The lone survivor of a family involved in a shooting on Friday, August 2, that led to the death of a Lake County Sheriff's Office Deputy has been charged with first-degree murder.  Julie Sulpizio, who had generated the original call to the rural Eustis neighborhood where the shooting took place, is facing charges for her part in leading deputies to her home, where her husband and two daughters were allegedly waiting to kill. 
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    A tropical system’s trailing winds brought saturating rains, power outages, and emergency management disruptions to Lake County on Monday.  Hurricane Debby made landfall in the Steinhatchee area midday on Monday as a category 1 hurricane, with the storm’s trailing wind bands hitting Lake County and bringing a variety of public service operational problems with them.
    Chiefly, Lake County’s 911 emergency response system was impacted, with the county reporting ‘intermittent’ disruptions in the system.  The p  More...

    We looked out at the garden on Monday and what do you think we saw? An alligator. That is right, wandering through the grass! That doesn’t occur every day, but with the rain, he thought it was time to go for a stroll.
    Only four feet long, he looked like a black log in the grass. Florida has a plethora of alligators, but we didn’t want to accidentally walk over him or step on him. He wasn’t alarmed about us at all and seemed at home like a lizard or frog might be, just relaxing in the weeds.
    Should we  More...

    Lake County’s explosive housing growth doesn’t appear to be impacting the county’s public school population.  With the new school year set to begin in less than two weeks, the county is projecting to have just over 400 more students in the system, this fall.  That number would represent just under 1% growth from last year.
    County officials this week said 44,045 students are expected in the district this year, up from 43,642 last year.  While last year's number doesn't reflect students coming into the district la  More...

    After months of planning and preparing, the area's first honey and mead-tasting lounge has opened.  Pinesmoke Bee Co. this week announced the formal opening of its location at 117 North Bay Street.
    Pinesmoke is an Eustis-based beekeeping company that has become known in recent years for its regular presence at area markets and community events.  Known for its focus on education and hyper-local wildflower honeys, the company has been working on its first fixed-base retail operation for almost a year.
    Pinesmo  More...

    Duke Energy is undertaking extensive repairs on a Grand Island substation that was damaged by fire last week.  Duke has moved in a mobile substation to support operations in the area, a hulking, wheeled unit that is dispatched during emergency situations.
    “Duke Energy has mobile substations that we are able to deploy in emergency situations, helping increase system resiliency after hurricanes, severe storms, and other power disruptions,” said Audrey Stasko, Lead Communications for Duke Energy in Florida.  
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    A Umatilla man suffered fatal injuries in an early morning crash on Tuesday, July 23.  The man, 32 was pronounced dead after being transported to AdventHealth Waterman following a crash on CR 450A southeast of Umatilla.
    Florida Highway Patrol reports state the man, 32, was westbound on CR 450A around 6:11 a.m. in a 1996 Honda Civic when a 2008 Toyota Tacoma driven by a 40-year-old Umatilla man pulled out from the Pine Street intersection, into the path of the Civic.
    The front of the Honda struck the Toyota on th  More...

    Construction continues on a new Astor County Library, with the 6,000-square-foot facility progressing toward completion.  On Tuesday, the cost of the $3.3 million project rose, after the Lake County Commission approved extra funds related to fire suppression.
    Describing ‘unexpected costs’ associated with the library’s fire suppression system, county staff asked for and received an additional $225,000 outlay for the project.
    GSB Construction, Inc. of Wildwood is heading up the project, which incl  More...

By Adrian Newby

    Who doesn't love learning? We all enjoy finding out about new things and sharing them with others, but sometimes we don't know where to start. That is the spot we were in when we began working on this article. We weren't sure what direction to take it in, so we just stared out the window. While we were distracting ourselves, we noticed some large green caterpillars that we didn't recognize on a crepe myrtle just outside our window. Naturally, we had to look them up.
    We started by simply looking up “large green cater  More...

    Lake County has begun a substantial renovation of its historic courthouse building.  Contractors have begun work on the building with the goal of restoring a variety of areas that have shown wear or that have failed.
    For several months, the building’s 16 columns have been wrapped to shore them up after they were found to be in varying degrees of decay.  In a project that is expected to take up to a year, the columns, as well as any other area of the building found to need, work, will be replaced.
    The  More...

    The Lake County Commission, in partnership with the Lake County Historical Society, has honored a Holocaust survivor for her contributions.  Edith Freiwirth was celebrated during a special service held Friday, July 12, at her synagogue in Leesburg.
    Freiwirth, who celebrated her 93rd birthday on July 15, was a native of Breslau, Germany, who was separated from her parents at the age of 13 and moved to a variety of concentration and work camps.  While imprisoned at a work camp near Auschwitz, she and her sister escaped into the forest a  More...

    The City of Umatilla has formalized proposed verbiage for nine ballot initiatives set to go before town voters later this fall.  From basic items designed to bring the city’s charter of laws in line with how the city actually operates to tweaking the town term limits law, the measures are designed to streamline city operations while allowing increased flexibility for selecting council members.
    Here are the initiatives as worded upon approval this past Tuesday night:
- Ballot Question Number 1: Voting Districts
City C  More...

    A suspicious death in an Altoona-area mobile home on Saturday has been ruled a suicide.  Lake County Sheriff’s Office officials on Monday released a statement in connection with an incident that occurred around 1 p.m. at 20332 Wood Duck Road in Altoona.
    “The autopsy was performed yesterday morning,” said John Herrell, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.  “The preliminary findings of the medical examiner show that the manner of death was suicide.”
    The victim suffered a sel  More...

    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday undertook a series of budget-related actions, setting parameters ahead of public hearings in the fall.
    Heading the actions was the setting of the maximum millage rate for the coming 2024-2025 fiscal year.  The county held the line from the current year, approving a maximum millage rate of 5.0364. Also unchanged are the proposed ambulance MSTU (.4629), stormwater and park MSTU (.4957), and water authority (.2940).  The fire rescue MSTU is proposed to be reduced by .0338 mills.
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    The Umatilla Babe Ruth All Stars 16 and under team is off to the state tournament this week, heading to Sarasota for what could be four days of play leading to a trip to the national tournament. The team will face off against nine squads from around the state, each of which qualified after success at the regional level.
    “We’re excited,” said team head coach Brent Harden this week.  On Saturday, the team was at Carter’s ACE Hardware in Umatilla conducting a fundraiser to help offset expenses associated with staying i  More...

    The City of Umatilla is considering a request from the Olde Mill Stream RV Resort in Umatilla to expand the number of residents who can stay at the park year-round.  The request was up for consideration during the regular city council meeting on Tuesday, July 2, but was postponed. 
    Olde Mill Stream  is seeking to increase the year-round resident capacity to 30%, or 160 spaces at the 486 site park.  Remaining residents at the park, which operates at capacity during the winter months, are limited to six-month stays. Currently,  More...

Plant Partners for Pest Control
    Companion planting is a long-held tradition with backyard gardeners. Some things just go good together. Not just on the plate and on your tongue, but growing in the garden. There are many reasons people plant certain things together: reducing pests, better pollination and to improve soil fertility.
    The Native Americans did this when they planted the "Three Sisters" garden. Corn, beans, and squash made up the trio and those same three, along with game, were the mainstay of their diet. The cool th  More...

    Florida State Senate candidate Bown Kou has filed defamation lawsuits against a conservative website and a state senate election committee after a campaign flyer distributed last week called into question the intentions of some of Kou’s supporters.
    Kou filed separate cases against Florida’s Voice, a conservative media outlet, and the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, which distributed the flyer on behalf of Kou’s primary opponent, Keith Truenow.  The flyer brings into question the background of some of Kou  More...

    It was a historic moment on Tuesday, when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came to Umatilla in what is believed to be the first visit by a sitting Florida governor in over 50 years.  DeSantis held a press conference at the Cadwell Park community building to award the city a $4.8 million grant through the Governor's Job Growth Grant Fund.  The money will be used to fund the development of the city's planned industrial park at its former wastewater plant in the southwest corner of town.
    "We look to areas where there are lots of potent  More...

    The Independence Day Holiday will be celebrated over several days in the coming week, with several area communities hosting large, free-to-attend events that will include fireworks, and live entertainment all part of the festivities.
    Here’s a breakdown of events in Eustis, Mount Dora, and Tavares:
    City of Mount Dora Freedom on the Waterfront:  Wednesday, July 3, 5-10 p.m. at Elizabeth Evans Park and surrounding lakefront.  Live entertainment, acrobatic show, and fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.
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    Duke Energy representatives in the past week provided additional updates to their utility pole projects in Umatilla.  The projects, one located along SR 19 just south of Umatilla, and another on CR 450NE next to the North Lake Regional Park, are part of the firm’s ‘hardening’ program designed to ensure consistent service.
    Pole projects have become a top in the Umatilla area, as residents and city officials in recent weeks have voiced fears that Duke might be planning to install very large poles in town, similar to what is  More...

    “There was only friends left to betray me.” - Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker.
    Last Friday's qualifying deadline for county elections has resulted in a firestorm within the Lake County Republican party.  A last-minute move by Mark Jordan to qualify for election as Lake County Property Appraiser has raised ethical, and possibly legal questions that by Monday had grown to include interest from state-level republicans.
    Lake County politics is dominated by the Republican party, with all Consti  More...

    Duke Energy has informed the City of Umatilla it intends to replace a series of wooden power poles along SR 19 just south of town, and the city is hoping to ensure the planned metal poles fit the current look of the area.
    “They sent me a pole change map but no pictures yet,” said Umatilla City Manager Scott Blankenship early this week. 
    Blankenship said the city is working to make sure the poles that are being installed in and around downtown Eustis don’t come to Umatilla.  Those poles, wh  More...

       There are many things to have in your garden that are lovely. One thing that is not so lovely is a snag. Snags are old dead trees, but this week we want to talk about the beauty of leaving a snag!
    Snags are dead, rotting, trees. Some can take up to 40 years to completely tumble down in rot. Why would you want that in your yard? Lots of reasons.
        Did you know snags provide important nesting and shelter and homes and habitat for over 40 different birds? In Florida, birds like woodpeckers, kestr  More...

    Midweek rainfall chances were expected to provide potential relief to increasingly intense drought conditions in Lake County, and hopefully spare the county scenes of large brush fires that have dotted central Florida in recent days.
    Lake County has been experiencing extreme heat during the past week, with daytime highs nearing 100 degrees.  Combined with, or possibly due to, a lack of seasonal rainfall, area soil moisture content has plummeted, leaving the area ripe for severe fires.
    The Florida Forest Service  More...

    Lake County residents could expect upwards of $200 in fire and life support-related tax increases in the coming year, after the Lake County Commission on Tuesday approved its 2025 Fire Assessment Study.  The commission won't formally vote on the matter until July, but the assessment calls for a funding model that carries substantial increases despite a drop in certain rates.
    The county funds its fire and ambulance services through special fees that appear on resident tax bills, and this year has changed how it will apply the burden.    More...

By Larry Edwards
    On  June 8, the Bass Trackers had its monthly tournament, this month on Tsala Apopka Lake. With the heat in the mid 90's members were still able to bring some nice bass to the scales. 
    Carl Stephenson won the tournament with his five bass weighing in at 10 lb. 9 oz.  He also had the big bass of the tournament weighing in at 5 lb. 13 oz.  Second place was taken by Alan Elder with his five bass weighing 8 lb. 2oz.  Alan also weighed in a nice bass at 2 lb. 10 oz.  George W  More...

    Two people were found dead in a Umatilla on Friday, May 31, in an apparent murder/suicide.  Officers with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and City of Umatilla responded to 44 South Kentucky Avenue around 5:30 a.m. to find Ki’anna Lister, 25, and Tracy Bean, 50, deceased inside the home.
    Officers responded after law enforcement received a report from an individual who had received a suspicious text message, reportedly from one of the individuals involved in the case.
    Upon arriving at the scene, offic  More...

    The City of Eustis is considering a plan that could place 271 homes on land that formerly housed the Powers Dairy.  An application is before the city that if approved would bring a development to 51.87 acres lying along SR 19 and Powers Road, just north of CR 19A.
    The application calls for 59 homes and 212 townhomes at the location, and has been under consideration for around two years, with city planners and developers continuing to hash out possibilities for the location. Currently, the proposal is in its third review with the city. <  More...

    Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker has released the 2024 Best Estimate of Taxable Values to the taxing authorities. A record total property taxable value of $39,989,776,209, with a record for new construction at $2,408,428,754. This increase is a 72.98% over last year's new construction values.
    "This total taxable value is absolutely the highest property value in Lake County's history," said Baker "New construction represents the driving force of additional value added to the property tax roll."
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    The State of Florida's Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins on June 1, offering a variety of tax breaks on items that Floridians may purchase in preparation for hurricane season.  The holiday runs to June 14, and will again come into effect from August 24 until September 6.
    The holiday comes as weather forecasters are predicting a higher-than-normal amount of hurricane activity in the coming months.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which tracks hurricanes and broader weather conditions, has predic  More...

    For a couple of days this past week, we went on a little road trip up to Mobile, Alabama to see the USS Alabama Memorial Park. It was a long drive, but it was well worth the effort. The park is the permanent home of the warships USS Alabama and USS Drum,  as well as numerous planes, helicopters, and other vehicles. The main attraction, as you might have guessed, was the USS Alabama.
    The USS Alabama is a South Dakota class battleship, commissioned on August 1, 1941. Coming in at 35,000 tons, and measuring 680 feet in length, the South Dakota  More...

    The summer swim season has arrived, with the Umatilla aquatic center announcing a seven-day schedule this week designed to allow for maximum use of the recently renovated facility.
    The pool will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until noon for lap swim, and from noon to 7 p.m. for open swim.  On Saturday and Sunday, the facility will be open from 11 a.m. until noon for lap swim and noon until 4 p.m. for open swim.
    City residents may enjoy the pool at the following rates:  $5 for adults, $4 for teen  More...

    Memorial Day will be marked throughout Lake County on Monday, May 27.  Services celebrating the memories of those who lost their lives in military service to the country will be held throughout the county, beginning at sunrise.
    Here is a breakdown of events in the area:
    • 6:15 a.m. - Sunrise service at AW Peterson Gun Shop in Mount Dora.  Sponsored by Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker and the Lake County Historical Society, this event will include a flag retirement ceremony led by area Scouts,  More...

    A Leesburg man was found deceased early Thursday, May 16, at the 7-11 convenience store located at the corner of SR 19 and CR 44 between Umatilla and Eustis.  The man was discovered by employees of the store around 9 a.m. and had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
    Eustis Police Department reports state an employee of the store found the man's body around 9 a.m. The man was sitting upright in a corner of a walled area that houses the store's dumpsters.  Responding officers from Eustis and Lake County confirmed the man  More...

    An early morning action undertaken by nearly three dozen law enforcement officers has resulted in multiple charges being filed against occupants of a suspected drug house in Astor Park.  The pre-dawn raid, held on Thursday, May 16, saw Lake County Sheriff's Office SWAT team members serve a search warrant at 21745 Virginia Drive, after an extended investigation that included sheriff's office reconnaissance and tips that contributed to the belief that illegal activity was being undertaken at the home.
    During Thursday’s action, four peo  More...

    The teardown of a commercial building along SR 19 south of Umatilla is expected to pave the way for a larger commercial development in the area.  City of Umatilla officials this week confirmed the site at the corner of Mills Street and SR 19 is being planned as a new light industrial development.
    The building torn down in the past week was most recently home to a vape shop, but over the years has housed a grocery store, a fishing bait shop, a flooring store, and a gun shop among other things.  It was the last remaining building in the  More...

    The public is invited to join the fun this Saturday, May 18, at Altoona Methodist Church, where a pet blessing, classic car cruise-in, and luncheon will be hosted by church members.  The event, running from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., provides an opportunity for the community to visit the church while enjoying a midday of fun activities.
    Pets will receive a blessing from church pastor Dr. John Irwin, and should be on leashes or in a cage depending on the pet.  Participation in the cruise is free.  Those sharing their classic vehicles at th  More...

    The Umatilla High School Class of 2024 will be celebrated this coming Friday night, May 17, at ceremonies to be held at the Florida Elks Youth Camp.  Counting over 200 members strong, the class is the largest in Umatilla High History, and enters the history books as one of its most decorated.
    During an awards ceremony held on campus last Friday, UHS principal Brent Frazier said that by the time the class’ awards are totaled, its scholarships will count ‘in the millions’, boosted by over $500,000 in earnings from the schoo  More...

    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that will see Lake County eliminate its oversight of gaming rooms.  Going forward, gaming rooms in the county will fall solely under state regulations.  In addition, commissioners agreed to refund on a prorated basis annual fees associated with operating game rooms, as the new ordinance will have an immediate effective date.
    “If you are legal, you’re legal,” said commissioner Sean Parks in response to nearly a dozen members of the public and lega  More...

    “We take their concerns seriously, and we are responding.”
    Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell this week announced his office will have an increased presence in the Astor area after a recent community meeting raised concerns over illicit activity in the riverfront community. Grinnell hosted a town hall meeting in Astor recently, and a reported 200 area residents turned out to air their concerns.
    In response, the the Lake County Sheriff's Office will have an increased presence in the town targeting criminal  More...

    Two baby hawks are back in their 'nest' this week, after a savvy resident and quick-thinking City of Umatilla public works employees combined to save them.
    It all began when the city took down a tree as part of a water line project in the area of Tennessee Avenue and Pearl Street.
    "We had to take a tree out to put a water line in," said Umatilla Public Works Director Vaughan Nilson.  Later in the day, a resident in the area heard the baby hawks chirping in debris.  It was nighttime, so the propert  More...

    Gaming rooms may soon become more scarce in Lake County, after the Lake County Commission last week approved the creation that would eliminate its ordinance that regulates such facilities.  In a 5-0 vote, commissioners instructed staff to return with an ordinance that if approved would remove the county from any oversight and instead place any such operations under only state law, with the state claiming in a recent meeting that all gaming rooms operating today are illegal.
    The county began regulating gaming rooms in 2021, with an ordinanc  More...

    The Lake County Commission has kicked off a new Liberty Tree initiative, a project that will see trees planted on county school campuses to commemorate the country’s colonial founding and the symbolism the Liberty Tree has carried through the years.
    The first tree was planted at Umatilla High School on Friday, April 26, during a ceremony attended by city and county officials along with Umatilla High staff and students.
    The ceremony featured a keynote address from Stewart Dunaway of the Sons of the American Revo  More...

    The Fraternal Order of Eagles #4491 Umatilla in the past week has donated over $5,000 to area organizations as part of the group's ongoing community support program.  Located on Maxwell Road behind the Save-A-Lot Plaza in Umatilla, the Eagles operate a large social hall that raises funds for distribution to a wide range of organizations.
    On Friday, April 26, the Eagles presented the following checks:
• $1,000 to Umatilla High School Project Graduation
• $1,538 to the Lake County Humane Society
• $2,53  More...

    Lake County voters will get to decide the future of the county’s land preservation program, after the Lake County Commission on Tuesday voted to place the question on this fall’s ballot and directed staff to develop language for a $50 million bond issue.
    "This is a critical time in Lake County," said commissioner Leslie Campione, voicing support for the public's ability to decide if the county should take out a twenty-year bond for the purpose of continuing the acquisition of land for the purpose of preserving it from deve  More...

