In service to the Cassia community since the 1880s, the Cassia Baptist Church had all but closed in recent years.  With just one person turning up on Sundays to sit outside during the worship hour, it appeared the historic building’s future could be in doubt.  However, there has been a rebirth at the little country church, which today is enjoying the beginnings of what is hoped to be a lasting revival.
    “We had 56 people for Easter,” said church pastor Mark Douglas on Saturday while giving a tour of the facility.   More...

    Lake County Farm Bureau hosted its annual active member dinner on Monday evening, April 25.  Nearly 100 Lake County farmers gathered at Sunsational Farms in Umatilla for a night of raising the profile of Lake County’s farming community.
    “We have to band together in times like these,” said county board president Michael Hill, noting the many pressures facing farmers today, including environmental, regulatory, and economic challenges growers have to overcome to stay in the industry.  “Tonight, we recognize our ac  More...

    “I wrote the book because we all need hope.  We long to have hope in our life.”
    Umatilla pharmacist and area resident Richard 'Doc' Greer is a well-known face in North Lake County, having served thousands of people from his Umatilla Drug Store location over the years.  Greer's caring nature and desire to help people while bringing them closer to God has resulted in a lifetime of experiences that are being recalled in his first book, "Crossing Paths Finding Hope: Inspired By True Stories".
   &nb  More...

    Tourism revenue is skyrocketing in Lake County.  Officials with the county’s economic growth department this week reported that the county’s income from its Tourist Development Tax has reached past pre-pandemic levels as the county is reaping the benefit of a public that is itching to get out after being limited during the COVID 19 pandemic.
    “Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenue in the tourism industry has rebounded to pre-COVID numbers due to pent-up demand,” said Tracy Garcia, Interim Executive Director of Econom  More...

    The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the US Forest Service on Tuesday located a man missing since Sunday in the Alexander Springs area. The man was found near midday.
    "Lake County deputies and officers with FWC located Mr. Anjab while searching the area on foot," said John Herrell with the Lake County Sheriff's Office said on Tuesday when announcing the find.  "He was located about one-tenth of a mile into the woods from the shoreline where he was last seen."  Herrell said the man "is significantly dehyd  More...

SEARCH IN ALEXANDER SPRINGS
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the US Forest Service, is currently searching for a 40-year-old man in the Alexander Springs area of Altoona after the man reportedly became separated from his group yesterday afternoon. The man and two others were apparently canoeing in the area yesterday when the canoe overturned. According to the parties involved, two of the men were able to get back in the canoe; however, the missing man was unable to. The men repo  More...

How Many People Do You Know At The Fair?                       
Check Out The This Week In Pictures Tab To Find Out!

STEER SHOW RESULTS
Overall Grand Champion - Dafaney Williams
Reserve Grand Champion - Emma Pridgen
Best Lake County Native Calf - Joseph Willis
4-H Grand Champion - Defaney Williams
4-H Reserve Grand Champion - Isaac Robbins
FFA Grand Champion  - Emma Pridgen
FFA Reserve Grand Champion - Joseph Willis
Class 1 4-H Best In Class - Braden Sredl
Class 1 FFA Best In Class - Tyler Dunaway
Class 2 4-H Best In Class - Charles Hendley
Class 2 FFA Best In Class - Joseph Willis
Class 3 4-H Best In Clas  More...

    A Umatilla woman is facing charges this week after entering a home in the early hours of Tuesday, April 5, and taking a bath.  Amand Toler, 33, was charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling after entering a home at 16632 Lake Smith Road through a window, undressing, and taking a bath.
    Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Umatilla Police Department officers responded to the home around 1:15 a.m., who had remained in the tub even after the residents had confronted her about why she was in the home. 
  &  More...

     A large crowd turned out on Saturday morning for the Life's Choices Annual Walk For Life Event.  Plenty of local faces were on hand, including Umatilla Mayor and Mrs. Kent Adcock, all walking to support mothers choosing life for their unborn babies.  The event was at Ferran Park in Eustis, and the event raised over $52,000!  Among the people recognized for their fundraising for the event were the Lott family, who raised $2,775 to take first place in the family category, and the Goodknight family, who took second place in the children's category.  They  More...

    “It’s a big deal.”
    Lake County Fair manager Stacey Wade isn’t a performer at the fair, but her juggling skills might make her a candidate for a stage should the need arise.  Wade spent the weekend and the early parts of this week working with her midway provider, Lake County, the fair board, former manager CE ‘Happy’ Norris, and state regulatory officials to quickly undertake work that was thought to be done months ago.  Thanks to yet another heavy rainfall on an already soggy fairgrounds, the layou  More...

