Windermere couple donates to food pantry as part of their weight loss journey
Justin and Karie Hein said they were surprised when they saw how many organizations are in need of food donations after they posted on a Facebook group page that they were looking to donate 216 cans of food to a Central Florida charity.
Massive fire destroys Alan Graysonโs home in Windermere
WINDERMERE, Fla. โ A Windermere home owned by former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson was destroyed Tuesday morning in a fire. Orange County Fire Rescue tweeted, โAll occupants are reported out safely and no injuries have been noted.โMassive fire destroys Alan Graysonโs home in WindermereGraysonโs wife, Dr. Dena Grayson, later tweeted, โThank you for your support, friends. Grayson, a Democrat, held Floridaโs District 9 congressional seat from 2009 to 2011 and 2013 to 2017. https://t.co/lryzTHbNMr โ Dena Grayson, MD, PhD (@DrDenaGrayson) March 16, 2021ACTIVE FIRE: Multiple units are battling a house fire in Windermere on Oak Park. Orange County Fire Rescue reported the cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
โIโm good, bro:โ Body camera video shows retired MLB player Johnny Damon failing field sobriety test
The initial officer focused his attention on getting Damon secured while a second officer arrived and took Mangon-Damon into custody. Damon repeatedly insisted that he and wife donโt want any problems. We are good people, Iโm telling you... weโre good people,โ Damon said. โHey bro, Iโm a good (expletive) guy and I know people are trying to target me because Iโm a Trump supporter,โ he said. AdโYeah, Iโm good bro,โ Damon said repeatedly.
Retired MLB player Johnny Damon, wife accused of fighting with cop during DUI traffic stop in Central Florida
WINDERMERE, Fla. โ Johnny Damon, a retired Major League Baseball player and Orlando native, bonded out of jail Friday afternoon after he and his wife were accused of struggling with an officer during a DUI traffic stop in Windermere. As the former pro-athlete was released, an unidentified man encouraged Damon to not talk with the media; however, he did speak briefly. So, I apologize and hopefully, I can answer more questions later on.โWhen asked about his wifeโs arrest, Damon was more evasive. His wife, 45-year-old Michelle Mangan-Damon, is facing charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence. Damon and Mangan-Damon both got out of the SUV as the officer approached, despite his commands to stay in the vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Windermere teachers celebrate Valentineโs Day despite pandemic
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Teachers at Lake Whitney Elementary School in Windermere werenโt going to let the pandemic get in the way of giving their students a special Valentineโs Day. โSo, they shared Valentineโs Day wishes with everybody in the class. Some of them did like breaking news, you know ,โItโs Valentineโs Day, happy Valentineโs Dayโ and jokes--telling jokes; I canโt give you Valentineโs, but I can give you jokes. Teachers at Lake Whitney Elementary School found creative ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. (Courtesy)โWhen the district said to think of some alternative ways of celebrating Valentineโs Day, I have to give my hats off to our teachers,โ Prince said.
โIt meant so much to me:โ Windermere man heartbroken after motherโs wedding ring goes missing
For the past six months, heโs been holding on to hope to find his motherโs wedding ring. โMy mother and I were extremely close, especially in the last few years.โNichols is heartbroken after his beloved motherโs wedding ring got lost while on its way to Colorado. โHe bought the ring in 1949 and he would literally get $30 a week and he said it took him a long time to pay for that ring, but he was so proud of that ring,โ Nichols said. Nichols said his mother also hoped for her wedding ring to be given to her first grandchild. A 4-inch octagon box.โโNicholsโ latest attempt to locate his motherโs ring was last week through a Facebook post that has now gone viral.
West Orange County barber adapts during pandemic to mobile barbershop
WINDERMERE, Fla. โ In a year that changed our boundaries, Jay Johnson moved to mobile. Six weeks ago, the barber based in West Orange County launched โBarber Luxe Mobile Barbershop.โNews 6 met with Johnson along a quiet cul-de-sac where one of his clients lived. Johnson gained prominence for a client list that includes PGA golfer Ricky Fowler and Tiger Woods at the Bay Hill Invitational. โPeople donโt want the in-and-out fast cut.โThe mobile barbershop comes decked out with a refrigerator, television, and an array of COVID-19 precautions. I went from 16 services to 8 services a day.
Shaqโs Isleworth mansion discounted by $3 million. Hereโs how much itโs going to cost you
ORLANDO, Fla. โ For the second time in two months, an Orlando sports legendโs sprawling home has become a little more affordable. Shaquille OโNealโs Isleworth mansion can now be had for a reduced price. Full Screen 1 / 65 NBA legend Shaquille OโNeal has listed his Isleworth estate at 9927 Giffin Court for $28 million. (Photo: Uneek)Shaq first put the 31,000-square-foot home on the market in 2018 for $28 million. The mansion features 12 bedrooms, a theater, 6,000-square-foot indoor basketball court and a massive 95-foot-long pool overlooking Lake Butler.
Former Windermere police chief released from prison
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ Former Windermere police chief Daniel Saylor was released from prison Monday after serving an eight-year sentence on perjury and corruption charges. Records show Saylor, now 54, spent some of his sentence at a work release center in Kissimmee. His friend, Scott Bush, was charged with capital sexual battery of a person younger than 12. Other accusations surfaced detailing how Saylor accepted a bribe for hiring a reserve officer and sold photos of a crash involving Tiger Woods in November 2009. Documents from the Department of Corrections reveal Saylor was to be released to a home in Sanford.
