TAVARES

TAVARES, Fla. — Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter held their fourth annual “Jingle Build-Off” on Saturday. This year’s was the largest playhouse building event so far, as 13 different playhouses were built for donating to kids for the holidays. Teams competed to build their houses and have them showcased in the Tavares Christmas Parade and Celebration. Read: 9 spots around Orlando to celebrate National Cookie DayExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter hosts biggest playhouse building event of the season Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter hosts biggest playhouse building event of the seasonSoon after, they will be delivered to selected families in the community. All funds raised are being used to build Habitat homes in Lake and Sumter counties throughout the year.

TAVARES, Fla. — The Tavares police chief announced Friday that she is recommending that a police officer be terminated following an internal affairs investigation. Chief Sarah Coursey said the investigation revealed that officer Jason Baugh violated city policy during an interaction with a citizen. “Officer Baugh acted outside of policy and standard practice,” she said. “His actions are not indicative of how our officers act towards our community in which we serve and protect.,” Coursey said. Read: Tavares police officer files grievance with city over double-demotionVIDEO: Tavares police officer files grievance with city over double-demotion A Tavares police officer is fighting to be reinstated as a supervisor.

A 39-year-old Tavares woman died after her involvement in a single-vehicle crash Thursday night in Lake County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire is back in the Enchanted Forest for its 21st anniversary.

A Tavares man faces charges of DUI with serious bodily injury and possession of cocaine after a crash that critically injured a child and sent another person to the hospital with serious injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Newly-sworn in Tavares police Chief Sarah Coursey is the first woman to become the top cop in her city and only the second in all of Lake County.

TAVARES, Fla. — The Lake County Historical Society unveiled a new statue in honor of Central Florida trailblazer Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Watch: Statue honoring Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune unveiled in Daytona BeachBethune, a tireless champion of national civil rights, was the founder of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach and a chapter of the Council of Negro Women in Clermont. Read: Biopic on the life of B-CU founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in developmentThe new statue was carved from the same marble that was used in the statue on display in the U.S. Capitol. Watch: ‘Our hearts are rejoicing today’: Mary McLeod Bethune’s statue debuts at the Capitol’s Statuary HallThe statue is on display inside the Lake County History Museum in Tavares. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 19 Lake County unveils statue to honor life and work of Mary McLeod Bethune (WFTV)Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.

TAVARES, Fla. — The Lake County Historical Society will honor a Central Florida trailblazer. Watch: Statue honoring Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune unveiled in Daytona BeachThe society is set to unveil a statue of Mary McLeod Bethune. Bethune was the founder of Bethune-Cookman University and fought for African American women’s rights and education. Read: Biopic on the life of B-CU founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in developmentThe new statue will go on display at the Lake County History Museum on West Main Street in Tavares. Watch: ‘Our hearts are rejoicing today’: Mary McLeod Bethune’s statue debuts at the Capitol’s Statuary HallChannel 9 will have a crew at the event and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.

VIDEO: Tavares police officer files grievance with city over double-demotion A Tavares police officer is fighting to be reinstated as a supervisor. It was in April of 2022 when the complaint against him, another supervisor and a lower ranking officer was filed. Officer Bannick has not responded to an email address 9 Investigates was provided to get a comment for this report. “The thought process of me being behind it was just following it, I’m following it, I’m following it. According to the internal affairs report, there was no officer in Tavares for about 18 minutes during the incident.

The sound of simulated gunfire echoed through the hallways and classrooms of Tavares High School this summer as armed school district employees, known as guardians, practiced tracking down and stopping an active school shooter.

A school bus leaving Tavares High School was rear-ended on State Road 44, according to Lake County Schools.

A suspect of five armed robberies in Lake County was arrested on Tuesday, and he may be the suspect wanted in an active homicide investigation, according to the Lake County Sheriffs Office.

Lake County elections officials discuss potential confusion for some voters.

A suspect with a criminal history was arrested after a woman walked into the Tavares Police Department covered in blood, officers said.

A confrontation between two men ended with one of them losing a finger and the other landing in jail, according to Tavares police.

The city of Tavares is getting a new police chief, officials said Thursday.

A man was arrested after running from a head-on crash that killed a 75-year-old woman in Tavares, according to the police department.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — An 82-year-old woman died in a crash in Lake County. The Tavares Police Department said the crash happened on Tuesday at 10:20 a.m. at the intersection of David Walker Drive and Dora Avenue. A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy found the woman trapped in her car. Another car, which had the right of way, was traveling on Dora Avenue when it collided with the woman’s passenger door. READ: Police: 10-year-old child shot and killed woman during altercation between 2 adultsAnother car was impacted in the crash, police said.

