50 CENTS 112TH YEAR • SATURDAY EDITION NOVEMBER 26, 2011 Panera Bread on East Osceola Parkway is now open. See story, page B-1. OOSCEOLASCEOLA NNEWSEWS-G-GAZETTEAZETTE www.aroundosceola.com • www.holaosceola.com Local news Hartig, Ballot initiatives to be discussed Seeking justice Melendez at two meetings Osceola Ballot Initiatives, a group advocating several changes to the Osceola to head County government charter, will meet twice in December for voters who would like to School learn more about efforts to get proposed charter changes on a ballot. Board The first meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Kissimmee Sports Arena, 1010 Suhl’s Lane, Kissimmee. The arena is off Hoagland Boulevard next to the rodeo grounds, and across from Kissimmee Gate- way Airport. Refreshments will be available for purchase. The second meeting will be Hartig Melendez at 6;30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. By Fallan Patterson 8, at the Narcoossee Commu- nity Center, 5354 Rambling Staff Writer Road, Narcoossee. Cindy Hartig was retained Both meetings are open to as chairman of the Osceola the public. For more informa- County School Board Tuesday tion, call 407-508-1801. after a 4-1 vote during a spe- cial meeting; Julius Melendez Beazer Homes will continue as vice chairman. to collect toys The meeting was not with- Beazer Homes is collecting out controversy as School Toys for Tots this Christmas Board Member Jay Wheeler, season. who has publicly criticized his Theresa Tilton, vice presi- fellow board members in the News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan past, blasted Melendez’s nomi- dent of sales for Beazer Josiah Rivera, now 7, the son of slain Kissimmee resident Alejandro “Alex” Rivera, attended a Nov. 21 can- Homes in Orlando, said toys nation of Hartig. dlelight vigil for his late father and his friend, Hector Santiago, who were robbed and shot tin the parking lot of Wheeler made the first will be collected at Sawgrass the Willow Apartments in 2006. Their assailants are still unidentified. in south Orlando (off Wether- motion for chairman, nominat- bee Road), The Enclave at ing Barbara Horn, who Moss Park near Lake Nona appeared surprised by the sug- and Woodland Lakes Pre- Double homicide unsolved after five years gestion and said she would serve in east Orlando through “respectfully decline.” Wheeler then nominated Dec. 15. By Fallan Patterson and motorists hoping someone will come to open and him to come through,” Car- Tilton said collection hours forward with information. men said. “Until the people (responsible) Melendez, which failed to Staff Writer receive support. are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon- Three days before Thanksgiving “He was a very good man, father and are found, we won’t rest.” day through Saturday and son,” Rivera’s mother, Rivera was an aspiring rap artist, work- Once Hartig was nominat- 2006, on Nov. 20, Alejandro “Alex” ed, Wheeler called the move noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Rivera and his friend, Hector Santiago, Mary Carmen, said, ing at Kissimmee Gateway Airport until adding that the family’s he got his big break and spending as “the worst thing we can do for New candidate were robbed and shot to death in the this district,” citing what he parking lot of the Willow Apartments, 2006 Thanksgiving meal much time with his then-toddler son, Josi- in 2012 was used to feed atten- ah. perceived as Hartig’s detrimen- 1610 W. Carroll St., in tal contribution to the position. clerk of court race Kissimmee. dants at her son’s funeral. Josiah, now 7, listens to his father’s The latest candidate to “It was devastating to music and has decorated his bedroom “She has been the worst With the case still thing that has happened since file to run for Osceola unsolved, Rivera’s family have Thanksgiving with- with images of the man he resembles. County Clerk of Court in out him.” The boy, who loves playing video games, I have been on the School and friends held a can- Rivera Board,” Wheeler, who is in his 2012 is Republican dlelight vigil Monday, the The family uses social media and other sat in front of the sidewalk memorial at Rayelynne Ketchum, of St. sources, such as the America’s Most the vigil, staring at a photograph of his third term, said. “To go down day after the five-year this path is more of the same.” Cloud, who jumped into the Wanted website, to get the word out, smiling father. anniversary of the men’s Horn disagreed with Wheel- race last week. hoping the details will trigger someone’s “That’s my daddy,” Josiah said proud- deaths, in front of the er about his assessment of Other candidates who Santiago memory of that night. ly. “I will never forget him.” apartment complex, Hartig and expressed her filed previously are incum- “You think five years is long enough to while Kissimmee Police Department desire for more cooperation bent Democrat Malcom detectives passed