    The wettest March in years left Lake County soil saturated in the past week.  Another rainy weekend left the county in lowest, or wettest, range of the Keetch Byram Drought Index, a tool used by the Florida Forest Service to gauge potential fire risk.  The month closed as the wettest March in at least a decade, with the Florida Forest Service’s (FFS) Paisley weather station recording 8.6 inches of rain, the most since 9.15 inches was recorded in 2001.
    Historically, March has been known to produce little to no rain.  FFS data  More...

    The 101st Edition of the Lake County Fair opens this Thursday, April 7.  For the next ten days, the Lake County Fairgrounds in Eustis will be bustling with daily activities, including youth livestock shows, live entertainment, creative arts exhibits, and of course a large midway full of rides for all ages.
    This year, in addition to the regular livestock shows, the fair has expanded its entertainment schedule.  Them Sweeney Boys, and Robinson's Racing Pigs return this year, and are joined by new acts including the Space Adventures Thril  More...

Visit https://thenorthlakeoutpost.com/PhotoGallery/index.asp

    Officials with Florida’s Natural this week announced the company plans to sell its Umatilla plant.  The company, which employs just over 80 people at the SR 19 facility at the south end of town, is planning to consolidate its packaging and storage operations at its home facility in Lake Wales.
    “We have decided to put it up for sale,” said Nikki Hayde, Senior Marketing Manager for Florida’s Natural.  “This is a way for us to help our overall performance and help our growers.”
  &nb  More...

    Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell visited Umatilla on Monday, speaking at the regular Monday lunch meeting of the Umatilla Kiwanis Club.  With over 40 people in attendance, the sheriff spoke on some of the current issues facing the office and Lake County.
    "It's good to be back out in the community," Grinnell said, noting that the regular practice of conducting town hall-style gatherings has been mostly put on hold during the last two years due to the COVID pandemic.
    Citing data that indicates Lake Co  More...

    We want to thank Winifred Begley of Eustis for submitting the information for this week’s gardening column. Her experience with ponytail palms, Beaucarnea recurvata, the elephant's foot, may help some of our readers. This drought-tolerant native of Mexico is often grown as a house plant or potted plant. The trunks can grow to 15 feet tall and can live for 350 years. They are endangered in the wild in their native habitat because of habitat destruction (according to Wikipedia) and an over harvesting for commercial propagation.
      W  More...

    Lake County reported 149 new COVID 19 cases during the week of March 14-20, according to the Center for Disease Control.  The number shows a continued decline in new cases, a trend that has continued since mid January when the county reported over 6,400 new cases in a single week.  Overall, the current weekly case count is at its lowest level since the pandemic began.
    Other trends are continuing in the right direction, also, as the county’s testing positivity rate in testing dipped to 3.61%, below a historic goal of 5%.  Wh  More...

    After months of discussion, planning, and installation delays, Tuesday saw the long-anticipated completion of the new scoreboard at the Umatilla High School football stadium.  A partnership between the school, its athletic boosters, and the Umatilla Kiwanis Club, the sign was part of the larger naming of the football field in the name of former principal John Westervelt.
    Westervelt served as principal of Umatilla High in the 1980’s, and continued to volunteer at the school and within the community as a member of the Kiwanis club unti  More...

    Thanks to a $2,500 grant of supplies and labor from the Lady Lake Lowe’s Home Improvement store, the Umatilla City Pool has received more renovation.  The facility, which saw its pool and pool deck refurbished last year, last week was treated to a renovation of its bathhouse area as part of the Lowe’s Heroes program.
    "We do one big project a year," said Clay Tew, manager of the Lady Lake store.  Tew was on hand last Thursday as a crew from the store jumped into painting the bathhouse.  Additional work was to  More...

    Many area residents will remember the former Nicky D’s restaurant in Umatilla.  Some may even know that the restaurant’s co-owner, Stephanie DiAngelis, is of Ukrainian descent.  As that country continues to defend itself from a Russian invasion and its people struggle under the weight of the onslaught, Stephanie and her husband, Nick, have created a way for locals to support the struggling nation and its people.
    The Nicky and Stephanie DiAngelis Ukrainian Freedom Fund is now active at United Southern Bank, with donations a  More...

    The City of Umatilla is looking to expand its municipal airport footprint in a big way.  The Umatilla City Council on Tuesday night approved a Florida Department of Transportation grant that will fund the city's purchase of 47.58 acres of open land just to the east of the airport and across Skyline Drive.
    The FDOT has approved a $1,025,000 grant for the purchase. The land is currently owned by members of the Martin family, descendants of the late Bob Martin, who lived on land adjacent to the parcel under discussion.
  &nb  More...

    What a difference a week makes.  A deluge of rainfall over the past week erased Lake County’s current rainfall deficit, filled area waterways, and left enough soaked soil behind that the risk of wildfire has decreased substantially.
    With rainfall totals rising over eight inches in some areas of the county, the rain was just what was needed to quell a fire danger that had been rising steadily in recent weeks. Significant rainfall fell throughout much of the north and central portions of the state in the la  More...

