Pasco-Hernando State College President Jesse Pisors resigned ahead of a special board of trustees meeting about enrollment data set for Friday morning It has only been a little over a year since Pisors formally assumed the role as the former vice president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio and the University of Houston-Victoria took office in January 2024 The meeting was called by board chair Marilyn Pearson-Adams According to a letter she wrote to her fellow board members Ron DeSantis' Department of Government Efficiency found that the school was second to last in the State College System for student retention that the board had been requesting from Pisors for the past year “Something was not quite right as it had been quite some time since we had received reports with our own internal data,” Pearson-Adams wrote “I found this very alarming for our institution especially with our campuses situated in two of the fastest-growing counties in the state.” There are only two other schools among the state's 28 public colleges that do not have a positive retention rate The report says that over 10,000 students did not stay at the college since the 2023 fall term which resulted in up to $10 million of revenue loss from us going from college-wide to now individual campuses and two hurricanes… this year for student life has been very intense,” student speaker Emmalise Feliciano said at the meeting “I can trust in our team and everyone here that the students are going to come back That our retention is going to come up," Feliciano added the college's Vice President of Government Relations and General Counsel “My suggestion would be...until our next meeting for Andrea to fill that role until our very next meeting,” trustee John Allocco Jr Despite the audience cutting him off with a loud chorus of “no’s,” trustees unanimously approved his appointment “We have upcoming graduation ceremonies that need to be addressed,” Allocco said “We just have daily business that he's very capable of managing until we get to that point where we have that discussion.” An emergency meeting to discuss a possible interim president and determine the best course of action will take place on Tuesday at the school's West Campus in New Port Richey His resignation came the day before the school’s board of trustees had planned a special meeting In a letter to her fellow board members last week Chairperson Marilyn Pearson-Adams wrote that the Gov Ron DeSantis’ Department of Government Efficiency found that PHSC was second to last in student retention among the state’s 28 public colleges especially with our campuses situated in two of the fastest growing counties in the state,” Pearson-Adams wrote she directed criticism toward Pisors for not disclosing the declining enrollment “especially considering our continued requests over the past 12 months regarding this type of information and data.” According to analysis provided to the school by the state DOGE team nearly 60% of students enrolled last fall did not return in this spring The low retention resulted in a revenue loss of up to $10 million The DOGE report also indicates that more than 10% of students were denied a diploma for failing to meet graduation requirements in the past three semesters In a February executive order on efficiency DeSantis said he expected state colleges and universities to help “identify and eliminate unnecessary spending “In terms of the bureaucracies and administrative are we a well-oiled machine or is there room for improvement?” DeSantis said at a March meeting of state university leaders Last month, the governor’s office asked all colleges and universities to hand over a detailed list of grants and research conducted by faculty over the past six years. Andrea Brvenik, the college’s general counsel and vice president of government relations, will act as interim president until a permanent replacement is chosen. Ian Hodgson is an education reporter for the Tampa Bay Times, working in partnership with Open Campus. Ian Hodgson is the higher education reporter. Reach him at ihodgson@tampabay.com. The Florida Department of Health works to protect and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state The Florida Healthy Babies Initiative is a statewide effort to reduce infant mortality This collective strength of partners works together to improve the health and well-being of Floridians.  The Florida Healthy Babies-Hernando Partnership meets virtually Please contact Candi Cook for information on the next meeting Florida Healthy Babies-Hernando Partnership Goals: Join our Partnership and help us to protect the lives of our babies RNDirector of NursingFlorida Department of Health in Hernando County352-540-6800 Photo: Hernando players celebrate with Macie Dever Boaz after her fifth-inning home run against Lewisburg 2025 – The Hernando High School softball team is known to have a talented stable of pitchers four players who can spin strikes with the best of them.   Junior Haylee Jackson is among the pitching quartet coach Nicki Whitten has at her disposal and when Jackson shut down the Lewisburg offense in a 7-1 victory Friday night that evened the MHSAA 7A second-round playoff series at one-game each Whitten said there was no doubt who she would call on to pitch in Saturday’s series-deciding game three “She deserved the ball in her hand tonight Jackson delivered with an even better performance Saturday than Friday as she handcuffed Lady Patriot bats to just one hit a run-scoring single to right from Lexi Edmiston that scored Leona-Klaire Stokes from second in the Lewisburg sixth inning.   Coming together as a team after the game-one loss to Lewisburg 10-8 was a key to the last two games “We all came together as a team after that first loss and we’re gonna do this thing,” Jackson said.  Whitten said she challenged her team to step up and produce more at the plate and I feel like they did that tonight,” Whitten said “Haylee holding them to one run with our defense behind her but kept Lewisburg from bunching opportunities together in the Lady Tigers’ 30th win of the season (31-2) entering this weekend’s North Half finals against Madison Central.   Designated player Kaitlyn Gentry had three hits for Hernando and Olivia Higginbotham had two runs-batted-in Callie Desmond doubled and Macie Dever Boaz homered to open the bottom of the sixth inning.   “She’s added a lot to our offense,” Whitten said of Dever Boaz you know that she’s gonna hit the ball somewhere The ball is gonna be put in play and it’s gonna be hit hard somewhere.” Hours after Vail Perkins’ three-run walkoff homer gave Northpoint an 11-8 win over University School of Jackson and with the win secured a spot in the TSSAA Division II-A state playoffs the Trojans were back at it Saturday afternoon posting a 7-4 over Evangelical Christian (ECS) at Gagliano Field in Memphis The win moved the Trojans into a Monday meeting with St George’s (Collierville) in the double-elimination West Region tournament and sets up Monday’s winner to take on Lausanne Collegiate in the championship round.   The Eagles had a 4-0 lead in the third inning before Northpoint scored a pair of runs The difference in the game became a five-run fifth inning that gave coach Stephen Kirkpatrick’s team Saturday’s victory.   Landon Lay and Jack Harrell each drove in a pair of runs for Northpoint and five players each had two hits against four ECS pitchers Jayden Parker and Nolan Bone had two hits each with Parker hitting a double.   