Lake County

Take Stock in Children held its annual graduation breakfast celebration on May 14 at Venetian Gardens in Leesburg to recognize 48 students that have completed the program and earned their college scholarship.

Lake County sheriff’s narcotics detectives obtained information that a man wanted on a Lake County warrant for aggravated assault was hiding out in Dona Vista and was involved in cooking meth. The wanted subject, Rodney Worthey, was apparently hiding in a residence on New York Avenue in Dona Vista.

he Lake County Board of County Commissioners is sponsoring The BlueZberry Festival, a one-day event that will feature a variety of agricultural-based vendors.

Thanks to the aid of Lake County Animal Services, an Astatula ranch owner’s injured horse is expected to fully recover from an accident. Grateful for their service, the resident donated $1,000 to the operation of Animal Services.

Lake County is cosponsoring The Clermont 5K and 10K Skate and Slalom Clinic, the first in a series of skateboarding contests that will seek to promote sanctioned Longboard racing in Lake County.

Detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office recently wrapped up an undercover sting that was part of a state-wide initiative of the Member Agencies of the Florida Sheriff’s Association to crack down on underage drinking, tobacco, and synthetic drug use. The objective of the operation, dubbed Operation: Dry Spring, was to identify and cite those selling alcohol, tobacco, and synthetic drugs to underage youth.

On April 9, 2013, Sheriff's Narcotics Detectives located and dismantled a methamphetamine lab at the Oakwood Motel located at 2110 N. Citrus Blvd. in Leesburg. Information was received that there was possibly an active lab at the motel and detectives responded to investigate.

County Manager David Heath this week announced his final selections for two key leadership positions within the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Bill L. Veach, most recently a director for a state agency, started this week as the deputy county manager. Robert Chandler has been promoted to the position of director of the Lake County Economic Development & Tourism Department, from his prior role as coordinator with the same department.

In response to the recent director vacancy in the Lake County Conservation & Compliance Department, Lake County Manager David Heath has selected Jim Stivender, Public Works Director to oversee the operations of the Conservation & Compliance Department on an interim basis. Stivender will take on the new responsibility immediately, in addition to continuing to oversee the Public Works Department.

The Florida Department of Health in Lake County recognizes the value in measuring health outcomes and expresses appreciation to the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for the fourth annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps tool released today.

All this week, volunteers from RescueU have labored to provide needed improvements as part of a grant awarded to Lake County Animal Services, which will help accommodate the basic necessities of animals they house at the shelter.

The Lake County Solid Waste Division is encouraging Lake County residents to dispose of toxic materials in a safe and environmentally sensitive way at an upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection event.