    Florida Department of Transportation contractors have begun the process of widening sections of SR 19 between Umatilla and Eustis to pave driving areas created by recent changes in traffic patterns.  The estimated $4 million project features the closing of some median crossings and creating new turn lanes, lanes that when used to make U-Turns on the road have created large dirt areas.
    The turn lanes have been constructed in such a way that it makes it hard for large vehicles, and especially vehicles with trailers to make a U-Turn on the ro  More...

    North Lake County has not been spared the national hike in the price of gasoline.  Per gallon costs have jumped over $.50 in the past week, rocketing past $4 per gallon.
    The jump has placed prices at their highest in over a decade, with the largest jump coming since mid-February.  According to Gasbuddy.com, the Orlando area's average price for a gallon of gas on Monday was $4.08.  That's the highest since at least 2012, the earliest year available to search. 
    The increase is placing a pinch on all  More...

    In early April the section of SR 19 running through the city limits of Umatilla will begin to look at least a little similar to the project that has been underway for several months just to the south.  The Florida Department of Transportation is set to begin a road project running from the south end of town north to Palmetto Street, with modifications planned that some residents may feel is similar to the $4 million project to the south that has been a big community topic for several months.    
    City officials this week conf  More...

    At its meeting this Thursday night, March 3, the Eustis City Commission is expected to consider a plan that looks to put nearly 550 homes on property of the former Pine Meadows Country Club.  The project, which covers just over 240 acres, looks to develop 548 homes over the next decade in three phases, beginning in 2023.
    Due to the land’s low-lying topography, much of the development is being envisioned in a central corridor of the project, which has pushed density in those areas to a level that includes some lot sizes at just 40 fee  More...

    Umatilla’s biggest day of commerce returns from COVID exile this Saturday, March 5, when the Friends of the Umatilla Public Library hosts the city-wide yard sale. Based out of the Umatilla Public Library, the event, now in its 21st year, has grown to be a huge day of commerce in the community, with dozens of yard sales at the library and throughout the community bringing bargain hunters from all over to the community.
    The library is located at 412 Hatfield Drive, near the First Baptist Church of Umatilla.
    Area  More...

    “It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.”
    The City of Umatilla on Monday had to remove or drastically cut back three of its estimated 12 wildlife carvings in Cadwell Park.  The carvings, believed to be part of the largest collection of such creations in one place in the state of Florida, had fallen victim to the elements and had deteriorated to the point that safety was a concern.
    “We’ve been trying to shore them up, but they do have a lifespan,” said city manager Scott Blanke  More...

    CR 450W (Ocala Street) was closed for parts of Monday evening as emergency responders managed a propane gas tank leak near the intersection of Ogden Avenue.  No injuries or damage was reported, but the road was closed for nearly two hours as responders ‘burned off’ leaking gas.
    The incident began around 6 p.m., when a property owner became aware that a large propane tank behind his house was leaking after a recent fill.  The odor of the gas led to a response from Umatilla and Lake County fire units, as well as Umatilla Pol  More...

    The biggest community celebration of the year arrives in Eustis this week, when the annual GeorgeFest celebration returns for its 120th installment.  Downtown Eustis will be buzzing for several days as it plays host to entertainment, a carnival, fireworks, the annual Washington's Birthday parade, and a Sunday live concert featuring Eustis native and 'Commodores' founder Thomas McClary.
    The event is the longest-running celebration of George Washington's birthday in Florida, and the second-longest in the country.  This year's event carr  More...

    It was a rollicking good time on Saturday, when the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce and Sunsatianal Farms combined to host the annual Big Orange Day with its chili and BBQ cookoffs.  Nearly two dozen entries joined the fray, with a large crowd coming out to spend the day at the agritourism locale and enjoying the offerings of some of the area’s best cooks. 
    A series of awards were presented to participants at the end of the event, with the following winners announced:
Rifle Raffle:  Kim Ludwig
Alcohol Raffle:&n  More...

    Umatilla's biggest eating event of the year returns this Saturday, February 19, when the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Sunsational Farms hosts the annual BBQ and chili cookoff.  The event, featuring dozens of cook teams and market vendors, will be held in the shadow of The Big Orange, at 40541 Roger Giles Road in Umatilla.
    The fun begins at noon, when Susational Farms kicks the gates open on a vendor market and family fun day.  Running until 6 p.m., the market features a wide variety of items for sale, with children  More...

    A planned 114-home development near Southside Umatilla is the latest plan to come alive in town, though formal action on the development has been pushed back a few weeks.  The development, named Woodsong, sits on a previously approved but never developed site at the southeast corner of Pine Street and Tenth Avenue.
    The property, on just over 39 acres, was initially approved for houses in 2005, but never was developed.  Today, the site is eyed to have just over four units per acre, with housing lots proposed at 54 feet wide by 120 feet  More...