Kirkpatrick described his team as “resilient” in coming from behind to win.   and the pitching and defense kept us in it,” Kirkpatrick said “We finally will hit the big inning and we did it when we needed to.” Freshman pitcher Palmer King got the win with six innings of work and struck out five while allowing one walk.  Kaden Clayborn worked the seventh inning in relief and struck out one.    Monday’s winner actually faces a doubleheader as the Northpoint-St George’s winner plays Lausanne Collegiate in the championship round The task is daunting coming from the loser’s bracket as Northpoint would need to beat St and Lausanne again on Tuesday to win the region title.   ECS becomes the fourth seed from the West Region in the upcoming state playoffs and Northpoint can now finish no worse than third.   TSSAA Division II-A West Region tournament  MHSAA 7A second round (best of three-game three) Hernando voters have elected the city's next alderman at-large Lauren Leigh McLendon (786 votes) defeated Jeff Hobbs (734 votes) in the April 22 Republican primary runoff election With no Democratic or independent candidates vying for the post McLendon will fill the seat currently held by W.I The at-large alderman race was one of only two contested races in Hernando this year In the race for Alderman Position 5, challenger Kristoffer "Kit" Kitchens defeated incumbent Beth Rone Ross 217-147 in the Republican primary on April 1 as well as four aldermen — Natalie Tinnin Lynch (Position 1) Chad Wicker (Position 4) and Ben Piper (Position 6) DESOTO COUNTY NEWS: Memphis Hall of Famer Bruno Lauer talks WWE, The Rock and work as Mississippi alderman Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal covering DeSoto County, as well as Dining in the Memphis area. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com Hunter Fraccia began his amazing journey at age 3 “I’ve been showing all of them ever since,” Hunter said FFA (Future Farmers of America) as well as a plethora of other organizations specific to the breeds that I show.” and world levels during his time with the organization The accomplished senior has even won titles at all of these levels as well he is the President of the Brooksville Senior FFA and the Pure Country 4H Club and is involved in various community service events and educational seminars “It’s really my passion and ultimately what I plan to have my career in.” Hunter has held officer positions with 4-H county and district councils and has even represented the organization in Tallahassee Fraccia talked with senators and representatives about what he has learned from the program Conversations like these help to maintain funding and support for these instructional agricultural endeavors Also serving as an agricultural ambassador for the Florida Agriculture Wildlife Expo (FAWE) Hunter promotes the program within the community and answers citizens’ questions about agriculture and the exposition itself “He is very good as far as teaching the other youth passing on his skills and knowledge that he has to other youth and mentoring them as well,” said Dianna Noggler the high school senior has earned community service hours towards his scholarship Fraccia participated in several events to help the community The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recognized Hunter at the April 22 meeting for his exceptional community service and his achievements of 13 years continuing while he is attending Pasco-Hernando State College while simultaneously finalizing his high school career at Hernando High School Hunter is considering attending the University of Florida to become a large animal veterinarian and he is also considering becoming an agricultural attorney Commissioner Jerry Campbell commented on the importance of agriculture and commended Hunter’s passion “People take it for granted … Those eggs don’t come from the supermarket The meat doesn’t come from the supermarket The vegetables don’t come from the supermarket.” It all starts in agriculture About the Florida Agriculture and Wildlife Expo: According to the organization’s website the FAWE’s stated mission is “to preserve and enhance the rich heritage of our agriculture and wildlife communities.” They strive to do so by holding events for the public to take part in Contact us: [email protected] Photo: Hernando pitcher Haylee Jackson stymied Lewisburg batters during Friday’s 7-1 MHSAA 7A playoffs victory Hernando’s Bella Adams drove in four runs while pitcher Haylee Jackson and the Lady Tiger defense stymied Lewisburg hitters in Friday’s 7-1 MHSAA 7A softball playoff series game two Hernando’s victory evens the best-of-three series at 1-1 and sets up a deciding game three Saturday night at Hernando Middle School Adams was “money” when it counted for coach Nicki Whitten’s Lady Tigers With Hernando ahead 1-0 in the top of the third inning Adams belted a line drive base hit to score Jayla Sites and Olivia Higginbotham The two-out single gave the Lady Tigers a 3-0 lead Two more runs came off the bat of Adams during a three-run fifth inning when her sacrifice fly again scored Sites and Higginbotham for a 5-1 lead Macie Dever Boaz followed with a double to right that scored Kaitlyn Gentry for 6-1 Hernando lead a lead that seemed to break the backs of the Lady Patriots One more run was scored in the seventh as a bit of insurance While Adams and the Hernando offense seemed explosive when needed with an eight-hit attack Jackson and the defense proved to be very stingy Jackson kept Lewisburg batters off-balance by giving up only four singles and Hernando’s fielders played errorless ball grown so much from just last year,” said Whitten of Jackson ” She’s shown up every time this year so I couldn’t be more proud of her.” MHSAA 7A second round (best of three-game two) Hernando residents will head back to the polls April 22 to decide one final municipal race In the April 1 Republican primary no candidate in the alderman at-large race received more than 50% of the vote Jeff Hobbs (612 votes) and Lauren Leigh McLendon (464 votes) advanced to the runoff The at-large alderman seat is currently held by W.I is running for election again after serving Ward 6 for 12 years Some of Hobbs’ listed key priorities include investing in public parks meeting growing infrastructure demands and supporting improvements to Hernando’s police and fire services has previous leadership experience as director of operations “for a top ten national chemical distributor.” Her goals include supporting first responders protecting parks and maintaining Hernando’s “small town charm and values." With no Democrat or independent candidate running the runoff effectively decides who wins the seat The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management it's essential for residents to know if they live in an evacuation zone This is because these areas and buildings are the most likely to be evacuated If an evacuation order is not issued for your area and your house is not part of an evacuation zone Hernando County is divided between evacuation zones A-E with A being considered the most vulnerable and likely to be evacuated first Type in your address in the map below to find out which zone you are located in. If you have trouble accessing, click here you should leave with enough time to get to where you will weather the storm You should also make sure your destination is not in an area that has been ordered to evacuate evacuation shelters will be available to residents as a last resort They will be open based on the nature and timing of the threat to the county You should not go to a shelter unless local officials have announced