By Annette Codding

    This last weekend, we finally butchered the steer that has been grazing in my pasture for the last couple of years.  It took a little planning to get to the point where we finally pulled the trigger.  Once the steer is on the ground, everything must be in place or we ruin all of that meat.  First, we had to build a walk-in cooler, which required a concrete floor.  Of course, that meant that I had to clean out the barn where the concrete would eventually be poured.
    You don't realize the amou  More...

    The Umatilla Masonic Lodge is nearing completion of a project that saw members purchase a new headstone for a long ago deceased member.  Now, members are hoping to find some descendants of S.J. Carter before placing the new stone inside Umatilla’s Glendale cemetery.
    Carter passed away on May 13, 1897.  His original stone was in pieces, and at least one of those pieces was missing, when members of the Umatilla lodge were made aware of the situation and moved to have a new stone created.  The effort to repair Carter’s s  More...

    Umatilla’s largest development to date is underway, with the first phase of Magnolia Pointe’s estimated 500 homes jumping out of the ground in recent weeks.  Over a dozen homes are in various stages of framing this week, and several more sites have seen concrete slabs poured.
    The development, located on a former fernery on CR 450SE near the Southside Umatilla neighborhood, was in development for over a decade before breaking ground late last year.  Roads and underground infrastructure preceded the current work.
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By Annette Codding

Transferring Nutrients

    It occurred to me today that a large part of gardening, growing food, and raising animals is nothing more than transferring nutrients from things we cannot eat into delicious food.  My carnivorous husband would agree.  He chooses to run his salad through a steer or deer before he eats it.
    I was in the garden chipping Mexican sunflower and letting it spread out onto a patch of soil t
hat I had just uncovered.  It has spent the last several weeks c  More...

Grand Champion:  Drew Parkinson - Umatilla High School FFA
Reserve Grand Champion:  Makenzie Godwin - Okahumpka 4H
FFA Grand Champion:  Drew Parkinson - Umatilla High School FFA
FFA Reserve Grand Champion:  Ross Cook - Umatilla High School FFA
4H Grand Champion:  Makenzie Godwin - Okahumpka 4H
4H Reserve Grand Champion:  Addison DeArmond - Lake County Explorers 4H
Senior Showmanship Grand Champion:  Addison DeArmond - Lake County Explorers 4H
Senior Showmanship Reserve Grand Champion:  Peyton DeA  More...

    The US Navy has just begun a new, 30-year lease for its operations of the Pinecastle Bombing Range, and on Tuesday officials with the Navy were in Tavares reminding Lake County officials that the range’s operations present a risk throughout the flight ranges of planes, and that development in the northern section of the county should reflect that potential risk.
    “We are articulating the risk,” said Donald Heaton, who serves as director of the PInecastle Range Complex, which includes the Pinecastle Range, as well as a range in  More...

    The Umatilla Public Library was a busy place on Monday afternoon, as a large crowd gathered to take in the much-anticipated solar eclipse.  Clear skies made for easy viewing through special glasses, as around 3 p.m. the eclipse reached its peak.  At that time, the moon covered the sun by about 1/2.
    Other parts of the country were to experience a full eclipse.
    In Umatilla, the library welcomed dozens of eclipse watchers of all ages, with library director Amy Stultz overseeing a brief tutorial on how to safely  More...

    The Lake County Fair is rolling into its final weekend of the year, with four more days of action.  The fair will remain open through Sunday this year, a change from years past.  The final weekend will again be highlighted by the annual swine sale on Friday night and the swine sale on Saturday afternoon.
    The fair is located at the corner of CR 44 and CR 452 in Eustis.  Gates open at 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  
    For more information, visit www.lakecofair.com  More...

    A Lake County tradition will renew starting this coming Friday night, when the Lake County Fair kicks open the gates for its 103rd edition.  Running for ten days at the historic fairgrounds located at the intersection of CR 452 and CR 44 between Eustis and Umatilla, the fair returns with a full slate of live entertainment, youth livestock competitions, carnival rides and food, and much more.
    Shifting from its traditional Thursday night opening to Friday, April 5, the fair will extend through Sunday, April 14 this year.  The shift allo  More...

     The first school zone speed enforcement cameras in the state of Florida are now activated in the City of Eustis on Orange Avenue at Prescott Street near Eustis Elementary School, following more than a 30-day grace period for drivers.
    Since February 21, motorists have received a warning for driving in excess of 10 miles over the posted speed limit in the school zone, but beginning this week, violators will receive a citation and a $100 fine. All violations will be reviewed by the Eustis Police Department, and no points will be imposed on t  More...

By Keith Oliver
    The U.S. Marines, abundantly represented in Lake County, lost one of their legends on March 10 when former Commandant, Gen. Alfred M. "Al" Gray, passed away in Alexandria, Virginia.
    Umatilla High and FSU football player David Ellis flew his Marine Corps Harrier jet to war during Gray's highly publicized, back-to-the-basics tenure as America's senior Marine from 1988 to 1992.
    And former Bulldog star quarterback Glen Key graduated from the Marines' first Gray-impacted, commando-like syll  More...

    Prescribed burning is continuing in the Ocala National Forest, with an estimated 600-acre burn being scheduled in the area of Alexander Springs on Wednesday, March 20.  The burn, running along Alexander Springs Creek was part of four larger burns in the area, including a 1,084 burn to the east of the area, and nearly 2,500 acres to the west that were burned in December and January.
    The Forest Service has an aggressive planned burn schedule for the Seminole District, which includes the area south of SR 40.  Large tracks of the forest r  More...

By Dallas Meringolo

    Lake County 4-H's County Events Day stands as a longtime tradition within the 4-H community, providing a platform for members to demonstrate their projects and achievements.  This event helps youth develop important life skills such as planning/organizing, confidence, and communication skills among its participants.  This year, over 60 4-H members competed by doing a demonstration, illustrated talk, public speaking, Cloverbud table setting, or talent showcase.  Those who participated showcased the skills and knowledge th  More...

    Round Lake Charter School Principal Linda Bartberger has been recognized for her school's success in raising student achievement.  The Principal Leadership Award was presented during a recent ceremony at Round Lake. Bartberger is one of 15 principals statewide to be recognized this year.
    The program was established by Florida TaxWatch in 2013, with the goal of identifying Florida's most effective principals in high-risk public schools.  Florida TaxWatch recognizes school successes and looks to promote principals' transformational prac  More...

    The Umatilla and broader North Lake County community will gather this Friday, March 22, to say farewell to Richard Greer, founder of the Umatilla Drug Store and well-known supporter of the area and its people.  Greer, who had been fighting cancer, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, will be celebrated during services to be held at the First Baptist Church of Umatilla beginning at 2 p.m.
    Greer, a stalwart in the community since the founding of Umatilla Drug Store in 2006, was known for his gentle nature and ongoing support of community activ  More...

    United Southern Bank’s Trust Department has announced a new community trust endeavor.  The Sunshine Community Trust will support local community and charitable organizations through the stewardship of donated funds.  The first fund has been designated in support of educational causes.
    The Sunshine Community Trust celebrated its launch recently with a grant to Lake Technical College.  This inaugural grant establishes a scholarship fund that will provide tuition assistance to students in good academic standing as they pursue q  More...

    The United States Department of Agriculture has released data on the state of honey production, and while the country appears to be experiencing a slight uptick in the industry, Florida continues to see a decline, one that is accelerating.
    Data indicates Florida produced just 4.7 million pounds of honey during 2023, down from 7.3 million in 2022.  Florida still leads the four-state region that includes Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, though both Alabama and South Carolina experienced slight upticks in production in 2022.  Alabam  More...

    Where would you expect a racing pigeon in need of a few days of rest to take up residence?  If you guessed the Umatilla Municipal Airport, you would be correct.  City officials in the past week took up nursing a pigeon that has taken up residence at the city airfield, with the bird apparently considering becoming a permanent resident.
    "We're feeding it dry rice, bird seed, and water," said city employee Misti Lambert. The bird has split time between the city's large bulk hangar and the former FBO building, taking in the sigh  More...

    This year’s Valencia crop is coming off local trees this week, marking the harvesting end of another difficult season for area citrus growers.  The harvest comes as the USDA estimates for the season continue to hold at 19.8 million boxes and industry advocates seek to find potential positives for the industry in new growth and maintenance practices.
    The upcoming 2024-25 Florida budget recently voted on includes $47 million for support of the Florida citrus industry, a number that drew cheers this week from industry advocates.
More...

    A brush fire in a homeless encampment last Thursday, March 7, was controlled before area homes or businesses were at risk.  The fire was located in a wooded area along SR 19 just south of a Dollar General Store and the Lake Smith Road intersection.
    Smoke from the fire was first reported by a passing vehicle on SR 19, around 1:30 p.m.  Responding police first used a fire extinguisher in an attempt to control the fire, but the situation wasn't fully brought under control until after the Umatilla Fire Department arrived on the scene and  More...

    A divided Lake County Commission on Tuesday voted to pursue eminent domain proceedings to secure land for a recreational train extension in East Lake County.  The commission voted 3-2 to continue the acquisition of parcels for the Wekiva Trail Segment 2, which runs from SR 46 to Hojin Street in Sorrento, and will serve as an extension of the Seminole Wekiva Trail, the River to Hills Trail, the Cross Seminole Trail, and the Florida Coast To Coast Trail.  
    “The WKT project includes construction of an approximate 14-foot-wide trail,  More...

    Increased traffic and new housing starts are among the more visible signs of Lake County’s continued residential growth, with the county’s population continuing to expand at among the fastest rates in the country.  The county’s growth was in the spotlight on Tuesday, February 27, when the Lake County Commission heard a report from the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) detailing the county’s continued explosive growth, and the expectation that it will continue into the future.    
    “I’m ver  More...

By Annette Codding

    Have you ever sat and watched a thunderstorm?  Rocked on the porch and really enjoyed the lightning show?  I know I have.  I love to hear it rolling out there and know that the bottom is about to fall out.  Or see a thunderstorm coming in and seeing if I can beat it to get all of the chores done before the first fat drops start to fall.
    Of course, if laundry is on the line or the windows are down in the truck, there’s a mad dash to get the clothes in before they ge  More...

By Holly Newby

         Spring has surely arrived in our area along with some much-needed rain this weekend. The wild plum trees are filled with white flowers as is the old pear tree in our yard. It popped out with a riot of white flowers over the past few days and is now humming with bees and even a few butterflies. The nectar from its flowers is flooding the whole side of the yard.
         We enjoyed seeing some pictures of Carol Warren’s Martin House gourds. The birds are a great thing to a  More...

    The 23rd edition of Umatilla's City-Wide Yard Sale arrives this Saturday, March 2.  Beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing until 1 p.m., Umatilla will come alive with nearly 100-yard sales expected throughout the community, with a home base at the Umatilla Public Library.  The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Umatilla Library, and has grown into a major fundraiser for the support organization.
    Officials with the library on Monday said all available spaces at the library, 40 in all, have been sold, and an additional 38 sales have r  More...

Great People I Have Known
Submitted by W.A. “Bill” Milton Jr., Altoona

    Looking at an 80-year-old Eustis Elementary photo taken when we were in fourth or fifth grade, my eyes are immediately drawn to the image of my friend Quincy Hightower Truett.
    This photo includes future lawyers, a judge, two career Florida Highway Patrol officers, a minister, a veterinarian, teachers and professors, business owners, and parents of future outstanding citizens.  This photo also includes Quincy Truett (middle row, far ri  More...

    Umatilla's Olde Mill Stream RV Resort has made a series of donations recently to a variety of area organizations.  The funds were raised during the current season at OMS, and were distributed during a resident meeting on February 13.
    Here is the list of donations:
•$2,000 to Helping Hands Ministry (our local food pantry of First Baptist Church of Umatilla)
•$500 to Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis
•$250 to the Sewing Ministry of First Baptist Church of Umatilla
•$250 to "Billie's Kids"  More...

    Days of steady rain have left Lake County, and Florida, saturated in such a way that is rarely seen.  Even hurricane events historically fail to have such a large impact on the state's soil moisture as was reported early this week by the Florida Forest Service.
    The FFS tracks the state's soil moisture daily through its Keetch Byram Drought Index.  The KBDI tracks on a 0-750 range, with the higher the number noting the dryer the soil, and by extension fire risk.  On Monday, the entire state was shown to be in the index's lowest ra  More...

    We enjoyed a special program Saturday morning featuring guest speakers, Kelly and Ryan, from "Seed the Stars" a dynamic duo of seed stewards from Mt.Dora.  After a couple of decades of working in horticulture and agriculture, the couple now focuses on agri-education and growing and harvesting locally trialed, locally sourced, organically grown seeds.
    They taught for 2 hours and 15 minutes on Saturday morning to the Sowers & Growers Homesteading group at the Cassia Community Club Building.
    A great dep  More...

    Dozens of young Christians representing area schools were off to Melrose last weekend, to participate in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Recharge Camp.  The event was a three-day gathering for middle and high school students who participate in FCA on their school campuses.
    Forty-five students made the trip, along with North Lake FCA director Bobby Rowe.
    “I am thankful for a grant received from Charles B. and Mary M. McLin Foundation, through the First National Bank of Mount Dora, that made t  More...

    Georgefest is on the horizon in Eustis, and the city is just days away from kicking off the annual celebration that is the longest continuously-running celebration of George Washington's birthday in the United States.
    The fun runs from February 17-24, with the community coming alive for a host of events suitable for all ages, from a large carnival to live concerts, a bass tournament, movies in the park, and more.  The event culminates on Saturday, February 24, with the grand parade at 10 a.m. along Bay Street and a concert with Drake White  More...

    Eustis Elks Lodge #1578 has tapped into a national Elk grant program to raise funds for three area schools.  Just over $10,000 in funding is being distributed to Altoona School, Lake Hills School, and Eustis High School as a result of awards procured from the Elks National Foundation.
    “We find a project and apply,” said Karyl Loux, grant coordinator for the Eustis Elks on Thursday, as she and other volunteers gathered at Altoona School for a special program recognizing the $3,300 gift to the charter elementary’s computer  More...

    A partnership with the State of Florida has the City of Umatilla close to securing the funds necessary to build the infrastructure for a new community industrial park.  In the last week, the city has announced it is in line for millions of dollars via a state jobs initiative that could allow for the park’s necessary infrastructure to be created at zero, or nearly zero cost to the city.
    City Director of Development and Public Services, Aaron Mercer, this week provided details to the program which was initially outlined during last wee  More...

    The seats are in, the walls have paint, and the First Baptist Church of Umatilla’s $14 million sanctuary construction project has taken on the look of a proper worship center.  Under construction since the fall of 2021, the massive structure that features a nearly 1,300-seat sanctuary is expected to come online this spring.
    Though the project has been slowed due to ongoing manpower shortages among contractors, church pastor Brooks Braswell this week voiced pleasure with the project so far.
    “I feel gr  More...

    The 7th Annual Big Orange Day arrives this Saturday, February 10, and with it a special event at Umatilla’s Sunsational Farms hosted to celebrate the area’s most famous piece of citrus history.  The ‘Big Orange’, as it is known, resides at the farm, and the annual celebration in its honor will once again feature fun activities for all ages.
    The fun runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., with over 90 vendors on hand to offer a wide range of products for sale.  In addition, there will be children's games, food trucks, i  More...

    The City of Umatilla is looking to expand its Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement with Lake County.  In place since 2011, the agreement allows the city to annex certain, non-contiguous property along the SR 19 corridor north and south of town.  On Tuesday night, the Umatilla City Council moved to send a request to Lake County to expand the ISBA to include property within the Silver Beach Heights neighborhood and the immediate surrounding area, a move that has drawn concerns from some residents of the neighborhood.
    The city is seeking  More...

    Decades of colorful Umatilla history were being remembered this week, as the historic 'Uncle Tom's' building was razed.  Heavy equipment on Monday made quick work of demolishing the former location of North Lake County's most famous watering hole, needing just two hours to level the structure.
    The event closes the book on a location that has been closed since 2017, when Hurricane Irma's winds blew a metal roof over off the building. At that time, the building housed the Umatilla Inn restaurant. The storm's damage exposed the structure's or  More...

    Two standout softball players will continue their careers after high school, after committing to Lake Sumter State College.  Brooke Moss and Danika Jones, both seniors at Umatilla High School, on Monday signed scholarship offers from the Leesburg school.
    Moss is a catcher by trade who also plays in the outfield, and will play her senior year at Umatilla after a standout career at Mount Dora Christian Academy.  Jones is also a transfer to Umatilla, after playing at Leesburg High, where she was a middle infielder and utility player.&nbs  More...

    "He even filmed himself on Snapchat driving down the road in a stolen truck."
    Umatilla Police Chief Adam Bolton this week reported on the pursuit and arrest of Umatilla resident Eblair Sylvain.  Sylvain, 18, of Devault Street in Umatilla, was charged after stealing a City of Umatilla public works truck and fleeing to Volusia County.
    Eblair stole the truck last Thursday, January 25. 
    “A public works employee had parked and was taking some equipment into the chamber  More...

    “We’ve only got one shot at this.”
    James Grech was one of over 100 area residents who packed the Astor VFW hall on Monday night to discuss a proposal that could severely limit, and some fear end, recreational boating in the Silver Glen run. The meeting was hosted by Save Our Boating Rights (SOBR), who along with the Friends of Silver Glen are fighting a US Forest Service request that would see Silver Glen established as a Springs Protection Zone by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
   &n  More...

    Morning Star Cowboy Church, located west of Umatilla on Bridle Path Lane, on Saturday hosted a special event for youth in the state’s foster program.  An estimated 25 youth came to the church’s ranch property for a day of close contact with horses and other four-legged friends.
    “They were city kids,” said Mark Gould, pastor of the church.  “A lot of them had never seen horses or donkeys before.”
    The children learned roping, grooming, and other skills associated with the eq  More...

    The Umatilla business community will be in the spotlight on Thursday, February 8, when the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce will have its annual installation and business recognition celebration.  Beginning at 6 p.m. inside the banquet hall at Lakeview Terrace, the chamber will honor standout businesses and individuals from the last year.
    The public is invited to enjoy the fun at the reception-style event, which will feature heavy hors ‘de oeuvres and a variety of beverages.  
    Included on the evening&rsquo  More...

    A fire early Monday morning destroyed an RV at the Southern Palms campground.  The 3 a.m. blaze claimed the large unit and damaged a vehicle and another RV just feet away, but the unit’s occupant and dog escaped.
    The unit’s owner, Florence Rogers, was awakened by the fire, which is believed to have started in the unit’s refrigerator and quickly spread to cabinetry before claiming the entire interior of the RV.  
    “It singed my hair,” Rogers said of her only injury incurred during  More...

    As the future of boating in Silver Glen Springs Run continues to be debated, two separate groups dedicated to keeping access open have joined forces to host a community meeting on the subject.  The public is invited to attend a special gathering on Monday, January 22, at the Astor VFW, where leaders are expected to discuss the efforts to keep the Glen open to motorized boating.
    The US Forest Service has requested the Glen be closed to motorized boating, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reviewing the request.   More...