    Tuesday night’s community input session and further discussion during a meeting of the Umatilla City Council showed little public interest in closing Owens Lane, as residents in the area seeking the road remain fully open and council members agreeing.  Instead, expect the city to take a more aggressive look at maintaining the clay road that runs between Ocala Street and Lake Street, alongside Umatilla Elementary School.
    Closure of the north section of the road had become a top in recent months, with officials citing traffic, maintenan  More...

    Newly reported cases of COVID 19 continue a steady decline in Lake County.  Data released on Friday, February 4, indicate 2,485 cases recorded during the week, down from 3,599 the week prior and 4,358 two weeks ago. Twenty-five deaths were reported, the first since January 21, when 16 were reported.
    According to CDC data, Lake County’s positivity rate on those tested continues to hover around 28%.  There have been 181 new hospital admissions in the past week, a number that shows a decline from previous weeks highs of around 22%.  More...

    Smoke descended on large swaths of North Lake County on Friday, as a prescribed burn was conducted in the Ocala National Forest.  The burn was one of dozens expected during the coming months that will cover thousands of acres, and is part of the ongoing effort to improve habitat and reduce fuel to fires started by lightning or other causes throughout the year.
    On Monday, February 7, the US Forest Service was again burning in the area of CR 445, southwest of Forest Road 69 and south of the Alexander Springs recreational area. The fire, expe  More...

    Habitat For Humanity may be known for helping construct homes for low-income families, but this week an estimated 40 existing homes throughout the county are getting improved through Habitat’s Preservation and Repair program.
    Early this week, crews were in Umatilla painting homes and clearing away overgrown brush, with nearly 30 volunteers undertaking projects.  Similar crews were busy in Mount Dora and South Lake County.
    "Habitat Lake Sumter's Preservation and Repair program works to preserve the exi  More...

    Months of on and off again discussions about closing a portion of Owens Lane in Umatilla will take the next step toward potential action.  The City of Umatilla has announced a public meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 15, to solicit community input on the proposal.
    The city has considered closing a section of Owens Lane that runs from Bayless Street north to Lake Street.  The section includes a border with Umatilla Elementary School and Crescent Lake.  In previous discussions, reasons for the potential closure include a red  More...

    With temperatures dipping into the low 20’s or even lower in certain locations, North Lake County saw a weekend of frigid temperatures not seen in several years.   A hard freeze descended on the area early Sunday morning, raising concerns for area agricultural interests that had already dodged one bullet the previous weekend.
    It has been at least five years since temperatures in North Lake dipped into the teens, but at least one forest-area location reported just that early Sunday morning, when a low of 18 degrees was recorded.&  More...

    Driving a piece of heavy equipment off a construction site in the middle of the night is bound to draw attention.  Crashing it into a power pole across the street might garner even more notice.  And telling police that you had been requested to undertake the activity could prove to be a hard sell.
    Jordan Meadors, 25, of Umatilla is facing a variety of charges in connection with such an incident, which occurred around 3:15 a.m. on Sunday, January 30.  Meadors was charged with loitering and prowling after he went onto the constructi  More...

    The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is continuing the search for a suspect in an alleged sexual assault that occurred on Thursday, January 20.  Officials are searching for a black truck that could be connected with an incident where an Umatilla High School student was approached while walking away from school.
    There sheriff’s office released the following information on the incident:
    “On January 20, a juvenile female was walking from Umatilla High School at roughly 2:30 PM when she was honked at by  More...

    A Umatilla teenager is facing charges after reportedly firing shots at a light in the area of a Circle K convenience store at the intersection of SR 19 and CR 42 north of Umatilla.  Noah Wheat, 18, of Umatilla and a juvenile were allegedly involved in the incident, which occurred just before midnight on Wednesday, January 19. 
    Reports state Umatilla Police Department officers arrived at the convenience store in reference to a shooting in the parking lot.  Upon arrival, officers made contact with Wheat, who initially stated severa  More...

    Temperatures plummeted to their lowest level of the winter so far in North Lake County early Monday, with northern areas reporting as low as 25 degrees before sunup on January 24.  The cold snap left bird baths frozen, rooftops and windshields sheeted in ice, and tropical plants damaged.
    Area agriculture appeared to escape the cold mostly intact, with only the spring peach and blueberry blossoms at risk from low temperatures.  Area peaches are currently in bloom, and blueberry crops could be even further ahead, causing concern as more  More...

By Holly Newby:

A Garden With Good Bones
    If ever there was a week to look at your garden’s “Good Bones” this is it. After the freeze the elephant ears are flat, the perennials are pooped and the lawn is golden brown.
    What seems like a messy clean-up, with frozen poinsettias and azaleas alike, may be just the planning opportunity of the year. There is basically an 11-month growing season in Florida so there aren't many weeks of not mowing in which to plan.
    Up north in Vermont  More...