it is open For any updated shelter information, click here. You can also keep up with the county's social media on Facebook and X If you need assistance in an evacuation or need to go to a special needs evacuation shelter, please register with the Hernando County Emergency Management by clicking here or calling (352) 754-4083 Pre-registration helps the county when time is limited If you're registered in an event of an emergency you'll be in the system for transportation and sheltering The special needs evacuation shelters do not provide hands-on medical care Examples of qualifying medical needs include the use of oxygen or the use of medical equipment To sign up for Hernando County's emergency alert program, click here They range in age from around ten years to Senior Citizens and represent a wide variety of groups and organizations but the one thing they have in common is a desire to serve unselfishly…without pay more than ninety of these people were honored at a Heroes Among Us ceremony hosted by U.S More than forty groups and organizations serve various age and demographic groups from the unborn (A New Generation) and those entering the last stages of life (HPH Hospice) to the mentally ill (NAMI) and veterans (K9 Partners for Patriots) It was practically standing room only at the Elks Lodge 2582 on County Line Road in Spring Hill when the honorees and members of their respective organizations gathered to witness the names being called out along with the reasons they were nominated What made this honor especially important is that Bilirakis entered their names and associated information into the Congressional Record “Volunteers are the ones who show up when there is a need who lend a helping hand without asking for anything in return and who inspire all of us with their selflessness.” many of the programs and initiatives wouldn’t be possible You help bring our shared values to life and make our communities stronger These public servants are indeed the backbone of our community,” he continued Several Hernando County groups and organizations nominated volunteers for this award Hernando County Family YMCA of the Suncoast National Alliance On Mental Illness Hernando (NAMI) Ridge Manor Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Need A New Generation nominated Frank Cassarà for this prestigious award A New Generation helps women with pregnancy testing and counseling Andrea Read and Casey Thieryung represented Brooksville Main Street They were recognized for their untiring efforts to promote the downtown businesses and bring more tourism to the area by organizing such events as Christmas on Main family-friendly events or want to volunteer Brooksville Main Street issued the following statement: “These individuals embody the very heart of Brooksville and countless volunteer hours have directly contributed to the growth and vibrancy of our historic downtown.” Debbye Warrell was recognized as an outstanding volunteer by the Hernando County Education Foundation (HCEF) an organization that works to advance student achievement and promote excellence within the public schools Among its activities are fundraisers for student scholarships; the Cinderella program which donates prom dresses to students who can’t afford them; the Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year programs; and the Tools 4 Schools Boutique where teachers can pick up supplies free of charge to supplement what is budgeted for their classrooms Warrell had a distinguished career as a school Media Specialist she was hired by the school district to oversee the school media centers Warrell has volunteered 5,000 hours with HCEF in various capacities For more information on the Hernando County Education Foundation go to: www.hernandoeducationfoundation.org The Hernando County Family YMCA of the Suncoast nominated Teresa Piechowicz and Gerry Whitted for their volunteer efforts with that organization Piechowicz “is always the first to arrive and last to leave She has the unique ability to lift others up…and stepping in wherever she is needed without hesitation.” Gerry Whitted was described as “an unstoppable force of generosity and action.” He is one of the leaders of the YMCA’s “Togetherness Program.” Through fun competitions the program encourages its members to excel at collecting food for organizations such as People Helping People and funds for scholarships for people who can’t afford to join the YMCA He ensures that the ‘Y’ remains a pillar of strength for those served Sue Simone was honored for her work with HPH Hospice They offer palliative care to individuals in the last stages of their lives and support for those individuals and their families as a founding member of the Women of Giving (WOG) Simone played a crucial role in laying the foundation for its fundraising efforts was honored by K9 Partners for Patriots for her work in “training veterans to train their dog,” as she puts it the most rewarding aspect of what she does is “seeing that dog choose that veteran and seeing the change in that veteran from day one.” “Once a match is made…she remains a constant source of support always just a phone call away during late nights and weekends.” She admits that finding the right dog for the veteran can sometimes be challenging and sometimes the veteran has to wait to be matched these service dogs have literally saved their owner’s life For more information about K9 Partners for Patriots National Alliance on Mental Illness Hernando (NAMI) nominated Joanne Gillespie and Tommy Baker for the Heroes Among Us award Tommy played a pivotal role in strengthening NAMI Hernando’s foundation guiding strategic growth and supporting long-term sustainability.” Joanne Gillespie is a retired Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher “As the mother of an adult son living with schizophrenia Joanne brings personal insight and professional experience to everything she does.” she has taught Family-to-Family and led family support groups offering encouragement and understanding to others.” To find out more about NAMI (PHP) nominated Mary Adams for her dedication to that organization Not only has she served as treasurer on the Board of Directors but she has also given countless hours to help with some of the services they offer These include serving meals to these often overlooked members of our community providing hot showers and laundry facilities to the homeless and free medical care to those who can’t afford it Fifteen people from the Ridge Manor Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Need group received recognition at the ceremony Although many of these people also suffered damage to their homes power outages and other effects of Hurricane Milton they stepped up to bring in government and non-profit resources and solicit food and clothing for those less fortunate They worked from October until mid-December on these relief efforts the principal of Eastside Elementary School and one of the volunteers they organized a family BBQ with the help of vendors and multiple agencies We also rode the school bus to the affected areas and passed out food kits we would get on a boat and deliver supplies.” Springstead High School in Hernando County recognized Dean Lancaster for his amazing talent as a volunteer announcer for their football “He [Lancaster] blew everyone away and gave a college-like feel to the game,” his first time out Lancaster has been asked to announce at other school events such as Senior Night and their annual Cheerleading competition He explained that announcing at these events is his way of