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Academy-award win- flag football ners on Blu-ray.... favorites Page B-4 Page B-1 Page A-8 Serving Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Poinciana, Harmony, Narcoossee, BVL 117TH YEAR • SATURDAY EDITION • 50 CENTS MARCH 16, 2013 Business Journal PATHS teacher named best in county By Fallan Patterson sional growth, a statement from variety of places which then trans- to teaching the standards in fresh, Staff writer the School District stated. lates into test scores,” Middleton innovative ways that provide deep Stephanie Middleton, the World Middleton daily inspires ninth said. “Looking at the learning and meaningful connections. history and advanced placement through twelfth grade students gains made by my students over Middleton continues to be an human geography teacher at the to actively engage in learning the year, I am encouraged to con- instructional leader both at her Professional and Technical High and strive higher than they ever tinue to find ways to keep learning school and across the district by School (PATHS), Fri- thought possible, according to a fresh.” giving numerous workshops for day was named as School District press release. She As students today are “digital fellow educators on technology the 2014 Osceola has distinguished herself as one natives,” Middleton has excelled integration in the classroom. As County School Dis- of Osceola’s most dependable and at integrating the latest technology a result, the School District has trict Teacher of the dedicated teachers, having both a into her classroom, including hav- seen an increase in the number of Year. wonderful command of all facets of ing students use their own mobile teachers using a variety of tech- The annual event the curriculum and the gift to know devices, district officials said. nologies. was at the Gaylord how to present them successfully Her instructional methods have Middleton teaches a weekly Osceola’s to her students. translated into higher test scores class on her campus to help teach- Palms Resort in Kis- Middleton newest Tex- simmee. “When learning is made to for students. ers create a course in their respec- Mex restaurant Middleton was recognized for be fun, engaging and done utiliz- In the last two years of teaching tive content areas, and has pre- her energetic learning environ- ing methods such as games and AP human geography, the average sented her knowledge of instruc- opens Tuesday ment she creates daily for her technology that attract students, passing rates for her students on tional technology at both state and Chuy’s in west Osceo- students, her passion for technol- it encourages them, draws them the AP exam were higher than the national conferences. la County will be the 41st ogy integration in the classroom into studying and reviewing, and national average. She attributed in the chain. Read about it and her ongoing thirst for profes- creates learning experiences in a her students’ success and learning See Teacher, page A-2 in this edition of the Jour- nal of Osceola Business See page A-6 Report details CHS Kissimmee apartment drop boxes head football coach’s being burglarized, authorities say Local lack of accounting Police news Trial for accused killer postponed By Fallan Patterson Bertha Hemming- Staff Writer haus’ family will have Kissimmee Police to wait longer for jus- Department detectives are tice in her 1989 mur- searching for two suspects der after her accused linked to a rash of drop box killer Wednesday was thefts at area apartment granted a trial con- complexes. tinuance. The names of Maidalys Casas Conde and Obette See page A-2 Perea’s appear on the mul- tiple money orders that were cashed after being stolen from the drop boxes. News-Gazette Photo/Rick Pedone The couple from Hia- Celebration High School Football Coach Ed Meierkort, leah in Miami-Dade County shown above at a practice last year, failed to account for have not been named sus- a team fundraiser in 2012 according to a report. pects, but police want to What should be the pri- interview them. They might ority of Pope Francis? By Ken Jackson responsibly account for a team be victims of identity theft Staff Writer fundraiser during the 2012 sea- so police want to question Graphic/Andrew Sullivan • Combating sexual An Osceola County School son, according to documents them about their connec- The graphic above shows the order in which the five abuse of children. District investigation completed obtained in a public records tion to the case. Kissimmee apartment complex drop boxes were bur- •Fixing Vatican in December revealed that Cel- request. “We haven’t been able glarized. Kissimmee police are currently looking for