TAVARES, Fla. — A Tavares man is in jail on Saturday, charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident. The deadly crash happened at the intersection of Dead River Road and Oak Drive at 1:51 p.m. on Friday. When officers arrived at the crash scene, witnesses told them the driver of the at-fault vehicle exited his car and ran from the accident. The driver who caused the crash and fled the scene was later identified as 26-year-old Brenten Salerno of Tavares. According to police, Salerno admitted to officers that he was the driver of the vehicle.

VIDEO: Tavares residents say proposed 55+ community would cause traffic problems Tavares residents say proposed 55+ community would cause traffic problemsTAVARES, Fla. — Concerns are brewing in a Tavares community over plans to build more than 600 homes. Residents say the roads there just can’t take it. The proposal calls for 625 homes in a gated 55+ community with active adult amenities like a clubhouse, pool and marina. READ: Florida developer One Stop Housing plans affordable apartments in OrlandoThere would also be a 170-foot landscape buffer from the rest of the homes. But other residents are concerned about the number of homes and would like to see fewer homes on larger lots.

Crews are expected to spread the mulch and extinguish hot spots, which may affect visibility along County Road 561, State Road 19 and surrounding areas, authorities said.

A part of U.S. Highway 441 shut down Wednesday afternoon after a crash in Tavares involving multiple injuries, police said.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested after being accused of calling in a false bomb threat to a Eustis Wendy’s in April, an affidavit shows.

ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s been a violent weekend across Central Florida. Most of this violence took place in Orange County and Orlando, but there was also one shooting each in Volusia and Lake counties. About an hour later in Volusia County, a 17-year-old shot a relative during a dispute in DeLand on East Haven Road. In Orange County an hour later, a gunshot victim showed up at the Millenia ER after a shooting on West Lancaster Road. The youngest victims, just 13 and 14 years old, were shot Saturday night in a drive-by shooting on Gilman Circle in Orlando.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Saturday starts off cool with temperatures in the 60s and will reach highs in the low 70s. A dry front will move through the area on Saturday, which will help reinforce the cool air. Saturday will be quite windy, with a westerly wind at 10-20 miles per hour and gusts reaching 20-30 miles per hour. Saturday night will get even colder with temperatures dropping into the low 40s. Read: 1 dead, 1 with life-threatening injuries in Tavares apartment complex shootingOrlando hasn’t seen temperatures in the 40s since mid-March.

One person is dead and another is badly hurt after a shooting at a Tavares apartment complex, according to police.

TAVARES, Fla. — One person is dead and another was transported to the hospital with life-threatening gunshot wounds after a shooting at a Tavares apartment complex. Police responded Friday evening to Caroline Court Apartments, where the shooting happened. READ: Colonial High on lockdown due to anonymous tip about weapon on campusPolice are still investigating the active scene. Anyone who witnessed the shooting is asked to call 352-343-2101. READ: Motorcycle crash closes part of Fairbanks Avenue in Winter ParkThis is a developing story.

Lake County’s school board wants to ask voters to keep a special tax to enhance school safety.

A new piece of equipment inside the Lake County Technical College is helping deputies get as close to real-life situations as humanly possible so they can train one thing: emotional intelligence.

Petition 21-16 is a measure that will allow voters to amend the state constitution to convert cardrooms into full casinos.

A Jacksonville Jaguars player flipped off a police officer who attempted to pull him over, according to the Fruitland Park Police Department.

TAVARES, Fla. — Tavares police are investigating a drive-by shooting that injured a 20-year-old man on Saturday. According to police, the shooting happened outside the victim’s residence on West Maud Street. The victim, Joshua Williams II, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The vehicle and suspect description will be released once more information is received, police said. Read: Fight leads to deadly shooting in Titusville, police sayAccording to a news release, the motive and intent are currently being investigated by detectives.

A drive-by shooting Saturday night in Lake County prompted an investigation by the Tavares Police Department that the public was offered a role in.

A Tallahassee man was arrested and charged with a felony on Tuesday after multiple law enforcement agencies said they investigated allegations that he had engaged in sexual contact with a minor.

A car plunges off the top level of a downtown Tavares parking garage.

Cheryl Hall, 65, pleaded no contest to 10 counts of voter fraud charges.

