Privatizing Back on County Agenda
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50 CENTS 112TH YEAR • THURSDAY EDITION JULY 28, 2011 For the latest community activities, events and class- es, see page B-3 in Around Kissimmee and in Around St. Cloud. OOSCEOLASCEOLA NNEWSEWS-G-GAZETTEAZETTE www.aroundosceola.com • www.holaosceola.com Privatizing back on county agenda By Marvin G. Cortner vices, company officials said Fisher explained that the week, which would save nies had provided preliminary County they could save the county county last year approved a $400,000 but impact 21 full- savings estimates of between Editor $2.5 million annually with a 0.256 property tax rate for the time position; reduce library $487,000 and $728,000 Osceola County govern- county operations. They also five-year contract and provide library system, a bit more than operations by 20 hours a annually. There are now 27 ment in the next few months discussed the reduction of fire will consider whether to priva- the same level of service. half the 0.5 maximum rate vot- week and close two branches, employees in this department rescue services and the possible tize the county library system “The library revenue now ers approved years ago, and impacting 35 full-time posi- who provide security for the closing of fire stations. and county security operations (from property taxes) does not that raising the tax to the legal tions; or use the savings from courthouse, the administration In a report to the commis- as a way to cut costs for the support the budget,” Fisher limit would produce a $1 mil- privatizing county security to building, three tax collector sion, County Manger Don next and future fiscal years. said, adding that current spend- lion annual surplus. bolster the library budget, offices, four libraries and at the Fisher said that in preliminary County commissioners in a ing is drawing down library Other options the commis- raise the millage slightly and county jail. talks regarding the Osceola workshop Monday reviewed reserves by about $3 million a sion discussed included reduc- keep libraries county-run. Fisher said he has already how much could be saved by Library System with Maryland- year. “We’ve reached a point ing the number of days On outsourcing security privatizing one or both of these based Library Systems and Ser- where it cannot be sustained.” libraries are open to five per work, Fisher said three compa- See County, page A-2 Local news Jailed mother GOP debate Desfile Puertorriqueño to be Aug. 20 loses custody The Florida Family Policy Council and the Central Florida Tea Party from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 20, will pres- of 4 year old ent a GOP U.S. Senate Candi- date Debate at the historic By Fallan Patterson Howard Middle School auditori- Staff Writer um, 800 E. Robinson St., in Tatum Contosta, the 4-year-old Kissimmee downtown Orlando. boy left with a homeless man while his mother Debate topics will feature allegedly went to Orlando to prostitute herself, is social issues asked by a panel of now with a foster family after a judge ruled dur- social conservative activists and ing an emergency hearing July 23 to give cus- economic issues asked by a tody of the child to the Florida Department of panel of local tea party Children and Families. activists. There is no charge for Tatum was found July 22 in good health with this event and seating is on a Silverio Irizarry, 45, a known heroin addict and first come, first served basis. homeless man with whom Tatum’s mother left the boy Family fair set eight days earlier, at a Walgreens for Aug. 20 near Sand lake Road and The seventh annual La Feria Orange Blossom Trail by an de la Familia, or family fair, this Orange County Sheriff’s Office year has been set for Saturday, deputy who recognized them, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 Stacie Miller, Kissimmee Police p.m. in the Exhibition Hall at Department spokeswoman, Osceola Heritage Park in said. Irizarry Kissimmee. The search was aided by a The event will include live “flood” of tips Kissimmee police entertainment featuring interna- and Crimeline received once the tional artists Oro Solido and story about the missing boy Frankie Negron. The free event News-Gazette Photos/ became public that morning, focuses on Hispanic families Marvin G. Cortner Miller added. throughout Central Florida; it The first Osceola County Tatum’s mother, Jessica Con- attracts more than 20,000 Puerto Rican parade, or tosta, 32, was arrested July 14 guests each year. Desfile Puertorriqueño, was for prostitution and was in the Tatum The event provides informa- staged Sunday as part of the Orange County Jail on $250 Contosta tion on education and services, Puerto Rican Business