How’s The Sea Cow Now
By Adrian Newby
    Don't you love cold weather? Dead car batteries and busted pipes, don't they just make your day? No? Well, it isn't all bad, it gives us manatees! Well, not really, but it sure does consolidate them! Last year at Blue Springs State Park on the 17th of January there was a record 729 manatees. Which is a truly incredible sight.
    Manatees in Florida have really made an astounding population recovery in the past years. Their populations have grown from 1,758 recorded in 2002 by aerial survey  More...

    “I’m so impressed with him.”
    The only problem is, Frank Bartle doesn’t know who ‘him’ is. And he would sure like to find out.
    Bartle was a busy man before Christmas at his store at the Renningers antique center in Mount Dora, and was busy with a line of customers when a child approached him.  Bartle, a US Army veteran who is apt to identify as such, asked the boy to wait while he attended to customers. Maybe surprisingly, the child did just that for several minutes.
&n  More...

    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday approved the expenditure of just over $500,000 toward the purchase of fully automated bear-resistant trash cans.  With funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the county's own landfill fund, the allocation will pay for an estimated 1,600 cans to be used throughout the county where bear/human interactions are most prevalent.
    The project is expected to continue in the future with additional allocations as are available in the county’s budget.
    &ldquo  More...

By Annette Codding


    Sewing, butchering chickens, making herbal teas, and growing food are just a few of the skills that a lot of folks in our community have been learning about lately.  It seems that more than ever, people are realizing that there are a lot of cool things to learn, and they are ready to try their hand at a new skill.  To some of you, these may seem to be simple and something you grew up with.  But there are a couple of generations after you that weren’t taught how to do these things.
      More...

    For just the second time since the end of September, the St. Johns River in Astor has lowered below flood stage.  The river has been impacted by high water throughout the fall, bringing about restrictions for usage throughout the river chain, but recent declines in river levels raise hopes that normalcy could soon return.
    The river first rose to flood stage on September 26 in Astor, and remained there since except for on December 10 and 11 when it briefly dipped below 2.00 feet, the level historically described as ‘actionable’.  More...

    Area native Asa Newby this week announced the release of an album of original music.  A Pittman resident and recent graduate of Florida State University, Newby’s debut, “In These Days” features eight original compositions recorded while a student in Tallahassee.
    “It’s really a dream come true,” said Newby, 22.  “I’ve wanted to make my own music forever, and now I’ve been blessed with the opportunity.  When I went to FSU, I didn’t know I’d be making my own album on  More...

    The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs celebrates its 100th year in 2024 with a special emphasis on planting native trees. The big festivities will surround  Florida Arbor Day, January 19. Duke Energy Foundation has partnered with the garden clubs to provide $20,000 in grants to plant native tree species to promote shade and habitat.
    With the huge housing construction boom in Florida right now and the deforestation of former woodland areas, this is a well-timed initiative. The right time to plant trees in Florida is right now while they ar  More...

    The increase in residential housing construction has been a major story in Lake County, with data indicating the county remains among the fastest-growing in the state.  The construction hasn’t been evenly distributed, however.  While large housing developments have been the norm elsewhere, Umatilla’s own record-breaking construction trend has been limited to a single large development underway. 
    Mostly, Umatilla has seen houses built on infill lots long since platted but sitting idle for decades. 
   More...

    The Umatilla High School basketball team fell to 7-2 on the season Thursday night, December 21.  The Bulldogs fell in the championship game of the Lake County Tournament of Champions to South Lake by a score of 57-48.  The tournament was played at the Florida Elks Youth Camp.
    Umatilla had advanced to the championship with wins over Hope Academy (63-48) and Lake Weir (71-57).  In the championship game, Umatilla dominated the majority of the contest before a disastrous fourth quarter sunk the team’s chances to repeat as tourn  More...

By Annette Codding

    I was in my garden the other day moving compost and had a thought…what if I only had a garden as big as the compost I could produce?  Hmmm…that would certainly be easier to take care of.  The size of my garden is something that sometimes stresses me.  When we first laid out the spot, we had an abundance of material.
    The mushroom farm was still open and you could just drive in and get a load for $25.  We had also just done a job where there were hundreds of yards of wood chips that had t  More...

    North Lake County residents have been busy in recent days spreading the holiday cheer to thousands of county residents of all ages.  Toy giveaways to children, supply drives for seniors, free meals, and more have filled the local calendar as the community prepares for Christmas Day.  Hundreds of donors and volunteers have combined to lift the holiday experience of thousands of Lake County residents, an annual show of goodwill that once again shows the area's large capacity for goodwill.
    Saturday was a highlight day, as at least three  More...

    A soggy weekend in North Lake County left rain gauges bulging and the St. Johns River in Astor back in a flood state.  The rain, which came in steady fashion while leaving behind multiple inches of accumulation, caused few flooding problems in the area but exacerbate ongoing high water problems in Astor.
    Private rain gauges in the area recorded as much as four inches of rain on Saturday and Sunday.  A Florida Forest Service gauge in the Paisley area recorded 3.50 inches, and an automated weather station at the Umatilla airport recorde  More...

    The stars of the Florida winter yard have got to be camellias. Their lustrous, dark green foliage is pretty by itself and very low maintenance, but the flowers that spring out in late fall, and early winter are gorgeous.
    We have pictures from Norma Semberger of St. Augustine this week. She has a lovely garden and in it is a variety of pretty camellias.
    The IFAS website has tons of information about camellias which have been stars of the southern gardens for many years.  There are thousands of cultivars registers t  More...

    The State of Florida on Monday released updated school grades for Florida public schools.  The grades represent an overall look at student progress within a series of benchmark standards set by the Florida Department of Education, with the annual report used by the state and districts to chart progress and future goals.
    In North Lake County, grades were mostly status quo, with the majority of schools receiving the same grades as in 2022.  However, Altoona Charter School, which serves elementary-aged students, saw its grade rise from a  More...

    The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued the December citrus crop forecast for the 2023-2024 harvest season.  The federal agency estimates production to be 20.5 million boxes of oranges this season.  The forecast of oranges remains unchanged since the October estimate.  Additionally, the USDA forecasted 2.4 million boxes of grapefruit and 550,000 boxes of tangerines and tangelos.
    "As we enter the months when freezing temperatures are most likely, we hope Saint Nick will generously fulfill Florida citrus gr  More...

    The annual Lake County Tournament of Champions basketball event is set to return this week.  The event, which moves from Umatilla High School to the Florida Elks Youth Camp this year, will bring together teams from Lake County and beyond for three days of action.
    The event runs December 19-21, and joining Umatilla at the event will be Mount Dora, South Lake, Belleview, Lake Weir, East Ridge, and Hope.
    The action tips off on Tuesday at 4 p.m., when Belleview and South Lake take to court at the camp.  Umatill  More...

    The biggest day of the year arrives in Umatilla this Saturday, December 9, when the 48th Annual Cracker Christmas Parade and Festival returns, bringing a full day of holiday fun to the community.  The fun begins with a morning parade on SR 19 and continues with an all-day festival downtown at Cadwell Park.  This year, the event carries a theme of "It's a Rockin' 50's Christmas", with parade entries encouraged to embrace the themed-fun with their entries.
    The festivities begin at 9 a.m. when the parade route goes to the dogs.  More...

    Dignitaries from Lake and Volusia counties joined officials from the Florida Department of Transportation last Thursday, November 30, to celebrate the official opening a new, $47 million bridge over the St. Johns River.  Replacing a draw bridge on SR 44 just west of DeLand, the new bridge is .8 miles long and features a 45-foot clearance over the river.
    The project has been underway since 2020, with the new expanse being built just south of the previous bridge.  The project impacted travel through the area and brought a variety of tem  More...

    Hello to all our Kitchen Chat friends this week. We hope you are having fun cooking up holiday cheer at your house. We caught a glimpse of some awesome Oreo cookie houses (Not Gingerbread) made by Kortini Duncan and dad Scott. They had fun building from the kits that they bought. This reminded us that folks with gluten-free needs could enjoy this project as Oreo makes gluten-free cookie options now, even some with nice green mint frosting inside. Get a pack and start building this week.
    We enjoyed a nice brunch at church on Sunday morning. Fello  More...

    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday by unanimous vote moved to withdraw funding support for the American Library Association and its Florida affiliate, the Florida Library Association.  The move represents a roughly $3,000 cash withdrawal, a small amount in the county's overall budget, but for commissioners, the vote was about more than money.
    "The ALA has been a proponent…of questionable activities that don't really line up with what most people think should be going on in Lake County," said Commissioner Leslie Campione, who  More...

    Local farms have begun to bring their fall crops to market, giving locals the opportunity to procure locally-grown produce.  Both Graham Farms and Sunsational Farms in the past week have begun to offer seasonal favorites that allow local shoppers the chance to enjoy fruits and vegetables, and more, that have been grown in Lake County.
    Perhaps the most unique of all the local seasonal offerings is the 100% natural orange juice that is a staple at Sunsational Farms.  Squeezed and sold at the farm’s retail shop on Fletcher Road out  More...

    The Christmas season will be on center stage this coming Saturday in Astor, where community organizations are coming together to host a full day of holiday activities.  The fun begins at 9 a.m. and won’t end until well after sundown, as River Country rolls out the red carpet for three community events.
    The Astor Community Association will kick off the fun, with its annual Holiday Market event.  To be held at the association building on Ann Street, one block south of SR 40, the event will feature artisans, crafters, vintage items  More...

    The City of Umatilla formally opened its new airport terminal building on Monday, November 20.  The city welcomed local and state elected officials, as well as representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and Florida Department of Transportation, and local pilots in celebrating the opening of the roughly 3,000 square foot, $2.6 million facility.
    The building, described as a fixed base operator building, will replace a smaller, decades-old building at the city's airport.  Featuring offices, lounge space, and a kitchen, the  More...

    North Lake County saw drenching rainfall cover the area late last week, with several days of rain producing the highest rainfall totals in several months.  Over six inches of rain was reported in some areas, with nearly all communities reporting four or more inches over the Thursday - Saturday time period.
    At the peak of the rainfall event, the St. Johns River in Astor jumped back into 'moderate' flood zone.  In a roughly six-hour period early Friday, the river jumped nearly six inches, rising from 2.5 feet (minor flooding) to over 3.  More...

    The City of Umatilla is joining municipalities from throughout Lake County in opposing a plan by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to begin imposing fees associated with 911 dispatch services.
    The sheriff's office has proposed a $12 per person fee for each person living inside the city limits of municipalities that receive dispatch from the sheriff's office.  In Umatilla, that could result in a nearly $40,000 annual bill.  Umatilla has joined with Howey-in-th-Hills, Mascotte, Astatula, and Fruitland Park in opposing the move, and  More...

    A Kansas man was taken into custody on Thursday, November 9, after a UHaul truck reported as stolen was located at a Umatilla convenience store.  The man, Aaron Roberts of Olathe, Kansas, was charged after fleeing from the Circle K convenience store, located at 391 Central Avenue in downtown Umatilla.
    The Umatilla Police Department reported being notified by a UHaul representative that that truck was at the store.  Department officers were working a crash scene that involved an altercation, so Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputi  More...

    On Thursday, November 10, the public was treated to details regarding the development of a recreational trail from Umatilla to Astor.  Dubbed the North Lake Trail by Lake County planners, the phased trail looks to create a north/south recreation corridor through the county linked to east/west trails along SR 40 in Astor and through the Golden Triangle Area.
    The focus at Thursday’s meeting, held at the Altoona School’s community room, was a section of trail running from East Altoona Road north and then northeast to Astor.   More...

    We have been enjoying watching the Christmas baking challenges on the Food Network recently. We marvel at the elaborate cookies, cakes, pies, and holiday confections that people create. We bake but only in the most minimal sense such as drop cookies and basic breads. Fancy confections are way out of our league, we wouldn’t even know where to begin.
    We did see someone who knows their way around the elaborate art of gingerbread house-making this week! Sandra Hartman, volunteer at Potter's Clay home school co-op, shared a few pictures of a gi  More...

       Veterans Day will be celebrated throughout the area this week.  Three separate local events have been announced, one in Tavares, one in Altoona, and another in Eustis.
    The celebration begins on Friday, November 10, when at 9 a.m. Lake County will host a ceremony in Tavares in front of the round courthouse.  The event will feature the unveiling of the county’s new Veterans Wall and feature speeches from local leaders, as well as a speech from special guest speaker Wilton Simpson, who is the Florida Agricultural Commi  More...

    Umatilla High School has selected two distinguished alumni for induction into the school's Legacy Hall.  Alumni Judge Wesley Tibbals and the late Evelyn Sebree were formally inducted into the school's 'Hall of Fame', a program that is now in its third year.
    Sebree, known as 'Sis' in the community, was a 1947 graduate of Umatilla High.  A great-granddaughter of Umatilla's founder, Nathan Trowell, Sebree was a teacher for 14 years before earning her Ph.D. in education and later serving for 25 years at Lake Sumter State College.  As  More...

By Al Nevarez

    On November 4, the Umatilla Bulldog Battalion hosted the Area 4 Regional Raiders Championship.  Seventeen Area-4 high school JROTC Raider teams came out and participated.  The schools participated in five events:  three mile (5k) team run, rope bridge, HUMVEE push, Raiders fitness challenge, and tire flip.  The Umatilla Bulldog Raiders had three teams participate in this event, the male, female, and one co-ed (mixed) team.
    Hagerty High School came in first place overall with their male team movi  More...

    One person was transported from the scene with reportedly minor injuries after a three-vehicle crash on Friday evening that also involved damage to Umatilla City Hall.  The incident occurred just after 5 p.m. at the intersection of Cassady Street and SR 19 when a vehicle attempted to cross oncoming traffic, was struck, veered into another vehicle, and carried on to make impact with the northwest corner of city hall.
    Umatilla Police Reports state a 2009 Chevy Silverado truck driven by Troy Wilson of Umatilla was southbound on SR 19 and atte  More...

    The proposed recreational trail through North Lake County now has a preferred route.  A Lake County study focused on the North Lake Trail Phase 3, running from Altoona to the Astor area, has been completed, and calls for the trail to run up SR 19 to CR 445A to SR 40, where it would link up with another proposed trail.
    The public is invited to give input concerning the proposed route during an open house meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 9, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Altoona School on SR 19 in Altoona. 
    More...

    Florida History will come alive this weekend, when the Barberville Pioneer Settlement kicks the doors open on its 47th Annual Fall Country Jamboree.  A highlight on the local calendar for anyone who loves living history or the folk arts, the Jamboree promises two days of fun on the grounds of the settlement, located east of Astor on SR 40 in Barberville.
    The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  Live music will be steady on eight stages around the expansive settlement, with artists bringing to  More...

By Annette Codding
    Pumpkins on the front porch make a really cute decoration this time of year.  And the pumpkin patches are a fun place to take pictures of the children.  But after all the pumpkin madness is over, what becomes of the leftover pumpkins?  Well, there are a few things you can do with them.
    Lately, we have been talking about the veggies from the beginning to the end, from planting the seeds all the way to the plate.  It’s too late to plant pumpkins, but we are okay because they are everywhere right  More...

    A Umatilla - area shooting range is seeking county approval to bring its operations into public-use compliance, but the proposal has met with resistance from some residents.   The Cendet Gun Range, located south of Umatilla along SR 19 has operated as a private range since 2017, but more recently began opening to public use and initiated the application process to secure a conditional use permit with Lake County, a process that has taken several months.
    “It’s kind of in the county’s hands,” said range owner Dav  More...

    The busiest weekend of the fall season has arrived, with North Lake County set to host events that promise fun for all ages.  Candy will be served by the thousands of pieces, highlighting the dress-up fun surrounding Halloween, and that's just the start.  A craft fair, hayrides, a cow chip bingo, games, entertainment, and enough food to fill even the biggest appetite are all on the docket.
    Here’s a rundown of the fun:
    •A Haunting In Umatilla:  This is the first year for this family-friendly  More...

    Land use is taking center stage in Umatilla, with four parcels totaling just under 38 acres set for consideration at the Tuesday, November 7 meeting of the Umatilla City Council. From vacant land requests to a home for a current city council member, the slate represents the latest round of potential residential additions to the city.
    The following requests are to be considered:
    - Annexing 19.50 acres lying at the northwest corner of CR 450 NE and Charles Osborne Road.  A former orange grove, the site is currently  More...

    Lake County Farm Bureau gathered for its annual fall meeting on Monday night, with nearly 400 supporters of Lake County agriculture gathering at the Lake County Fairgrounds to celebrate agriculture’s place in the county.
    Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson was the featured speaker at the event.  Simpson, serving his first year in the post after a decade in the Florida Senate, spoke about the importance of agriculture in the state and the government’s ongoing efforts to make farming easier and more profitable for g  More...

By Adrian Newby

    With Halloween drawing nearer and pumpkin patches overflowing with bright orange pumpkins, people are probably thinking about taking a few of them home for holiday decor. The problem with pumpkins in Florida is that it is hot, and if you carve your pumpkin, you have about three days before it will rot or be carried off by fruit flies. What can we do to avoid this plight? Paint them!
    We want to share the story of "Penny the Painted Pumpkin" with you. Our older brother, Atticus, once had a pumpkin from  More...

    The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued the first monthly citrus crop forecast for the 2023-2024 harvest season.  The federal agency estimates production to be 20.5 million boxes of oranges this season.  Additionally, the USDA forecasted 1.9 million boxes of grapefruit and 500,000 boxes of tangerines and tangelos.
    "The promise of a comeback for Florida's citrus industry is on the horizon for the first time in a long time.  Growers continue to see improvements in the groves–tree health is improv  More...

    Umatilla resident Jason McKinnie recently secured a very rare accomplishment.  While hunting in Georgia recently, McKinnie killed two deer with a single arrow while participating in the state’s annual archery season.
    McKinnie was hunting in Schley County at the time of the unique kill.  Video from his camera shows a small herd of does coming into view, with two in particular standing side by side.  From an estimated 29 yards, McKinnie let fly from his Mathews compound bow with a 700-grain arrow. The animals scattered, with  More...

    The ongoing saga of attempting to secure additional space for the office of the Lake County Supervisor of Elections was again a topic of discussion on Tuesday, when the Lake County Commission waded into the topic once again in hopes of finding a resolution to an issue that has been unsettled for over a year and has continued to grow in expense. As in past discussions, extended and at times contentious, discussion failed to fully settle the issue.
    Lake County Supervisor of Elections D. Alan Hays has been lobbying the county for expanded facilitie  More...

By Annette Codding

    Time is flying by lately, and I just realized that it is time to plant a lot of our cool weather crops.  But there is just enough time to get in a crop of green beans before the first frost.  It’s always best to keep that date in mind when planting.  But you know that no one really knows when the first or last frost is coming.  So plant those seeds if you think it will work.  Worst case scenario, you waste some seeds.  No harm done.
    Most green bean plants will giv  More...