Lake County corrections officer charged with bringing contraband into jail facility, deputies sayTAVARES, Fla. — Deputies in Lake County have arrested and charged a corrections officer for allegedly bringing contraband into the Lake County jail. Deputies said jail officer Alex Webber was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation of illegal items being brought into the Lake County Detention Center. Due to the charges, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said termination proceedings are now underway for Webber. Earlier this month, Lake County deputies charged 14 people, including corrections officer Jimmy Ankrom, in connection with bringing illegal items into the Lake County jail. READ: Deputies charge 14, including corrections officer, with bringing drugs into Lake County JailThe investigation, called “Operation Hide and Seek,” found tobacco, marijuana, methamphetamine and suboxone that were all bound for the Lake County jail.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Central Floridians are in store for another cool and nice start for Tuesday. Here’s what to expect:READ: Coronavirus: CDC issues new 2021 holiday COVID-19 guidanceIt will be partly cloudy. Temperatures will rise to 85 degrees. Tonight, temperatures will drop back into the 60s. It will be warmer by the end of the week.

A Tavares man was found dead after Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of shots fired at a Leesburg residence early Monday, according to a release from Lake County detectives.

It was so close.

TAVARES, Fla. — Police were called to the Lake County School District office building after a faceoff between pro-mask and anti-mask crowds became heated. Members of both sides gathered ahead of Monday night’s meeting, where public comment slots filled up in anticipation of school board members discussing mask-related policies. Tensions are high outside the Lake County School District office. Pro-maskers said they weren’t surprised they were outnumbered, given the political alignment of Lake County. School district officials said the governor’s ongoing order limiting their power to enact a mask mandate meant they couldn’t make any decisions.

A former employee of the Marion County Fire Rescue Neal Balwinski, 52, of Tavares, was arrested on Friday as he faces five counts of transmission of child sexual abuse material.

TAVARES, Fla. — With law enforcement officers facing more and more scrutiny these days, law enforcement agencies are looking to help guide the next generation of those looking into the criminal justice field. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a camp for teenagers aimed at educating them about the different law enforcement careers available, and what those jobs are like. READ: ‘Teaching it a lesson’: Man stole gator from mini-golf course, threw it into the air, police sayThe teens involved already have an interest in law enforcement, and some are aware of the anti-police sentiment that has arisen over the last year or so. These are young people who still believe law enforcement has an important role to play in our society, and want to do something that makes a difference and keeps the community safe. Jim Vachon believes with some of the protests and anti-police sentiment in the wake of George Floyd’s death make some people think twice about choosing law enforcement as a career.

A non-profit aiming to memorialize fallen law enforcement officers stopped at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to honor two fallen detention deputies Thursday in a motorcade.

Lexi Griffith doesn't remember much of what happened the night of April 24, the day she was struck in a hit-and-run crash.

More than three years after Hurricane Irma caused substantial damages to Tavares Seaplane Base and Marina, the waterfront area is close to welcoming tenants again.

The Tavares Police Department is searching for information on a hit-and-run from last month.

TAVARES, Fla. – Lake County Schools is offering the COVID-19 vaccines to district- and school-based employees who are at least 50 years old. Distribution of the Pfizer vaccine for eligible employees begins Wednesday and runs through Friday. [TRENDING: Massive fire breaks out at Orlando condo complex | 6 Dr. Seuss books canceled | Shaq, the big-time wrestler]The announcement comes one day after Florida Gov. AdThe vaccine is being given only to Lake County Schools’ eligible employees at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 6803 Old Highway 441 in Mount Dora, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. “We are thankful for the partnership we have with the Florida Department of Health in Lake County and are grateful to them and to Gov.

Crime scene tape outside a home where three people were killed in a murder suicide, according to Tavares police. The victims later identified as James Delgiorno, 41, and Wendy Higgins, 39, were discovered Thursday morning in a home on Lakecrest Drive after Leesburg police requested a well-being check. Leesburg police were able to obtain his vehicle’s GPS data tracing it to Lakecrest Drive and Shorewood Drive near a home owned by Delgiorno. Leesburg authorities notified Tavares police of Mcguirl’s vehicle whereabouts and that Delgiorno and Higgins were likely inside the home. Police said they found Delgiorno and Higgins both shot to death in bed as though they had been sleeping.

TAVARES, Fla. – Three people were found dead at a Tavares home Thursday in what police are calling a double murder and suicide. Tavares police Lt. Sarah Coursey said officers responded around 9:15 a.m. following a Leesburg Police Department request to locate someone after they failed to show up to work. When officers went into the home, they found three people dead inside, two men and one female. “This is an isolated incident, it’s senseless, it’s sad, it’s a tragedy, but no danger to the community,” Coursey said. “We ask that you give the families respect and privacy during this difficult time,” Tavares police said in a tweet.

