Florida News Straight From the Source
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is holding an informational open house regarding an interim improvement study of the intersection of John Young Parkway (U.S. 17-92 and State Road 600) and Pleasant Hill Road in Poinciana. [Read more…] about Informational Open House on Improvements at the John Young Parkway and Pleasant Hill Road Intersection in Osceola County
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a drive-thru open house regarding the proposed widening design of State Road (S.R.) 60 from U.S. 441 to east of the Florida’s Turnpike, and the resurfacing of U.S. 441 from the Okeechobee County line to S.R. 60 in Osceola County. [Read more…] about Drive-Thru Open House Set for S.R. 60 Widening
Starting next week in St. Cloud, eastbound and westbound U.S. 192 (State Road 500) traffic will move to the newly paved outside lanes, allowing the contractor to begin work in the median. The traffic shift will take three nights to complete, weather permitting. The schedule is as follows: [Read more…] about Traffic Shift Scheduled on U.S. 192 in St. Cloud
Beginning at about 9 a.m. Thursday, July 5, Neptune Road at State Road (S.R.) 500/U.S. 192 in St. Cloud will be closed for approximately four weeks. [Read more…] about Road Closure Scheduled for Neptune Road in St. Cloud
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will conduct a public workshop to discuss proposed improvements to an approximately five-mile section of U.S. 17/92 from south of the Polk/Osceola County line to west of Poinciana Boulevard in Osceola County. The workshop will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at St. Nicholas Anglican Church, 1729 Business Center Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34758.
The purpose of the workshop is to present the proposed improvements and obtain input from attendees. Proposed improvements include roadway and bridge widening; and, the addition of bicycle and pedestrian features. Maps and other displays will be available for review, and members of the study team will be available to answer questions.
Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Ms. Heather Garcia, Project Manager, Florida Department of Transportation, by phone, (386) 943-5392, or via email, [email protected]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TTY/TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator, [email protected].
For project-related questions, please contact Ms. Heather Garcia. Media inquiries should be directed to FDOT Communications Manager Steve Olson at 386-943-5479 or [email protected].
Governor Rick Scott today visited Kissimmee Elementary School in Osceola County to highlight record K-12 education investments in his Securing Florida’s Future budget. Since Governor Scott took office, state funding for Florida’s K-12 public schools has increased by $3.2 billion or 36.7 percent, from a total amount of $8.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2011-12 to nearly $12 billion in the 2018-19 Securing Florida’s Future budget.
The Securing Florida’s Future budget includes:
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that residents in and around Osceola County can now visit the Osceola County Tax Collector’s Office to apply for or renew their concealed weapon licenses. Osceola County Tax Collector Bruce Vickers is the 51st tax collector to partner with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services since Commissioner Putnam implemented this first-of-its-kind partnership in 2014.
“By expanding our partnership with county tax collectors, we’re able to provide a more convenient way for citizens to apply for or renew their concealed weapon licenses,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “I thank Osceola County Tax Collector Bruce Vickers for his hard work to offer the most efficient process possible to Floridians seeking a concealed weapon license.”
The partnership allows tax collectors to receive applications, take fingerprints and photographs and send the information to the department to process the request for a concealed weapon license. Tax collector offices also offer on-site, same-day printing of renewal licenses for eligible Floridians.
The 51 tax collectors participating in both the application and renewal process for concealed weapon licenses include the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gulf, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Walton, Wakulla and Washington.
Consumers can still apply for or renew a concealed weapon license via mail or at one of the department’s eight regional offices in the following locations: Doral, Fort Walton, Jacksonville, North Port, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Consumers can also renew their licenses online. Concealed weapon licenses are valid for seven years.
To further enhance convenience, Commissioner Putnam announced in June that the fee to apply for or renew a concealed weapon license was lowered for the third time. Additionally, the department expedites concealed weapon license applications for all active military members and veterans. To date, nearly 90,000 active military members and veterans have received expedited concealed weapon licenses.