    The St. Johns River in Astor has risen at a rapid rate in the past week, climbing over a foot and into flood stage.  The rising water has been powered by rainfall throughout the area and strong winds from the north, two conditions that historically cause water in the northerly flowing river to stall in the river country community.
    On Tuesday, the river was at  3.05 feet, well over the two-foot marker that denotes a flood.  The river had held steady overnight, raising hopes that the current flooding would be the worst of the curre  More...

    “I have a deep appreciation for their understanding of freedom.”
    Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks has recently returned from a mission trip to Ukraine, where he, along with Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker, joined a team from Mission 823 to support the people of that war-torn nation.  The group spent over a week in Ukraine surveying the situation and building relationships in support of the people.
    For Parks, the trip served as a chance to get an up-close look at a situation that has rece  More...

    The community will come together on Sunday to support Umatilla pharmacist Richard Greer, who continues to fight pancreatic cancer.  A volunteer group dubbed the 'Support Squad' has organized a large event to be held from 2-6 p.m. in Umatilla's Cadwell Park.
    Greer, owner of Umatilla Drug Store and a fixture in the Umatilla community, will be both celebrated and supported at the event.  Greer continues to receive cancer treatments and has been mostly absent from the drugstore in recent months, but he hasn't been forgotten by the communi  More...

    Two of the area's largest housing developments to date are underway and beginning to take shape.  In Eustis, the former Pine Meadows golf course is being converted into a development of over 500 homes, and in Umatilla, a former fernery off CR 450A is seeing site work undertaken that will serve as the first phase of a nearly 500-home development.
    The Pine Meadows site has seen a variety of utility products delivered, as heavy equipment moves dirt from one end of the 240-acre site to the other.  With just over 92 acres of wetlands, the  More...

    A split vote by the Lake County Commission on Tuesday means plans to put automated traffic enforcement devices on county roads inside the city of Eustis won’t happen, at least for now.  Commissioners Josh Blake and Leslie Campione opposed the plan to allow cameras on Orange Avenue that would issue $100 tickets to vehicles traveling over 10 miles per hour over the speed limit in school zones.
    Commissioners Sean Parks and Doug Shields supported the effort, but without a majority vote the plan will not proceed.  However, the city i  More...

    Large crowds flocked to Pierson over the weekend, when the Pierson Lions Club hosted its 71st Annual Pierson Lions Club Rodeo.  A full slate of rodeo action awaited the standing-room-only crowd that gathered to witness the awarding of over $16,000 in prize funds.
    On Friday night, a special veteran recognition was held, with those who have served in the US military invited into the ring for a moment of appreciation. Additionally, small children were invited into the ring during an intermission for a 'chicken chase', and later in the evening  More...

    The annual Florida alligator harvest is underway, with hunters taking to the state’s waters through November 1.  In the past week, two large alligators were harvested out of the St. Johns River, with one of the animals being found to have a unique item lodged in its stomach.
    The hunting team of area residents Allen Bates III, Clayton Wiggins, Marshall Wiggins, and Benny Krupski posted early bragging rights on September 12, bringing in a 12-foot, four-inch alligator, and an 11-foot, nine-inch alligator.  The group struck again on  More...

    The Florida Department of Health in Lake County (DOH-Lake) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Yale.  This is in response to a water sample taken on September 11.  The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Yale.
    Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:
· Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski, or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
· Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have con  More...

    The Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Bureau, in conjunction with the City County Investigation Bureau, recently concluded a six-month investigation dubbed ‘Operation: Poison Control.’  The goal of the operation was to target mid-to-high-level drug traffickers distributing fentanyl throughout Lake County.
    As the investigation progressed, detectives encountered an assortment of illegal narcotics being distributed throughout Lake County.  As a result of the operation, undercover detectives were able to succes  More...

    A small, single-engine airplane experienced trouble immediately after takeoff last Tuesday night from the Umatilla Municipal Airport, and crashed in East Lake just north of the airstrip.  The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5, and left the pilot reportedly suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
    FAA data indicates the plane is owned by Kevin Sheehan of Winter Springs, though it is not confirmed that the owner was the pilot at the time of the crash.
    Residents in the area reported hearing th  More...

    A new state law that has given agencies increased powers to regulate use of Florida’s natural springs may be used to bring big changes to the popular Silver Glen Springs run.  For decades, the run from Silver Glen Springs to Lake George has drawn boaters looking for fun in the sun and the spring’s crystal clear waters, but how the springs is allowed to be used in the future could change if a USDA Forest Service request to enact a springs protection zone in the area comes to pass.
    In June, the federal agency forwarded a request  More...

    The City of Eustis is looking to begin the practice of writing speeding tickets by automated camera.  Already approved by the Eustis City Commission, the plan seeks to install privately owned and operated cameras in school zones in the city to automatically cite vehicles that the system says are speeding.
    City staff on Tuesday sought approval to install the system on county roads, addressing the Lake County Commission during its regular meeting. 
    “The goal is to improve safety,” said city manager  More...

    With its new, nearly 1,300-seat sanctuary expected to be completed by the end of the year, and a renovation of its events center to follow, the First Baptist Church of Umatilla is already looking to the horizon to see a potential future expansion project.  The church last week completed the purchase of a 25-acre site just east of its main campus, a lakefront location that could serve a variety of uses in the future.
    While church leaders this week said the exact plans for the location are unknown at this time, there was a desire to secure t  More...

    North Lake County saw light rains and periodic winds pass through last week, as Hurricane Idalia passed to the north on its way to a Big Bend landfall.  Lake County schools and other government entities closed on Wednesday, August 30, as a precaution for a late storm shift, but the area saw little impact from the storm.
    Schools and government, as well as several local businesses that had closed for the storm on Wednesday, reopened to regular schedules on Thursday.
    Rains that arrived later in the week, on Thursda  More...

         Congratulations to Heidi Hatfield Edwards on her new book which was recently published. Heidi is a Umatilla High School graduate, Class of 1985. She has recently published a book with a team of co-workers on communication and narratives. Heidi is a professor at Florida Tech in Melbourne.
        When we asked Heidi about her recent work, she humbly said “it is very academic” but she did share a news release from Florida Tech.
        The book she co-authored is titled &q  More...

    This week is the arrival of college football season, and with it comes many social season recipes to enjoy. We got a headstart at fellowship hour on Sunday, thanks to Jenni Myers. She always creates fun foods, snack-sized bites of goodness to enjoy.
    Platters this week included yummy bites of cucumber, shaped like flowers with cream cheese and bacon spread, topped with a bite of red cherry tomato. Jenni created bumble bees out of olives in stripes, attached to a cream cheese spread base with cucumber wings. The cucumbers were shaved thin and real  More...

By Annette Codding

    If I had a TV or made a habit of checking the weather, then y'all would have gotten this most excellent hurricane preparation advice last week.  But as it is, we will all just have to get a small chuckle out of it a day late.  Maybe tuck it away somewhere for later...or just laugh and use some better judgment next time around.
    For those in an HOA, these tips most likely won't be too helpful.  But I suspect that a lot of my "good advice" wouldn't apply most of the time anyway.  For  More...

    A quickly developing tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico sent local leaders into a rapid response mode early this week.  Idalia, a Tropical Storm forming in the Gulf of Mexico that was expected to potentially affect Lake County early Wednesday as a Hurricane resulted in a hastened storm prep response throughout the day Monday and into  Tuesday.
    Area governments responded Monday morning in preparation for the storm.  Lake County delivered sandbag supplies to areas throughout the county, with sites in Astor, Sorrento, and Umatill  More...

By Dalton Yancey
    The Yancey home was demolished this week to make way for a 40-acre, 85-family residences and commercial area development that the grandchildren are moving into the City Limits of Umatilla and are offering for sale.  The insurance company told the family they would no longer insure the over 100-year-old family residence because it was vacant.
    The Yancey family moved to Umatilla in 1881 from Brazil.  Originally from Alabama, Benjamin Cunningham Yancey fled with about another 10,000 Southerners to Brazil after th  More...

By Annette Codding

    One of my favorite things about talking to other homesteaders, farmers and growers is learning new things. Sometimes it’s a new way to do something or a new way to take care of an old problem. But every now and then we learn about a new thing we can grow in our area.
    We live in an area that doesn’t get too cold, but just cold enough to kill or knock back tropical stuff. The fruit trees that need a certain amount of chill hours or a cold season where they can go through a dormant period don&rsquo  More...

    The City of Umatilla has received high marks for the maintenance of its water system.  In a report presented to the city last week by the Florida Rural Water Association, inspector George Glover described the city’s water delivery system as operating at a  high level, with over 98% of the city’s system operating at average or above.
    The 'Drinking Water System Asset Management and Fiscal Sustainability' plan is a snapshot tool provided to partners of the FRWA and is used to assist with long-range asset protection and water  More...

    The price of housing has skyrocketed in Lake County in recent years, leaving area governments seeking ways to create affordable residential options for county residents.  On Tuesday, August 8, the Lake County Commission moved to increase options for people looking to create affordable housing options.
    The commission voted to remove its limitations on house sizes, revoking decades-old requirements on minimum housing size.  Those rules included requirements that homes be no less than 23 feet and four inches wide.  Tuesday's vote cr  More...

    A Umatilla woman was airlifted from a Wednesday, August 9, crash on SR 19 in Umatilla.  Barbara Graham was transported to a hospital in Sanford via helicopter, and another victim, Jordan Paniss, of Osteen, was transported to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares.
    Umatilla Police reports indicate that Paniss was northbound on SR 19 around 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of CR 450A driving a Jeep Cherokee. Graham entered the northbound lane from a southbound turn lane on SR 19, driving a Honda CRV, striking Paniss’ vehicle.
 &nb  More...

    Preseason drills are underway at Umatilla High School, where the football Bulldogs are prepping for a new season under first year coach Eric Samuels.  Samuels, a 2009 graduate of Umatilla, has returned to his alma mater to take over a program full of young players.
    Samuels this week said the team rosters just five seniors and three juniors on its roster as it heads into this Friday night’s exhibition against Halifax Academy.  The game, to be played in Umatilla, will kick off at 7 p.m.
    Samuels this week  More...

    After months of back-and-forth discussion and debate, the Lake County Commission on Tuesday moved to settle an ongoing request by Lake County Supervisor of Elections D. Alan Hays for more space.  The commission voted to move to purchase the supervisor's current office on US 441 in Tavares, and seek out short-term lease space to address warehouse storage needs of the office.
    Describing ‘the best fiduciary option,’ chairperson Kirby Smith was part of a unanimous vote among members present (Sean Parks was absent) to pursue the pla  More...

    The United States Department of Agriculture in the past week released a report showing an increase in the state’s number of bee colonies.  Florida, the Southeastern United States’ leader in number of bee colonies at 270,000 this past January, saw 51,000 colonies added during the first quarter of the year, offsetting a loss of 34,000 colonies during the same period.
    The challenge of keeping the number of colonies stable in the state is a full-time job, according to local beekeeper Jerry Latner. And that is just part of the chall  More...

    North Lake County rolled out the red carpet for Back To School this past week, with children celebrated during events in Cassia and Umatilla, and school staff entering the spotlight at a special breakfast on Tuesday.
    This Thursday, August 10, is the first day back in the classroom for Lake County public school children.
    In Cassia, the annual Back to School Bash welcomed a large crowd at the Cassia Community Center for activities, giveaways, and more.  Umatilla's First Baptist Church had hundreds of backpacks and  More...

    'Plan B' for the proposed development of nearly 10 acres in Umatilla is set to come before the Umatilla City Council on August 15.  Developers have scrapped a controversial apartment complex at the location and instead are set to come to the city with a plan that envisions a 121-unit assisted living center at the location.
    Fletcher Grove Development, LLC, is proposing a multi-tiered service facility that includes 65 assisted living units, 24 memory care units, and 32 independent living units in two stories of buildings. In all, 156 beds ar  More...

By Annette Codding

    I still think it's funny that people look at goats and think that they are such durable and hardy creatures.  A farm animal that can live solely off of poor grass and tin cans, spitting out babies every year like clockwork.  At least monthly, I hear about someone wanting to get a goat to “keep the grass mowed” or “clear some land.”  Most likely these people really still think that these goats are maintenance-free, weed-eating machines.  And they are…most of the time.
   &  More...

    The public is invited to come to the Cassia Community Club this Saturday, August 5, for the 10th Annual Back To School Bash.  Running from 10 a.m. - noon, the event will be held at the Cassia Community Club and feature school supplies, lunch, and clothing, all available for free.
    The Cassia Community Club is located at 29245 CR 44 in Cassia. 
    The Back To School Bash annually offers supplies to students of all ages, and serves as a fun kick-off to the new school year.  Organized by the club's volunteer  More...

    Lake County officials joined citrus history enthusiasts on Tuesday to unveil a special tribute to Lake County’s citrus history.  The ceremony, held in the rotunda of the Lake County administrative building in downtown Tavares, offers the latest public celebration of the industry that dominated Lake County for over 100 years.
    "The mission is to tell the story of citrus," said John Jackson, who spearheaded the creation of the exhibit.  A longtime extension agent in Lake County, Jackson was inducted into the Florida Agric  More...

    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday agreed to help kickstart a new workforce program at Lake Sumter State College.  The county will earmark $300,000 from its American Rescue Plan Act federal funding program to the creation of a Construction Management Associate in Science degree at the college.
    The program is expected to begin in the spring of 2024, and eventually grow to house 250 students looking for a career in the construction field.
    The college is hoping to help fill the shortfall in construction labor, w  More...

    Beans, grains, herbs, and figs are just a few of the many dried goods that sit on my shelves patiently waiting for the day that they get put to good use.  They take up little room for the amount of nutrition that they hold.  And they take zero energy to keep in a perpetual fresh and useful state.  Dried food is the ultimate simple survival food.
    First of all, you can easily (if not happily) survive on beans and rice alone.  When combined they have all of the necessary amino acids required to keep us alive an  More...

    In response to an aggressive alligator incident on Monday, National Forests in Florida (NFF) has temporarily closed the Alexander Springs swim area, effective immediately. The 7½ foot-long alligator believed to be involved in the incident was removed Monday afternoon and the swim area was expected to reopen in the near future. according to Forest Service representatives.
    At approximately 12:30 p.m. on Monday, the Forest Service was notified of an incident involving an adult male visitor and an aggressive alligator at the Alexander Springs Recre  More...

    The Umatilla City Council on Tuesday night gave initial approval to plan that looks to redevelop an area in downtown from commercial to residential use.  The council approved a request from Avenue Real Estate Holdings, LLC to develop a site along Lone Star Street into duplexes, with an existing building possibly being renovated into a duplex or demolished.
    The site covers just over .6 acres, and would include three duplex units.  The approved densities of eight units per acre is lower than the site’s current general commercial l  More...

    The Spring Creek Charter School family in Paisley is joining the Lake County Sheriff’s Office this week in cheering master deputy Donald Roenbeck, who has been named the 2023 School Resource Officer of the Year in the State of Florida.  Roenbeck was recognized last week by State of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, during a special event in Tallahassee.  
    Speaking at the 2023 Florida School Resource Officers Association Summer Conference, Moody presented Roenbeck with the award while announcing the state’s new ‘H  More...

    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday approved proposed increases for both fire and solid assessments.  To be formally approved in public hearings slated for September 12, the fee structures would go into effect with next year’s budget and appear on tax bills later this fall.
    Residents receiving garbage collection from Lake County will see increases of over $100 for service.  The increase comes on the heels of contractors experiencing increased employee and fuel costs, and comes during a period where the county continues to stru  More...

    A team from the Ocala National Forest that has been working on spring restoration has earned the US Forest Services' highest award in fisheries and watersheds.  The Rise To The Future Award was recently bestowed on the group that has undertaken a sweeping program of projects designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the forest's natural springs.
    Consisting of Clay Coates, Jorge Guevara, Carrie Sekerak, Jay Garcia, John Dysart, and Jonathon Mickett, the group works with The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Flo  More...

    The City of Umatilla's new terminal building at the Umatilla Municipal Airport is entering final approach to completion, with officials this week confirming the new building should be online by late summer or early fall.  The 2,500 square foot building is being constructed further away from the city airstrip and replace a similar-sized structure that has served as the airport terminal for many years.
    The new building, which is being totally funded by the Florida Department of Transportation at a cost of $2.6 million, was conceived as airpo  More...

    Units from Umatilla, Eustis, and Lake County responded to a fire at the Florida’s Natural packing plant on Friday, June 30.  The fire, which occurred around 5 p.m. was located in the Umatilla plant’s southern section, at a building that is used to package Florida’s Natural brand products.
    No injuries were reported from the fire, nor was its cause available at press deadline Monday, other than being deemed ‘accidental’.
    “An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing,&r  More...

    Work has begun on what will be Umatilla's largest development to date.  Magnolia Pointe, located off CR 450SE and adjoining the Mills Street/Church Street area, is expected to include just under  500 homes on the 315-acre site.
    The project was originally approved in the early 2000s but went dormant after the 2008 real estate collapse.  In recent years, it was brought back to life with some updated amenities and home styles, and now is set for development by Forestar and DR Horton.
    All four phases, 477  More...

    The 2023 recreational bay scallop season for Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, a portion of northwest Taylor, Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties opened July 1, and will remain open through September 24.  This includes Carrabelle, Lanark, St. Marks, Cedar Key, Crystal River, and Homosassa.
    The daily bag limit is two gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one pint of bay scallop meat per person, with a maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (four  pints) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel.
&nb  More...

    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday approved a new impact fee schedule for educational facilities.  Acting on a study forwarded from the Lake County School Board, a divided commission approved a schedule that will either raise or lower construction impact fees based on house size.
    The new schedule is set to go into effect on October 1, and alters the current impact fee structure from a set fee to a scale that changes based on the size of the home. 
    The fee approved Tuesday creates a lower fee, at $6,897,  More...

    With the 4th of July on the horizon, we thought we would share a cute party idea for a shark-shaped watermelon basket. This is an artistic spin on the old favorite fruit bowl. Dig out your pumpkin carving tools for extra cutting advantage or be sure to use a study serrated blade. There are so many ways to cut up a watermelon into fun shapes and bites, there is really no wrong answer, but be careful with your fingers.
        Jenni Myers made this cute shark bowl for fellowship time on Sunday, what a nice treat. If you need good direct  More...

    The Lake County Fair is seeking a new day-to-day manager.  Lake County Fair Association Board President Jimmy Nussbaumer this week confirmed the organization and manager Stacey Wade have parted ways and the search is on for a new leader.
    “She needed a substantial raise,” Nussbaumer said, noting that Wade’s contract was up and negotiations had begun for a new agreement. 
    However, the board wasn’t in the position to offer any kind of sizable increase, noting the fair has lost money in  More...

    Following confirmation of a positive test sample for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Holmes County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) have implemented management actions and an executive order to protect against the possible spread of CWD.
    The FWC and its agency partners take CWD very seriously and have implemented a comprehensive response plan.  As part of the plan, the FWC will collect samples from specific established zones to further assess th  More...

    The new bridge over the St. Johns River in DeLand continues to take shape, as the years-long project inches toward completion.  The fixed-level span bridge is now towering over the drawbridge it will replace, with the project expected to be completed in early 2024.
    The Florida Department of Transportation began the project in 2020, with $45.4 million budget.  
    Today, the new bridge has taken shape, with contractors with Superior Construction Company Southeast, LLC continuing to finalize the span.  Beyond  More...

