Clermont, FL Paid Phoenix Women’S Soccer 34711 Clermont, FL Team Begins Play Saturday
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C M Y K PRSRT-STD OPENS PLAY: The NTC Postal Customer U.S. Postage Clermont, FL Paid Phoenix women’s soccer 34711 Clermont, FL team begins play Saturday. Permit #280 SEE PAGE B3 REMEMBER WHEN | B1 Serving Clermont, Minneola, Groveland, Mascotte, Montverde FRIDAY, JUNEOUTH 1, 2012 LAKE RESS50¢ NEWSSTAND S www.southlakepress.com P MINNEOLA Driver fired after kids got sick from contaminant ROXANNE BROWN | Staff Writer stopped en route to Grassy [email protected] Lake and Minneola Ele- Pablo Areas, a Lake mentary Schools to pick up County Schools bus driver the container. who was the focus of an Patton said Areas admit- ted picking up the contain- PHOTOS BY GREG JONES / DAILY COMMERCIAL investigation into how a pressurized container filled er for his own use when Former marine Jeff Raggi of Kissimmee visits his grandfather’s grave with his fiancee. Raggi said visiting the cemetery is a moment questioned. of reflection and not sadness. with Malathion — a pesti- cide — contaminated some “He may not have known BUSHNELL children on his bus last what was in it but that’s just Friday, was fired after it; that’s the point,” Patton reporting to work on said. “It’s dangerous to Tuesday morning. bring a chemical on the A day to honor all who served According to Lake County bus. That can’t be tolerated.” Schools Spokesperson Chris Once on board, the con- Patton, a review of the bus’ tainer somehow was jarred National Cemetery visitors reflect on duty and sacrifice surveillance video spoke or set off, at which time, volumes. some of its contents were GREG JONES | Staff Writer Areas was sent home released in the form of a gas [email protected] Friday when the investiga- that began spewing out of tion began. He’d only been the container. eorge Samuelsen, 87, a World with the district for about By the time the children War II veteran, remembers four to five months, accord- arrived at Minneola Ele- G the tradition of Memorial Day. mentary School, some were ing to Patton. He recalls the days of American’s “The video clearly shows complaining of itchy or waking up and going to the ceme- he (Areas) was responsible burning eyes, trouble tery and decorating the graves of for the chemical being breathing and nausea. In loved ones who fought for their brought onto the bus,” all, about 23 students and homeland. Samuelsen believes Patton said, adding that it adults had to be hosed Memorial Day had a little more seems Areas at one point down and decontaminated. meaning when it was dubbed Decorations Day because of that graveyard tradition. A youth advisor for Holy Cross A man and woman visit a grave at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. Lutheran Church in Spring Hill, Samuelsen believes Memorial Day On Monday, those emotions and said. “I will be buried here. The is not only a holiday to honor the beliefs were evident throughout government does a good job when soldiers but also an opportunity to the Florida National Cemetery in it comes to memorials for soldiers.” teach young Americans why the Bushnell. Former Marine Jeff Raggi was event is celebrated. Dana Gowen, 66, came from visiting his grandfather’s grave. “Yes, I serve this country, and we Orlando to pay his respects. Gowen, “I don’t look at it as a somber still have people serving this coun- moment,” Raggi said. He believes try in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he who received a Purple Heart for his involvement in a rocket attack dur- soldiers served their country and said. “We are here to recognize all don’t think about politics until it is the people who died for this coun- ing the Vietnam War while in the ROXANNE BROWN / DAILY COMMERCIAL Army, said the holiday is special for time to vote. ty. We are here to help the youth “It is about the people next to More than 20 adults and students were hosed down by Minneola and him. He came to visit the grave of a understand their grandparents you, and it is about the people in Clermont firefighters in a decontamination effort after being exposed to sacrificed a lot and loved the chil- friend who fought in World War II. an insecticide identified as Malathion on the bus while en route on May dren of this country.” “This was a wonderful event,” he SEE MEMORIAL DAY | A2 25 to Grassy Lake and Minneola Charter Elementary schools. GROVELAND INSIDE CLASSIFIED B8 Student, football player, family caretaker CROSSWORDS B2 DEATHS A6 REAL ESTATE C1 ROXANNE BROWN | Staff Writer GRADUATION “It’s just me, my mom and sister. [email protected] It’s always been that way. I’ve never REMEMBER WHEN B1 WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday SPORTS B3 James Brooks transferred to South met my dad,” Brooks said. “I try and WHERE: Football field help my mom as much as possible VOICES A4 Lake High School from another CLASS SIZE: About 460 because she had a stroke when she school in Ocala last year when he WORD ON THE STREET A2 graduates was 12 that left her partially para- and his mother and sister needed to VALEDICTORIAN: Not yet determined lyzed on the right side of her body, so get away from a bad situation. SOUTH LAKE PRESS she struggles sometimes with things, He immediately joined the foot- roles as a wide receiver, running and my sister was born with Down VOLUME 97, NO. 22 | 3 SECTIONS ball team, and it was soon clear he back and sometime quarterback syndrome. was an important part of the team. VICTORIA ALDRICH / DAILY COMMERCIAL ©2008, HarborPoint Media. on the back burner for his even “I had to cook and clean and At the end of the day every day, more important role of evening South Lake High School senior All rights reserved. Brooks has had to put his important caretaker at home. SEE GRADUATION | A2 James Brooks poses at the school. www.southlakepress.com C M Y K A2 SOUTH LAKE PRESS Friday, June 1, 2012 What South Lake residents are saying about ... South Lake Briefs CLERMONT Wordon the LIFE AFTER GRADUATION Hospice to host volunteer Street What advice can you give to this year’s graduates? trainings on June 5, 12 Cornerstone Hospice will host train- ing sessions on June 5 and June 12 for individuals who would like to volun- teer to run errands for patients, read a book or magazine to patients, or stay with patients while their main care- givers takes a break. Both sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Blessed Sacra- ment Church, 720 12th St., Clermont. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Interested individuals are asked to preregister by calling volunteer spe- cialists Ann Sheridan at 352-742-6895; I would say for them I think they should If they are going to If they go to college, I I would say not to Sandy Acht at 352-702-1229; or Lisa to continue their stay positive because work, I would say would say take a party so hard and Gray at 352-742-6806. education without the outside world is don’t give up, even course in science or often and instead, stay taking a break or not as easy as they after the first 100 math that applies to focused more on CLERMONT anything because once may think it is. You refusals. That’s how something, not school because that’s you put anything in have to have hope, many I got but you ancient history. what's gonna count in Take a guided tour of front of that, it’s hard and eventually things have to crack open the A RT SPITZER the future. Scrub-Jay Trail Saturday to go back sometimes. will fall into place ... door to a job, then H OWEY-IN-THE-HILLS ALISIA MOHABIR The public is invited to a guided It’s hard to finish your so never give up. I once you do, get WINTER GARDEN tour of the Florida Scrub-Jay Trail, education after life would also say to employed and start 11490 Monte Vista Road in Clermont, gets in the way. listen to your parents, getting a work history. from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. HIRAM RIVERA teachers, coaches or ILETA SPITZER This free educational tour is part of CLERMONT other adults you look HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS the overall citizen effort by the Florida up to because they do Scrub-Jay Consortium to save the fed- have more experience erally threatened Florida scrub-jay, may have gone and is open to all adults and children. through similar Reservations are required by calling things. A SONG TAKU 352-429-5566, or by sending an email MINNEOLA to [email protected]. CLERMONT MEMORIAL DAY LEESBURG | SECOND CHANCE SCHOLARSHIPS Dine Around the Block CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 fundraiser is June 9 The public is invited to enjoy an your country,” he said. “When you are in the military evening with friends at the second you know what you are signing up for.” annual “Dine Around the Block” event Deron Mikal, 79, who represents veterans seeking for New Beginnings from 6 to 9 p.m., compensation and benefits, said the soldiers who June 9, at Minneola City Hall. died for this country represent the standards of Guests will enjoy delicious food America. from the areas best restaurants, beer He said American soldiers fought for freedom and and wine and great entertainment fought against oppressive governments. from the band “Past Tense.” He pointed out the more than 100 people killed Visit www.newbeginningslake.org recently in Houle, in Syria, as an example of the evils or call 352-241-8500 for ticket infor- the American soldiers were facing to preserve free- mation.