giving back to the community United Way of Hernando County selected Donna Telesco for the Heroes Among Us Award She has volunteered with several of the organization’s programs United Way supports many non-profit organizations through its fundraising efforts they partner with local businesses with pledge drives in which employees contribute to the effort One of its many missions is supporting education through such projects as Stuff the Bus (collecting school supplies for students) They also assist the elderly with their Dementia Care Support Groups and offer help to people with filing their income tax through their VITA program These are just a few of the many services that United Way offers All the volunteers honored last Thursday evening are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to volunteerism in the Tampa Bay area And the value of their services in both dollars and cents and goals accomplished is infinite Contact us: [email protected] DeSoto County softball coaches have announced their post-season awards for all-county and all-Region 1-7A selections Here are the selections for all-Region 1-7A honors Londen Armstrong of DeSoto Central was tabbed as Most Valuable Player Colby Young of DeSoto Central was named Pitcher of the Year and Hernando’s Nicki Whitten was named Coach of the Year Here is the all-DeSoto County softball team selections: Coach of The Year – Nicki Whitten – Hernando Following its three-game series victory over Lewisburg Saturday night Hernando softball released the schedule for the North Half championship series with Madison Central The teams square off first at Madison Central on Wednesday for game one then come to Hernando on Thursday for game two will be back at Madison Central on Friday night The YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South has announced a new YMCA will be coming to Hernando This was made possible through a generous donation from the Maddox Foundation a long-time supporter of community organizations in the area.  is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting a wide range of nonprofits they continue to make a significant impact on communities across Northwest Mississippi.  In recognition of Dan Maddox’s enduring legacy the new YMCA facility will be named in his honor to ensure that Dan’s commitment to philanthropy continues to inspire future generations.  This addition to the Hernando community is part of the Delta Landing development plan and is expected to break ground in Fall 2025.  The YMCA noted that the 9.37 acre plot of land where the Dan Maddox YMCA will live was graciously donated by the McBride Family This YMCA location will feature a wide range of amenities designed to support health Key offerings include a state-of-the-art natatorium with spectator seating a vibrant outdoor water experience with cabanas Youth and families will benefit from dedicated spaces and services tailored to younger members including a multi-purpose youth and family area A modern wellness center and a dynamic group exercise studio round out the experience “This is going to be an incredible YMCA,” said Robin Hurdle “It’s going to be an incredible community asset.”   Yearly Subscriptions: $56 for Full Access (Print and Digital)Digital Subscriptions: Are $46 a Year Copyright 2024-2025 Coopwood Publishing Group | PO Box 117 | Cleveland it took a drawn-out and contentious process for the Hernando County School Board to pick Ray Pinder as the new superintendent There was a staunchly different vibe at the April 22 workshop as the board members were unanimous in their praise of Pinder while discussing their evaluation of his first year on the job and agreed to move forward with negotiations for a multi-year contract “I feel that it’s a pleasure working with you Pinder,” Board Chairperson Shannon Rodriguez said “You have implemented different things here in our district that needed to happen and you were open to suggestions and you’ve always been So I love the fact that we have an open communication with all of us as board members with you The board accelerated its timeline for the superintendent evaluation from the fall to the spring due to Pinder being on a one-year contract With previous superintendent John Stratton retiring at the end of the last school year the board decided to hire his replacement on an interim basis since it was an election year who was at the time the assistant superintendent of business and support services Not only was he an internal candidate with over 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator within the district but he is “homegrown,” having come up through the school system and graduated from Hernando High in 1987 I do have a little bit of an advantage over all of you as administrator to administrator working with him,” board member Susan Duval said Stratton was perfect in his wanting Ray to come to the district level and move Ray into different positions capture that learning experience district-wide “Ray has taken on the role of responsibility in a manner that I find every honorable and his breadth of knowledge and his expertise in administration and communication has served this district well Duval is the only current board member who voted to hire Pinder last June Rodriguez had pushed for former Parrott Middle School and Moton Elementary principal Brent Gaustad who ended up withdrawing his name just before the final vote Rodriguez had been a harsh critic of Stratton during his tenure a trend she continued during the April 22 workshop She responded to Duval’s comment about Stratton moving Pinder into district administration by saying that was the one thing the previous superintendent did right That began a terse exchange between Rodriguez and Duval with the former feeling she was entitled to express her opinion and the latter warning she may become more willing to offer her own Rodriguez’s evaluation of Pinder frequently referenced how things have improved “Your visibility and communication; you created a schedule to visit school sites and district departments to speak with all stakeholders,” Rodriguez told Pinder I have said that we need to get out and talk to the teachers and it needs to be more than just the board members when we go and visit our schools and hearing their hearts and how they feel very important to me and you have done that Johnson and myself have been saying that up here and there’s things that they can bring to the table and suggestions But they really didn’t feel that they had the platform to be able to do it So you have changed that and that means a lot.” Rodriguez also noted that Pinder has brought back the Leader in Me program to the district to improve discipline issues that he has increased the number of participants in the School Safety Guardians program to increase safety at schools and he has started a recognition program for staff with over 30 years in the district The common thread among all the board members was that Pinder’s greatest strength was his communication and the work he has done to stay connected to everyone involved with the district “There isn’t anything that I ask you to attend that you say no “That means a lot also to our constituents and to everybody in the community to see you’re engaged and to see that you are out at all these events Rodriguez also had Pinder speak to his efforts to fill ESE jobs in the district and his desire to raise the level of respect for staff by asking they adhere to an appropriate dress code “I would say all those things sound amazing and that’s another reason why we want to keep him here to keep those wheels going and give him more time to continue what he’s starting,” board member Kayce Hawkins said Pinder said he was “perfectly fine” entering into talks on a multi-year contract with three years being the typical standard The caveat is the impending possibility that superintendent may become an elected position in Hernando County I support employees and I support our students,” Pinder said I took forward to that conversation moving forward.” Contact us: [email protected] Expect a group of protesters at the DeSoto County Courthouse Thursday during the noon hour as part of a national action on May Day observed in many countries as International Workers’ Day.   