Expo bond for the prostitution charge and $4,000 such as health, finance, insur- and Health Fair at Osceola bond for failure to appear on another case. ance and legal advice. While Heritage Park in Kissimmee. “Charges of neglect are pending against attending the fair, visitors can the mom,” Miller said via email. “We are still enjoy authentic Hispanic food, Above are dancers with the Boggy Creek Elementary investigating.” entertainment and more. No other relatives could be located to care for “Telemundo Orlando is School group who are wear- Tatum, who smiled and laughed while being eval- proud to bring back Feria de la ing traditional costumes. At uated by emergency personal at the Walgreens, Familia for the seventh consec- right are two mule riders with DCF spokeswoman Carrie Hoeppner said. utive year to Osceola County. the Osceola Latin American The community has embraced Lion’s Club. The parade See Custody, page A-2 this great event and Osceola included everything from Heritage Park is a great venue classic cars to a marching to host the fair,” Larry de la band. Honored guests were Rosa, General Manager of U.S. Army 65th Infantry vet- District feeds Telemundo Orlando, said in a press release. erans, a group comprised of Puerto Ricans. hungry youth See Local news, page A-3 By Fallan Patterson Staff Writer Kissimmee stabbing victim identified as ex-husband Youth summer campers in the cafeteria of the St. Cloud Civic Center often leave By Fallan Patterson hands and legs, A female neighbor told police unwanted food on the share table but those Police news several of which she witnessed Prieto-Fernandez milk cartons and containers of corn rarely sit Staff Writer Lianyanely Prieto-Fernandez required stitches to Thursday morning throwing a there long. Other children who are still hun- lured her live-in ex-husband into T r oetsch- close, Prieto-Fer- knife into her (the neighbor’s) gry have the opportunity to take the a bedroom at her father’s Kissim- Fuente’s birthday nandez told detec- garbage can, according to a unopened or untouched food so it does not mee home July 21 before would have been tives that she police report. When the neigh- go to waste. allegedly stabbing him to death Monday. attacked her ex- bor, who was leaving for work, Counselors at the center’s summer camp four days before his 52nd birth- The house, at husband because asked why Prieto-Fernandez was introduced the concept of the share table to day, authorities said. 2227 Catherine she felt “something throwing the knife away, she told thwart campers from throwing away unwant- Prieto-Fernandez, 39, told St. in the Orange bad” was going to Troetsch- the neighbor, “I had to protect ed food that other campers may want and to Kissimmee Police Department detec- Gardens neigh- happen. Fuente myself.” ensure no one goes home hungry, said tives she awoke that morning, borhood of Kiss- Prieto-Fernan- When firefighters arrived at Stephanie Holtkamp, recreation manager of grabbed a knife from the kitchen, set immee, was gut- dez was arrested at the hospital approximately 7:15 a.m., they St. Cloud’s Parks and Recreation Depart- her bedroom on fire and hid the ted by the fire. Prieto- the afternoon of July 21 and found Troetsch-Fuente in the ment, which runs the summer camp. knife behind her back before calling While being Fernandez charged with murder. She was rear bedroom of the house and The summer camp is one of more than Carlos Troetsch-Fuente, 51, into the treated at Osceola Regional Med- booked into the Osceola County room, the charging affidavit states. ical Center for minor cuts on her Jail on no bond. See Police news, page A-5 See Feeds, page A-3 Inside Homefinder Sports News for you Classifieds . C-4 New interior Poinciana High Around Kissim- Community . B-3 doors can add has new foot- mee, Around St. Homefinder . C-1 a whole new ball and boys Cloud and sur- Legals . C-6 rounding areas Opinion . A-4 look and value basketball Sports . A-6 to your home. coaches. featured in zoned editions. Page C-1 Page A-6 Section B Page A2, NEWS-GAZETTE • Online All The Time • www.aroundosceola.com • Thursday, July 28, 2011 Graduate To Go Student had Taco Bell internship in California By Ken Jackson gram through her work with the Boys $10,000 college scholarship, which & Girls Clubs of Central Florida Tup- Rivera said she’ll put to use at Full Sail Sports Writer Taco Bell is about more than their perware Brands Branch in Kissimmee, University, a private school in Winter variations on Mexican food. where she’s been active for six years. Park that offers specialized audio, film, Those who don’t believe that state- “I owe a lot to that place,” she said design and computer animation pro- ment should prepare for a lecture from of the club.