    Lake County’s COVID numbers continued in the wrong direction in the last week, with 6,412 new cases reported for the week ending Friday, January 14.  That is an increase over last week’s then-record high of 4,107.  Lake County’s positivity rate on those tested for the virus was reported by the Center for Disease Control as 35.32%.
    The CDC also reported 14 deaths during the period, and 209 new hospitalizations.  Fatality data can represent deaths from over longer stretches of time, and may not reflect just the wee  More...

    The most extensive medical and rehabilitation facility to call Umatilla home is opening this week at 925 North Central Avenue.  Acumen Clinical Services, Inc. has taken up residence in an estimated 8.500 square feet in the Save-A-Lot plaza, bringing to the community an expansive, state-of-the-art equipped facility that will offer a variety of physical and occupational therapy, as well as urgent medical care.
    "We are here to serve the community," says Dr. Rachelle Alcide, DPT, who is opening the facility with her husband Marty Ric  More...

    Storms rolled through North Lake County early Sunday morning, bringing rain and high winds.  The system, which blanketed the state, spurred tornados in south Florida, but North Lake appeared to avoid any serious damage.
    Wind gusts were reported as high as 30 miles per hour at a weather station located at the Umatilla Municipal Airport, and power outages occurred in localized areas, including the Shockley area of Altoona.
    The system moved quickly through, and by mid-morning the rain was mostly over, with gusting w  More...

Trinity Assembly of God, located at 200 Urick Street in Fruitland Park and LifePointe Church, located at 3551 E. Orange Ave. in Eustis, will open both nights from 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following morning. Masks are required at all cold weather sheltering locations, and the Florida Department of Health will be conducting COVID-19 screenings at each shelter as well as offering hepatitis A, fl  More...

    The omicron variant of COVID 19 continues to grow in Lake County.  In the most recent data from the State of Florida, released on January 7, indicated Lake County had 4,107 cases reported in the previous seven days, up from 2,814 the previous week. To date, this week's report represents the most new cases in the county for a single week since the pandemic began.
    Residents have flocked to testing sites, and on Monday a line of over 100 cars could be found at the Lake County Fairgrounds as people sought out clarity on their COVID status.  More...

    Lake County’s 2021 graduation rate was reported this week at 90.6%, slightly higher than the statewide rate of 90.1% and surpassing Superintendent Diane Kornegay’s goal of 90% for a second year in a row.
    Lake’s graduation rate was 77.8% in 2017, when Kornegay was chosen to lead the district.  At that time, she said one of her primary goals was to help the district reach and exceed a 90% graduation rate.  The district reached that goal in 2020 when the graduation rate reached 91.2% and it stayed above the goal in 2021  More...

By Holly Newby

    One of the plants we have had in our garden the longest is a Maidenhair fern. Also called by common names such as Southern maidenhair and venus-hairfern, it can be found growing in the wild of Florida from the Panhandle to the keys, anywhere limestone rocks and seeping water are found together.
    Imagine our surprise in going swimming in a sinkhole in Tallahassee many years ago, only to find ourselves climbing up walls of limestone covered in dangling maidenhair ferns.
    Widely cu  More...

Carpenter was kille  More...

    It took less than 23 hours for the community to pour over $10,000 into a gofundme account set up for a Umatilla resident, parent, and businessman who died just after midnight on January 1 when he crashed while riding an ATV style vehicle on Lakeview Street in Umatilla.  Josh Carpenter, 36, of Umatilla died from his injuries at AdventHealth Waterman after a crash on Lakeview Street in Umatilla.
    Florida Highway Patrol reports state the incident happened around 12:30 a.m.  Carpenter sustained fatal injuries after the ATV he was riding we  More...

    Lake County Schools students returned to the classroom on Tuesday, after several weeks off that saw an explosion of COVID cases throughout the county.  With 2,844 new cases reported in the county during the week ending December 31, Lake County is an unprecedented surge in cases, though how dangerous the omicron variant may be is unknown as serious illness and death - so far - appear to be less with the current variant than earlier iterations of the COVID 19 virus.
    To date, public officials across all local jurisdictions have declined to ma  More...

    A North Carolina woman is facing charges after an incident in a forested area near Deerhaven.  Sarah Smith, 33, of High Point, was taken into custody after a child was involved in a traffic crash around a campsite area off Clay Lake Road.
    Lake County Sheriff’s Office reports state deputies responded to the remote area of Northeast Lake County in reference to an assault and possible battery with a deadly weapon.  Upon arrival, they met with two male subjects, one of which reported being a passenger in a vehicle that Smith was driv  More...

