Content about Lake County

Duke Energy has finished the last step of the process in the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program for Lake County’s Florida Energy and Aerospace Technology (FEAT) Park, which in turn will advance the site for further development opportunities by businesses.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating several burglaries in the areas of Leesburg, Fruitland Park and Lady Lake. In the past several weeks approximately 60 burglaries have been reported from Lady Lake through the Bassville Park area of Leesburg. Detectives believe several different groups are committing the crimes and some groups may be connected. Burglaries have been reported to have occurred during daytime hours and involved forced entry into homes.

County Manager David Heath has filled a key leadership position within the county government. Cynthia Lynn Nason, who has a robust background as an animal welfare professional, will start Monday, May 13 as the new manager of Lake County Animal Services, which is part of the county’s Conservation & Compliance Department.

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

The event, hosted by the Lake Eustis Chamber of Commerce, will take place Saturday, May 18 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 2101 County Road 452, Eustis. Admission is $5 and children 12 and younger will have free admission.

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.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 27 at Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont.

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. A search warrant was obtained and and during the search Mr. Ben Rhodes, age 35, was arrested. Mr. Rhodes was charged with Manufacturing of Methamphetamine, Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia and rental of structure for manufacturing of controlled substance.

TAVARES — 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.

Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker has unveiled a new look and a new focus to the Property Appraiser’s website www.lcpafl.org.  “The website had not been updated in many years and was lacking important information.  The new site features has a cleaner look, more information and most importantly, provides a focus on the homepage for five important groups of property owners” said Baker.