The Hernando protest is part of over 1,000 events in 851 cities across the country Most of the protests will be targeted at President Donald Trump with organizer Kelly Jacobs stating that participants are asking Sen Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) to be involved in a Congressional action to “Impeach Convict and Remove President Trump” from office “Trump has attacked the very foundation of our Democracy,” Jacobs does not respect and obey the orders from our Courts nor protect the American people His directives only profit the millionaires.”  Jacobs said the May Day action is dedicated to “fighting for a better future that prioritizes the needs of working families and their neighborhoods by removing Trump from office.” After Public Safety Director and Fire Chief Paul Hasenmeier presented the projected annual increases for the Fire Assessment Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU) to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) the BOCC came to an agreement to attempt to reduce the proposed maximum 7 percent annual increase During the June public hearing on the subject the rate could be adjusted downward from the maximum All commissioners agree they would like to see a rate increase under 7 percent most are concerned that lowering the rate increase to 5 percent (maximum) would result in a revenue shortfall the largest driver for the proposed increases is the steadily rising population The data was presented from a study conducted by Raftelis County attorney Jon Jouben added that the reason for the professional study is to show justification for any increase in taxes In addition to incidents that require a response from the fire department HCFR currently has capital improvement plans in place and budgeted for five additional fire stations – three on the west side of the county and driveway repairs for two existing stations With additional fire stations coming online additional personnel will be required to staff them Hasenmeier was directed to contact Raftelis to find additional modifications that would decrease the maximum MSBU that was presented at the April 22 meeting Commissioners do not disagree that the department needs to increase revenue but are also concerned about overburdening taxpayers Commissioners also noted that the board could review the fire assessment year-to-year before 2030 and decrease rates in the future if it is rational to do so Commissioner Steve Champion is still strongly opposed to any increase Champion and Hasenmeier discussed the large differences in rate increases since 2016 Champion maintained that the fire assessment rate has doubled Hasenmeier answered that there were several years when no action was taken to adjust the MSBU “If you don’t keep up with CPI (The Consumer Price Index) you’re going to have to take a big jump instead of doing a steady increase.” The big jump appears to take place in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26) residential owners could see a one-percent decrease and the fire MSBU for industrial and warehouse properties could drop by 59 percent most other property types could see a large increase unimproved properties and acreage could jump 349 percent next year Other increases show commercial properties potentially increased by 12 percent Contact us: [email protected] A Spring Hill man shot and killed his wife before taking his own life Monday in what investigators say appears to be a murder-suicide according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office A family member called 911 around 12:29 p.m on April 28 after discovering the bodies of his father and stepmother inside their home on Dristol Avenue The relative told detectives that he went to the residence after his father’s employer contacted him the family member found Bowman and his wife deceased in a bedroom both suffering from apparent gunshot wounds The relative also told deputies that the couple had ongoing marital issues and that the wife had been seeking a divorce According to the preliminary investigation Anyone experiencing domestic violence is encouraged to seek help from one of the following resources: Contact us: [email protected] Contact us: [email protected] Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a county policy that will form the Hernando County Delegation on Government Efficiency (DOGE) Commissioner Ryan Amsler presented the third and final revision of the policy which will recruit county residents “to have a further stake and further input into their local government and local government expenditures.” Nine volunteers will be chosen via a lottery system from applications submitted by Hernando County residents before 12 p.m Applications will not be accepted from individuals who currently sit on committees governed by Florida’s Sunshine Law The delegation will be governed by Florida’s Sunshine Law meaning that all discussion regarding HC-DOGE business must take place during public meetings Hernando County resident Richard Ross—who pronounced DOGE (“doje”) as “Doggie”—shared his thoughts on the policy “Department of Government Efficiency but like most government boards will grow into a Bull Mastiff that has rabies pretty quickly,” Ross said “If you can’t get nine people in this county to volunteer to be on it something’s wrong with the county not giving a rip about whether the government’s efficient or not.” Ross went on to challenge the salaries of the County Commissioners “The average (individual) wage in Hernando County: $44,602 (annually)… half the people of this county make less than $66,875 for a family A family of eight in this county — median income $126,850.” According to the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) an individual Hernando County commissioner’s salary in fiscal year 2024-25 is $91,124 the way the State sets it up… you can voluntarily reduce your salaries to the base salary of $16,500 (based on 2023-24 EDR data) That puts a chunk of money back into the General Fund every year… it pays for a lot of different things look in the mirror… there’s some cutting to be done there too All applicants must be residents and registered voters in Hernando County Applications are available in the County Attorney’s Office 34601; by calling 352-754-4122; or by visiting www.HernandoCounty.us/committees Applications must be returned to the County Attorney’s Office no later than 12:00 p.m. Contact us: [email protected] Hernando's at-large alderman race is headed to a runoff after none of the three candidates earned more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday's Republican primary Jeff Hobbs (612 votes) and Lauren Leigh McLendon (464 votes) will advance to a runoff on April 22 challenger Kristoffer "Kit" Kitchens defeated incumbent Beth Rone Ross meaning the Republican primary and runoff effectively decide who wins the seats — Hernando County is implementing an emergency burn