TAVARES, Fla. – A man arrested for the shooting at the Rosewood condominiums is now facing charges for a shooting near Winn Dixie, according to the Tavares Police Department. Police said around 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 a 19-year-old man was shot in the back in an area near Winn Dixie on St. Clair Abrams Avenue and East Burleigh Boulevard. Isiah McNealy is facing charges of attempted felony murder, discharge of a gun in public, possession of a gun by a convicted felon, and attempted robbery with a gun. This past Friday officers arrested McNealy for the shooting at Rosewood condominiums on Dec. 23. According to officials, investigators were able to find several possible locations for Mcnealy in the Clermont, Groveland area.

TAVARES, Fla. – ***Dec. 26 Update***The Tavares police department arrested Isaiah Mcnealy for the shooting at the Rosewood condominiums. According to officials, investigators were able to find several possible locations for Mcnealy in the Clermont, Groveland area. ***10:59 p.m. Dec. 23 Update***Police identified the suspect involved in the shots fired incident around the Rosewood Apartments area in Tavares. ***Original***Officers with the Tavares Police Department are asking the public to avoid the area around the Rosewood Apartments after shots fired Wednesday night. [TRENDING: Florida women’s prison failed to protect inmates | Man wins $1 million on scratch off | Florida older residents next for vaccine]Police said an armed man is in the area that has fired shots.

TAVARES, Fla. – A man who pistol-whipped a store employee during an armed robbery last week has been taken into custody, according to the Tavares Police Department. Police said Ahmad Isham was wearing a black hoodie with the word “Security” printed on it when he went to Dora Discount Beverage around 8:45 a.m. on Dec. 8 and hit a store employee on the head with a handgun. [TRENDING: Man shot by Daytona Beach police charged at officers | This is your best defense against skimming devices at gas stations | Raccoon in Christmas tree surprises Florida woman]Authorities released a surveillance image taken near the store around the time of the attack in hopes of identifying the culprit. On Friday, deputies in Marion County took Isham into custody on charges of armed robbery, aggravated battery and grand theft. “This violent offender is now behind bars where he belongs and hopefully for a long time,” police said.

Crystal Allen, 35, came home Sunday and her husband says when he confronted her about a possible infidelity she attacked him. The victim said Allen threw things and hit him with a vase, boots and a chair. | Pilot killed in Fla. gyroscope crash]At some point a child in the home attempted to prevent Allen from beating the victim and that’s when deputies say Allen began attacking the girl. Allen is accused of choking the girl and scratching her neck, according to the report. She also slammed her head into the car window in an attempt to break it, deputies said.

TAVARES, Fla. – A Tavares store worker was pistol-whipped Monday during an armed robbery, according to police. Tavares police say the robber walked into Dora Discount and demanded money. Police say the robber was wearing a black hoodie with “security” written in white letters. Investigators say the man should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to call Tavares police.

TAVARES, Fla. – Lake County is hosting an event to help those with a suspended driver’s license or those nearing a suspension to save money on delinquent fines and fees. The Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is hosting Operation Green Light, an annual event that helps accommodate payments and create payment plans to pay off outstanding fees. People can utilize the resources available from Operation Green Light between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.County workers can also accommodate payments over the phone. People are asked to call (352) 742-3846 or are encouraged to make payments online after coordinating payment terms with a payment clerk within Operation Green Light. For more information related to Operation Green Light, visit www.LakeCountyClerk.org/GreenLight or contact the Lake County Clerk’s Office at (352) 742-3846.

TAVARES, Fla. – Voters in Lake County ran into problems Tuesday morning shortly after polls opened in Florida on Election Day. “We identified a computer problem in some precincts that incorrectly identified some voters were not registered in that precinct,” said Alan Hays, Lake County supervisor of elections. “The problem was isolated immediately, and corrective action was initiated. The solution is being deployed and everything will be fine very shortly.”Hays said he appreciated the voters' patience as his agency worked to correct the issue, which was resolved before 8:30 a.m.For more election updates in Florida, click here.

Find All Race Results HereTAVARES, Fla. – Some of the key races in Lake County include city council and commission seats. Check out all the Lake County races, including how residents voted for president, in the list below. Check all the races in Central Florida and statewide in the dropdown menu below, and get more information on the ClickOrlando.com Results 2020 page.

Find All Race Results HereTAVARES, Fla. – One of the key races in Lake County include the seat for U.S. House of Representatives District 6. Check out all the Lake County races, including how residents voted for president, in the list below. Check all the races in Central Florida and statewide in the dropdown menu below.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Vacation rental giant Airbnb announced it has suspended 40 of its listings in Florida as part of a crackdown on party houses amid the coronavirus pandemic. Breit said the company banned house parties in late 2019, but the pandemic has pushed them to bring suspensions to the public. Competitor Vrbo told News 6 they also have strict rules in place for house parties. “It is a real responsibility to operate a vacation rental in a neighborhood with people living on both sides of it,” Breit said. Each company has its own hotline for neighbors to report house parties.