    Former students, staff members, and supporters of the historic Altoona Elementary are invited to join the fun this Saturday, June 24, when the school will be the location of an Altoona Elementary Teacher and Student Reunion.  Beginning at noon in the school's community room (cafeteria for all of you long-since-graduated students), the invitation is open to bring a dish to share with the potluck dinner and also bring along plenty of old stories to share.
    The school, located at 42630 SR 19 in Altoona, has a century-long history of service to  More...

    Recreational trails have been a public focus in recent years, with a system of paved biking and hiking paths being conceived and built throughout the state.  In Lake County, governments have joined the bandwagon, funding planning and construction projects designed to provide links to trails leading throughout Florida.  While a generally popular concept, enthusiasm isn’t universal here.
    The public gathered last Thursday evening in Umatilla to provide input on the continued development of a recreational trail through the area.&nbs  More...

    The debate over how to best handle a space crunch inside the Lake County Supervisor of Elections office was the subject of another extended debate on Tuesday, but the Lake County Commission and Supervisor of Elections D. Alan Hays continue to be at odds over how best move forward with the office’s facility needs. In fact, the commission itself continues to struggle to find a broad consensus among members on the best way to move forward, and on Tuesday instructed county staff to do more research.
    Hays for months has advocated for a new bui  More...

    The Florida Department of Transportation’s SR 40 project in the Astor Park area is continuing, with intermittent lane closures expected to continue in the Astor area through Father’s Day weekend. After underground work that included the installation of a French drain system under sections of the road, a deep milling and repaving project is expected to continue for several weeks.
    The project, covering a total of 7.6 miles from the St. Johns River Bridge west to almost SR 19, has been budgeted at $10.1 million.
   &n  More...

    The framework of an 85-unit home development took shape Tuesday night in Umatilla, when the Umatilla City Council gave initial approval to an annexation request that also includes a commercial element.  The property, lying south of Maxwell Road on SR 19, was previously an orange grove and lies just outside of the city limits.
    The development is in its early stages, and to date doesn’t include many of the details that will need to be approved in the future before the project becomes a reality.
    On Tuesday, th  More...

    Celebration of new growth took center stage in North Lake County on Thursday, June 1.  In Astor and Umatilla, government, business, and community leaders gathered to celebrate new projects.
    The new Pizza Hut/KFC in Umatilla was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the official opening of the combo location, which replaced a former Pizza Hut location at the site.  In Astor, Lake County officials led a public gathering that celebrated the groundbreaking for the county's new library in River Country. 
 &n  More...

    The City of Umatilla is moving ahead with plans to construct a new set of T-Hangars at the city airport.  On Tuesday night, June 6, the Umatilla City Council approved a resolution calling for design and construction of the hangars, part of a $464,508 funding award.  The city's estimated cost would be $9,290, its percentage of the Florida Department of Transportation grant funding that has been offered.  
    Fourteen T-Hangars are to be constructed at the airport, to the west of the airstrip in a newly developed area of the facility.  More...

    Lake County Property Appraiser, Carey L. Baker, has released the Best Estimate of Taxable Values to the taxing authorities.  These values allow various government agencies to begin their budget planning with final values to be completed by July 1.  These values include real estate, personal tangible property (business equipment), and all new construction occurring in 2022.
    “The new construction numbers tell the story,” said Baker.  “Lake County is experiencing near record growth in both residential and commercial  More...

    After 13 years at its current Dona Vista location, Bz's Happy Plants is on the move.  Owner Bea Carlson and her staff are hustling to reduce inventory and move to its new location, with all eyes on  June 11 final day at its current SR 19 location across from the Mason Jar restaurant.
    "I was renting, and the property sold.  End of story," Carlson said this week.   But the story of the area's largest plant nursery isn't ending.
    “Thanks to Sunsational Farms, we have a place to go.  More...

    The area’s youth have a new way to stay cool this summer.  Sunsational Farms in Umatilla this week debuted its new water play area, which includes sprinklers, shaded areas, and a large water slide in the form of a long black tube.
    The park will open starting this Friday, June 2, for public use.  On Fridays and Saturdays, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., children are invited to come enjoy the water, and spray toys, while also enjoying the farm's food truck.
    While the water area is opening, representatives fro  More...

    Boaters heading to the waters of the St. Johns River for some Memorial Day outdoor fun are advised to be mindful of enclosures that have been installed throughout areas of the river and in tributaries to help reestablish eelgrass.  The enclosures, defined by fenced areas, are to be avoided while boating or swimming.
    A project of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the restoration project looks to improve the presence of eelgrass in the river system that was negatively impacted by hurricanes Matthew and Irma.    More...

    The Umatilla City Council will begin considering a large development along SR 19 on June 6.  The site, a former orange grove covering almost 39 acres north of the Save-A-Lot plaza, is being designed as a mixed use development with commercial and residential uses.
    The land is currently in Lake County, and would annexed as part of the plan to create nearly 3.5 acres of commercial land along the west side of SR 19.  Behind the commercial land would be both attached single family homes and single family homes.
      More...

    Lake County will host an official groundbreaking for the new Astor County Library on Thursday, June 1.  The 3 p.m. event will be held at the site of the current library, at 54905 Alco Road.
    The county is set to replace the current, modular, library with a new, $2.2 million, 5,600 square foot facility.
    The project is being funded Lake County, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, and state Community Development Block Grant.
    To RSVP for the event, contact Eileen Eazsol at eile  More...

    A year later, the planned Pizza Hut/KFC restaurant in Umatilla is set to open.  Workers this week said both restaurants are set to open on Tuesday, May 23.  The operation will be located along SR 19 in front of the Save-A-Lot Plaza, and across from the Olde Mill Stream RV Resort.
    The opening will mark the end of a nearly year-long project that began last summer with the demolition of a stand-alone Pizza Hut restaurant at the same location. That building had been in service for decades, and was removed to make room for the new combo bu  More...

    Roadwork along SR 40 in Astor continues to bring huge headaches to the River Country community.  With traffic delays approaching an hour in some cases along the single roadway through the area, complications of a Florida Department of Transportation project are raising tensions in the area.  
    The FDOT is undertaking a $10.1 million project along SR 40 running east from the Lake County Line to the St. Johns River.  Beyond a planned resurfacing, the project includes a wider shoulder, drainage modifications in the form of a French dr  More...

    The Umatilla High School Class of 2023 celebrated its achievements on Friday, May 12, when the annual Senior Recognition program was hosted at UHS.  Seniors were recognized for academic and athletic achievements, with class members together for the last time before official graduation ceremonies arrive this Friday night.
    The ceremony was held in the UHS gym, with family members and other well-wishers on hand to celebrate the class, which attended in their caps and gowns.
    The class earned just under $90,000 in lo  More...

By Olivia M. Hemphill

    On May 4, during a routine visit to Sunsational Farms, I found myself in the midst of cameras, producers, and a few of the nearby residents in full swing of preparation for an episode of ‘Where The Food Comes From,’ a program showcasing the agriculture business with spotlight on small towns.
    The crew went behind the scenes of the farm analyzing the produce there with special attention paid to the citrus side.  Explaining how the food is grown and the tree-to-glass process.
 &nb  More...

By Annette Codding

    I’m not sure that there is a better childhood possible than one growing up outdoors and surrounded by nature.  Living on a farm or homestead means getting to be around animals daily, eating fresh and homemade meals, and learning so many skills.
    Farm kids grow up in a way that a lot of kids will never experience.  They are exposed to the natural life cycles that some grown folks are apparently still confused about today.  Animals coming into season, mating, gestation,  More...

    Two people were transported from a Umatilla crash that occurred on Saturday, May 6.  The incident, reported just before 9 p.m. involved two vehicles at the intersection of SR 19 and East Collins Street.
    Umatilla Police reports state that a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Triston Berube of Sorrento was northbound on SR 19 at the East Collins Street intersection when the vehicle failed to stop for a red light and struck the rear of a 2011 Volkswagen driven by Rodman Dewitt Rogers of Eustis.  
    The impact dro  More...

    The North Lake County U-Pick season is fully underway, with the public flocking to area outlets for a variety of products grown locally.  Peaches and blueberries lead the growing industry in popularity, with other crops, such as sunflowers, also drawing customers to area outlets.
    Outside of Umatilla, Graham Farms is a leader in the county’s growing U-Pick industry, offering the public peaches, blackberries, and sunflowers currently after a winter of offering strawberries and vegetables.  Farm co-owner Mary Graham this week repor  More...

    Lake County is in the process of investing nearly $500,000 in improvements at the Pine Meadows Recreation Area.  Located between Eustis and Umatilla on the backside of the former Pine Meadows Golf Club, the county has developed the location with hiking, boating, fishing, and equestrian uses in recent years, with the current boat dock project the largest project to date.
    County staff this week that around $489,000 is being invested at Pine Meadows, including a large boat ramp, canoe/kayak launch, an aluminum boardwalk, gangway, and floating  More...

    A Eustis man perished in a rollover crash that occurred on Friday, April 28, on SR 19 north of Umatilla.  The man, unidentified by the Florida Highway Patrol, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 6:35 a.m. crash.
    The crash began in the area of Baker Road.  The vehicle the man was driving, a 1997 Chevrolet pickup, was northbound on SR 19 when for an unknown reason the vehicle left the road onto the east shoulder, after which the driver reportedly overcorrected, and traveled across the highway's driving lanes and onto the west sh  More...

    The community is stepping forward to support longtime area pharmacist Richard ‘Doc’ Greet and his family.  Greer was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and has begun treatment, giving the community an opportunity to return a favor to a family who has become known for its goodwill toward the community.
    The Greer family operates the Umatilla Drug Store and has for many years.  Greer, a former Umatilla Citizen of the Year recipient, has become known for his kindness and generosity given to those in need.   More...

    Improving student performance, creating new programs, and increasing student certification program performance were all listed as reasons why the Florida State Board of Education last week announced Umatilla High School’s Brent Frazier as the 2023 Florida Principal of the Year. The announcement was made during a meeting in Tallahassee of the state board of education, with Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. announcing the award.
    Frazier was among three finalists of the statewide award, and was joined at the presentation by Lake  More...

    The national split in the United Methodist Church has reached North Lake County.  On Thursday, April 20, congregations at the Altoona and Paisley United Methodist Churches voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church.
    The churches will now be a part of a large summer meeting of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, where they will be a part of dozens of churches statewide currently looking to leave the denomination.  Among the requirements to leave the United Methodist Church are financial considerations, wi  More...

    An Apopka woman survived a harrowing crash Monday night in Umatilla.  Samantha Johnson, 26, was transported to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford after a vehicle she was driving left SR 19, hit a tree, and overturned several times.
    Umatilla Police reports indicate Johnson was southbound on SR 19 around 8:36 p.m. Monday.  Traveling just south of Maxwell Road, the 2000 Ford F150 she was driving left the road on the right shoulder, struck a tree, spun, and rolled over several times.
    Emergency responde  More...

    It began in a former packing house in Umatilla, and on Saturday will celebrate its 30th anniversary in its current home in Altoona.  Along the way, Dan's Discount Feed and Fence has grown to become the area's largest supplier of hay, livestock, and pet-related products.  This week, feed store founder Dan Kerr reflected on three decades in business, and what brought him to the feed business.
    “I had bought ten acres… and thought I was a cowboy.”
    Kerr’s early career in construction and beer  More...

    Astor resident Elise VanCise has been named Lake County Employee of the Quarter.  VanCise, who is a library assistant at the Astor County Library, was recognized by the Lake County Commission recently after providing life saving assistance to a patron of the library.
    “Elise was on duty at the library when a citizen who came in to visit the library’s community food pantry suddenly collapsed unconscious,” said Jonathan Dulce, library manager.  “Elise quickly assessed the situation, called 911, and immediately beg  More...

    Umatilla resident Jack Hartley is recovering from an alligator bite received while fishing recently on Trout Lake, providing a reminder that Florida's state reptile can be a dangerous, and surprising, addition to a day on the water.
    “I’m doing OK, it’s getting better,” Hartley said this week, reporting on damage to his arm received while fishing on Sunday morning, April 2.  Hartley was on Trout Lake, located along SR 19 just north of downtown Eustis, when he caught a bass that required a bit of maneuvering to get ou  More...

    Did you know it is believed that several dozen manatees call the Harris Chain of Lakes home?  While manatee sightings have been reported for several years, it may come as a surprise to learn that so many sea cows call the area home.
    With more manatees comes the risk of more manatee injury or death from human-related causes, like boat props, blunt trauma, or environmental conditions.
    Improving habitat for manatees was a main topic at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce, when  More...

    State Representative Keith Truenow has announced he will be running to replace term-limited State Senator Dennis Baxley as the next Senator for Lake County from District 13.  Truenow was first elected to the State House of Representatives in 2020.  He is best known for eliminating the Lake County Water Authority, a duplicative layer of government, saving local taxpayers millions.
    “This campaign is about continuing the fight to defend conservative values, back up Governor DeSantis as he takes on the woke mob, and reduce the size a  More...

    “I see the hand of God in it.”
    Mike Ellis of Eustis and his son Nathan were in Wynne, Arkansas last week visiting Ellis’ parents when an F3 tornado destroyed the family’s home, with the duo and Mike’s mother hunkered down within.  The tornado was one of several that ripped across the country late last week as part of a storm system that left miles of devastation in its wake. 
    Ellis and his son, as well as Mike’s mother, were in their longtime family home when the tornado,  More...

    The midway has been constructed, the show barns have been prepped, and the Lake County Fairgrounds are once again ready to welcome thousands of visitors.  The 102nd Lake County opens this Thursday, April 6, for a ten-day run that will feature live entertainment, youth livestock shows, creative arts competitions, 4H displays, and much much more.
    “The Lake County Fair brings you back to a simpler time and place in America, where family friends, and community gather once a year to reconnect and celebrate,” said fair manager Stacey  More...

    Lake County is reconsidering its options after estimates to renovate a former retail outlet in the Lake Square Mall more than doubled original estimates.  The Lake County Commission on Tuesday, March 28, instructed staff to enter negotiations with the property's owner regarding the potential of the county exiting a recently enacted five-year, multimillion-dollar lease for the former Sears location.
    A combination of higher-than-expected renovation costs and the revelation that there is asbestos in the building ballooned estimates to renovat  More...

    All's well that ends well, and a huge sigh of relief could be heard coming from the Crescent Lake area of Umatilla on Wednesday, March 22, when pilot Jim Knopke emerged safely from his single-engine amphibian plane that was upside down in the lake.  Knopke, returning home from a brief flight to the Umatilla Municipal airport for fuel, saw his plane overturn upon landing after the plane's dry land landing gear, which had failed to retract after leaving Umatilla, plowed into the water and flipped the plane over.
    The plane, which witnesses de  More...

    “It takes a lot longer walking.”
    Umatilla Public Library employee Ralph Howard was all smiles last Thursday, March 23, when he was presented a bicycle to replace the one that had been stolen while he was at work a day before.  Howard was called next door to the Lubemaster II drive-through oil change outlet just after arriving at work at 1 p.m. for a surprise presentation put together by Lubemaster owner Chad Sines and his friend Brian Jensen.
    Sines was still grumbling at himself that he didn’t s  More...

    A fun weekend lies ahead for the northern regions of the readership area.  Both Astor and Barberville will host special events this weekend, with the public invited to come out for activities ranging from blacksmithing demonstrations to rubber ducks racing on the St. Johns River.
    Here’s a breakdown of the activities:
    - The Astor Area Chamber of Commerce will host its Spring Festival on Saturday, April 1.  From 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., the Big River Marina on the shores of the St. Johns River will be the p  More...

    The City of Umatilla has announced that its new wastewater hookup with the City of Eustis was expected to go active this week.  The estimated $7 million project that has featured the construction of a wastewater line from Umatilla’s processing plant on Golden Gem Drive south on SR 19 to the city of Eustis, and will allow Umatilla to abandon its wastewater plant going forward.
    “We are looking to open the sewage flow to Eustis tomorrow afternoon,” said Aaron Mercer of the City of Umatilla on Monday.    Howeve  More...

    The Umatilla City Council on Tuesday night gave initial approval to an ordinance that seeks to ban the practice of smoking or vaping in city parks.  The move comes after the council heard a recent presentation from Umatilla Middle and High School students seeking such a move to increase public health.
    Citing a variety of data and threats to humans of all ages, the Students Working Against Tobacco asked the city to consider such a ban, a request that was met with broad approval within the city.

    The largest wooden boat show in the country will return to the Tavares shoreline this weekend, when the 42nd Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival returns for a three-day run.  Antique boats, classic and custom cars, seaplanes, and more will all be a part of the event.
    The event is sponsored by the Sunnyland Chapter of the American Classic Boat Society.
    “There’s something for everyone,” said Debi Weinert, who is coordinating the volunteer corps necessary to pull of the big event.  “There a  More...

    A popular access to Lake Yale has been closed, and is expected to remain so.  Lake County officials this week confirmed that the Lake Yale boat ramp lying at the end of Lake Yale Boat Ramp Road has been permanently closed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
    "FWC has closed the ramp and is reverting the property back to the landowner," said Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione.  Campione said the FWC has operated the ramp via an easement with an adjacent property owner.  That agreement has been  More...

    Lake County is moving ahead with plans to create a new road in East Lake County.  The Lake County Commission on Tuesday approved a right-of-way acquisition agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation that looks to create a path for a road running north of Wolf Branch Road up SR 44.
    The $4,000,000 acquisition project includes $2 million in grant funds with the balance to be paid from county impact fees and sales tax revenue.
    The project will begin at Round Lake Road and travel north through an area th  More...

    Central Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association President John Miller, accompanied by Maria Haun, selection committee chair Fire Chief Mike Johansmeyer, and 2020 award recipient Retired Chief Matt McGrew, presented the 2022 Chief Craig E. Haun Leadership Award to Lake County Office of Fire Rescue - Fire Chief Jim Dickerson at the March 9, general membership meeting.  The bestowment of this award was in recognition of Chief Dickerson’s leadership, his personal passion and care for the “boots on the ground” and his career accomplishments at LCFR spanni  More...

    Drought conditions are intensifying locally, as Lake County, along with much of the Florida peninsula, continues to be bereft of regular rainfall.  Data released on Monday by the United States Department of Agriculture indicate Lake County joins much of Florida in what is now a ‘moderate’ drought, with no immediate end in sight.
    Lake County's situation as defined by the percentage of the area experiencing drought conditions has more than doubled since the start of the calendar year, from just under 30% to now approaching 65%.  More...

    “It’s done better than I ever dreamed.”
    Marathon Electrical Services owner John Davis, III, this week was all smiles about the company, which is celebrating its fifth year in business.  A full-service electrical service provider with residential, commercial, and industrial branches, the company is experiencing explosive growth that has included its recent move from Eustis to Umatilla, where it now resides in a new building inside the Gateway Commerce Center.
    Davis, a Tavares native, created Mar  More...

