Suspect in Apopka thrift store fire held on $15,000 bondTeresa Sargeant
June 9, 2025
More details are emerging about the fire that gutted the Good Neighbor Place Thrift Store last month, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. The suspect, Curtis Laron Rouse, 38, was arrested and charged with first degree arson and unarmed burglary of an unoccupied structure. He is currently being held in the Orange County…
Apopka council greenlights talks for temporary pump station to combat floodingTeresa Sargeant
June 9, 2025
The Apopka City Council voted 4-0 to grant staff authority to negotiate an agreement with Lumen Technologies to install a temporary pump station to drain excess water from Border Lake to Blue Lake. Vice Mayor Diane Velazquez was absent from the Thursday, June 4, meeting, but the other four council members voted in favor of…
Demings touts fiscal prudence, AI use in 2025 State of CountyTeresa Sargeant
June 8, 2025
Speaking to an audience of over 1,000 people, Mayor Jerry L. Demings highlighted Orange County’s achievements in areas including the economic impact of tourism, advancement in affordable housing and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to better provide services during his state of the county address on Friday, June 6. Demings spoke to more than…
A municipal building bearing the seal of the city of Apopka on its front.
Apopka City Council reappoints 3 to Planning CommissionTeresa Sargeant
June 5, 2025
The Apopka City Council approved reappointments for three Planning Commission members to three-year terms, but not without discussion about imposing term limits for the board. On the consent agenda on June 4, the City Council voted to reappoint members William Gusler, Wes Dumey and Mary Norwood. All of their current terms are set to expire…
Matthew's Hope logo in black and purple text.
Apopka City Council to review proposal of sleeper buses for homelessTeresa Sargeant
June 4, 2025
A Winter Garden and Cocoa-based homeless outreach organization proposed the concept of sleeper buses to the city of Apopka as a means of helping people move off the streets and toward a life of independence and self-sustainability. Scott Billue, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Matthew’s Hope, presented the proposal at the June 4 Apopka…
A gray-and-white building with the words "Dream Lake Elementary School" written across its front, with a flag pole in front of the building and a pathway leading up to the building.
Dream Lake ES explores possibility of optional school uniformsTeresa Sargeant
June 4, 2025
Dream Lake Elementary School is exploring the possibility of implementing an optional school uniform policy for its student body. The decision to explore school uniforms began after an April meeting of Dream Lake’s School Advisory Council (SAC). Following the meeting, a parent survey went out to the community on May 2 and received more than…
A white, rectangular traffic sign in the foreground says "Private Property, No Trespassing." Behind the sign is a grassy hill. In the background stands a building with a dark gray roof.
Owner offers to sell Errol Estate golf course to city for $6.3MTeresa Sargeant
June 3, 2025
The owner of the defunct Errol Estate golf course has offered to sell the property as is to the city for $6.3 million in cash, a figure based on the owner’s 2020 appraisal that was made public. 5th Hole Investments LLC, headed by the family of Julian (Larry) Klein, enclosed the proposal with a May…
A group of people in workout clothes jog outdoors in a race.
Community celebrates reopening of upgraded West Orange Trail BridgeTeresa Sargeant
June 3, 2025
Battling inclement weather on Saturday morning, the community celebrated the grand reopening of the recently upgraded West Orange Trail Bridge, a local landmark users said are excited to use again following months of closure. On Saturday, May 31, attendees celebrated the reopening of the nearly 20-year-old bridge located at the U.S. 441/Orange Blossom Trail at…