For the most part, Lakes administrative teams are sticking together once again, with just six major changes announced by the district on Monday. TAVARES As Lake prepares to close out the 2020 school year, preparations for the 2020-21 year are already underway, with principal assignments announced Monday afternoon. For the most part, Lakes administrative teams are sticking together, with just six major changes announced by the district on Monday. Here are the changes:Andrea Steenken, current principal of Sawgrass Bay Elementary, will take on the task of preparing the newRob McCue, principal of Clermont Middle, will retire in June. Hartog has been an educator, coach and administrator for 25 years and was named Lake Countys 2020 Assistant Principal of the Year.

Lake County Fire Rescue has obtained a Hydrogen Peroxide Decontamination Unity, capable of sterilizing up to 300 N95 masks every three hours for reuse by first responders in the county. Lake County Fire Rescue will begin sterilizing N95 masks for reuse among first responders in the county. This will put our first responders at ease knowing that there is a system in place that will ensure an unlimited supply of PPE (personal protective equipment), said Lake County Fire Rescue Chief Jim Dickerson. The CDC approved the sterilization process of the N95 mask, which they hope will help alleviate shortages while manufacturers work to meet demand. The N95 mask is recommended for use by health-care professionals working patients with the COVID-19 coronavirus and other first responders.

The Lake County School District, alongside the local branch of the Florida Department of Health and the Lake County Emergency Operations Center, are coordinating a potential response to coronavirus in Lake County. So far, no local cases have been reported, though three individuals in the state have been diagnosed. TAVARES As state officials deal with the blowback from an apparent 24-hour delay of informing the public about coronavirus cases in Florida, local institutions are taking a proactive look at the virus, Lake County School District officials said Monday. The school district first posted a coronavirus message to school websites on Thursday. The news didnt shift plans for the school district, Owens said, as the district is already taking the necessary steps.

TAVARES, Fla. – The Tavares Police Department is offering to test narcotics amid the coronavirus outbreak. But Tavares police say people can stop on by and test their meth anyway. [RELATED: Coronavirus: CDC photo shows facial hairstyles that work best with masks | How to prevent spreading, contracting Coronavirus COVID-19]“With the rising health concerns associated with the Coronavirus, we are offering free testing of your drugs,” department officials said in a Facebook post. If those drugs test positive for, say, crack cocaine or meth, police might just arrest you for free, too. Note: Only medical professionals can test individuals for the coronavirus.

The Groveland Four memorial was unveiled Friday in Lake CountyIf you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.

TAVARES, Fla. – The Groveland Four memorial was unveiled Friday in Lake County. Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Ernest Thomas and Samuel Shepherd were wrongly accused of raping a white woman in Lake County in 1949. The Lake County men were accused under dubious circumstances. Ron DeSantis pardoned the men, and the Lake County Board of County Commissioners began planning the idea for a memorial. The granite memorial, posted in front of the Lake County Historical Museum, features a bronze plaque with a written account of the men’s ordeal.

To register or update your voter registration online, visit registertovoteflorida.gov/home. TAVARES The presidential preference primary is just around the corner. To register or update your voter registration online, visit registertovoteflorida.gov/home. Voter registration may also be mailed in, but it must be postmarked at the registration deadline or earlier. For more information about registering to vote, visit lakevotes.com/ql1.

While the legwork is automated, school and district staff will still approve or reject rentals at their discretion. TAVARES Requesting and renting the use of facilities owned by Lake County Schools is now a fully online process, the district announced Tuesday. The new service, called Facilitron after the company providing it, allows reservation requests to be submitted online rather than the paper process the district has used in the past. It will also be used to handle more in-depth processes like insurance verification and payment transactions which previously were handled by school staff. While the legwork is automated, school and district staff will still approve or reject rentals at their discretion.

Registration is required for each event, and can be handled by visiting the school district website. TAVARES Roughly a year after offering them in 2019, Lake County Schools will once again offer a four-part Become a Teacher series beginning this month for people interested in careers in Lake schools. A virtual job fair and open house is scheduled for 4p.m. Finally, the 2020 teacher job fair, the countys biggest hiring event each year, is set for April 25 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is required for each event, and can be handled by visiting the school district website.

TAVARES, Fla. – A woman who went missing Saturday prompting a silver alert to be issued was located in Pasco County, officials said. According to authorities, Sarah Ellen Brian was involved in a car accident in Odessa and was transported to the hospital in good condition. Deputies were searching for 80-year-old Brian, who left her home at 26637 Cayman Drive in Tavares at 9 a.m. Saturday and hadn’t been seen or heard from since. Brian suffers from dementia and is on medication, deputies said.

