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Police news County Law enforcement, citizens receive Osceola County’s Woman first stadium honors for shooting investigation saw its own share of shoots, roadblocks A Major League Base- kills ball franchise is tired of holding spring training at its Brevard County facil- ity and wants to move boyfriend west to Osceola County, A Christmas woman, where civic leaders devise who claimed she shot and a plan to pay for the con- killed her boyfriend in self- struction of a new baseball defense on Tuesday, was complex and just need arrested and charged with government approval to first-degree move forward. murder. Sound familiar? Wendy Hanks, 33, See page A-2 is accused of killing Darren Wil- liam Haver- ty, 40, of Editorial Hanks Holopaw. Deputies responded to Commissioners Haverty’s home early Tues- day morning after Hanks got the message claimed she and Haverty were in a physical and ver- There was one abso- bal fight. lute we knew going into Hanks explained that Monday’s meeting of the she shot Haverty in self- Board of Osceola Coun- defense as he battered her ty Commissioners, who News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan and then approached her voted on a proposal to City of Kissimmee Assistant City Manager Desiree Matthews, at left, was first in a procession of city officials lined up to shake with a knife. build a new spring train- hands with members of the Central Florida Metal Detectors Society and the Treasure Coast Archeological Society. However, Osceola ing baseball complex. County detectives discov- There was no possible By Tiffanie Reynolds police chief. stopped until we solved it,” Torres said. ered evidence at the crime way everyone attending Staff Writer “It was an amazing effort on the part The biggest challenge in the investi- scene, as well as in the would walk out happy. It was teamwork that stopped the of the law enforcement community to gation was the random pattern of the autopsy of Haverty that random shootings that terrorized Osceola work together in a collaborative effort, shooting incidents. In the beginning, conflicted with Hanks’ See page A-4 County and resulted in two homicides to share information and to take all their the bullets left in houses and apartments claim of self-defense. earlier this summer, and Kissimmee egos out of play and just make a dedi- across Kissimmee and St. Cloud were On Wednesday, Hanks Police Department Chief Lee Massie and cated commitment to solving this crime,” the only pieces of evidence that law was charged with first- the city’s commissioners congratulated Massie said. enforcement had. But, it was the death degree murder and taken that team Tuesday night at Kissimmee Nine Kissimmee police and seven of 17-year-old Kissimmee resident David to the Osceola County Jail. Osceola County Sheriff’s Office units Guerrero that marked the seriousness of City Hall. Father let accused Members of the Central Florida Metal were involved in the case. The collabora- the investigation. Detector Society, Treasure Coast Archeo- tion with civilians was unique, said Kis- Guerrero was shot and killed in the killer Schafer pick simmee Police Det. Georgie Torres, a early-morning hours of June 26 along Some fast-food work- logical Society, Kissimmee and St. Cloud out gun key detective in the case. It even altered North Central Avenue. ers across the country officers and others were honored for The father of the accused their part in the investigation, which led the strategy of the investigation. Breaking the area around the homi- gunman in a Kissimmee plan to strike Thursday, cide into grids, it took both the Central demanding $15 per hour to the arrest of Konrad Schafer, David “Between these three agencies (includ- homicide and other ran- Damus, Victoria Rios and Juan Muriel. ing St. Cloud PD), we have some of the Florida Metal Detector Society and Trea- dom shootings around minimum wage and the sure Coast Archeological Society 20 min- right to form a union. Do The investigation lasted 15 days, from best in the business. I truly believe that. Osceola County purchased . utes to find the casing of the bullet that you support their cause? the third week of June to the second And when you’re dedicated, you know, the gun for the teenager, week of July. It was the largest investi- good things happen. And we never See Honors, page A-2 Kissimmee police officials • Yes, I do. gation in Massie’s career as Kissimmee let go. We never let up, and we never have said. • No, I don’t. According to the arrest • I’m not sure. affidavit, Lothar Schafer, • I have no opinion. Pavilion who was arrested Monday and charged with culpable Making negligence and permitting Vote at fire closes a minor to unlawfully pos- www.around sess a firearm, took his son, osceola.com Makinson streets Konrad Schafer, to Mega Gun and Armory in Kis- Results from the simmee on June 24. The Aug. 17 Question of the Island safer elder