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50 CENTS 112TH YEAR • THURSDAY EDITION NOVEMBER 10, 2011 For the latest community news, events and classes, see page B-4 in Around Kissimmee and B-3 in Around St. Cloud. OOSCEOLASCEOLA NNEWSEWS-G-GAZETTEAZETTE www.aroundosceola.com • www.holaosceola.com Hopper, Shroyer win in St. Cloud By Fallan Patterson Hopper, an admin- vote (728), to Norris’ supervisor of elections. istrative assistant for St. Cloud news 45 percent (600 “I have my mind ready and my Staff Writer Stewart Approved Incumbent Mickey Hopper will votes). heart ready. I want to do the right Title in St. Cloud, was “This has been an retain St. Cloud City Council seat 4 beat political newcomer Naomi thing for St. Cloud,” he said, adding unavailable for com- Norris, an independent financial eight-year endeavor,” that his family joined him for the for the 10th year after Tuesday’s ment Tuesday. She Shroyer said from his election in which she garnered 57 advisor, with 55 percent of the vote results. “We just prepared for the has never lost an elec- home Tuesday night. best.” percent of the vote against opponent for City Council seat 5, currently tion. Estill is a local “I’ve worked hard and Both Hopper and Shroyer won Richard Estill. held by Jarom Fertic, who is run- photographer. diligently to be a three-year terms. Beginning in Less than 200 votes separated Hopper ning for Osceola County Clerk of Shroyer Donny Shroyer, a leader in Osceola 2012, election winners will serve the two candidates, with Hopper Court in 2012 against incumbent physical education teacher at Nep- County.” four-year terms. earning 758 votes to Estill’s 578 tune Middle School and a former Malcom Thompson. Shroyer previously lost bids for votes, or 43 percent. candidate for countywide office, Shroyer earned 55 percent of the Osceola County commissioner and See St. Cloud election, page A-5 Local news Seat belt awareness Search focused on Poinciana campaign begins Monday By Fallan Patterson Police news The Kissimmee Police Staff Writer Department’s Traffic Enforce- The Osceola County Sheriff’s ment Unit will be spearheading Office Wednesday launched a Sherri Fields, Nicole’s moth- a buckle up seat belt campaign full-scale ground search for miss- er, described the four year rela- that will run Monday through ing mother Nicole Fields in Poin- tionship her daughter had with Nov. 27, in conjunction with ciana near a pond on the west Louis as “beginning good, then the National Click It or Ticket side of Marigold Avenue, just rocky, then not good.” campaign. before Coyote Road. Nicole Fields had twice sought The campaign will include Fields’ ex-boyfriend, Steven domestic violence injunctions message board signs through- Louis, the primary suspect in against Louis in 2009 but both out the city to reminding Fields’ disappear- charges were dismissed. motorists to use their seat ance, spent all of “I just don’t know why she did- belts, roving enforcement and Tuesday being n’t pursue it,” Sherri Fields said. checkpoints at local schools questioned about Louis, 28, of 931 Gateshead and in the downtown area. the mother of Court, Poinciana, was extradit- Seat belt violations are a two who van- ed back to Osceola County primary offense, meaning a ished following a Monday from Monroe County motorist can be pulled over by Nov. 3 child sup- where on Friday he was found an officer for simply not wear- port hearing driving Fields’ green 1994 ing the safety device. The fine involving the Louis Oldsmobile Cutlass. The arrest- for not wearing a seat belt is couple’s daughter at the Osceola ing deputy found a 10-inch $116 and the fine for not County Courthouse. “kitchen-type” knife in the car using a child restraint is $166 The Sheriff’s Office Tuesday and noted in his report that and includes three points on a night prepared aviation, agricul- Louis had “bandages on at least driver license. tural/marine, K-9, mounted two fingers of both hands.” “Wearing your seat belt is a patrol and criminal investigations Louis was brought back to quick decision that can save units for the search, spokes- face aggravated battery charges your life,” Kissimmee Police woman Twis Lizasuain said, in connection with the case, Liza- Chief Fran Iwanski said in a adding the search was being suain said. press release. “Kissimmee done in conjunction with the Polk “The investigation revealed police officers want to remind County Sheriff’s Office. probable cause to charge him,” motorists to buckle up every Additionally, authorities Lizasuain said Tuesday. “The pri- trip, every time; it’s the law.” searched the ority is to locate her because area near Louis’ every day and hour that passes is Abuelo’s honors and Poinciana