Creek Road will be closed between Eagle Bay Boulevard and Pebble Point Way for the duration of the project. Traffic will be detoured onto Buenaventura Boulevard and Osceola Parkway (map attached).

Variable Message Signs (VMS) have been placed on Boggy Creek Road just north and south of the culvert locations to notify motorists of the upcoming roadway closure. Additional VMS/signs will be placed on Osceola Parkway and Buenaventura Boulevard with detour information one week prior to construction.

For more information, contact the Osceola County Public Information Office at 407-742-0100.
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Temporary Road Closure/Detour on Osceola Parkway

Osceola County, Florida – As part of the ongoing John Young Parkway (JYP)/Osceola Parkway Flyover project, a small stretch of Osceola Parkway running from just west of Centerview Boulevard west to John Young Parkway will be closed. The closure will take place from Sunday, December 6, 2009 through Tuesday, December 22, 2009 (excluding Friday and Saturday nights) between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. as crews resume the installation of steel girders and begin bridge deck formwork.

Westbound motorists on Osceola Parkway will be detoured onto Centerview Boulevard to JYP. Eastbound motorists on Osceola Parkway will be detoured onto southbound JYP to Centerview Boulevard.

There will be a signalized intersection at Centerview Boulevard and John Young Parkway to handle the additional traffic, and numerous electronic message boards will be set up to alert motorists to the change.

For more information, contact the Osceola County Public Information Office at 407-742-0100.
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Bicycle registration event set for Dec. 19 in St. Cloud

St. Cloud, Fla. – The St. Cloud Police Department (SCPD) is offering a free bicycle registration event Saturday, Dec. 19, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Community Substation, located at 923 New York Ave., in St. Cloud.
City bicycle owners are encouraged to bring their bicycles and proper identification to the substation.
“It is very important for bicycle owners to register their bikes with the PD,” said SCPD Community Outreach Officer Ron Caswell. “We try to return stolen bikes that have been recovered by the PD to the rightful owners, but if a bike is not registered with us, it simply cannot be identified properly by our staff and returned. We have many bikes that are donated or sold at auction instead of returned to the rightful owner. That is a shame because registering a bike is a free, quick, and easy process.”
For more information on bike registration or the event set for Dec. 19, please call Officer Caswell at (407) 891- 6735 or e-mail rcaswell@stcloud.org.
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Application deadline for St. Cloud Citizen’s Police Academy is Dec. 23

St. Cloud, Fla. – The Citizen’s Police Academy, hosted by the St. Cloud Police Department (SCPD), is scheduled to begin Jan. 12, 2010. The deadline for applications is Dec. 23.
The Citizen’s Police Academy is an information process where students can learn about the inner-workings of their police department while participating in different police-related activities. Class members will receive information and instruction on patrol, traffic enforcement and felony stops, criminal investigations, communications and dispatch, crime scene investigation and techniques, police training, entry team, and narcotics. Other topics will include gang awareness, a jail tour, K-9, firearms and defensive tactics, driving, crime prevention and community relations, and the School Resource Officer Program. Students will also participate in a ride-along with a police officer during a regular patrol shift.
Applicants must be 21 years of age or older and live and/or work in the city of St. Cloud. Applicants must have no prior felony convictions and no misdemeanor charges for offenses involving violence or weapons, no misdemeanor arrests within six months prior to academy application, and must be able to commit to attending all classes during the 12-week period to receive the Certificate of Completion at graduation.
To apply, please download an online application through www.stcloud.org > Police > Citizen’s Police Academy or visit SCPD, located at 4700 Neptune Road, to pick up an application package.
For more information, contact Officer Ron Caswell at (407) 891- 6735 or e-mail rcaswell@stcloud.org.
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City offices closed during staff’s yearly luncheon, holidays

Submitted by City of St. Cloud Public Information Office
St. Cloud, Fla. – City of St. Cloud will close its offices Friday, Dec. 11, from approximately 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., for the yearly employee holiday luncheon. City offices will also be closed Thursday, Dec. 24; Friday, Dec. 25; and Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.
If you need more information, please call City Hall at (407) 957-7300 during regular office hours.
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Kissimmee, Fla. (December 2, 2009) – The Kissimmee Police Department has partnered with the Wal-Mart Supercenters to once again offer the “Shop with a Cop” program to Kissimmee students whose families are experiencing financial difficulties.

Students from each of the schools within the City of Kissimmee limits will be able to join members of the Kissimmee Police Department for a few hours of shopping. Each participant will be provided with a $100 Wal-Mart gift card for their shopping.

On Thursday, December 10, 2009, a total of 30 students from Thacker Elementary, Mill Creek Elementary, Highlands Elementary, Central Avenue Elementary and Cypress Elementary Schools will be shopping at the Wal-Mart located at 4444 West Vine Street in Kissimmee. After shopping, the children will be brought to the McDonalds on West Vine Street for lunch. McDonald’s has graciously donated the lunches for the students.

On Friday, December 11, 2009, a total of 30 students from Kissimmee Elementary, Floral Ridge Elementary, Kissimmee Middle, Denn John Middle and Osceola High Schools will be shopping at the Wal-Mart located at 1471 East Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee. After their shopping experience, the students will be brought to the Kissimmee Police Department for lunch, which is being donated by C.C’s Pizza.

“This is one of the best programs that the Kissimmee Police Department is involved with,” explains Chief Fran Iwanski, “It’s heartwarming to see the smiles on the faces of these children.”
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Osceola County School Board and Superintendent Earn Master Board Distinction

The leadership team of the Osceola County School District was recognized as a Master Board on December 2, 2009, in Tampa, Florida, at the Annual Joint Conference sponsored by the Florida School Boards Association. Members of the leadership team who completed the program include the following School Board members and Superintendent: John McKay (Chairman), David Stone (Vice-Chair), Cindy Lou Hartig, Julius Melendez, Jay Wheeler, and Dr. Michael A. Grego. Only 18 school districts in Florida currently hold this prestigious distinction.

The Master Board Program is a voluntary program, and is sponsored and designed by the Florida School Boards Association. The program provides opportunities for the leadership team to engage in training that enhances its capabilities to provide the visionary leadership for the school district. The program concentrates on the leadership team’s governance roles for enhancing student achievement, fostering connections and empowering collaboration between schools and the community, and creating a learning organization to advance excellence in public education. The leadership team completed 22 hours of learning activities in a statewide forum and onsite workshops to earn this distinction.

“The purpose of the Master Board Program is to develop a diverse team of highly-skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced school board leaders who promote the best practices of school board governance,” said Superintendent Dr. Michael A. Grego. “The program provided the Osceola County School Board and myself with an outstanding opportunity to discuss and improve or enhance those important interpersonal issues which are essential to team functioning and to improving our school district.”
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