Schafer purchased a week: hi-point .45 caliber rifle By Ken Jackson that Konrad picked out. Are you looking for- Staff Writer When interviewed by ward to the new school Makinson Island remains detectives July 8, Lothar year starting Monday? closed to visitors after a fire News-Gazette Photo/ Schafer said he stored the July 26 destroyed the wood- Andrew Sullivan firearm in an unlocked suit- • Yes, I am. – 87.2% floored pavilion in the public Osceola County Sher- case in his closet. The rifle • I have no opinion. area. was not in the suitcase dur- iff’s Office Training ing the interview, but it was – 8.5% The power is out. Osceola Division Sgt. Mark County fire officials requested later found hidden behind a • No, I’m not. – Nagy displays an 3.5% the Kissimmee Utility Author- washing machine. • I’m not sure. – ity open a feeder to cut power illegally-modified shot- Police allege Konrad 0.7% to the island that night because gun surrendered dur- Schafer, 15, used the gun of arcing power lines near the ing Thursday’s Gas to kill David Guerrero, 17, fire. for Guns event. The who was waiting at a bus Osceola County Public annual event allows an stop early on June 26. Land Manager Bob Mindick anonymous exchange Schafer teamed up with said the pavilion was destroyed of unwanted weapons 20-year-old David Damus, Index and the land must be cleared to the Sheriff’s Office in police say, to shoot the gun of debris before the public at houses in Kissimmee, St. exchange for fuel gift Cloud and in unincorpo- can use the native park again, cards. A total of 112 but the process has been hin- rated Osceola County. The weapons were collect- Page A4, Editorial dered by the remote location. pair face nearly a dozen The 132-acre Makinson Island ed during the 12-hour charges in those incidents. Page A7, Sports is the southernmost of three event. The Osceola County islands in the northern part of Sheriff’s Office already Page B4, Community Lake Tohopekaliga. has filed charges against Mindick said major damage Damus and the teenage Page B1, Lifestyles was confined to the pavilion. Schafer in the July 3 home Page A2, Local news “We had some native trees invasion, robbery and mur- damaged but we saved some der of 22-year-old Eric Page C1, Classified ,like a 150-year-old oak,” he Roopnarine, who detec- said. “We’re working to clean tives say was shot with the Page C3, Legals it up and make arrangements same rifle and then stabbed Page B7, Obituaries to death. See Pavilion, page A-3 See Police, page A-3 Page A2, NEWS-GAZETTE • Online All The Time • www.aroundosceola.com • Saturday, August 24, 2013 Osceola County’s first stadium deal saw its own share of roadblocks By Ken Jackson County Stadium. the team to broker a deal with other courts and a 5,000-seat pocket. and minor leaguers) together Staff Writer The Houston Astros worked Osceola County. softball stadium with three “As a board we decided, during the spring rather than A Major League Baseball out the deal to play in Osceola “The commissioners at that practice fields, but hotel indus- ‘Let’s go for it,’” he said. “It in separate locations. Osceo- franchise is tired of holding County, where they’ve come time enjoyed a build-up of tour- try members balked at the wasn’t going to break into la County Stadium also was spring training at its Brevard every February for almost 30 ist tax money,” he said. “This scope and price of the project. anybody’s budget or bankrupt the first Grapefruit League County facility and wants to years. Don Miers, the county’s was the first baseball stadium It was then that County anyone. Back then there was complex, according to Miers, move west to Osceola County, sports facilities manager, also to be built in Florida with tour- Commissioner Larry Whaley also not as much red tape. In to accept credit cards for where civic leaders devise a was involved in Osceola Coun- ist taxes, before that nobody joined forces with baseball fact, as I recall, we paid for it payment and utilize Ticket- plan to pay for the construc- ty Stadium’s mid-1980s con- knew if you could. We had consultant Peter Bavasi, the up front.” master for advance ticket tion of a new baseball com- struction. As Houston’s first to ask the state. Now every- former general manager of the The price tag came to about sales. plex and just need government director of Florida operations, body copies that model. Port San Diego Padres and Toron- $5.5 million. The deal closed The Astros kept Miers and approval to move forward. he was on the baseball side of Charlotte and Plant City built to Blue Jays, who worked to late in 1983 and construction his staff busy most of the year. Sound familiar? it then. stadiums shortly after us.” convince a team to move to began in May 1984, and was They moved their Class A The scenario played out In the aftermath of Mon- Miers noted that Austin- Osceola County. With the completed just as the Astros minor league team from Day- Monday before the Board of