    Florida’s Citrus crop continues to sink to ever-smaller outputs.  The United States Department of Agriculture’s February forecast for Florida citrus showed a continued decline through this seasons, with the latest estimates showing the crop to produce just 16 million boxes.
    That estimate is down $2 million boxes from just a month earlier, and if proven correct by the end of the season will represent a 61% decrease since last season.
    The industry continues to grasp with a variety of challenges, includi  More...

    “We have some uncertain times ahead.”
    Lake County’s Executive Director for Economic Development Mary Ellen Stern on Tuesday indicated Lake County may see less of an impact from an expected national slowing of the economy, but it won’t be completely spared.
    Stern, during a presentation on Tuesday to the Lake County Commission, stated that while it is impossible to know what the future holds, Lake County's economy is in a position to weather economic uncertainty with less pain than other parts o  More...

    Nearly 100 sales,  on the grounds around the Umatilla Public Library and throughout the broader community, will take place on Saturday, as the annual Umatilla City Wide yard sale returns for another day of bargain hunting in the name of supporting the library.  The event has grown into one of Umatilla’s largest days of commerce, with large crowds flocking to the community for sales held both at the library and at homes.
    Umatilla Public Library Director Amy Stultz in the past week said the event was looking at another sellout of  More...

    A proposed high-density apartment complex in Umatilla has been scrapped.  The proposal, for 116 units at the intersection of CR 450NE and Fletcher Road, which had been widely criticized by residents in the area, will not move forward.
    “They’ve officially withdrawn it.  They are going to regroup,” said Umatilla City Manager Scott Blankenship while speaking on the topic in the past week.  The item had been set to be up for consideration during the Umatilla City Council’s March 7 meeting, after being tabled a  More...

    The big weekend has arrived in Eustis, as this year’s GeorgeFest heads for its climax.  Nearly a month of activities has led up to the arrival of a downtown carnival, a large street parade, and days of special live entertainment as the community celebrates the 121st edition of the Washington’s Birthday Festival.
    This year’s Georgefest will feature premiere entertainment from Little Texas, Friday, February 24, at 8 p.m., and Chase McDaniel on Saturday, February 25, at 7:30 p.m., free of charge at the Alice McClelland Bands  More...

    The East Lake Historical Society will present the book launch of “Images of America: Sorrento, Mount Plymouth, and East Lake County” by Bob Grenier and the East Lake Historical Society.  The book is published by Arcadia Publishing.
    The book launch is Tuesday, March 7, from 6-8 p.m., at the East Lake Chamber of Commerce located at 24214 Sorrento Avenue in Sorrento.  The book will be available for purchase for $20 each.  Author, Bob Grenier will be on hand to give a short presentation about the book, give a sample readin  More...

    A single-vehicle crash claimed a Paisley couple during the nighttime hours of Friday, February 10, or early Saturday, February 11.  A 24 year-old female and a 45 year-old male were northbound in a Chevrolet Malibu when for unknown reasons the vehicle left the road at the Live Oak Ranch Road intersection, ran into a ditch, jumped over a berm at the intersection, and then traveled through a wooded area before coming to rest.
    The crash wasn’t discovered until around 8 a.m. on Saturday by a property owner at the site, who found pieces of  More...

    A raucous meeting was convened last Wednesday night, February 8, at the Cadwell Park community building in Umatilla.  Developers of a proposed high-density apartment complex on Fletcher Road hosted a public meeting to solicit input on their plans to place a 116-unit apartment complex at the CR 450NE intersection, but the estimated 100 people in attendance were far more interested in discussing scuttling the project.
    Just five minutes into the meeting, which was led by attorney Alison Yurko on behalf of the developer, Umatilla resident Mary  More...

    After falling short of earning an automatic bid to the state playoffs, the Umatilla High School varsity boys basketball team received good news on Sunday, when it was announced the team had earned an at-large bid.  The boys will play on Thursday, February 16, at North Marion High School in the first round of the playoffs.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
    Umatilla, now 21-5 on the season, lost in the second round of last week's class 4A District 6 playoffs, falling to Eustis by a score of 58-44.  Eustis would lose on Friday night in the  More...

    The female driver of an SUV was transported from the scene of a crash on Friday, February 3.  The driver, unidentified by the Florida Highway Patrol, was southbound on SR 19 around 11:30 a.m. when she struck the back of a southbound truck, careened off the road, and struck the front of a building that houses the Laura’s Sweet and Spicy Emporium.
    The store is located at the southwest corner of the CR 42 and SR 19 intersection, and saw the northeast corner of its building broken away as the driver, who didn't appear to attempt to slow  More...

    After nearly two years of permitting delays, Palmer's Astor Marine is set to begin construction of its new location.  Business owners Rick and Georgia Palmer welcomed friends and business partners to a special groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, February 3, marking the official beginning of the project that will see the business move from its temporary quarters in Astor Park to a new, three-acre site on SR 40 at the intersection of River Road.
    “We jumped through all their hoops,” said Rick Palmer on Friday, while discussing the  More...

    “We waited a long time.  Until it made economic sense.”
    United Southern Bank CEO Greg Nelson spoke this week on the bank’s upcoming project that will see its Umatilla branch become home to a large solar project.  Being constructed in partnership with area firm Jack’s Solar, the project is expected to bring an estimated 160 panels to the roofs of the branch and result in a reduction of traditional electric usage of over 20%.
    The project, years in the discussion, is expected to begin n  More...

Ed. Note:  The north end of unincorporated Lake County has been experiencing several months of disjointed garbage collection.  Lake County continues to work to smooth over the rough edges in its curbside service provided by its new hauler, and this week Leslie Campione, whose district covers much of North Lake County, provided an update regarding the county’s efforts.
    By Leslie Campione, Lake County Commissioner - District 4
    To say it has been a difficult transition from the county's last trash hauler to the current haul  More...

    A woman was airlifted from a serious crash that occurred on Wednesday, January 25, at the intersection of SR 19 and Beach Street north of Umatilla.  The woman, unidentified by the Florida Highway Patrol, was southbound on SR 19 when her vehicle, a white Chevrolet, left the roadway on the right shoulder, eventually striking a concrete pillar and a tree.
    The intersection serves as an entry to the Silver Beach Heights neighborhood, and the concrete pillar was part of the neighborhood’s entry monument.
    The cra  More...

    The newest member of the Carter’s ACE Hardware family arrived this week, when the Carter family opened its location at 1750 North SR 19 in Eustis.  The store, located just south of the Publix grocery store complex, is the 11th location in the chain, which also features stores in Umatilla, Mount Dora, Tavares, Sorrento, downtown Eustis, and beyond.
    The store features a wide range of home and hardware supplies, outdoor grilling inventory, paints, and more. The new store also includes an expansive outdoor garden center, which is stocked  More...

    Fears over the status of the columns at its historic courthouse, Lake County in the past week has begun taking measures to stabilize cracking pillars and closing walkways below while it considers its options regarding how to move forward.
    The pillars, which are prominent load-bearing features of the Lake County Historic Courthouse, are showing large cracks, outright separations, and other signs of decay.  A contractor was on site beginning late last week to cut samples from the pillars to gauge their condition, a move which was followed wi  More...

    A 22-year-old Eustis woman is facing arson charges in connection with a fire at 2220 Titcomb Street in Eustis.  Autumn Walker has been charged with starting a fire that severely damaged the home and reportedly confessed to the crime shortly afterward.
    Reports indicate Walker, who has lived at the home with her grandfather, intentionally ignited a mattress in her bedroom on January 16 after becoming angry with her grandfather, James Kilfoyle, over the sale of an inoperable Jeep. 
    Walker was seen by witnesses  More...

    Residents living in the area of a proposed apartment complex in Umatilla have announced a Facebook page designed to serve as a central communication spot for those interested in helping impact future growth in town.
    ‘Umatilla Residents For Responsible Growth’ is now active on the social media platform.
    “It’s a private group,” said Scott Ede, a Fletcher Road resident whose house sits directly across from a proposed 116-unit complex.  Ede, and others in the immediate area, are hoping  More...

    The application for a controversial high-density, multi-family complex at the intersection of CR 450 NE and Fletcher Road in Umatilla was due before the Umatilla City Council on Tuesday night, as the project’s applicant was set to pursue a zoning change on the estimated 10 acre site. 
    However, when the item came up on the council’s agenda, attorney Alison Yurko, representing Fletcher Grove Development, LLC, requested the hearing on the application be moved to March 7.  The purpose of the request was to allow the developer  More...

    The Great Florida Cattle Drive…that name conjures up images of 150 years ago, cowboys rooting Cracker Cows out of the palmettos and swamps of a yet uninhabited free-range Florida, back in the days when panthers, gators, and red wolves were taking as many baby cows as they could catch.
    One would think with all the subdivisions, theme parks, and high-rise beach condos that we see today, there wouldn't be a place left that was big and wide and open enough to still make a cattle drive possible, but there is still a little bit of wild Florida left!  More...

    A new County Library being developed in Astor will include new amenities to serve residents of the area. The facility will feature a 5,600-square-feet open floor plan, the first library drive-thru window for both drop-off and pick-up in Lake County, space for computers, flexible seating for readers and laptop users, a study room, and a 280-square-foot conference room.
    Additionally, the plans include a community services room to help residents to meet with Housing and Human Services, Veterans Services, and other non-profit resources.
&n  More...

    First was the North Lake Regional Park, built in 2005 outside Umatilla.  In the years that followed, other large parks have been built around the county, and as of Tuesday, the Golden Triangle is set to receive its dose of high-end county recreation.
    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday voted to move ahead with plans to purchase the site of the Lake County YMCA, located at 1465 David Walker Road in Tavares, at a cost estimated at $4.8 million.  The move fulfills the county's desire to create a regional park in the area, dating back t  More...

    An early morning fire damaged a Umatilla home on Saturday, when a fire in a Sunshine Avenue home’s fireplace escaped. Multiple units from Lake County responded to 41420 Sunshine Avenue around 7 a.m. on Saturday and were able to extinguish the fire, but not before it spread to at least two rooms of the home and damaged a portion of the home’s rafters.
    No injuries were reported from the fire.
    Temperatures were in the upper 30’s early Saturday, and homeowner Tim Coleman reported he had started the fire  More...

    The winter season had brought an uptick in COVID cases in Lake County, but the most recent data available from the Center for Disease Control indicated that last week, at least, cases have declined here.
    CDC data indicates that during the week that ended January 4, Lake County reported 322 COVID cases, down just over 15% from the week prior.  Exact death tolls were not available, with the CDC only showing ‘less than ten’ as a data point.
    However, data indicates that while Lake County's positivity rate  More...

    The largest apartment complex proposed in Umatilla in over a decade is slated to come before the Umatilla City Council on January 17, the first in what could be several hearings that if approved would lead to the largest multi-family construction in the town in a generation.  The proposal, for a site located at the northwest corner of CR 450NE (Collins Street) and Fletcher Road, near the Umatilla Health Department, looks to develop just under 10 acres of land for the purpose of building an apartment complex.
    If approved, the site would be  More...

    An interesting visitor welcomed residents coming home Monday evening in a section of downtown Umatilla.  A black bear was reported in the area of Cassady Street and Orange Avenue around 5:30 p.m., making its way south through the eastern section of town.
    “I was getting groceries out of my car,” said North Orange Avenue resident Rosie Short, “A man stopped to tell me a bear was coming this way.”
    Sure enough, a few minutes later the bruin made its way past Short's home.
    More...

    For the first time since Hurricane Ian blew through the area in late September, the St. Johns River in Astor has receded below flood stage.  According to data supplied by the US Geological Survey via a monitoring station in Astor, the river receded below flood stage on December 29, around 7 p.m.
    Anything above two feet is considered ‘actionable’ by the USGS, with flooding considered ‘minor’ when rising above 2.3 feet.
    The river has been in steady decline for many weeks, and by Tuesday aft  More...

    Temperatures dipped into the low 20s on Christmas morning, marking the coldest holiday since the Christmas freeze of 1989.  Unlike that year, when a hard freeze brought temperatures into the teens and decimated the area’s citrus industry, early reports on the impact of the Christmas freeze of 2022 indicate less damage to what’s left of the area’s citrus industry, and mostly spared strawberry and other winter crops.
    The Christmas freeze was bookended by two other freezing mornings.  On Saturday, Christmas Eve, pockets  More...

    Umatilla High School is in the midst of enjoying its strongest start to a season in a generation or more, and this past week capped off its early season perfection by winning its own holiday tournament.  Umatilla dispatched Mount Dora on Thursday night by a score of 60-48 to win the Lake County Tournament of Champions and push its record to 9-0 heading into a Christmas break.
    “The kids play hard for us,” said Umatilla coach Pat Todd after Thursday’s win.  “We compete, but we have a long way to go.”
More...

    North Lake County residents spent the early part of this week prepping for frigid temperatures that are expected to dip below freezing for up to three nights in a row. With lows potentially dropping into the mid 20's in some areas, and daily highs Friday through Sunday not expected out of the 40's as of press deadline Tuesday, this year is expected to be the coldest Christmas in well over a decade.
    While residents considered the need to cover pumps and fragile outdoor plants, the area’s governments and agricultural interests were busy tak  More...

    The congregation of the First Baptist Church of Umatilla on Sunday was able to take a first walk-through of the church’s latest expansion.  The first phase of a $14.5 million expansion, a building that will house a 1,278 seat sanctuary, classroom space, baptismal, and ancillary facilities is taking shape, with the expectation that the building could be occupied by the middle of 2023.
    The project, which will immediately be followed by a renovation of the church’s events center to add a second floor and additional classroom space  More...

    The Umatilla High School football program will have a new leader, after Umatilla High School announced the resignation of Charlie Cerney.  Cerney, who led Umatilla to a 5-5 record this past season after taking the Bulldogs to the state playoffs in 2021, leaves Umatilla with a 14 win, 25 loss record over four years while resurrecting a beleaguered Umatilla football program.
    “I’m proud of the work me and my staff did,” Cerney said on Friday, while commenting on the school’s official announcement.  “I can st  More...

    Garbage customers in the City of Umatilla will soon see their collection day shift from Tuesday to Thursday.  The move is part of a larger amendment made to the contract between the city and its hauler, GFL Environmental, that will also see a hike in charges to the city.
    An amended contract was approved during a meeting of the Umatilla City Council on Tuesday, December 6. 
    The city had previously agreed to an increase charged by GFL, brought about due to increased fuel, labor, and other charges being experi  More...

    The Umatilla High School boys varsity basketball team's season-opening hot streak continued Friday night, when the Bulldogs dispatched the visiting Lake Weir Hurricanes by a score of 70-45.  After a tight first quarter that saw Umatilla leading by just two points, 11-9, the Bulldogs broke open the game with a 23-point second quarter, leading 34-16 at the break.
    Lake Weir turned the tables on Umatilla in the third quarter, outscoring Umatilla by 23-9, but the Bulldogs outscored the visitors 27-6 in the fourth quarter, pulling away to a comfo  More...

Fat Lighter
    Long before the packaged FireStarter logs came about, everyone relied on the real deal. A natural product of growth and time, fat lighter. You might know it by a few other names such as lighter(ed) knot, pitch pine, fat pine or heart pine. Humans couldn’t remake something this awesome if they tried. It makes starting a fire a breeze, even in a breeze. And most people have a stash that they rely on for their fire starting material.
    This valuable product is created when the sap is high in the pine tree and the tree either  More...

    “The money was gone.”
    Umatilla Babe Ruth board volunteer Nick Guerrina on Monday was succinct  in describing how the league in recent weeks has become aware of money being taken out of its bank account in what is believed to be in an inappropriate manner. 
    Guerrina, who was installed as the organization’s president on Monday night as the league attempts to unwind what is believed to be a months-long pilfering of its bank account, said the organization’s board of directors only became  More...

    Lake County’s agricultural history is rooted in the citrus industry, but today’s farmers are bringing to market a growing variety of produce that is giving area residents fresher options and greater assurance of where their food is coming from.
    In recent years, seasonal u-pick operations have brought selected items, like blueberries and peaches, to the forefront, but those crops have a more limited scope.  Now, farmers are bringing to market a growing list of everyday produce items, raising hopes that local agriculture is enter  More...

    The biggest day of the year in Umatilla arrives on Saturday, December 10, when the annual Cracker Christmas Celebration returns to downtown.  Featuring a parade on SR 19 through downtown and an all-day arts and crafts show in Cadwell Park, the event, now in its 47th year, serves as Umatilla’s largest celebration of the holiday.
    The fun begins at 9 a.m., when the annual Dog Jog takes to the northbound lanes of SR 19. The public is invited to bring their vaccinated pooch and join the fun, as decorated walkers are welcome for the four-l  More...

    Tuesday brought a landmark moment to the Astor community.  US Geological Survey data indicated that on Tuesday the St. Johns River receded out of 'major' flood stage, the first time the river had done so since Hurricane Ian arrived in late September. 
    On Tuesday, the river was at three feet, continuing a steady decline that began shortly after Tropical Storm Nicole passed through the area a few weeks ago.  Three feet above flood stage is considered the high-end of ‘moderate’ flooding, with ‘minor’ flooding  More...

    With a series of delays hopefully in the rearview mirror, the City of Umatilla hopes that the new year will bring a conclusion to its wastewater connection project with the City of Eustis.  Supply chain issues, weather, and manpower issues have left the multi-million dollar project months behind schedule with officials now eyeing a February 2023 completion date.
    “The project should be completed in February of 2023 and put into service in March of 2023,” said Umatilla’s director of development and public services Aaron Mer  More...

    Growing things in the garden can be beneficial to your health in more ways than one. Not only is the exercise and fresh air helpful, but the food you produce can be very nutritious and delicious.
    We got to observe two examples of this Thanksgiving. One such example was in Umatilla where local gardener Eli Reed grew Seminole pumpkins in his yard and then turned them into pumpkin pies for his family's holiday dinner. Beautiful pies full of locally sourced goodness and nutrition.
    Another example was at our friend Sue's ho  More...

    This year’s 35th Annual Light-Up Eustis will be held in Ferran Park on Friday, November 25, from 5 - 9:00 p.m. A ceremonial tree lighting will be at 6 p.m., followed immediately by the arrival of Santa. Porter’s Cameras Cards & Gifts will again be providing free photos with Santa during the event.
    This year’s event will feature community favorites like the snow slide and there will also be a simulated snowfall in the park.  The magic of the holiday season will come alive as guests enjoy 10-minutes of snowfall every ho  More...

    Spring Creek Charter School has announced it will honor the recently deceased Jerry Hatfield.  Hatfield, who was the school’s founding principal, will have the school’s future gymnasium named for him.
    Current Spring Creek Principal Wesley Locke announced the move in a public letter this week, which proclaimed the building will be named the Jerry Hatfield Community Athletic Center.
    Hatfield passed away on November 11.
    Locke’s letter announcing the naming of the buildin  More...

    The congregation of Umatilla’s Calvary Chapel of the Lakes gathered Sunday for a special service marking the reopening of its historic chapel.  The building, located at the corner of Guerrant Street and Kentucky Avenue in Umatilla, has been refurbished in recent months to make it suitable for church and public use.
    The building is part of the property that originally served as the grounds of the First United Methodist Church of Umatilla.  Several years ago, Calvary Chapel of the Lakes took over the property, which includes a new  More...