By Atticus Newby

        Just a week after Christmas Eve is New Year's Eve, the final day of the year. Like Christmas, we have a number of traditions that we enjoy for welcoming in the new year, and one of the most popular is staying up until midnight to watch the Times Square Ball drop and cheer "Happy New Year" when the seconds run out. The Times Square Ball is the most famous example of a time ball today, and likely the only one that most Americans have ever seen, but there is a lot more to time balls than being a part of our New Years' tra  More...

    A dispute over the brightness of a security light led to two deaths Monday in Paisley.  Timothy Patch, 59, was shot dead in his driveway at 26402 Fisherman’s Road in Paisley, apparently by his next door neighbor, Eric Hilderbrand, 62, who was discovered by investigators dead in a chair at his home, from an apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound.
    Deputies arrived at Patch’s home around 12:30 p.m. on Monday, December 27, in reference to a shooting.  They discovered Patch dead in his driveway, just below a security light that  More...

    Worshippers of all faiths are invited to take a step back in time this coming Sunday, January 2, when St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Eustis will conduct a service as it would have been held in 1882, the year the church was first built. Beginning at 10 a.m. at 317 South Mary Street, worshippers will see what it was like back then in what is today Eustis’ oldest church.
    “It is a completely different style,” said the Reverend Matthew Perreault in announcing the special service, which will mark the church’s 140th year of ser  More...

    Ed Lisle has a green thumb, and a good sense of humor. He and his wife Josie have a lovely lakeside home in our little town. We have mentioned his ability to grow pineapples before, about the beautiful table arrangements that he used to make for the Taste of North Lake County Restaurant Showcase out of tropical foliage, and even about some of his palmetto hat projects, but this week he topped them all. He stopped by our office with the most lovely and delicate handmade corsage made out of flowers and foliage from his yard. In the old days, ladies were very fond of corsage  More...

    Amid the stress of holiday shopping, a new COVID variant, and the general tension that seems to envelope much of life in the past year, North Lake County residents have shown their capacity to embrace the goodwill of the Christmas holiday.  Stories of strangers buying people's groceries, and of strangers' paying for others' meals in area restaurants have abounded during the holiday, as have the many varied acts of kindness that hundreds, if not thousands of people, have participated in.  In North Lake County, the heart of Christmas has been beating loudly in 202  More...

    The Astor-area landscape changed in a big way in the last week, when demolition crews took down a former restaurant and lodging facilities at the former Jungle Den location.  The demolition is part of an ambitious plan to redevelop the riverfront property into a large camping and recreation facility.
    Located north of Astor on the St. Johns River in Volusia County, the property has sat nearly vacant for many years, with mobile home renters serving as its main residents in recent years.  In the future, it is conceived to include hundred  More...

    Parts of downtown Eustis were evacuated for several hours on Friday, December 17, while responding emergency units worked to evaluate and eventually remove a suspicious package found near the Bay Pharmacy at 2 East Magnolia Street.  The package was eventually found to be nothing more than an empty box.
    The incident began around 7 a.m., when an employee at Bay Pharmacy arrived to work around 7 a.m. and noticed the package tied to a garbage can near the front of the business.  She took a short video of the box, and forwarded it to pharm  More...

By Mick Vonk
    Ron Smith, Amy Toman, and I participated in a field trip to UF Horse Teaching Unit concluding a 10-month equine remote on-line course we took.  Each month’s lecture varied from feeding, pesky parasites, poison in the pasture, pasture management, manure management, horse behavior, vaccines, and colic.
    UF has two properties they use for equine studies; the 65-acre Horse Teaching Unit that we visited and the 320-acre Equine Science Unit.  The Horse Training Unit is home to 30 broodmares, 4 stallions, a herd of g  More...

    All Jacob ever wanted to do was tend the sheep like his father and Uncle Levi.  He would beg his mother to let him go with them into the hills with the village flock.  She had allowed him to go lately when his chores were done.  He was really looking forward to next week.  For seven days, it would be his family’s turn for watching the sheep at night.  No way, his mother put her foot down.  There was no way he could be out in the wilderness after dark.  The night was cold and there was no telling what might have happened in the long  More...

    Was there a shooting in the Umatilla area Friday, December 10?  After an extensive investigation, Umatilla Police concluded that while there may have been a shooting, it didn’t happen in Umatilla.
    “It had nothing to do with Umatilla,” said department chief Adam Bolton, who described the department’s role in the situation.
    “Three or four dudes walked into the hospital with some wounds,” Bolton said, triggering an investigation.  The subjects spoke limited English, making m  More...

    Umatilla’s Biggest Day of the year arrives this Saturday, December 11, when the annual Cracker Christmas Celebration returns for a full day of community Christmas celebrations.  Organized by the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce with the support of the City of Umatilla and a host of partners, the event will bring the largest crowd of the year to the community.
    The morning fun starts early, with a 9 a.m. Dog Jog up the northbound lanes of SR 19.  The lanes will be closed for much of the morning for parade activities, and the public is  More...