ban in all unincorporated areas effective immediately due to ongoing drought conditions that pose a risk of brush fires According to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) the Keetch-Byram Drought Index reached 559 and is still rising making it a “Very High” fire danger according to the Florida Forest Service Forecast This ban prohibits all forms of outdoor burning and the burning of vegetation and yard debris It does not include using contained gas or charcoal grills for cooking WATCH: Hernando County implements emergency burn ban amid rising fire danger Deputies want to remind people that even small actions such as discarding a lit cigarette in grassy areas “We appreciate your cooperation to ensure the safety of the community and visitors The burn ban will continue to be in effect until further notice,” HCSO said call the Hernando County Communications Center at (352) 754-6830 and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Report a typo MS — Clinton advanced to the second round of the MHSAA 7A Playoffs Saturday with an 11-5 win over Hernando to cap a 2-game sweep of the Tigers Brody Zumbro picked up the win for the Arrows with 1 2/3 innings of perfect relief Phillip Burchfield worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his fourth save exploding for four runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the second inning for a 6-0 lead Stone Crain blasted his sixth homerun of the season in the 2-run second inning The Pearl River commit also homered twice in the Arrows' 9-7 game one victory Hernando pulled within a run with four runs in the third inning and another run in the sixth before Clinton answered with five runs in the bottom of the sixth The Arrows pounded out ten hits Ethan Dodson collecting a game-high three hits Parker Thames and Chad Bates each had two hits Brannon Overstreet took the loss for Hernando Axton Westmoreland led the Tigers with two hits Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription One doesn’t ordinarily picture a Stephen King novel as a musical The themes presented in “Carrie” range from the effects of bullying to the consequences of revenge This is Keith Surplus’ debut as a solo director although he has co-directed several other plays including “Camelot” and “The Four Old Broads” series With “Carrie,” they’re incorporating plenty of special effects which Keith admits were challenging at times Many of the cast are new to Stage West; so one of the rewarding aspects of directing this show was seeing the cast come together as a family Everyone has been patient with one another and with me,” Keith remarks Ever since he saw an off-Broadway revival in 2012 “It’s surreal that the show is finally happening especially here at Stage West,” Keith adds Cast in the lead role of Carrie is Baylee Roberts This is Baylee’s first time appearing at Stage West; however She started out in dance when she was two years old Baylee started voice lessons and has continued performing since one of the rewarding aspects of acting is “telling other people’s stories and getting to speak for people who aren’t as heard or whose stories people don’t care as much about anymore—telling their stories in a more entertaining or powerful way.” “Carrie” has been a dream come true for Baylee “Getting to be this character and being in Keith’s production That’s the biggest reward,” Baylee concludes where she played in “Bye Bye Birdie.” From that point on she was “obsessed [with theater],” as she puts it Diane sings seven songs in “Carrie,” making this her biggest singing role in her career The part of Martha was challenging because it was her first time playing the antagonist she had always played “the good girl.” To get into character she listened to some of the songs that Martha sings is one of the two driving forces that spur Carrie to do what she does and drive her to create chaos Bre started dancing “before I was literally out of diapers” and has been on stage most of her life She recently played Sally Bowles in Stage West’s production of “Cabaret.” “The opportunity to connect with the actors on stage and the audience members and to yourself” is one of the most rewarding aspects of acting “I find out a lot more about myself with every new character I play.” Bre’s main challenge was playing someone who is so mean-spirited she strived to find the humanity in her character She created a back story in her mind for Chris which helped Bre to understand the character better She’s been in many shows at Stage West but is especially excited about being in “Carrie” and playing this particular part and it’s a role I’ve always wanted to play.” and there’s a lot of dancing in “Carrie.” The multiple quick changes were also challenging Garrett got his start in children’s theatre when he was in grade school He went on to high school productions and then to community theatre performing in the musical “Newsies” was one of his favorite performances He finds acting rewarding because “it’s fun to step into a scene and interact with another character.” Garrett also enjoys singing and doing harmonies playing Tommy was a bit challenging because most of the parts he’s played have been comedic Caleb got started in theatre while in high school he took a hiatus and then got back into acting just two years ago One of his favorite parts was playing the titular role in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Like several of the other actors the rewarding aspect about theatre is that “it has the power to tell a story that you’re able to convey emotions to an audience.” The most challenging aspect of playing Billy is that his personality and morals are so different from Caleb’s I like to put myself in the character’s shoes so I have to figure out why he is so mean.” Although the plot of “Carrie” is unrealistic in many aspects given that bullying is so much in the news Keith has changed the setting to the present rather than keeping it in the 1970s when King wrote the novel “I love any show that has powerful life messages and can get the audience to feel various emotions,” Keith states You may feel discomfort and even revulsion at some aspects of the play but you can’t deny that the acting is excellent and the show will stay with you long after the curtain goes down There will be only three performances of “Carrie.” These are Friday and Saturday You can purchase tickets online at www.stagewestplayhouse.org or by calling the box office at 352-683-5113 Contact us: [email protected] Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMEMPHIS a Memphis church hailed as an epicenter during the civil rights movement has suffered significant damage after catching fire and burning during the early morning on April 28 the fire broke out at the historic location on Hernando Street near Pontotac Avenue Memphis Fire Department says the church has sustained significant damage and most of the damage was done to the inside of the building The National Civil Rights Museum released the following statement on the loss of the building: The recent fire that consumed Clayborn Temple is a devastating blow a nerve center of the Civil Rights Movement was more than just bricks and stained glass; it was a beating heart of a community that chose unity over division Clayborn Temple stood as a symbol of organized resistance and hope during the 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike it wasn’t just about better wages; it was about dignity about declaring that Black lives and labor mattered in a city that often acted indifferent despite cycles of neglect and efforts