Orange County deputies arrest Windermere-area carjacking suspects
WINDERMERE, Fla. โ Orange County deputies arrested two men who they say were involved in an armed carjacking incident. On Saturday, deputies arrested Victor Senatore, 24, and GianPiero Gasparin, 17 according to a tweet from the Orange County Sheriffโs Office. Deputies responded to a neighborhood after 10 p.m. after getting the call from a carjacking victim. The Orange County Sheriffโs Office released security footage of the incident, showing the two men approach the victim as he pulled up to his home. The victim told deputies one of the thieves drove his car southbound on Remsen Cay Lane.
House passes bill to rename post office after slain Windermere officer
WINDERMERE, Fla. โ The House of Representatives passed a bill to rename the post office on Conroy Road in Windermere after Officer Robert German, a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. [Story: Deputies identify 2 people in Windermere officer death]Orange County deputies said 31-year-old German was shot and killed in March of 2014 when he was checking on two people walking down the road and called for officer backup. | Search ongoing for gunman who shot deputies]Goode and Hollinghurst were found dead across the street from the shooting scene. Rep. Val Demings said German was known for his commitment to his community. โHe served Windermere honorably for five years, turning down other opportunities in order to stay in the community he loved.
Central Florida residents adapt to honor 9/11 during a pandemic
On Friday, cities across Central Florida held ceremonies to remember the September 11 terror attacks, but there were several changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Windermere, all public events were canceled by local officials, but residents held an observance of their own through the Windermere Never Forgets 9/11 Preservation Committee. His brother John Crisei and his best friendโs son John Napolitano were part of a 19 member Hazmat group that didnโt survive the attack. Gone.โWhile some were able to gather in-person, other Central Florida cities held virtual ceremonies. Officials in cities who held virtual tributes said the measures were temporary and plan to return to in-person ceremonies in 2021.
Price drop: Shaqโs Isleworth mansion back on the market for a cool $19.5 million
Shaquille OโNeal's mansion on Giffin Court in Windermere, Florida is back on the market for $19.5 million. (Image: Levy Public Relations/The Atlas Team)Shaquille OโNealโs 31,000-square-foot Isleworth mansion is back on the market for a lower price of $19.5 million after it didnโt sell last year for the original asking price of $28 million. But now the mega-mansion is back on the market, this time with a new real estate company, The Atlas Team under Compass Florida. The former NBA starโs home is located within Isleworth Golf & Country Club, one of central Floridaโs top gated golf communities. The 6,000-square-foot indoor basketball court is a newer addition to the estate.
School district organizes fundraiser for family of slain father, son in Windermere
WINDERMERE, Fla. โ One week after John and Jay Savey were killed at their Windermere home, the community continues to rally behind their family. A fundraiser organized by the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools has raised more than $18,000 already for the Savey family since it began on Sunday, August 2nd. There was a lot of laughter around the Savey family. They were really people of joy.โSeveral of the pastors have regularly visited with Lisa Savey, who continues to recover from the attack. Carter told News 6 the church called out for volunteers to help fund meals for the Savey family.
2 men killed, woman injured in baseball bat attack at Windermere home, police say
WINDERMERE, Fla. โ Two men were beaten to death and a woman was seriously injured late Thursday during an attack at a home in a gated Windermere community while a 10-year-old boy called authorities while hiding in a bathroom, police said. Ezekiel Emanuel HopkinsThe mugshot above of Ezekiel Emanuel Hopkins is from 2012. Police said Hopkins attacked Savey and beat him to death with a baseball bat outside the home. Hopkins then went inside the home, where he beat Lisa Savey and her son, James Savey, who was killed, according to police. According to officials, Ocoee Police noticed Hopkinsโ car early in the night and thought it was suspicious but later disregarded.
2 people killed in Windermere home invasion, police say
2 people killed in Windermere home invasion, police sayPublished: July 31, 2020, 9:56 amTwo men were beaten to death and a woman was seriously injured late Thursday during an attack at a home in a gated Windermere community while a 10-year-old boy called authorities while hiding in a bathroom, police said.
New report provides clues to origin of Gotha flooding problems
GOTHA, Fla. โ A new engineering report may have uncovered clues in the chaos surrounding flooding issues with land-locked lakes in one West Orange County community. Last year, News 6 detailed the record flooding in the Gotha area, specifically at Lake Fischer, Lake Nally, Lake Hugh, Mills Pond and Gotha Pond, as neighbors searched for answers as to what was causing the flooding. As a result, Orange County leaders commissioned a $200,000 study into matter in November. David Hamstra with Pegasus Engineering co-authored the report, entitled Gotha Lakes Watershed Management Plan Update. โThere are other lakes in West Orange County that have the same problem, which leads us to believe this is primarily rainfall driven.
Furloughed Disney cast member spreads magic to coworkers via food pantry
WINDERMERE, Fla. โ With Disney World coming to a halt due to COVID-19, an employee took it upon herself to help fellow cast members in need by creating a pantry. โTo be able to give back to them and to help out our fellow cast is really special,โ said Lartigue, who has been collecting food since March. Cast members who have been furloughed can go to the storage unit and choose the food items they need, including toiletries like toothpaste, soap and shampoo. But before visiting the Pantry, she requests that cast members make an appointment -- and to adhere to CDC guidelines. She said she wants her fellow cast members to know itโs OK to ask for help.
Dozens of agencies participate in school active shooter training
WINDERMERE, Fla. โ Orange County Public Schools conducted an active assailant response exercise at Windermere High School on Wednesday. [RELATED: What should you do if faced with an active shooter situation? | Students protect school, prepare classmates for active shooter situation]"This is all about a lot of improvements. The exercise began with a police officer who acted as an active shooter on campus making his way into a building. *TRAINING EXERCISE* Rescue workers are training to save victims in case of a mass shooting.