resi- a concern.” salutes veterans dence and Fields’ mother, Sherri Fields, Abuelo’s Mexican restau- passed out fliers said she hoped the vigil would rant, 2431 W. Osceola Park- to residents in yield more clues from the public. way, Kissimmee, this weekend those areas, “He (Louis) can’t even imag- will host a Queso for Heroes encouraging ine the amount of suffering that fundraiser benefitting the anyone who what he is doing is causing,” Wounded Warrior Project. might have had Fields Sherri Fields said. Abuelo’s, which is in Loop contact with Fields and Louis to Osceola County Sheriff’s West, will donate $1 for every come forward with information, Office detectives had obtained chile con queso appetizer sold Lizasuain said. information that Fields and Louis during the Veterans Day week- As of press time, Fields had were in the Poinciana area Nov. end (Friday through Sunday) not been found. 3 and may have spoken to an News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan for its Believe campaign, a Rather than celebrating Fields’ older gentleman, with whom Tina Mellinger, right, and Carol Marquis, day care workers who cared for the Wounded Warrior Project ini- 27th birthday Tuesday, her fami- detectives would like to speak. daughter of Nicole Fields, the Osceola County mother missing since last tiative that calls on Americans to recognize the sacrifices ly held a vigil in honor of the The man is unrelated to the cou- Thursday, gathered with friends and family at an Orlando park Tuesday Orlando waitress, who, family ple, Lizasuain said. made by the newest genera- evening for a candlelight vigil. At the same time, and unbeknownst to those at tion of veterans and to honor and court records noted, had a the vigil, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office detectives were able to obtain a pos- volatile relationship with Louis. See Police news, page A-3 their service. sible location for Fields’ body in Poinciana. “We are excited and hon- ored to help support our veter- ans by holding this fundraising event,” Michael Codner, gen- eral manager of Abuelo’s in Outsourcing of libraries still in the works Kissimmee, said in a press release. “We hope everyone By Marvin G. Cortner negotiated, county officials said. two commissioners also wanted time to day period to sit down with everybody will come out over the Veter- Commissioners voting for staff to further discuss raising the library tax to look at it. I can’t say I’m for this or ans Day weekend to help Editor Outsourcing the operation of the negotiate a contract were John rate closer to the .5 mill legal limit, to against this at this time,” Hawkins, con- honor and support our veter- Quiñones, Frank Attkisson and Fred allow the library to operate without hav- ans for the service and sacri- Osceola Library System to a Maryland- sidered to be the swing vote on the Hawkins Jr.; those opposed were ing to dig into reserves. fices they have made for our based company moved forward Mon- issue, said. “You put the target on my Michael Harford and Chairman Bran- An actual vote on a contract with country.” day as the County Commission voted 3- back; at least we need to look at a con- don Arrington. LSSI is not expected until at least the tract; I want to see it in writing … the For more information, call 2 to set Dec. 12 as the date for staff to Harford and Arrington, in an earlier Dec. 19 meeting in order to allow time the restaurant at 407-870- present a contract for the service. devil is in the details.” motion that failed 2-3, wanted to stop for a contract proposal to be reviewed Hawkins also said he wants to see 0901. Commissioners are pursuing out- negotiations completely and to allow by the community. sourcing with Library Systems & Ser- the benefits package that would be Bob Evans sales staff before 2012-13 fiscal year budget When discussing the two motions, offered to LSSI employees, given that vices, or LSSI, in order to realize up to talks begin to look at how the library Hawkins said he needs to see an actual benefit charities current library staff would be laid off and Bob Evans restaurants will an estimated $5 million is savings over system’s operating costs could be contract in order to make a final deci- then possibly rehired by the company. be helping those in need over five years, a number that cannot be trimmed, including reducing operating sion. nailed down until an actual contract is hours and possibly laying off staff. The “Let’s see a contract, and have a 10- See County, page A-5 See Local news, page A-6 Inside Homefinder Sports News for you Classifieds . C-4 Consider your Liberty, Poinciana Around Kissim- Community . B-3/4 heating options football teams mee, Around St.