day’s ‘no’ vote, Miers and Mike Tindall Regional Park and the Astros on board, county and rolled in for spring training in tona Beach to Kissimmee, County Commissioners, who Bast, then a county commis- Osceola County Softball Com- tourism officials agreed to build 1985. They hosted the New and the Osceola Astros (later voted down a proposal to build sioner, reflected on how the plex were built in the 1990s solely a baseball complex. York Yankees on March 8 called the Kissimmee Cobras) a $98 million baseball facility Astros deal came together. using the same business model. Bast said that with tourism in the inaugural Grapefruit were born. The team’s Gulf for the Washington Nation- The Astros previously The original plan drawn up tax dollars being used solely League game. Coast League affiliate was als. But it was also the talk trained in Cocoa, but the team by county planners included for tourism marketing at the It’s a schedule that sounds here in the 1990s and came of the town in 1983, when felt the facility wasn’t being a 10,000-seat multipurpose time, quite a bit piled up, to the orderly now, but Miers, who back in 2009 to play during county officials agreed to build, maintained to professional stadium, a center-court tennis point that it was burning the began working at the stadium the summer. maintain and manage Osceola standards. Miers said that led arena surrounded by a dozen proverbial hole in the county’s on Oct. 1, 1984 as Hous- The complex, which ton’s first full-time Kissimmee went through an $18 mil- employee, said it wasn’t easy lion renovation paid for in at all. part by a state subsidy com- Honors “The Tourist Development pleted in 2004, also has Continued from Page A-1 Council originally voted against hosted the team’s Instruc- it,” he said. “But the commis- tional League in the fall, killed Guerrero, after officers terrain to what they’re search- calling gun stores in the area going to be safe and that sioners went against their rec- an umpire’s school in the couldn’t find any evidence in ing for. James treats every and asking about purchases. the (victims’) families, at least, ommendation and approved winter, the Senior League the area. That casing became investigation with the police as The very first store he called, would be able to start the clo- it.” World Series until 2001 and a key piece of evidence for unique.” he said. Mega Armory, was where sure process,” said Torres. Bast said it wasn’t out of numerous other youth and the case, as it matched the “All of them are special, employee Felix Soto sold the Due to the excellent police place for the Commission to fantasy camps. And that list casings found at several home because every circumstance .45 caliber high point rifle to work, Konrad Schafer, as well vote a different way than the doesn’t include the amateur shootings. is different and the terrain is Lothar Schafer, father of Kon- as the three other suspects, TDC. baseball tournaments put on This wasn’t the first investi- always different and the item rad Schafer, the day before are currently in the Osceola “They are an advisory board. by the United States Specialty gation that the societies have that we’re looking at is always the shootings started. County Jail. They do not have authority to Sports Association and other assisted with. The Central different. So, we just go out “Regular customers, noth- Lothar Schafer, Conrad’s make deals,” he said. “That’s national organizations. Florida Metal Detector Soci- and do what we’re supposed ing to suspect,” Soto said of father, was arrested Tuesday the way it was then, at least.” “People don’t realize the ety has helped law enforce- to do,” James said. Schafer and his son. night by Polk County Sheriff’s Miers remembers the land Astros are here year-round,” ment dozens of times over the The matching casings With Soto’s cooperation in deputies for culpable negli- the stadium sits on now as Miers said. “Except for two past several years, according helped law enforcement agen- the investigation, officers were gence and allowing unlawful pastureland, but Bast recalls it years when I went to work to President Alan James. It’s cies to identify the make and able to identify the suspects possession of a firearm. He a little different. for the Detroit Tigers in Lake- part of what they do as a model of the gun used in the and arrest them in a matter was released on bail Wednes- “It was a swamp!” Bast said. land, I’ve been here the entire service club, giving their time incidents. That’s where Tor- of hours, officially closing the day morning. “When we did the ground- 29 years. I’m biased, but I feel as well as money to help in res took the biggest risk in investigation. Contact Tiffanie Reynolds breaking, we wanted some- the facility has proved itself investigations. the investigation, according to “Knowing that the shoot- at 321-402-0434 or by email thing different than a couple of over the years. I’m proud of For James, every