Kissimmee man sentenced to 15 years for drug deal. Page 4. Informing readers. Helping build a stronger community. New football districts. Page 7. 50 CENTS WWW.AROUNDOSCEOLA.COM Thursday, March 25, 2021 Mayor finds partnership KPD training officers how to to help homeless handle youth in Local motels step up to offer rooms to those critical moments By Brian McBride in need Editor With a local school resource officer program recently making headlines, the Kissimmee Police Department is training its offi cers how to handle critical moments when it involves young people. e agency will be role- playing with members of KPD’s Explorer program, which involves residents between 14 and 21 years Jeff O’Dell of age. e members learn that incident was the catalyst about law enforcement for the new training because through practical it’s still under investigation. application and training in When it comes to any the Explorer program. tactical maneuvers, O’Dell Kissimmee Police Chief said offi cers only train with Jeff O’Dell said training other adults. Normally with the Explorers would be offi cers are matched by size “very controlled’ so nobody when it comes to training. gets injured. But what KPD is trying to “We don’t ever give our accomplish is to determine officers a scenario when how much force might be they are talking to a kid or necessary for offi cers when dealing with a kid,” O’Dell dealing with somebody said. much smaller and lighter. NEWS-GAZETTE PHOTO /BRIAN MCBRIDE e chief thought about “If I trained over the Kissimmee Mayor Olga Gonzalez was able to work with the Unno Boutique Hotel on East U.S. Highway 192 to the new training techniques years and it takes me this help house some people who were homeless. after the school resource much force with an adult to officer program has been get their arms under control, I don’t have any other point By Elizabeth Morrisey “I believed in the mayor and I felt getting some recent of reference,” said O’Dell. For the News-Gazette the need to help those that needed attention. “So that’s what we want to help,” he said. Osceola County do is to give them another Helping the homeless is near And he looks forward to helping Sheriff’s Office Deputy point of reference in their and dear to Kissimmee Mayor Olga more in the future. Ethan Fournier, a school training.” Gonzalez’s heart and that is just what In 2020, the tri-county area had resource offi cer at Liberty It’s new training that she did when a cold front came to 416 homeless with 264 of them having High School, is on paid the Kissimmee Police Kissimmee last month. children to care for. ere are 192 now administrative leave after Department could be taking She was able to house more than in supportive housing, said Gonzalez. he slammed female student the lead on because O’Dell 75 homeless people in the local Unno “It would be great to use more Taylor Bracey to the ground said he didn’t know of any Boutique hotel where they could get a hotels. We need to give people the on Jan. 26 while trying to other agencies that were warm shower and some much needed option to get back on their feet. We break up an altercation. It practicing such tactics. basic supplies. can bring back life and love,” she said. was caught on cell phone “I wish I would have “I knew that cold nights were Gonzalez’s pastor Wade Mumm, video and the viral clip though of it sooner,” he coming and I felt in my heart I needed with Greeneway Church in Hunter’s drew national attention. added. to do more,” said Gonzalez, who Creek, wanted to assist with the The Florida Department He hoped that it might started the Church and Community endeavor. Olga Gonzalez of Law Enforcement is provide a model for other Assistance Program. “It was a team “We put our heads together and we currently investigating to see law enforcement agencies. eff ort. It was awesome. At the moment, helped pay for some rooms,” he said. her life when she lost her job and her if any charges are warranted hotels are losing money so this was a “It’s important to help individuals. apartment. against Fournier. win, win situation.” ey are humans.” “I had nowhere to go with three O’Dell wouldn’t say if See Training, Page 3. e fi rst time they had 25 homeless Over the years, church volunteers children,” she said, getting emotional. and the second time was 56 people. have helped donate food to those “I experienced it. I know the pain, but ey were also given backpacks with in need by partnering with Second I met God and He changed my life.” snacks and hygiene products. Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Now she is extremely dedicated to 1st Howard, Baxter Hotel owner Oscar Segura said he Gonzalez knows fi rst-hand what it’s was happy to help. like to be in need. ere was a time in See Partnership, Page 3. memorial scholarship Kissimmee Balloon Festival sailing to Osceola recipient promoted to Heritage Park April 2-4 KPD lieutenant By Brian McBride Submitted by Florida have an associate degree or Editor Technical College 60 college credits, which he completed last year. Looking to lift your The 20-year force In 2018, Berrio was spirits? Well then how about veteran, Lt. Omar Berrio selected as the fi rst recipient a hot-air balloon ride? will receive his Florida See Berrio, Page 4. e Kissimmee Balloon Technical College Criminal Festival presented by e Justice diploma this spring. Balloon Glow Tour will be Just months shy of LOG ON at Osceola Heritage Park tossing his graduation cap Follow us at https:// April 2-4. in the air, Omar Berrio has www.facebook.com/ is outdoor event will achieved a career milestone osceolanewsgazette feature tethered hot air by being named a lieutenant balloon rides, local food at the Kissimmee Police FOLLOW and retail vendors, bounce Department. Follow us on twitter houses and more. e main e former KPD sergeant and instagram event is a balloon glow a er received the honor after @AroundOsceola dark, an experience that completing three years #AroundOsceola organizers say you won’t of his bachelor’s degree want to miss. in criminal justice from According to Balloon Florida Technical College Glow Tour’s website (http:// (FTC). He’s scheduled to balloonglowtour.com) the graduate this spring. One event started in 2018 in of the requirements for the lieutenant position is to See Balloon, Page 4 . CHOOSE AN EXPERT TEAM FOR STATE OF THE HEART CARE. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit OrlandoHealth.com/StCloud 032521.ONG Page 2 OSCEOLA NEWS-GAZETTE Thursday, March 25, 2021 Explore at Home Live your vacation lifestyle right here. Make Plans to Play experiencekissimmee.com/local 032521.ONG Thursday, March 25, 2021 OSCEOLA NEWS-GAZETTE Page 3 LOCAL Council race raises more Gatorland holding School of Croc than $25,000 for Meals on reunion on Facebook Live Wheels program PHOTO/GATORLAND All this week at 10 a.m. on Gatorland Orlando’s Facebook Live, Savannah Boan, left, and other alligator and animal experts in the park will talk about the newest members of the Gatorland animal family SUBMITTED PHOTO Submitted by Gatorland animal experts in the park Conservation Program. There were over 300 participants and over 22 teams that participated in the will talk about the newest School of Croc debuted March for Meals 5K. Gatorland has brought members of the Gatorland in March 2020 when its School of Croc back animal family like Marshall attractions in Central for a reunion tour with its the Kookaburra, Ben and Florida closed their doors in more than 1 million viewers Jerry the Capybaras and response to the COVID-19 around the world. David and Casanova, the pandemic. Gatorland All this week at 10 a.m. newest rescue alligators provided 50 episodes over on Gatorland Orlando’s that came to Gatorland the eight-week quarantine Facebook Live, Savannah from Chicago via the Boan and other alligator and park’s Gatorland Global See Gatorland, Page 4. ASTHMA, ALLERGY SINUS AND IMMUNOLOGY P.A. Imtiaz Ahmed, M.D. F.A.C.A.A.I In COVID Times: SUBMITTED PHOTO Live Life to the Fullest Osceola County Tax Collector Bruce Vicker’s Office won the award for the largest team. See Dr. Ahmed to chek your immunity and to learn how you can boost your immune system. We offer advanced, magic medicines for uncontrolled allergies, asthma, eczema and rashes! Board Certifi ed in Allergy & Immunology, Adult and Pediatric www.DrAhmed.com • (407) 846-4000 022521.ONG SUBMITTED PHOTO Kissimmee Mayor Olga Gonzalez, left, and Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb made it out to the event. The Osceola Council on Some of the winners Council members said they Aging’s March for Meals were: were thankful for all those 5K sponsored by KUA • Largest Team: Osceola who came out to support raised more than $25,000 County Tax Collector Bruce fighting hunger in Osceola for the Meals on wheels Vicker’s Office County. The council wanted program on Saturday, • Most Spirited Team: to thank KUA, Toho Water March 13, at Kissimmee Luck Charmers Authority, city of Kissimmee, Lakefront Park. • Best Female Runner: United Healthcare, Florida There were over 300 Serina Cardosa Blue, Magic Development, participants and over 22 • Best Male Runner: Infill Consulting Services, teams that participated.