TAVARES, Fla. – An investigation is underway in Tavares after a boater found the body of a 19-year-old man in the Dead River, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the boater notified authorities after seeing the man’s body in the water near the Palm Gardens Marina around 1:45 p.m. Monday. Deputies said two other men then approached the security guard as he was wrestling with the gunman, forced him to the ground and handcuffed him. Zakee Grahai (News 6)After the robbery, two suspects were arrested in a swampy area on Burleigh Boulevard while two others got away, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said Hardwick’s body was found about three-quarters of a mile east of where the robbery unfolded.

TAVARES An image was chosen for the cover of the 2020 Adopt-a-Lake calendar. Participants submitted more than 500 photos of Lake County waterbodies for the Adopt-a-Lake photo contest. The calendars are available for a suggested donation of $5 at the lake County Water Lab, 12923 County Landfill Road and at the Solid Waste Administration Office, 13130 County Landfill Road. You may also order calendars by mailing a check to: Adopt-a-Lake Program, PO Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778. For more information about the calendar or the Adopt-a-Lake program, contact Cathie Catasus at 352-253-1659 or ccatasus@lakecountyfl.gov.

The calendar is available to order at www.lakefirefightercharity.org or at the Office of Fire Rescue located on the fourth floor of the Lake County Administration Building. TAVARES The 2020 Rescue Me calendar featuring Lake County firefighters and shelter pets is available for purchase now. The calendar is available to order at www.lakefirefightercharity.org or at the Office of Fire Rescue, located on the fourth floor of the Lake County Administration Building, 315 W. Main St., Tavares. A $10 donation is suggested for the calendar, and all proceeds will benefit the Lake County Animal Shelter, which is no-kill. We are excited to partner with Lake County firefighters on showcasing our wonderful shelter pets for the second year in a row, Lake County Animal Shelter Director Whitney Boylston said in a statement.

Through a series of annual evetnts, the hospital raised more than $57,000 for the AdventHealth Waterman Foundations cancer care fund. TAVARES AdventHealth Waterman raised over $60,000 in October to support breast health and breast cancer awareness. Events such as the womens health expo Pinking Ceremony, the sixth annual PINK OUT 5K Walk/Run and the sixth annual Ladies Legacy Luncheon, the hospital raised more than $57,000 for the AdventHealth Waterman Foundations cancer care fund. The cancer care fund supports cancer education and screenings and pays for mammograms for people in need. Other local fundraising efforts, including local businesses donating a portion of sales, filled in the rest.

Passport photos are processed at three locations. To be eligible, military personnel can present their DD-214, military ID, or show the veteran designation on their drivers license. You can get a free passport photo this month, courtesy of The Lake County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller. November is a time when our nation unites to honor veterans on Veterans Day, and we wanted to do something special for our active-duty service members and military veterans, Gary Cooney, Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, said in a statement. To be eligible for the free photo, military personnel can present their DD-214, military ID, or show the veteran designation on their drivers license.

The commission on Tuesday voted 4-0 to posthumously induct Kyleen Fischer, a well-known and respected childrens advocate and public servant. TAVARES The Lake County Womens Hall of Fame will soon have a new member. The County Commission on Tuesday voted 4-0 to posthumously induct Kyleen Fischer, a well-known and respected childrens advocate and public servant. I worked with her closely when I served on the Lake County School Board. In her nomination packet, Leah detailed her mothers extensive public service record, which included 24 years on the School Board.

All results were in around 7:30 p.m.TAVARES The results are in. Polls closed this evening at 7 p.m. in Lake County, and all 28 precincts had reported by around 7:15 p.m., according to unofficial results on the Lake County Supervisor of Elections website. All together, there were 60,227 registered voters in Mount Dora, Tavares, Clermont, Montverde, Mascotte and Minneola, about 25 percent of the countys electorate. 1Yes: 2,698 votes, 89.34 percentNo: 322 votes, 10.66 percentCharter Amendment No. 2Yes: 2,785 votes, 92.59 percentNo: 223 votes, 7.41 percentMontverdeCharter ReferendumYes: 84 votes, 57.14 percentNo: 63 votes, 42.86 percentMascotteCouncil Seat 3 (Mayor)Mike Sykes: 101 votes, 59.06 percentBarbara Krull: 70 votes, 40.94 percentMinneolaCouncil Seat 5Joseph Saunders: 281 votes, 65.05 percentPaul Giacalone: 151 votes, 34.95 percent

Leesburg police were called to a home in the 2300 block of Montclair Road at 3:46 a.m., on Jan. 28 by a 70-year-old man. He then pointed the gun at the man and said, Frank, just give me your car keys. The man then took off with the victims 2017 Ford Mustang and his gun. Later, a police officer saw the stolen car parked next to a man and a woman. The man took off running and got away from the officer by climbing a fence. Boone has a history of drug possession charges.