investiga- Massie. He had to reveal the ings were going to stop, and at treynolds@osceolanews guys with shovels. We invited all we’ve done here.” tion is a new challenge, from investigation to the public by knowing that the citizens were gazette.com. kids out and gave them bats to Bast said the era of being hit balls into the site. They hit able to construct a similar the balls and then a bunch of new facility may be over local- them went running after them ly, as signified by Monday’s Date: September 7, 2013 Time: 2-5 pm right into the mud. Those kids Commission vote. came out of there up to their “I think it is. You’re going heads in it, all for a baseball.” to bankrupt the county for Bowlers Hands = Helping Hands The stadium was ahead of the next 30 years. That’s a 602 East Vine Street the curve in many ways, not dumb thing to do,” he said. CHEMICAL just in its funding source. By “The Astros owner we dealt FREE Kissimmee, FL 34744 building a cloverleaf of practice with (John McMullen) was fields and a large clubhouse, more reasonable. 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It posits a ruined Earth would walk out happy. in the year 2154, overcome by over- In the end, the commission voted 4-1 to decline the crowding, disease and environmental project, which came with a $98 million sticker price. and economic collapse. Los Angeles is a But with most of it being financed, the county’s total dusty brown shantytown where people bill after 30 years would be, if you place stock in the live on top of one another like some tourism industry experts’ numbers, more than twice favela in Rio. that. Then the camera takes you up to the The funding, aside from a $10 million grant from orbiting habitat to which the wealthy the state and $10 million spread out over the 30 have decamped, Ely- years, was to come from Tourist Development Tax sium. It’s Latin for dollars — funds used to market and promote the local paradise, and that’s tourism industry. That group saw the Washington what this is, assuming Nationals, owned by the billionaire Lerner family, your idea of paradise potentially getting handed money hoteliers need to is a McMansion with keep money flowing through the U.S. Highway 192 a manicured lawn the corridor instead of staying north in Orlando by the big size of a city park theme parks, and being asked to make no investment where you live a life Leonard in the deal other than paying annual rent. of vaguely sterile lux- Tourism officials said the deal would hurt efforts ury. Pitts for future projects and cripple the budget of Experi- Your view Blomkamp has Tribune ence Kissimmee, our convention and visitors bureau, given us a tale per- Media a stance echoed by the Kissimmee/Osceola County fect for these political Preaching and politics apply a chemical solution to the affected times. It is an allegory Chamber of Commerce. surfaces. When the mold is very heavy, Commissioners got that message, and may have To the editor: of income disparity, a cautionary saga I recommend spraying two applications, sent one as well: as a government entity, they will no This is to the person who left a card of what happens when more and more longer blindly mortgage themselves to the hilt long- about Obama in the pew at the Catholic with about a five-minute interval between resources are concentrated in fewer and term under the guise of “If you build it, we will come.” church. What part of our law in this coun- the applications. fewer hands. Fred Hawkins made it clear Monday finances, not try do you not understand? Have you ever As this is done, a towel or sponge can One of those resources is adequate baseball or the Nationals, motivated their vote when heard of separation of church and state? be used to wipe the areas where the mold health care. On Earth, if you get sick, you fill out a form and try not to die he said, “Get your checkbook out and join us.” That So your card states that we must pray is releasing at a slower rate. As this is tak- in the waiting room before the doctor should be lauded. for Obama’s “conversion.” You veil your ing place, it is then a good idea to have The losers are local baseball fans who got used to a fan on to circulate the air in the room. gets around to you. On Elysium, they distaste and displeasure of the leader of have this device that can instantly cure seeing Houston Astros baseball in town every March. the free world by cloaking it in prayer? After the mildew has disappeared, it will It is a quality of life perk they’ve enjoyed, and while anything from lymphoma to radiation How convenient. If you want to drive more take some time for the odor to dissipate. the Atlanta Braves do their spring thing at Wide World So, be patient. poisoning. Our hero, Max, afflicted with people out of the church that already have the latter and given just days to live, of Sports, it’s hard for many residents to make that During the time that you are cleaning been driven out, you