at preservation Clayborn Temple remained a powerful reminder that in the face of obstacles collective action and faith can build something stronger Its destruction by fire is another somber chapter in a long story of devastated sacred spaces it’s this: Clayborn Temple will rise again because its foundation was never merely physical the spirit of “Community Over Chaos” is stirring Financial recovery efforts must be coordinated Preservationists should be examining the remains to save what they can Plans for rebuilding—not just restoring the past but reimagining Clayborn Temple for future generations—must be underway The protection strategies have now become mission-critical: fire-resistant construction materials and stronger community engagement must anchor the rebuilding But just as important will be reaffirming what Clayborn Temple always stood for: justice through unity and an unwavering refusal to yield to adversity Memphis has a choice: mourn in isolation or rebuild in solidarity History—and Clayborn Temple’s own story—points clearly toward the second but the community will light the way forward but it cannot destroy the spirit that built them Investigators are working with the Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol and Explosives to determine the cause of the fire Long before it became a beacon of Black history the church on the corner of Hernando Street and East Pontotoc Avenue was originally owned by a white congregation more African Americans began moving downtown and Sunday services began to change the church sold the building to Bishop J.M Clayborn’s African Methodist Episcopal Church and changed its name to Clayborn Temple AME Ministers Henry Logan Starks and Ralph Jackson had become active in the Civil Rights Movement Memphis sanitation workers used Clayborn Temple as their headquarters to demand better working conditions after garbage collectors Echol Cole and Robert Walker were crushed to death by a malfunctioning truck the sanitation workers went on strike and marched from Clayborn Temple to city hall daily saw what was happening and brought his Poor People’s Campaign to Memphis to help further the strikers’ cause The historic I AM A MAN signs were printed inside the church on the pastor’s own printing press the church ran a soup kitchen until it closed in 1999 when Neighborhood Preservation Incorporated reopened the church for services and social justice gatherings the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Clayborn Temple a National Treasure and the following year on the 50th anniversary of the sanitation strike and Dr the city erected the I Am a Man Plaza outside the temple Click here to sign up for our newsletter Click here to report a spelling or grammar error Representative Trent Kelly’s (R-MS) office has announced the appointment of Conner Couch to the U.S Conner has earned numerous academic honors and awards in the classroom Couch is dedicated to community service as a volunteer for HHES Mentoring and Hernando Parks and Recreation He has been involved in various leadership roles including serving on the Hernando Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council “I am excited to attend the United States Naval Academy because I can pursue a desired STEM major and actively work toward a career in the Navy,” Conner said I aspire to pursue a career in submarine warfare and God for making this aspiration possible.” Two alderman races will be contested in Hernando's Republican primary on April 1 Incumbent Beth Rone Ross and Kristoffer "Kit" Kitchens will face off in the race for Alderman Position 5 Lauren McLendon and Jarrett Mashaw are vying for Alderman At-Large If necessary in the Alderman At-Large race a runoff will be held April 22 if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote meaning the Republican primary will effectively decide who wins the seats Independent incumbent Andrew Miller is also running unopposed for the Position 2 seat Here is a closer look at the two contested races on Hernando's Republican primary ballot Beth Rone Ross is the incumbent in the Alderman Position 5 race The lifelong Hernando resident listed some of her biggest accomplishments as budgeting for a new animal shelter increasing the budgets for first responders voting to expand Renasant Park and budgeting funds for multiple roadway improvements Challenging her for the seat is Kristoffer "Kit" Kitchens a broker and owner of Kitchens Realty Group Kitchens’ platform includes further increasing funding for first responders pushing for zoning that “preserves the residential and scenic nature” of local neighborhoods improving quality of life through bolstering parks and maintaining design standards in Hernando’s Historic Square Former Hernando Alderman Jeff Hobbs is running for election again after serving Ward 6 for 12 years Licensed environmental engineer Lauren McLendon is also vying for the At-Large position McLendon has previous leadership experience as director of operations “for a top ten national chemical distributor.” Her goals include supporting first responders a sales and service manager at Platinum Machine Tool Mashaw’s priorities if elected include easing traffic congestion increasing grant efforts for “various civil projects” and making opening a small business more accessible NEW HOMES IN DESOTO COUNTY: What cities have seen the most new home construction? deputies from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported stabbing at The Villas at Spring Hill off Degas Lane A 9-1-1 call from the adult grandson’s grandmother alerted deputies to the possible stabbing The grandmother informed dispatch that her grandson had called her and reported being possibly stabbed by his girlfriend Upon arrival at the couple’s apartment deputies observed evidence of a physical altercation both individuals involved had left the premises before law enforcement arrived the female victim returned to the apartment to speak with investigators the situation escalated physically after Mr and punched her in the face and ribcage with the other Simmons bit her hands and face during the struggle The victim recounted that she managed to grab a kitchen knife and stab Mr Simmons in the back while he was on top of her Simmons reportedly gained control of the knife and punched her once more before leaving the residence with their child Simmons alleged that the victim was the initial aggressor in the incident that resulted in his stabbing further investigation revealed inconsistencies in the statements Mr Simmons was arrested on a charge of Domestic Aggravated Battery he was taken to the Hernando County Detention Center and is being held on a $2,500 bond Contact us: [email protected] Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Jean Galbo and Patricia Goble and the reappointment of John Carroll to the Hernando County Housing Authority.Jean Galbo Galbo is a Realtor for Galbo Realty Association She has been a resident of Hernando County for over 30 years Galbo is a board member of the First Hernando Republican Club and Vice-Chair of the Republican Executive Committee in Hernando county. Patricia GobleGoble is currently a stay-at-home mother and previously worked in the Banking and Mortgage Industry in Hernando County she is an associate member of the Hernando County Builders Association and is a volunteer and member of the First Hernando Republican Club and the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee Goble was recognized in 2007 as the Associate Member of the Year by the Hernando County Builders Association. John CarrollCarroll