    Customers of Lake County’s garbage system living in north and northeast Lake County will soon receive a refund for the equivalent of one month’s cost of service.  The Lake County Commission on Tuesday approved the refund after a recent transition of haulers in the area resulted in service disruptions.
    Residents in the Umatilla, Tavares, Sorrento, Pine Lakes, Paisley, Mount Plymouth, Mount Dora, Altoona, Astor, Eustis, and surrounding areas will receive a check from the county in the amount of $16.83, part of a $405,000 fund all  More...

    Hurricane Nicole won’t go down in history as Lake County’s most damaging storm, but its path remnants brought the one thing the Astor community didn’t need:  More rain and northerly winds.  
    The St. Johns River in Astor swelled into major flooding status last week, as Nicole’s wet impact arrived. US Geological Survey tracking indicated that as early last Tuesday, the river began to rise in Astor, due in large part to a northerly wind that was pushing water south from Lake George, and also slowing the river&rsquo  More...

    Lake County has announced a public meeting to solicit input on the planned North Lake Trail.  Officials will be on hand on December 8 in Umatilla, where the public will be able to hear about the ongoing plans for Phase 3 of the trail, slated to run from Umatilla to Astor.
    The purpose of the PD&E Study is to evaluate the potential impacts of the trail alignments proposed in the Corridor Planning Study (2019), resulting in a preferred trail alignment. The study will consider engineering analysis, environmental review, and public input as  More...

    Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives were looking for a suspect Tuesday afternoon, after a man succumbed to injures suffered in a Tuesday afternoon shooting at 38946 Merrell Avenue in Southside Umatilla.  The victim, identified on Wednesday as 31-year-old Antwain Jamar Hart, died while in transport to the hospital after the incident. A white Jeep Cherokee stolen from the scene on Tuesday was later recovered in Eustis.
    “Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area... just after 3:25 p.m. this afternoon regarding  More...

    Saturday saw the Umatilla High School JROTC program dedicate a new shooting range to program founder Carl Ludecke.  Ludecke, who conceived the program and ushered its foundation through the many Army and Lake County Schools required hurdles, saw the new range building dedicated to him during ceremonies hosted on Saturday.  The building, located next to the JROTC’s  home on Smith Street, was donated by Lake County Schools and will serve as the home of the program’s new marksmanship element.  Above, Ludecke is pictured at center with program  More...

    Veterans Day will be marked throughout the area this week.  The official day arrives on Friday, November 11, and the public will have the chance to show its appreciation to veterans at events both on Friday and over the weekend.
    The largest event on the local calendar is the City of Eustis' Salute To Veterans festival on Saturday, November 12.  Running from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. in downtown Eustis, the special day will include a parade, a special honor ceremony, food and vendors, a historic military vehicle display, live entertainmen  More...

    “We have made a ‘pivot’ to reinvest in the Umatilla facility with a $30 million expansion.”
    Florida’s Natural CEO Bob Behr last week announced that Florida’s Natural has moved beyond simply confirming it will maintain its Umatilla Packaging operations.  Behr, speaking at the annual meeting of the Umatilla Citrus Growers Association last Monday, said the project, which will include the installation of a new packing line in 2023.
    The announcement comes after a year of questions su  More...

    Homecoming arrives at Umatilla High School this week, with a series of traditional activities filling the schedule, with a twist.
    The traditional Homecoming Parade will be held on Thursday as in years past, but the 2022 edition of the festive event has moved off of SR 19 due to ongoing construction.  Instead, this year's parade will be held one block east, and run north on Trowell Avenue from Lakeside Avenue to the high school.  The parade will roll off at its traditional 5:30 p.m. time, with the public invited to sit along Trowell Av  More...

    A long weekend of Halloween and/or fall activities is coming to North Lake County, with special events dotting the calendar through the weekend and into Monday evening, when Halloween officially arrives. Locals of all ages are invited to come and experience costume contests, entertainment, and much more.
    Here’s a rundown:
    Saturday, October 29:  Fall Festival at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Eustis, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.  Celebrating the congregation’s 140th anniversary, the event will include a scarecr  More...

    A generator stolen from the City of Umatilla during Hurricane Ian’s pass over Florida has left the city’s police department itching for an arrest, and department officials this week updated the investigation that in the past week has included interviews with individuals who may know about the incident.
    “This one really bothers me,” said Umatilla Police Chief Adam Bolton this week.  “I take it as a personal offense.”
    The city had placed the 3500-watt generator at the intersecti  More...

    Your mind is a garden.  You can grow weeds or you can grow seeds.  I remember my mom saying something to that effect recently.  Oh, how true it is.  Watching for weeds in our minds is a lot like watching for weeds in the garden.
    A friend was recently visiting my garden and as we walked around and talked I would reach down and pull any weeds that I saw popping up.  He remarked on how I really hated weeds.  Well, it's not so much that I hate them, it's just that it's easiest to get them while they ar  More...

    As the St. Johns River in Astor continues its frustratingly slow retreat from record flood levels, recovery agencies have formalized a presence in town to support those impacted by the flood waters brought by Hurricane Ian.
    In coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Lake County government opened a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) last Friday at the First Baptist Church of Astor, located at 24731 Ann St. in Astor. The Disaster Recovery Center will provide disaster surviv  More...

    Umatilla’s most prominent downtown building is going to get a new look.  The historic three-story structure located at 9 North Central Avenue is set to undergo a facade upgrade that will include a change from a dark red color to a neutral, light greay look.
    The project is being partially funded by the City of Umatilla Community Redevelopment District grant program.  On Tuesday night, the Umatilla City Council, meeting as the town CRA board, approved a $10,000 request submitted by building owner Jonathan Jennings via Umatilla Col  More...

    An estimated 350 supporters of Lake County agriculture gathered in Eustis on Monday night, when the Farm Bureau of Lake County hosted its annual fall meeting.  Local and state-level members of Farm Bureau were joined by members of the public and area 4H and FFA members at the Lake County Fairgrounds to celebrate agriculture and raise awareness of the importance of agriculture.
    Florida State Senate President Wilton Simpson, who is currently campaigning to become the state’s next commissioner of agriculture, served as the event’s  More...

    Area storm collection is underway, with municipal governments and Lake County well into the process of clearing roadsides from vegetative debris caused by Hurricane Ian.  Differing from 2017, when Hurricane Irma’s widespread damage resulted in a large, federal response, the current cleanup is being managed by local government agencies.
    Lake County, in partnership with area municipalities, has in place an overarching agreement that triggers applying for FEMA response.  However, Ian’s impact hasn’t been seen as damagin  More...

    “We got lucky.”
    Kris Sutton of Umatilla's Faryna Grove Care and Harvesting joined Lake County's broader agricultural interests in breathing a sigh of relief that the worst of Hurricane Ian's impact on the state's farming industry was confined to areas south.  Sutton, speaking on the potential damage to county citrus this week, said the local area's damage was nonexistent compared to southern counties that saw a large percentages of the coming year's citrus crop blown off trees.
    "I've heard down s  More...

    Several local residents have partnered to deliver support to those impacted by Hurricane Ian.  Altoona resident John Parrish III, his son Logan Lambert have returned from the Northport and Arcadia areas, where they cooked 700 meals for hurricane victims, donated supplies including 200 rolls of toilet paper, 100 bags of rice, 100 bags of beans, 100 gallons of fuel, a case of batteries, bug spray, feminine hygiene products, diapers, tarps, cases of water, 60 loaves of bread, 200 candles, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food kits, five tents, seven cots, and more.  More...

    Two weeks after Hurricane Ian rolled across Central Florida, Astor is still reeling from massive amounts of water brought to the area by the storm.  After having peaked at 4.72 feet above flood stage, a new recorded record, in the days following the storm, the St. Johns River in Astor has remained frustratingly high.
    On Tuesday, the river was at 4.5 feet, well above the 4.0-foot level that the US Geological Survey defines as 'major'.  The river was expected to stay in the 4.4 into the weekend, when it could dip to 4.3 feet above flood  More...

    Hurricane Ian passed east of Lake County overnight last Wednesday and into Thursday, largely sparing area residents the worst of the storm's wrath.  While power outages lasted for a day or two and were reported throughout areas of North Lake, the worst of the storm's damage descended on Astor, where the riverfront community is experiencing record flooding in the storm's aftermath.
    "This is the worst I have ever seen it," said James Powell, a life-long resident of the community, current president of the Astor Area Chamber of Comme  More...

    The flood event currently underway in Astor is unprecedented, at least in the time of recorded history.  The St. Johns River has reached record flood levels since Hurricane Ian passed through late last week, leaving many hopes, and their utility services underwater. But if there is a bright spot in the middle of the otherwise dire circumstances, it can be found in the fact that the area’s utility system has stood up to the generational test.
    St. Johns River Utility provides water and wastewater services to the vast majority of residen  More...

    “The men of experiment are like the ant; they only collect and use. But the bee...gathers its materials from the flowers of the garden and of the field, but transforms and digests it by a power of its own.”- Leonardo da Vinci
    There are so many gardening proverbs and maxims about bees. For centuries they have been revered by gardeners and for good reason. Did you know there are over 320 different types of bees that live in Florida and over 4,000 in the whole United States? We didn’t.
    There are so many  More...

    Storm tracks that showed Hurricane Ian moving inward across north Central Florida on Tuesday were bad news for residents along the St. Johns River.  While the storm's final impact on the area was unknown at press deadline on Tuesday, any movement that put the storm further away from the river was welcome, and tracks that showed it coming across the state were most unwelcome.
    The St. Johns River in Astor has remained at flood stage in the past week, with an expected decline from 2.5 feet in water level not materializing, and in fact, the ri  More...

    Lake County spent the early days prepping for the possible impact of Hurricane Ian.  Official agencies, utility providers, and citizens all took measures in advance of the potential arrival of the storm during the second half of the week.
    At press deadline Tuesday, the storm was expected to impact the area starting Wednesday and could remain in the area until some time later in the week.
    “The latest track for Hurricane Ian shows the storm traveling directly over SECO Energy's Central Florida service area,&  More...

    The SR 19 rehabilitation project running through downtown Umatilla entered a new phase in the past week, as contractors with the Florida Department of Transportation began the process of milling sections of the highway.
    The FDOT is reworking just over 1 mile of SR 19 from Golden Gem Drive in the south to Palmetto Street in the north, with new pavement, new curbing, and improvements at the Bulldog Lane intersection among highlights of the $3 million project.
    Work began several months ago on the project, with undergrou  More...

    We have heard about a lot of people getting those fall gardens in the ground this week. The end of September is a good planting time in Florida. Turn the soil, plant shallow, water, and add mulch once the sprouts come up. It really doesn't matter what you plant. Gardening is just fun to try.
    Andy Palmer is having fun growing some peppers and tomatoes from seeds. He said that he has just been saving the seeds from peppers he has bought and dried them out. He said that the sprouting number has been very good. Tomatoes, too, are doing well. Sounds  More...

    Steady, and sometimes heavy, rains throughout Central Florida in the past week have raised the St. Johns River in Astor into flood stage.  The US Geological Survey’s data complied at the SR 40 bridge indicate the river rose into flood stage last week, and peaked on Monday at 2.52 feet above flood stage.
    The river gathers rainfall from tributaries throughout Central Florida, water which flows north before eventually entering the Atlantic Ocean in Jacksonville.  Astor’s unique geography, lying south of Lake George in an area  More...

    The City of Umatilla, after meeting with officials with Umatilla High School, has announced a provisional route for this fall’s Umatilla High School Homecoming Parade. The parade, slated for November 3 this year, might have to be moved if a SR 19 repaving project isn’t complete by the time the parade arrives.
    The Florida Department of Transportation is currently undertaking improvements to SR 19 through downtown Umatilla, a project that is including new pavement in addition to roadside curb improvements.  City officials have sa  More...

    Four young ladies were selected on Saturday to serve as ambassadors for next year's Lake County Fair.  The annual fair queen pageant, held this year at the First Baptist Church of Umatilla, featured a variety of opportunities for judges to work with entrants, including interviews, stage presence, and question-and-answer sessions.
    In the end, Umatilla High School student Michaela Melchiorre was selected as Lake County Fair Queen, and will spend much of the coming year helping promote the 2023 Lake County Fair.  Emily Show, Chloie Sebre  More...

    An ongoing effort to prevent gun raffles from raising funds for Lake County School students is gaining little traction, as the Lake County School Board continues to distance itself from any direct connection with the activity and, at least in Umatilla, those conducting the raffles showing little interest in discontinuing the practice.
    In Lake County, gun raffles have been shown to be a highly profitable way to raise money for community support groups.  Locally, the Umatilla Kiwanis Club, Umatilla Chamber of Commerce, Project Graduation, an  More...

    Following on the heels of increased residential development in North Lake County in recent years, an uptick in commercial development can now be seen in the local landscape.  In both Umatilla and Eustis, commercial expansion is just the latest indicator of the area's growth.
    In Umatilla, a Pizza Hut that has been in service for several decades on SR 19 was razed in the past week.  That property will make way for a new joint-use dining structure that will house a smaller Pizza Hut and a new KFC restaurant.  The site is being total  More...

    With autumn approaching, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds residents and visitors that the state's black bears are more active in their search for food. You can help prevent negative interactions with bears and other wildlife by securing garbage, removing food attractants, and following other BearWise® practices.
    During the fall, bears start consuming more calories to pack on fat reserves for the winter, even if they are not hibernating as they do in colder climates. Any accessible food source, such as unse  More...

    A jet at the Umatilla Municipal Airport? Yes, and no.
    Umatilla's social media outlets were astir last Wednesday, August 31, when a small jet was seen making multiple approaches at the Umatilla airport.  The plane, which never landed or got below several hundred feet of altitude, undertook several flyovers of the airport.
    The incident raised public concern that the newly lengthened airport, now at 2,800 feet in length, could support the takeoff and landing of certain small jets.  While that may or may not be  More...

    A Eustis man was transported from the scene of a serious crash on SR 19 in Umatilla that occurred on Wednesday, August 31.  Nathan Alviles, 20, suffered incapacitating injuries after a motorcycle he was riding struck a concrete power pole near the intersection of SR 19 and Turtle Run south of downtown.
    Umatilla Police indicated that Alviles and another man on a second motorcycle were traveling southbound on SR 19 at a high rate of speed just before 4 p.m. Alviles apparently lost control of the 2001 Suzuki GSXR100 he was riding before leavi  More...

By Annette Codding
How Prepared are You?
    Every year around this time people start talking about being prepared for hurricane season. Gas, food, water, and a reliable generator are all on the list of things we need to get through. Storm season comes and goes and many times we never needed the things we gathered. But then there are other times when we are either thankful that we had the foresight to prepare…or wish we had. Let's do some things now so that the bumps in the road are a little easier to deal with later.
    Most people  More...

    The skies around Umatilla were buzzing Saturday morning, when dozens of flights took to the air during a special day at the Umatilla Municipal Airport.  The Experimental Aircraft Association welcomed an estimated 100 children for flights as part of its Young Eagles ‘get young people interested in aviation’ program, and pilots from the Spruce Creek fly-in community brought 15 planes over in that community’s largest ‘visit Umatilla’ day yet.
    The event brought a large crowd of participants, their parents, and gen  More...

    The Lake County Commission has approved a proposal forwarded by Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell that will see 108 automated license plate reader cameras placed around Lake County.  The cameras will read license plates from vehicles traveling through intersections throughout the county, and transmit them to a database, with the results showing if vehicles that are being searched for by local, state, or federal authorities are traveling through the county.
    The approval came during last week's meeting of the county commission, with only m  More...

    A quick-acting passerby is being credited for saving a dog, and potentially a neighbor, when a fire broke out at a Umatilla duplex last Thursday afternoon.  The fire, reported on August 18 around 3:15 p.m., damaged the duplex, which is located near the Lakeview Street and Lakeshore Avenue intersection.
    Units from Umatilla, Eustis, and Lake County responded to the scene, where a fire was raging in an attic area. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire within 20-30 minutes, and no injuries were reported.
    The  More...

    Officials with Florida’s Natural this week announced that the firm, which had previously announced plans to sell its Umatilla plant and eventually cease operations here, has instead changed course and plans to remain in the community long term.
    “We are excited to announce that we will keep the Umatilla facility in order to support our long-term strategy,” said Nikki Hayde, Senior Marketing Manager for Florida’s Natural Growers, “Our Board of Directors approved our recommendation.”
     More...

    Lake County voters wrapped up primary voting on Tuesday, with registered voters taking to the polls to select party representatives for November, and to attempt to settle non-partisan races.  Lake County Supervisor of Elections D. Alan Hays reported  66,271 votes were cast, with a turnout of registered voters at  24.38%.
    Many elections on the ballot Tuesday covered multiple counties or were even statewide.
    On Tuesday night with all 91 precincts reporting around 9:30 p.m., the following results were avail  More...

The first day of public school in Lake County saw nearly 3,000 more students in attendance than the first day last year, yet another sign of growth coming to Lake County.

      Lake County Schools data from Wednesday, August 10, showed 43,770 students attending school, up from 40,932 the first day a year ago.  The gains were near across the board, with only alternative programs Lake County Virtual School 7004 seeing a decline of 328 students, near half its enrollment from the first day of last year, and Lake County Virtual Franchise 7001 having two fewer stu  More...

         Longtime Umatilla-area resident Priscilla Getchell was the guest of honor on Monday when the Umatilla Kiwanis Club gathered for its weekly meeting. Getchell, a fixture in the community since she and her husband Ralph moved to the Pittman area in the early 1960’s, celebrated her 101st birthday on August 9.  The mother to nine sons, a Navy WAVE during World War II, and a longtime staff member at Umatilla High School, Getchell was celebrated for her many accomplishments.
         &ldquo  More...

    It started this time last year as a small produce stand that offered ceramic and products from a few local artisans.  Today, the Dona Vista Market has bloomed to feature nearly 75 local farmers, artists, and artisans in a combined co-op market.  The market's first anniversary will be celebrated this Saturday, August 20, beginning at 6 p.m. with a ribbon cutting that will give way to an evening of celebration.
    And everyone is invited.
    “How better to celebrate but by throwing a big party?” said ma  More...

    Filmmakers are in Umatilla this week working on a short film that is expected to be a part of the upcoming Orlando Independent Filmmakers JOLT challenge.
    ‘The Persistence of Time’ is expected to be a nine-minute piece about a pair of time-traveling detectives who are sent to investigate a cold case murder in 1956. 
    Among the sets of the film is Umatilla’s Fox Den Country Inn, and crews were in town early this week shooting scenes at the historic downtown motel.
    The i  More...

By Asa Newby
    If you were a reader of my column back in the day—or maybe just back in the spring of 2021—you may remember an article where I discussed the "Valiant Air Command," a vintage warplane museum in the shadow of the Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, Florida. That article covered many attributes of the museum, but our visit was rushed by the lateness of the day, and we were given just forty-five minutes to literally jog around the property in order to glimpse the highlights of the collection. This left us unsatisfied, and we resolved  More...