For more information on Florida concealed weapon licenses, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
Like any other school day, Mr. Miller and his students were focused on their lessons for the day. He had no idea that today was different and that he was about to receive the surprise of a lifetime! From a group of 73 teachers, Michael Miller from Kissimmee Elementary School in Osceola County was chosen as one of five finalists to compete for the 2018 Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year Award!
For the past 29 years, Macy’s, along with the Florida Department of Education, has honored the most exceptional educators in Florida who make magic in and out of their classrooms every day. The Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors the contributions of outstanding classroom teachers who have demonstrated a superior capacity to inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.
At 9:00 a.m., Florida Department of Education Commissioner Pam Stewart, along with Doug Prescott, Macy’s vice president, were on hand to make the big surprise announcement. The fifth-grade elementary math teacher was instructing his class when the Commissioner made the surprise visit and told him that he had been chosen as one of five finalists for the prestigious honor.
“Michael Miller is a great teacher who challenges and inspires his students to believe and achieve a better tomorrow. Macy’s congratulates Mr. Miller for his commitment to help his students reach their full potential,” said Dennis Witte, Macy’s executive vice president and regional director of stores.
Upon receiving the good news, Michael Miller was presented with a $5,000 check from the Florida Department of Education and Macy’s, and a $500 Macy’s gift card. A $1,000 check, funded by Macy’s, was presented to Kissimmee Elementary School.
“Teachers are some of THE most important people in our children’s lives,” continued Witte. “To be a teacher is to be a mentor, a friend, a coach and a constant in the lives of their students. Teachers are life changers and this is what happens each day in Mr. Miller’s classroom. Throughout Macy’s sponsorship of this program, we continue to be humbled and proud to support the best educators in the Florida.”
“Michael Miller has distinguished himself as one of Osceola’s most dynamic and well-respected teachers and has demonstrated a passion for helping students reach their full potential,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “By setting high expectations and using data-driven instruction strategies, Mr. Miller has had a profound impact on his students, and I am pleased to announce that he is one of Florida’s 2018 Teacher of the Year finalists. The Millers are an outstanding family; just last year, his wife, Amy, earned this prestigious honor!”
The winner of the 2018 Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year award will be announced during a ceremony on Thursday, July 13, 2017. The event will be held at Orlando’s Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios CityWalk.
In addition to a $5,000 award funded by Macy’s and the Department of Education, the Teacher of the Year will receive awards from Macy’s including an all-expense paid trip for four to New York City to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The winner will also serve for one year as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education, touring the state to spread the word about educational opportunities and challenges in the Sunshine State. To date, Macy’s has contributed $3 million to teachers throughout the state.
This year’s five finalists were chosen from more than 195,744 public school teachers throughout the state by a Department of Education-appointed selection committee representing teachers, principals, parents and the business community. Each finalist is selected on the basis of outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional development, philosophy of teaching, and outstanding school and community service.
About Macy’s
Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 730 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the United States and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy’s offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy’s is known for such epic events as Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Macy’s flagship stores — including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California — are known internationally and leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy’s helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $69 million each year to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.
Motorists will encounter a full closure of the ramp to westbound Interstate 4 (I-4) from World Drive, beginning at 1 a.m. on Thursday, January 26 until 12 p.m. and on Friday, January 27 from 1 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Construction crews will work on milling and resurfacing the ramp as part of the resurfacing project, for the ramps connecting I-4 with World Drive, in Osceola County.
Motorists traveling north on World Drive toward the I-4 west ramp will continue north on World Drive, take the U.S. 192 East / Kissimmee exit, and head east on U.S. 192 to the I-4 West/ Tampa Exit.
Motorists traveling south on World Drive toward the I-4 west ramp will be directed to u-turn and head north on World Drive, take the U.S 192 East / Kissimmee exit, and head east on U.S. 192 to the I-4 West/ Tampa Exit.
Click here for detour map.
Project updates will be posted to the Florida Department of Transportation’s Central Florida website at www.cflroads.com. Schedule is weather permitting.
For media-related questions, please contact the Public Information Office at 386-943-5473 or [email protected].
To ensure your safety and the safety of others, please exercise extra caution when driving through construction work zones.
