W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WGLL All-Stars crowned tourney champs. SEE 1B.
FREE • THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024
VOLUME 91, NO. 24
Good times, grad times! Dr. Phillips, Horizon and Ocoee high schools all celebrate their respective seniors at graduation. 3-5B.
YOUR TOWN WINTER GARDEN HOSTING JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION Join the city of Winter Garden and various partners from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 15, for its Juneteenth Community Celebration. The event takes place at the park at 1203 E. Plant St., Winter Garden, and will offer family activities, guest speakers, children’s performances, a kids zone and more. Seating is limited, so guests are asked to take a lawn chair or blanket. Parking is available at the Healthy West Orange building, 1200 E. Plant St., across the street from the park. Juneteenth, also called Emancipation Day, is June 19 and officially is recognized as a federal holiday.
Praying for rain Precipitation predicted this week could bring relief to the West Orange area, which has experienced several wildfires in recent weeks. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Biologist wins FOLA’s Jim Thomas Award Nathalie Visscher was recognized for her tenacity in protecting Lake Apopka by fighting for the removal of hydrilla in Florida’s fourth-largest lake. SEE PAGE 7A.
Florida Forest Service enlisted its helicopters to help extinguish the May 30 fire in Lake County.
Courtesy photo
Meet a West Point grad! Windermere High School alum Jacob Goldberg became the first Wolverine to complete the military academy. 3A.
Jerry Demings delivers 2024 State of the County The mayor highlighted the county’s achievements and plans for the future during his address Friday, June 7. SEE PAGE 2A.
REAL ESTATE Sanctuary at Twin Waters home tops week’s Winter Garden sales. PAGE 9A.