found the way. resolves to somehow make his way up connection with Disney. mildew, watch for the physical symptoms Our feelings are mixed. This deal would have Instead of speaking politics, you should there so that he can be healed. be preaching Christ’s good will and ser- that the mildew and/or especially the The movie’s political implications hurt the county, but we hope one day a deal can be chemical (bleach) solution is affecting you. reached with a franchise that sees the value in upgrad- vice. Perhaps then more would come to have not escaped the conservative pun- Look for watering and/or burning eyes, ing or expanding the existing Osceola County Sta- know the church as the comfort and sanc- ditocracy. Rush Limbaugh pronounced coughing, sore throat, runny nose, and dium. It would also help the county if the Astros would tuary Christ intended it to be. it “anti-capitalist, pro-socialism.” But skin rashes. Mentally, you may notice dis- pick up their phones and negotiate with the county if Toni Rapinesi some in the liberal punditocracy have orientation, lack of focus, and confusion. there’s any possible deal that would keep them here St. Cloud also been displeased. Alyssa Rosenberg after spring of 2016. If you notice any of these, and/or any of ThinkProgress scored the movie for other unusual, symptoms, get out of the failing to “speak truth to power” in its A painter’s view of environment. Be safe and be careful. silence on the causes of the inequities As far as products are concerned, there it depicts. mold and mildew are many available options. Yet, only very There are elements of truth in Got a gripe? To the Editor: few have the effectiveness of bleach, with- both arguments. But the movie actu- Under normal conditions, most of ally seems determined to make another Submit letters to the editor to Osceo- out the toxicity. us would not expect mold and mildew to The first, Moldstat, is a concentrated point altogether, albeit one that prob- ably flies under the radar because of its la News-Gazette, 108 Church St., Kis- interfere with a painting job. Instead, we peroxide-based cleaner, and it is very very simplicity: We’re all in this thing might find sanding to do, maybe a few simmee, FL 34741. If you wish to fax effective. Next, Molderizer is an organic together. your letter to the newspaper, the number nicks in the wall to spackle, and possibly remover, sold in five-gallon containers, So the space station is not just a some dust to remove. and also is concentrated. The last, Vital- is 407-846-8516. Email letters to news@ space station. It is the science-fiction For a painter, surface preparation is Oxide, is a antimicrobial and disinfectant. equivalent of the gated community. Or osceolanewsgazette.com. always an essential part of a quality paint This product contains chlorine dioxide, of America as viewed from some Mexi- No more than one letter per writer will be job. Still, on inspection, the presence of which is said to have little odor. can hovel. mold indicates that painting will have to Of the three, I prefer Moldstat. You published each month. An individual will be And Max is not just a guy with a gun be postponed, until the area is cleansed can make up to 21 gallons of solution per who storms the space station. He is the allowed to submit one letter of rebuttal if he properly. package of concentrate. That makes it man standing outside the gate, the poor or an organization he represents is the subject The presence of bacterial growth, espe- extremely cost-effective. woman fording the Rio Grande. We have been conditioned by years of a letter to the editor. cially in a room of one’s home, would As you may know, painting is second- make most people cringe, and walk away. ary to removing mold or mildew from an of conservative dogma to view such All letters should be no more than 500 However, if one views it in a safe way, infected area. Yet, once this is completed, people with scorn, as too stupid, too words and should include the name, address then cleaning it will be of little trouble. you may need to repair the surface of the lazy or too lacking in foresight to rise For certain, I recommend wearing snug- wall, or even cut out sections of drywall above their circumstances – “takers” and daytime phone number of the writer for to use some Fox “News” terminology. gly-fitting long rubber gloves, a paper haz- that were severely affected, and replace verification purposes. The News-Gazette will Crippled by an “entitlement mentality” ard suit, eye goggles, and an organic vapor the drywall. not publish the writer’s phone number. to use some more. By the inverse of respirator. Especially when there is quite a When it’s OK to paint, get out your that logic we, because we live north Letters to the editor are published on bit to remove. primer and/or finish. Brush where you of the border, within the gate or on Thursdays and Saturdays. They also may be By the way, you, do not want any of