    A Eustis man is facing animal cruelty charges after officers responded to a Dixie Avenue apartment.  Jonathan DiazCapo was jailed after officers responded to an apartment at 2201 Dixie Avenue and found a dog dead and inside two garbage bags.
    Officers responded to the scene on November 30 around 9:30 a.m. after a  complaint call came in about an argument inside the apartment and sounds that could be consistent with harming an animal.
    Responding officers demanded to see the dog during their investigation, and  More...

    “Sixty years.  And I’ve been here for all of them.”
    Jim Harris was all smiles Friday, as Harris Oil and A/C celebrated 60 years of operation.  Founded in downtown Mount Dora and making a stop along the way on Highland Street, the business has resided on US 441 in Mount Dora since 1988, serving the community with quality oil, gas, and self storage facilities.
    “We’re now fourth generation, “ said Nancy Harris on Friday, as the business was set to host a large customer appre  More...

Lil Miss Astor - Brystal Powell
Lil Mister Astor - Jesse Spence-Lightfoot
Individual - George & Nancy Corbett -- First
                   Mike & Brenda Buckley - Second
Group - Lake County Airboat Club - First
              Blackwater Yacht Club - Second
School - Spring Creek Band - First
              Spring Creek K-Kids - Second
Business - Castaways on the River - First
      &  More...

    The streaming service Disney+ will debut a new show, “Foodtastic” on December 15, featuring three contestants in competition to create ‘extravagant scene work and larger-than-life sculptures made entirely out of food’, according to Disney. Among the contestants on the show will be Umatilla resident Tammy Mashburn, owner of an edible art business and a body shop assistant manager.
    Mashburn, who hails from Eustis originally, has been making custom cakes for over ten years, and is a self-taught award-winning cake artist.&nb  More...

    The Christmas season will take center stage in River Country on Saturday, when Astor rolls out the red carpet for a full day of holiday fun.  Beginning with a street parade in the morning and culminating with a lighted boat parade on the St. Johns River after dark, Astor will be buzzing all day with holiday spirit.
    The fun begins at 10 a.m. when the annual Christmas street parade departs from the parking lot at the Drifters restaurant and heads up Front Street.  The parade will meander its way toward Ann Street and the Astor Community  More...

    The pre-dawn hours of Thanksgiving Day were interrupted in Umatilla when a reportedly intoxicated man began to shoot off fireworks near Umatilla Middle School.  Jordan Light, 38, of St. Matthews, South Carolina who was a guest at a home at 305 Kristen Court, was charged with disorderly intoxication after the incident that also involved a confrontation with a neighbor.
    Umatilla Police reports state an officer was at the Umatilla Circle K convenience store around 4:30 a.m. and heard a large boom.  A few minutes later, he heard another,  More...

    Customers of Umatilla’s Ace Hardware will remember former longtime employee Jon Wilson’s smiling face and desire to help.  Now, the community is stepping forward to return the favor, as Wilson looks to rebuild his life after his home was consumed by fire.
    Lake County Fire Rescue responded to Wilson’s home at 45631 Palm Street in the Lake Kathryn area just after midnight on Tuesday, November 16.  They found the mobile home in flames, with Wilson, three sons, two cats, and a dog safely outside.
  &nb  More...

    This Friday, November 26, the City of Eustis will host the 34th Annual Light-Up Eustis celebration in historic downtown from 5-9 p.m. with a light-up ceremony beginning at 6 p.m.  This free, family-friendly event will include live entertainment, a 75-foot snow slide, a stilt-walking Toy Solider, Dancer the live reindeer, food trucks, vendors, and strolling carolers by the Caroling Company.
    Also, expect a special visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus who will sleigh in from the North Pole.  Children will be invited to take a free photo with San  More...

    Downtown Umatilla's retail economy is in the midst of a resurgence, with a variety of new shops opening recently.  From clothing outlets to hairstylists, an ice cream shop to a gift shop/art studio/you name it shop, the SR 19 corridor through Umatilla is coming to life. On December 4, the public is invited to join several of the new shops for a holiday special occasion designed to celebrate the area's many new offerings.
    Leading the charge is the just-opening Forever Fabulous, led by Amy Sellers.  Sellers' vision of 'a place for commun  More...

    Thanksgiving, a day of feasting on turkey ’n dressing, pumpkin pie, and cranberry relish.  A day set aside to give special thanks for good things.  A day for…(Hey, do any of y’all remember the song, ‘Over the River and Through the Woods to Grandmothers House we Go?’  Grandpa lives there, too)…get together with family for the big meal.  Thanksgiving, that we can celebrate this year’s holiday without 2020’s threat of rampant COVID.
    Sure, we celebrat  More...