corruption. ebration High School head foot- The report also contains state- to contact these people,” two people who they want to question about their con- •Communicating ball coach Ed Meierkort failed to See Meierkort, page A-5 nection to the case. with the youth. See Police, page A-3 • World peace. Stadium staff Vote at Taking time to talk at a town hall www.around enhancing osceola.com Results from the Astros fan March 9 Question of the week: experience Would you eat meat By Ken Jackson from a horse if it was Staff Writer offered at your favorite Through the Houston restaurant? Astros first 10 spring training games at Osceola County Sta- • Yes, I would – 58%. dium this year, fans have been • No, I would not. - treated to some new things. 32.4% The team went retro-style • I’m not sure. – on its uniforms, producing an 5.9% older look and a new logo, • I would want to which are splashed all over taste it first. – 3.7% the ballpark. The team is switching to the American League this year, so the lineups have included a designated hitter Index this year. But other changes are thanks to folks in Kissimmee Page A4, Editorial rather than folks in Houston, and the stadium reached back Page A8, Sports into its own history, going “new” to find its “old”. Page B4, Community Don Miers is the new stadi- Page B1, Lifestyles um manager, taking over for Pete Rodriguez, who retired Page A2 Local news after 10 years as manager and many years before that Page C1, Classi ed working in other capacities at the complex. News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan Page C3, Legals It’s the exact same role Osceola County Commissioner John Quiñones on Wednesday held a town hall style meeting at the Robert Guevarra Com- Page B6, Obituaries Miers held from 1985, when munity Center in Buenaventura Lakes. Quiñones addressed a variety his constituents’ concerns with the help of staff from the Astros moved their spring several county services departments. See Stadium, page A-7 Page A2, NEWS-GAZETTE • Online All The Time • www.aroundosceola.com • Saturday, March 16, 2013 Teacher Trial for accused killer postponed Continued from Page A-1 By Fallan Patterson 2-inch, 120-pound grand- nity south of Kissimmee. Additionally, Middleton son for the success of our FCAT Explorer, Accelerated Staff Writer mother, was found dead Osceola Sheriff Bob helps her students look well school,” said Pete Hodges, Reader and Sumdog Challenge Bertha Hemminghaus’ in her home Hansell said after Hilton’s beyond their immediate sur- Principal of PATHS. “Her for math facts acquisition. She family will have to wait lon- the day arrest that the motive was roundings to become aware tireless efforts have pro- also sets up and arranges the ger for justice in her 1989 before her burglary, although he didn’t of national and interna- duced success with all of after-school tutoring program murder after her accused 80th birthday specify if Hemminghaus tional issues. her students, and she con- at Kissimmee Elementary. Her killer Wednesday was grant- in October walked in on the crime in Her World History class- tinues to work with them to role is vital to the learning ed a trial continuance. 1989. progress or if it was a lie- es raise money for the ensure that they reach their environment that exists at Kis- Johnny L. Hilton was She had in-wait situation. Bead for Life organization academic potential. She simmee Elementary. arrested in August 2011 been raped Hilton, just days shy of that creates sustainable excels at bringing a variety Outside of the classroom, after Osceola County Sher- and died from Hemminghaus his 31st birthday at the time opportunities for women of experiences to help gen- Fitzpatrick performed numer- iff’s Office detectives said blunt force of the murder, was never a to lift their families out erate student interest and ous tasks not in her job descrip- his DNA was connected to trauma, police said. suspect in the 21-year-old of extreme poverty. Her relevance to her instruc- tion. the scene of the murder. Hemminghaus was last cold case. Glocal Club members meet tion.” She oversees the Safety His murder trial now scene around 11:30 p.m. He did not know the regularly to research world Middleton now will rep- Patrol, where she makes sure is scheduled for April 29 on Oct. 7, 1989, enter- victim, although he lived problems and see viable resent Osceola County at to select both exemplary stu- presided by Ninth Judicial ing her home after playing within walking distance solutions as a way to “be the state level in the Flor- dents as well as ones who are Circuit Court Judge Mark cards with her three sisters of Hemminghaus’ home, the change” in the world. ida Department of Educa- having a hard time at home Blechman.