Residents will have a chance Tuesday to let their voices be heard regarding the fate of a proposed $25-27 million performing arts center in downtown Tavares. TAVARES After nearly a year of pondering a performing arts center (PAC), Tavares Council members, in a 5-0 vote in May, gave into resident calls to let the final decision on the matter be left up to the voters. Some people suggested that the money could be better utilized for other unfinished and more important projects, but Drury said building a performing arts center would not derail projects already in the works. Tavares is growing and you cant stop it, but you can lead it with quality growth and I feel that is what the Performing Arts Center would do, Pfister said. Stephenson said he is glad the decision was left to voters and is eager to learn the PACs fate.

The additional $5.1 million the LCSO requested was made available to them Oct. 1, and Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said they had specific plans for each cent. The additional $5.1 million the LCSO requested was made available on Oct. 1. Those new deputies will eventually contribute to a third shift Grinnell said will help the Sheriffs Office move from a reactive to proactive approach to Lakes crime. Herrell said the current focus is making sure the starting pay for dispatchers is increased and that current dispatchers are paid fairly by January. The sheriff is also working with the current budget to increase the pay for the current dispatchers to avoid salary issues similar to what he dealt with on the sworn side last year, Herrell said.

TAVARES The Lake County Commission on Tuesday voted to take out a $10 million loan to cover road repairs. The loan, provided by SunTrust at a 1.85% interest rate, will go to resurfacing about 90 miles of the countys debilitating roads. The county is behind on road resurfacing and roads are continuing to deteriorate. Some of the 4s include parts of Picciola Road in Leesburg and County Road 468 in Fruitland Park. He had suggested reducing spending on other penny sales tax projects to cover road repairs over the next two years.

TAVARES Leesburg High School football coach Mark Oates believes the best is yet to come for his team. And Yellow Jackets fans might have gotten a glimpse into the future on Friday when Leesburg traveled to Tavares to renew its annual rivalry with the Bulldogs. I saw a lot of Yellow Jacket pride on that football field (Friday).It was a total team effort for the Yellow Jackets. Our guys were so effective that we didnt need to throw a pass the entire game.Byrd was the workhorse for the Yellow Jackets. Tavares tried to make a run at the Yellow Jackets to start the second half.

Throughout October, AdventHealth will perform 3D mammograms for $30 through the month of October. TAVARES AdventHealth Waterman will host its sixth Pink Out 5K walk and run on Thursday. The event which will start at 6 p.m. at Wooton Park, raises money for breast cancer awareness, education and screening through the AdventHealth Waterman Foundation's cancer care funds. Throughout October, AdventHealth facilities across Central Florida will host an array of events to celebrate women's health and help fight breast cancer. Events range from runs like the PINK OUT 5K to Zumba classes, women's health expos as well as luncheons.

TAVARES The Lake County UF/IFAS Extension is hosting the Homeowner Education Landscape Program (H.E.L.P. ), a three-class program thats part of the Florida Friendly Landscaping Series. The $40, nine-hour educational program will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 18, 25 and Nov. 1 at the Extension Office, 1951 Woodlea Road in Tavares. Participants are required to attend all three classes, which will address frequently asked questions and problems in the home landscape. Registration is required by Oct. 17 at 10 a.m at lakegardeningprograms.eventbrite.com, amd space is limited to 16.

TAVARES The Lake County Skills Finder is an interactive online tool showcasing the educational programs within Lake County Schools, Lake Technical College and Lake-Sumter State College, with a focus on Career-Technical Education. The Lake County Skills Finder provides parents, students and businesses direct access to the variety of CTE pathways preparing the skilled employees needed in todays job market. We are pleased to have collaborated with the Lake County GIS staff and Workforce Taskforce members in the creation of the Skills Finder, said Executive Director Brandon Matulka with Lake Countys Agency for Economic Prosperity. CTE promotes academic advancement at 18 Lake County middle and high schools by providing job training and employability skills. To access the Skills Finder, visit https://bit.ly/2N7oqI3.

Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, AdventHealth Waterman will host an array of events, including the Ladies Legacy Luncheon on Oct. 4 and Pink Out 5K Walk/Run on Oct. 17. TAVARES With October right around the corner, AdventHealth Waterman kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Thursday by hosting its annual pinking ceremony. "Here at AdventHealth Waterman, we have programs to help those who don't have insurance," Mascarenhas said. "I've known so many people with breast cancer," Wisdo said. Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Waterman will host an array of events, including the Ladies Legacy Luncheon on Oct. 4 and Pink Out 5K Walk/Run on Oct. 17.