    Imagine going out your home's door to pick a fresh bag of fruit and vegetables to eat daily. Now imagine those items are packed with nutrition, vitamins, minerals, and natural immune system boosting elements that no store offers. Sound pretty good?
    We visited such a garden in a most unexpected place this week. Nestled 1,000 yards or less from the shores of Lake Umatilla, in a shady oak hammock, we stepped into a lush food forest brimming with tropical and sub-tropical plants. This is no everyday garden, in fact, upon first glance, it looked mor  More...

    Regular visitors to the Ocala National Forest know it is not uncommon to see areas that have been vandalized or otherwise negatively impacted by other users.  A decades-old problem, the issue has only grown more severe as the forest becomes more and more popular as more people move to Florida and discover the unique outdoor opportunities of the Big Scrub.
    This week, it was reported that a vehicle was vandalized while parked near Blue Sink, a once popular recreation area in the forest.  Blue sink is technically closed to use, but like  More...

    Umatilla and Eustis’ new wastewater connection is nearing completion, with officials with the City of Umatilla this week voicing hope that the new system could be up and running in October.
    For several months, contractors have been working to construct a wastewater line from Umatilla's wastewater plant on Golden Gem Drive south on SR 19 to Eustis and east on CR 44, where it will connect with a Eustis wastewater facility.  The estimated $7 million project will allow the city to mostly abandon its current wastewater operations and inst  More...

    The State of Florida's annual Back To School Sales Tax Holiday is underway, with a variety of school-related items available for purchase tax-free through August 7.  The annual holiday is authorized through state legislative action each year, and has become a fixture on the calendar during the last decade.
    Here is a breakdown of the holiday, via answers to some frequently asked questions about the holiday.  Information courtesy of the Florida Department of Revenue:
 2022 Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
F  More...

    An Altoona man is facing a variety of charges this week in connection with the theft of a vehicle, a subsequent chase, and eventual apprehension by a Lake County Sheriff’s Office K-9 animal. 
    Dennis Imhoff, 36, was charged with grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and resisting without violence after deputies made contact with him at his Lake King Road home on Tuesday, July 19.
    Lake County Sheriff's Office deputies came to 18736 Lake King Road on that date during the mid-morning hours to  More...

    Lake County is wrapping up its first Pride in America Month, and on Tuesday morning hosted a special flag retirement ceremony.  The event was held in front of the historic Lake County Courthouse and featured a short ceremony before dozens, if not hundreds of flags, were retired by burning.
    "We are the only county we know of," said Lake County Chairperson Sean Parks during remarks that noted Lake County's unique place in providing a month-long celebration of the nation.  "One day just isn't enough," Parks said, refe  More...

    What is a Homesteader? In the old days, it meant someone striking out into the wilderness to carve out a new place to live. And while the wilderness has mostly been settled in 2022, the idea of homesteading is alive and well. In fact, homesteading has a new incarnation that is simply said “a renewed interest in being self-sufficient.” Modern homesteaders are trying to grow, restore, harvest, gather and become more self-reliant. This rebirth of desire for self-sufficiency and learning the arts of agriculture and hands-on crafts is a lovely tip of the hat to the  More...

    A search warrant of a Royal Trails home found booby traps, incendiary devices, and a large stash of bomb-making materials that reportedly were being gathered for an eventual, large-scale explosive event.
    Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the home of Markus Fricke at 30927 Tulip Avenue, in the East Lake County area of Eustis on July 15 after a resident there fled the home when they became concerned about what was being assembled and statements by Fricke that he was planning to commit suicide by blowing himself up in the ho  More...

    A years-in-the-making split of the United Methodist Church, delayed in recent years due to COVID and other factors, has officially begun.  In Florida, churches tired of waiting for a broader settlement to leave the church for the new, Global Methodist Church, have filed suit seeking separation.
    One hundred and six United Methodist churches filed suit in Bradford County last Friday against the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.  The lead plaintiff is Grace United Methodist Church in Lawtey, Florida, founded in 18  More...

    The Lake County Sheriff’s Office this week arrested an Altoona man on manslaughter charges in connection with a fatal shooting in May on East Altoona Road.  Jesse Hill, 42, resident at 19331 East Altoona Road where the shooting took place, is facing charges of manslaughter and tampering with evidence in connection with the fatal shooting of Ernie Wilburn. 
    The incident occurred on May 4, at Hill's and Wilburn's residence at 19331 East Altoona Road. Deputies responded to the home after receiving two calls from Hill, calls that re  More...

    Area School Grades - 2022
Eustis Elementary:  C
Sorrento Elementary:  C
Eustis Heights Elementary:  C
Seminole Springs Elementary:  B
Round Lake Elementary:  A
Mount Dora High:  B
Tavares High:  I
Tavares Middle:  C
Umatilla High:  B
Mount Dora Middle:  C
Triangle Elementary:  D
Tavares Elementary:  C
Umatilla Elementary:  B
Umatilla Middle:  C
Spring Creek Charter:  C
Eus  More...

    Baking Christmas cookies in December is time-consuming when moms and grandmas have many extra tasks pulling at their time. We often reach New Year's longing to have spent more time in the kitchen baking, instead of time in stores shopping. We know time management is part of the issue, but sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day.
    Fast forward to July, when the hot sticky hours drag on endlessly because the springs are full, the yard is hot, and friends are away on vacation. Now is the easy time to turn frowns upside down, by schedulin  More...

    On Monday, July 4, the body of a missing boater was recovered in Lake Yale.  The had been missing since Saturday when a boat he was in capsized.
    The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Lake County Sheriff's Office responded to the Lake, which lies between Eustis and Umatilla, around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday.  One of two boaters in a small, Jon boat style craft was recovered safely, but the other occupant could not be found.
    "The victim stated that an additional occupant, an adult male, w  More...

    Lake County Schools no longer qualifies districtwide for the program that has allowed all Lake students to eat free breakfasts and lunches at schools since the 2018-19 school year, but the district will use other food service funds to cover the costs for all students to continue to eat free for at least another year.
     The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 that allows the nation's highest poverty districts and schools to serve all students free meals without the burden of co  More...

    There was very little need to worry about unintended fires starting from Independence Day fireworks this year.
    Another weekend of dousing rainfall in north Lake County was a welcome sight for anyone worried that a stray spark from the ever-growing number of private firework shows would start a wildfire.  A wet start to the 2022 rainy season has left the area with soil moisture levels rarely seen in early July.
    This weekend’s rains were devoid of the lightning, wind, and power outages that descended on the a  More...

LAKE COUNTY DETECTIVES MAKE LARGEST FENTANYL BUST IN LAKE COUNTY HISTORY

Lake County sheriff’s undercover narcotics detectives, in collaboration with multiple local and federal law enforcement agencies, recently wrapped up a four-month investigation that targeted high-level traffickers of dangerous drugs operating throughout Lake County. The investigation began in February as part of an ongoing, aggressive stance to combat those who are responsible for dealing this poison in Lake County and the results of this operatio  More...

    A new tradition in Astor is expected to see explosive growth this year, as organizers are expecting the second edition of the community’s Independence Day lighted boat parade to more than double in size.  To be held this coming Saturday, July 2, on the St. Johns River, the event is free to join,  isn’t judged, and is just a chance to celebrate the holiday in a uniquely River Country way.
    “It’s just something I thought would be fun,” said Patti Small, who conceived the event that started last year with 19  More...

By Asa Newby
        It is perhaps fitting that my reappearance on these pages would feature trains or railroads in some form; it's nice to know I haven't changed! There are still adventures to be had, though, so I'm still here to share them.
        On a quiet avenue next to Lake Eustis, the rusty pair of rails that run along the shore recently served as entertainment for us boys in a moment of distraction. Walking along the wooden ties and smelling the sticky creosote, we came upon a very rare sight indeed; a  More...

    What once was lost, has now been found.
    Members of the Calvary Chapel of the Lakes congregation in Umatilla put on their archeology hats on Wednesday, June 22, to find a time capsule that had been buried back when the church was still known as the First United Methodist Church of Umatilla. The time capsule had been buried on August 16, 1992, and was originally scheduled to be opened one hundred years later.
    But it had been forgotten until a member of the Collins family, Leslie  Oaks discovered the capsule’s  More...

    The last day of operations of all three Florida Department of Health in Lake County (DOH-Lake) Covid-19 vaccines and testing sites will be Thursday, June 30. The schedule until that day will be as follows:
•DOH-Lake Community Health Site located at 560 W. DeSoto Street, Clermont, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
•DOH-Lake Leesburg Site located at 2113 Griffin Road, Leesburg, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
•DOH-Lake Umatilla Site located at 249 E. Collins Street, Umatilla, Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 8  More...

    “It’s a waste of government money.”
    Bea Carlson, owner of Bz's Happy Plants in Dona Vista, this week is struggling with new Florida Department of Transportation signage that eliminates the historic parking in front of her nursery.  Carlson, who has operated at the location for many years, is concerned the new restrictions will negatively impact the ability of customers and delivery trucks to access her location.
    She’s not alone.  Next door, Barbara Walker’s Signature Designs emb  More...

    Collecting is a time-honored tradition.  From spoons and pens to classic vehicles and, yes, tractors, North Lake County residents have a rich history of preservation.  On Sunday, Umatilla resident Rusty Robinson was seen tootling along SR 19 atop he and wife Martha's newest edition to their growing tractor collection, a 1962 Oliver model 1850.
    "It got here Friday," Robinson said of the tractor, which was shipped from Iowa, just a few miles from the Oliver plant where it was manufactured.  The tractor is the second Olive  More...

    Work is progressing on a new bridge over the St. Johns River in DeLand.  The Florida Department of Transportation is in the midst of a $45 million project that will see a new permanent span built over the river on SR 44, and replace the current draw bridge at the location.
    The project, not slated to be completed until late in 2023, so far has featured two large dirt berms being built on either side of the river, and concrete pilings being installed in the river.  More recently, large support structures have been put in place.
 More...

    Two months into his time as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Altoona, Robert ‘Bert’ Hickman is enjoying getting to know the community and his congregation.  A Georgia native, Hickman brings 11 years of pastoral experience to a congregation that has deep roots in the community and which is looking to embark on a new era of service.
    “I came to a church that was holding its own, and now we’re seeing growth,” Hickman said this week from his office at the historic church campus.  He has found the church f  More...

    Container gardens can be a whimsical and charming part of your garden while being practical as well. We used to enjoy going to Uncle Donald's Farm when the boys were little. Every old container that would naturally kick around a barnyard was made into a planter or container garden at that place. Old washtubs that had sprouted rust holes, were put to use in a new life as flower pots. Old baskets, wheelbarrows, rusty tools, and even old pots and pans would be home to ferns, spider plants, ivy, and more, depending on where they came to rest.
    Of cou  More...

    Work has begun on the newest Carter’s Ace Hardware store in the area.  To be located north of downtown Eustis along SR 19, the 15,000 square foot store is the latest addition to the growing chain of family-owned stores, with the Carter family operating in a footprint that will soon include 11 stores stretching from Apopka to Crystal River.
    Dubbed ‘North Eustis’, the store is envisioned to serve customers in that growing area as well as service residents along CR 44 west to Grand Island. Along with stores in Umatilla, down  More...

    An energy not seen in many years, or even decades, has arrived at the City of Umatilla’s city pool complex.  The pool is just reopening for its first full summer season after undergoing an extensive rehabilitation over the last two years, and the public is being invited to a special open house this coming Saturday to help celebrate the improvements.
    The city has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the complex, rebuilding the pool from the plumbing up,  upgrading its decking surfaces, rehabbing its bathhouse, installing  More...

    A $100,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grant from the State of Florida is funding a variety of recreation upgrades in Umatilla.  Two town parks, Cadwell and Southside, are receiving upgrades from the funds.
    At the Southside park facility, located along SR 19 and north of Ball Park Road, the city is replacing a basketball court, will add playground pieces, and install upgrades to the dugout facilities at the baseball field there.  Cadwell Park, located downtown along Cassady Street, will receive new playgr  More...

    Where Umatilla stands with potential housing units and how it might grow in the future are an ongoing topic of discussion inside city hall.  With long-dormant infill lots finally being built on, and the city regularly hearing from developers looking to bring large projects into the city limits, city leaders have been more and more vocal about development in the city and what it should look like going forward.
    At a meeting of the Umatilla City Council on Tuesday, May 17, members heard a city staff presentation on potential housing units alr  More...

       When we were very young, we always loved going to the library, and that passion has carried into adulthood. Though we’ve graduated from the children’s books to more advanced material, visiting our local libraries remains one of our favorite summer activities. During a recent visit to W.T. Bland Public Library, located in Mount Dora, we were delighted to see all of the different ways that they are helping visitors to foster new interests, making themselves into a gathering point for a community united by their love of discovery.
 &nbs  More...

    Sue and Rick Kiefer live in one of Umatilla's more historic homes. It is a beautiful rural backdrop for the never-ending garden that Rick tends. When he isn't planting vegetables, he is improving the landscape. Over the years, he has cultivated oranges, pineapples, tomatoes, nectarines, and lots of sunflowers as well as other pretty flowers. Sue is very busy as well. She is the lady who runs Tall Pines Soapery and makes things to wash with that look incredible.  At present, Rick is having success with his variety of sunflowers including some red ones called Red Sun,  More...

    Memorial Day was observed throughout Lake County on Monday, with several special services held throughout the day.  The public turned out in large numbers to recognize those who lost their lives in military service to the country.
    The day began with a sunrise service in Mount Dora a the AW Peterson Gun Shop.  Elected officials including Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker and state senator Dennis Baxley were on hand for the event, which included the retirement of flags through a flag burning ceremony.  Attendees were invit  More...

    Memorial Day will be recognized at a sunrise service on Monday, May 30.  The event will be held at Peterson’s Gun Shop in Mount Dora.  There will be guest speakers, playing of Taps by AJ Rohe, and other activities will convene beginning at 6:15 a.m.
    Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione will serve as keynote speaker.
    Included in the ceremony will be a bagpipe performance by Bob Cunningham.
    Peterson’s Gun Shop is located at 4255 West Old US 441.

&  More...

    North Lake County experienced storms and heavy rains throughout the second half of last week, with rain totals approaching 10 inches in some areas.  The rain ended a spring drought that had persisted through April and Much of May.
    Through last week, over nine inches of rain was reported in reader gauges west of Umatilla.  A Florida Forest Service rain gauge in Leesburg reported over eight inches on Thursday and Friday alone, and rain tracker and Pittman resident Johnny Bates logged almost 7.5 inches for the week.
    More...

    Lake County and City of Eustis fire engines joined Umatilla units in response to a 911 call Tuesday morning at the Umatilla Post Office.  Employees reported seeing smoke and smelling hot electric at the office around 9 a.m.  
    Eustis deployed its ladder truck to access the post office’s roof, where air conditioning units could be accessed and inspected.
    No injuries or damage was reported.

    We had a nice note from Myrtle Quinn this week. She has an easy do-it-yourself pickle tip to share. She takes 1 qt. of store-bought Dill Pickles and pours off all the juice into a pot. She then slices the pickles back into the jar in smaller bites. She then adds 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp. of mustard seeds to the juice. Bring it to a low boil and then pour it back over the pickles in the jar. Let them refrigerate for 2 or 3 days and you will have a fine homemade tasting pickle with more pizzazz. Myrtle has been enjoying her pickles this way for years. Thanks for sharing  More...

This crash occurred on SR 19 in Altoona Friday late afternoon.  The crash, which took place about a quarter mile north of the Ravenswood Road intersection, involved these two trucks in a head-on collision.  It was reported that two people were airlifted from the crash, but the Florida High Patrol had not made any details available as of press deadline on Tuesday. 

    Years ago, when Pug’s Pub was still open near downtown Eustis, the bar was home to ‘Mere’ cat, the business’s mascot and regular sight among patrons.  When that establishment closed, Mere needed a home that didn’t involve dogs chasing her, which led to her moving in at the Humane Society of Lake County’s shelter in Dona Vista.  Years later, Mere is still going strong, and on Saturday the shelter celebrated the cat that is believed to be 16 years old.
    “When the bar closed, Mere needed a place t  More...

    Umatilla High School’s Class of 2022 was honored during a special awards ceremony last Friday, May 13.  Members of the class were recognized for academic and athletic achievement, as well as received dozens of local and institutional scholarships.
    “We’re going to give away around $250,000 today,” said principal Brent Frazier in kicking off Friday’s festivities.  Frazier also announced this year’s Valedictorian - Allison Shields, and Salutatorian - Grace Kessinger.
    Here&rs  More...

    Umatilla’s Cadwell Park wood carvings have been in various states of repair/removal in recent months, as the city looked to preserve what it could of the unique wildlife art carvings.  Termites and other pests, as well as Florida’s heat and rain had conspired to bring a large amount of decay to the carvings, leaving the city scrambling to preserve what it could of the popular art pieces.
    In recent weeks, carvings that had been removed and ‘restored’ have found new homes on the back porch of the city’s Cadwell  More...

    Two separate incidents of violence in Altoona during the past week left one person dead and two others airlifted for hospital treatment. 
    The first incident occurred on Wednesday, May 4, at 19331 East Altoona Road in Altoona.  Deputies came to the scene in the morning hours in reference to a deceased person at the home, and found the body of Ernie Wayne Wilburn, 44.  Witnesses at the home could not provide an explanation as to what had happened to Wilburn.
    “Detectives say that the circumstances s  More...

    The reclusive Florida Panther for years had mostly been confined to a range in South Florida.  However, as its population has slowly grown, so have reported sightings in other areas of the state.  While local sightings have been rarely reported and sometimes questioned, when a panther was killed on I-95 several years ago in Flagler County it became clear that the state’s largest predatory cat had increased its range and could be assumed to also be in the expansive Ocala National Forest.
    And today, even closer.
 &nb  More...

    One of the area's fastest-growing companies this week announced plans to move its operations to Umatilla.  RCM Utilities, currently based in Eustis, has purchased an estimated 10 acres in Umatilla with plans to construct a 30,000 square foot building to house its three-dozen employees.
    “We’re laying the groundwork to move back into town,” said Chris Creech on Monday.  Creech, who founded RCM in 2018 said Umatilla is where RCM “needs to be.”
    "Most all of us are Umatilla peo  More...

    Properly marking and identifying gravesites is a time-honored tradition.  However, with passing years and patchy record availability, keeping everything just as it should be can get complicated. This week, the City of Umatilla is working to unwind questions around four buried veterans of the Confederacy after an effort was undertaken to mark the long-since buried men.
    The city operates two cemeteries in town.  However, some of those buried in what are now city cemeteries predate the city’s legal founding in 1904.  As such,  More...

    Plans to replace Umatilla's current Pizza Hut with a combination Pizza Hut/KFC are moving forward.    The City of Umatilla on Tuesday released preliminary drawings that indicate a new combination building will be placed on Pizza Hut's current location, with Pizza Hut being carry out only in a section closest to SR 19 and KFC having a drive-through at the rear.
    The project is set to have its first appearance in front of the Umatilla City Council on May 17, when a request will be brought forward to allow for the drive-through. More...