    The Lake County Animal Shelter is offering fee-waived pet adoptions for veterans.  This promotion was made possible by a donation from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mary Ellen Robertson Chapter.
    “We are honored to accept this donation from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  This will benefit both our local veterans and our homeless pets,” said Whitney Boylston, Lake County Animal Shelter director.
    In partnership with the Lake Coun  More...

    All offices of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, Tax Collector, and the Lake County Extension Center will be closed Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26, for Thanksgiving and will reopen Monday, November 29.
    The Lake County Solid Waste Division will suspend curbside collection on Thanksgiving Day.  Collection normally scheduled for Thursday will shift to Friday, and Friday collection will occur on Saturday.  Lake County’s Central Solid Waste Facility landfill ope  More...

    “So far, what we are seeing is promising.”
    The citrus picking season is underway in North Lake County, with area growers ramping up for a season that has shown early signs of positivity. Faryna Grove Care's Kris Sutton this week provided an early-season update this week.
    Sutton said navels, the first variety to be picked each season, are off to a good start.
    “So far, for only two blocks, we’re up,” Sutton said, after having seen a greater yield so far.  I  More...

    Lake County’s Plans to purchase land south of Tavares to consolidate the Supervisor of Elections and Lake County Sheriff’s Offices has hit a snag.  The county, during its due diligence on approximately 13 acres at the intersection of SR 19 and Lane Park Road, has found a variety of environmental issues that could cause the price of the property to skyrocket.
    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday heard a staff update on the land, on which the county holds a $1 million option through next June.  As part of its due diligence,  More...

    The Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday afternoon announced the passing of former sheriff Gary Borders.  Borders, who served as Lake County Sheriff from 2006 until 2017, reportedly passed away after a ‘recent battle with cancer’ early Tuesday.
    Borders became sheriff after then-sheriff Chris Daniels was killed in a charity bus race in Volusia County.  Upon retirement, he returned to his home state of Kentucky.
    “Sheriff Borders faithfully served our citizens as the Lake County Sheri  More...

    November is Manatee Awareness Month and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding people on the water to slow down and look out for migrating manatees this time of year.  As water temperatures cool this season, manatees are naturally migrating to warmer waters around the state.  Go slow and look out below to allow them to swim safely.
    While manatees are large, they can be difficult to see in the water.  That is why it is important to:  follow guidelines and follow all manatee protection zones, l  More...

    Pollinators. We don't even think about the tiny players that keep the ecosystem perking along the pollination cycle of life. Tiny bees, butterflies, and many other winged friends play a pivotal role in the health of many habitats as well as in our food supply.
    Making our green spaces friendly to pollinators has become an essential part of being good stewards of the Earth. As more and more wild spaces are developed, natural habitats are replaced with low maintenance landscapes which often leave the plates completely empty for our flying friends.  More...

    There is still time to register to join the fun at the Umatilla Kiwanis Club’s 7th Annual 5K Run, set for this Saturday, November 13, in Umatilla.  The race begins at 7 a.m. downtown at Cadwell Park and snakes through the eastern section of Umatilla, including to the Umatilla Municipal Airport.
    Cost is $35 for adults, $25 for ages 13-18, and $20 for ages 6-12. Registration is available at www.runsignup.com/race/fl/umatilla/kiwanis5k.  Additional information is available by calling Kiwanis member Deborah Joswig at 352-267-3648.  More...

    The Umatilla High School football team is headed to the state playoffs for the first time since 2014.  The Bulldogs, which secured a 6-4 record on Friday night with a 16-8 win in cold and rainy conditions at Bronson, will travel to Keystone Heights this Friday for the first round in the playoffs.
    Keystone Heights defeated Umatilla earlier this season by a score of 68-13 on September 17.
    “We are excited about another opportunity to compete against Keystone Heights,” said Umatilla head coach Charlie Cer  More...

    A drenching, all-day rain soaked much of North Lake County and beyond on Friday, with upwards of three inches or more of precipitation filling retention areas and pushing the St. Johns River into a ‘moderate’ flood stage.  When the rain finally tapered off on Saturday afternoon, soggy conditions could be found throughout the area.
    Astor, which bears the brunt of high rainfall events due to its low-lying status next to the St. Johns River, received reports of as much as 3.25 inches of rain, with the St. Johns River Utility repor  More...

    After several months of renovations, the former Blackwater Inn restaurant in Astor is open and ready to serve customers.  Now known as Drifters River Front Bar and Grill upstairs and McHenry’s Pub on the Water downstairs, the location offers two unique dining experiences in one, waterfront location.
    Owner/operator Mechelle McHenry, an Astor-area resident, was busy upstairs in the past week, preparing Drifters for its first customers. The remodeled space that formerly housed William's Landing offers a variety of casual dining options,  More...