out fliers to residents heal, but I’m still waiting for the front door See Vigil, page A-3 Thompson, of Kissimmee, and respect among board seeking his second term, members under Superinten- and Republicans Arthur R. dent Terry Andrews, despite Osborne and Jarom Fertic, “personality differences.” also of St. Cloud. Fertic is a “She (Hartig) is out in the former St. Cloud City Coun- Grow house suspect shot at undercover vehicle open,” Horn said. “She has cil member. never done anything under conducting surveillance of the table.” Fill the Boat for Police news the residence when an Wheeler was the only board Osceola County occupant fired multiple member to vote against both Osceola County Investigative Bureau shots at an undercover Hartig and Melendez. children Dec. 3 vehicle. The vehicle was The U.S. Coast Guard agents Wednesday charged Mariano The board then discussed Echevarria-Sierra, a registered sex struck at least once. No possible changes in the meet- Auxiliary Flotilla 17-11 will be one was injured during attempting to “Fill the Boat” offender, and Angelo Fernandez with ing schedule to which Wheeler cultivation of cannabis and possession of the incident. suggested keeping meetings in support of Christmas for Two male suspects the Kids Osceola between 10 drug paraphernalia follow- Fernandez closer to 5 p.m. or on weekday ing discovery of a marijua- were taken into custody – later identified mornings to allow district staff a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, as Echevarria-Sierra, 44, and Fernan- Dec. 3, in front of Big Lots na grow house at 81 more evening time with their Andora Court in Poin- dez, 24. Agents then obtained a search families. store in Kissimmee, 2311 W. warrant to enter the residence and Vine St. ciana. “I think we’re flexible Echevarria-Sierra also recovered approximately 20 marijuana enough with this board where Christmas for the Kids plants. Osceola reaches out to local was charged with posses- we can do that,” Wheeler said sion of a firearm by a con- Sheriff’s Office detectives are expect- families in need by providing about the members’ regular job victed felon. Both suspects, ed to charge Echevarria-Sierra and Fer- a gift during the holiday sea- Echevarria- schedules. who lived at the home nandez with attempted felony murder Melendez disagreed, citing son. The organization relies Sierra where the marijuana grow- and shooting into the undercover vehi- Photo/Osceola County Sheriff’s Office accessibility for the parents and on the generosity of the com- ing operation was found, were booked cle, according to Lizasuain. the public as imperative. munity to help reach the goal The grow house found Wednesday into the Osceola County Jail, according The drug operation was conducted in “I think accommodating the of fulfilling the needs of fami- in Poinciana came complete with to Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Twis conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforce- public is more important to lies with children who other- fans to circulate air and a support Lizasuain. ment Agency. increase public participation,” wise wouldn’t be able to cele- system for the plants. At approximately 12:22 a.m. The bureau is a multi-agency task force he said. brate Christmas. Wednesday, bureau agents were comprised of Sheriff’s Office deputies, St. The board voted 4-1, with The goal for 2011 is to agents. The agency investigates vice, nar- involved in an operation in Cloud Police Department officers, Kissim- cotics and organized crime. Wheeler opposed, to keep provide gifts to more than Poinciana after receiving information mee Police Department officers and Flori- the schedule unchanged from See Local news, page A-3 about possible drug activity. Agents were da Department of Law Enforcement See Police news, page A-3 last year. Inside Community Lifestyles Sports Classifieds ........... C-1 For the latest Peter Covino Girls high Community ......... B-4 reviews “Hugo,” an Legals .................. C-4 activities, school bas- Lifestyles ............. B-1 events and early Christmas ketball has Obituaries ........... B-5 classes, see gift from director begun. See Opinion................ A-4 ... Martin Scorsese. preview ... Sports................... A-6 Page B-4 Page B-1 Page A-6 Page A2, NEWS-GAZETTE • Online All The Time • www.aroundosceola.com • Saturday, November 26, 2011 Robert Dent, Rotary Bulletin Editor SERVICE ABOVE SELF Rotary Club of Kissimmee THE FOUR-WAY TEST Of the things we think, say Rotary Foundation Helps Stop World Poverty or do... In more than 34,000 Rotary clubs worldwide, by providing improved sanitation facilities for members volunteer in communities at home and families in a small community in Sri Lanka. Is it the truth? abroad to support education and job training, pro- The third focus is promoting peace and con- Is it fair to all concerned? vide clean water, combat hunger, improve health flict resolution.