the need to brush - e.g. corners, tight spots, the space station, were obviously far- solution and/or vapors to seep into any around window and door frames. Then, published in other Florida Sun Publications, sighted, energetic and smart enough to part of your body. roll the paint on to bring your walls back steer the proper course. including on the News-Gazette website. If As far as products go, bleach appears to life. What narcissistic balderdash. you have any questions about letters to the to be the most effective, affordable and The presence of mold and/or mildew is Yes, initiative, intelligence and plan- readily available product. When it comes a certainty, as long as the conditions for ning are all elements of success. But editor or the Opinion page, contact Editor to using a healthy and safe product, bleach its existence are met. And, at certain times luck is, too, whether defined as getting Brian McBride at 321-402-0436. Email at is not the choice by far. of the year with temperature change, and a good break someone else did not get [email protected]. Get online/on the internet, and you will higher humidity, the mold and mildew are or escaping a bad one someone else find a variety of organic and non-volatile going to grow. could not avoid. mold and mildew removal products that Important footnote: It is prudent to use Point being, the membrane that divides have from have not is thinner can be mixed with water. all protective gear that is provided, or and more permeable than those lords of SCEOLA EWS AZETTE As I found out the hard way, cleaning available, every time that you must expose O N -G self-satisfaction who go on Fox preach- Year 117 – No. 72 (USPS Number 513540) mold, when using a respirator, is inef- yourself to mold and mildew. ing the gospel of “up by my bootstraps” (ISSN 1060-1244) Published each fective sometimes. If you are going to be There are many employees who, as would have you believe. Our shared Editor Thursday and Saturday for $52 per doing a lot of mold and mildew removal BRIAN McBRIDE part of their jobs, are exposed to mold humanity demands a compassion, an year, by Sun Publications of Florida, with bleach, your best bet is to use a and mildew, and a bleach product to clean Sports Editor ability to give a damn about those have a division of Lakeway Publishers of fresh-air supply respirator system. This it. Often, they are not properly equipped, RICK PEDONE Florida, Inc. All rights reserved. nots, not often evident in such lectures. will ensure that bleach will not get in your through safety precautions, which can pro- Martin Luther King said it thusly: Lifestyles Editor Periodicals postage paid at Kissimmee, FL. eyes and/or in your lungs. tect their health in the long run. “All life is interrelated.” Meaning, what PETER COVINO My preferred method of mold and mil- Robert D. Hajtovik affects some of us will eventually affect Chief Photographer Postmaster: Send address dew removal is to use a garden sprayer to St. Cloud us all. We must evolve humane and ANDREW SULLIVAN changes to: News-Gazette, effective means of managing that inevi- 108 Church St., Circulation Manager table reality. KATHY BECKHAM Kissimmee, FL 34741. The fantasy of escaping it behind an Want to submit a Production Manager impermeable barrier is just that, fantasy. Call 407-846-7600. STEVE KRAUS community event? Because the people caught on the out- Fax 407-846-8516. side will always do what Max does, what Staff Writer Email at Submissions for community events must either be printed or typed on a full KEN JACKSON sheet of paper and mailed or delivered to the News-Gazette office, faxed to 407- you or I would do in the same situation: [email protected]. try to find a way in. 846-8516 or sent by email to [email protected]. Handwritten list- The question is not whether they will The Osceola News-Gazette is on ings on scraps of paper will not be accepted. The deadline for Thursday’s edition get in. It’s how we will treat them when the World Wide Web at: www. is Monday at noon For Saturday’s edition, it’s Wednesday at noon. If any current they do. aroundosceola.com. community events have to be canceled or changed, contact Editor Brian McBride at Leonard Pitts is a columnist for Sun Publications of Florida cannot be held responsible for adver- 321-402-0436. The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, tising claims. We reserve the right to refuse or discontinue any advertising, and to edit editorial content. All materials in these Miami, Fla., 33132. Readers may publications are copyrighted. Publisher will not be liable for any errors in advertising to a greater extent than the cost of the space contact him via email at lpitts@ occupied by the error, and accepts responsibility only for an error in the fi rst week’s issue. miamiherald.com. Saturday, August 24, 2013 • Online All The Time • www.aroundosceola.com • NEWS-GAZETTE, Page A5
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