TAVARES The television series How to Do Florida, which highlights Sunshine State destinations and outdoor activities, is once again featuring Lake County this time in an upcoming jet surfing episode. The episode will premiere in the Orlando market on ABC at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Host Chad Crawford, along with his wife, Kristy, travel to Suncreek Brewery, Lake Louisa State Park and eventually end up at JetSurf Orlando in Clermont, where they learn to jet surf on the calm waters of Sawgrass Lake. When people ask what my favorite part about hosting this series is, I say its when I hear how an episode inspired them to get outdoors and explore Florida; thats the shows mission, Crawford said. Over the past five years, How to Do Florida, has filmed along blueway trails on the Harris Chain of Lakes to backpacking along the Florida National Scenic Trail.

Copyright 2016 Cable News Network/Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All rights reserved. TAVARES, Fla. - Opponents of the relocation of a Confederate statue to a Florida county with a fraught racial past are protesting the decision to house the monument at a tax-supported historical museum at a time when cities around the U.S. have been removing Confederate monuments. Protesters on Saturday planned to march through downtown Tavares to voice their opposition to bringing the statue to Lake County. Lake County commissioners last month endorsed moving the statue of Edmund Kirby Smith to the Lake County Historical Society. The statue of the Confederate general has been in the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol.

TAVARES Students dining in their Lake County school cafeteria this year will continue to sit down with their classic tray of food free of charge in 2019-20, district officials say. The Lake County School District has once again enrolled in a national program that provides lunch for students in low-income areas. The lunches are paid for through the Community Eligibility Provision under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the program, schools and school districts that participate are reimbursed for meals if they qualify based on the number of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches. Students eating breakfast at school increased by 36% across the district, she said, and students eating school lunches increased by 20%.

TAVARES A Kentucky man died Monday when his paraglider crashed into Lake Beauclaire. Michael McGuire, 59, of Kentucky, died in the accident at 7:30 a.m., according to the Lake County Sheriffs Office. Federal air safety officials are investigating the accident.

TAVARES, Fla. - Police said a woman who was found dead in a Tavares apartment Friday had been there for at least a week, decomposing in the bathtub. Sarah Coursey estimated that 23-year-old Amery Liampas' body had been in the bathtub for seven to 10 days, meaning she was too severely decomposed for first responders to see any immediate cause of trauma. A medical examiner will determine Liampas' cause of death. Authorities said they were called to the Tava Dora Motel & Apartments around 6 p.m. Friday due to complaints of a foul odor. They found Liampas dead and a man suffering from life-threatening injuries.

TAVARES A man accused of using his cellphone to record a woman in a Kohl's dressing room was arrested in Umatilla on July 20, just days after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Paul Anthony Lyles, 26, a Umatilla resident, was taken in by Umatilla police on a charge of video voyeurism. Staff at Kohl's, 2700 E. Burleigh Blvd., said Lyles entered a women's changing room in the store's intimate section and put his phone under the door of the adjoining room, where a woman was trying on bras and underwear. When confronted, Lyles ran out of the dressing room and out of the store, police said. He was released from Lake County Jail on July 21 after posting a $5,000 bond.

TAVARES, Fla. - A woman was found dead and a man was rushed to a hospital after officers responded to an apartment on East Alfred Street, according to the Tavares Police Department. Police said at about 6 p.m. Friday, officers responded to the Tava Dora apartments in reference to a foul odor coming from one unit. Investigators said officers found a man, who was flown to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities said a woman was found dead at the scene. On Saturday, police said Lake County Crime Scene Investigations conducted its investigation and the victim was removed from the scene.

Referendum will determine future courseTAVARES The fate of a proposed $27 million Performing Arts Center and adjoining parking garage in downtown Tavares is in voters' hands, and officials want to make sure the options and their effects are clear. What is your tax contribution to construct it and what is your tax contribution for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the performing arts center? The meetings also will educate people on the advantages of having a performing arts center, including the economic impact it would have on the entire town. At those meetings, there may be speakers and/or experts who can elaborate on the positive and long-range benefits performing arts centers have on cities. Drury said he would also like to convey that although the performing arts center and parking garage are a package deal, more parking is part of a long-term goal associated with the citys downtown plan.

TAVARES, Fla. - The Tavares Police Department said a man and a woman were found dead after a man told a dispatcher he shot his wife and was going to shoot himself. Police said officers were dispatched around 4 a.m. Sunday to the 1500 block of Grove Court. The location of the shooting is about half a mile west of Orlando Avenue and half a mile north of State Road 423. Investigators said when officers made entry into the home, they found the man and the woman dead with gunshot wounds. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.