is a Sergeant for the Florida State Guard he is currently appointed to the Barbers’ Board and is a member of the Military Police Regimental Association Carroll earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Saint Leo University Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — A popular restaurant in Hernando Beach is coming back after a few setbacks Brian’s Place was forced to close temporarily after damage sustained from Hurricanes Helene and Milton The restaurant was also damaged in a recent fire But these setbacks have only made the restaurant’s staff stronger owner Brian Alvarez gets a head start on opening “This is what we’re used to doing every morning getting everything made from scratch,” he said All happening under the roof of Brian’s Place started by Alvarez and his father 21 years ago It’s quickly become a local hotspot known for its fresh ingredients “This is what Brian’s Place is known for,” Alvarez said while displaying a freshly caught grouper Maybe none more troubling than last fall with Hurricane Helene “But there was never any doubt what I knew what we had to do and that was just to rebuild and get back open by any means necessary.” Helene forced the restaurant to be closed for close to three months “It was very hard on me and my family and very stressful I guess I do look at it like a blessing now because I would’ve never have had this beautiful restaurant looking the way it does now.” another challenge was just around the corner Just when Brian’s Place was close to re-opening “Nothing ever goes as easy as you expect,” Alvarez said and I’m just grateful that I’m open right now for business.” It’s that positive attitude that has gotten Brian’s Place back open and where it is today “This is what we’ve been doing for 21 years coming out and greeting our customers and making them feel like family,” Alvarez said Bringing a sense of family to the community he has known for all these years Brian’s Place is open Tuesday through Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m Alvarez says he hopes to have the restaurant open for lunch hours soon County Commissioners approved the rezoning of a 7.2-acre undeveloped property in Spring Hill from Planned Development Project-Recreational- PDP(REC) LLC requested the rezoning of the property located on the east side of Waterfall Drive The Future Land Use Map designates the property as residential Southern Valley Homes intends to build a residential subdivision with ten .5-acre lots Contact us: [email protected] — Hernando County Schools celebrated the grand opening of its newest technical college in Brooksville The Wilton Simpson Technical College offers various programs in high demand fields which school officials say was desperately needed in Hernando County Radiah Dent is the director of the college which focuses on post-secondary career and technical programs “There’s so much opportunity in career technical education for people to come in and not have to have student loan debt after taking their courses,” said Dent I’ve had students who make even more money than your typical college graduates.” The college is part of Hernando County Public Schools It’s named after Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture who says the need for this college is evident — as shortly after opening “When you think about what’s in this building nursing (they provide) a long-term career that they can start on now,” said Simpson “They can start a business from their education from a school like this this is what we need more of in our state.”  Dent says they looked specifically at this community’s needs we also look at needs and things that are emerging to try and be on the cutting edge of something that it is coming out,” she said Career dual enrollment is also an option for high school students They can enroll at Wilton Simpson Technical College to earn elective or vocational credits toward high school graduation requirements with no out-of-pocket expense 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hernando Ruiz-Jimenez is Geisinger's new chief marketing and communications officer a role in which he oversees brand and digital marketing content creation and service line marketing for the entire system Ruiz-Jimenez brings more than two decades of marketing leadership experience to Geisinger including four years as chief marketing officer at NewYork-Presbyterian and three years as chief marketing and communications officer for Triple-S Insurance knowledge and leadership — from health systems to health insurance and numerous other industries — will be a great asset to the organization and the marketing and communications team," said Amy Brayford Geisinger's executive vice president and chief of staff Ruiz-Jimenez oversaw the transformation of the organization's marketing department and guided it through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in one of the hardest-hit areas of the country.  "As someone with a passion for healthcare marketing the appeal of being able to tell the Geisinger story and promote this well-known respected brand was obvious," said Ruiz-Jimenez "Geisinger is a leader in the value-based care model that is so critical to improving healthcare in the U.S offering the kinds of facilities and level of care in both rural areas and smaller cities that put it on par with the large academic medical centers people would otherwise have to travel to in Philadelphia New York or other major metropolitan areas." Ruiz-Jimenez has held marketing leadership roles for iconic consumer brands including Pepsi and Captain Morgan He most recently served as general manager and chief marketing officer of Un(Think) Foods in Business Administration from Villanova University He is a professor at CCNY's Branding + Integrated Communications (BIC) Master's Program a Member and Governance Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Latino Corporate Directors Association CONTACT: Natalie Monsour[email protected] Do not sell or share my personal information: Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHERNANDO has confirmed that the shelter will be open amid threats of storms in the area The Mayor took to his social media to share the shelter location: There is a high chance that a tornado watch will be issued in the Hernando area in the next hour or so We are opening the tornado shelter at the rear of Hernando Elementary School on Riley Street Please stay weather-aware and if you feel safer at the shelter the shelter will be at the rear of the Hernando Elementary Shcool on Riley Street Stay safe and up to date on this First Alert Weather Day Click here to sign up for our newsletter Click here to report a spelling or grammar error Ridge Manor — A hiker discovered the body of a teenage girl yesterday at around 9:35 a.m on a trail at Cypress Lakes Preserve in Ridge Manor on March 27 to meet someone—only to be tragically murdered later The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office identified Abbriella after an individual approached them while they were working at the crime scene Her body was discovered 50 to 100 feet inside the Cypress Lakes Preserve Trailhead where investigators believe she was killed in a “very violent” altercation involving an edged weapon As deputies worked to piece together the case they found that one of the individuals they interviewed had lied about his whereabouts This deception led them to focus on 16-year-old Cameron Cubel as their main suspect was subsequently arrested in connection with Abbriella’s murder Sheriff Al Nienhuis stated that the evidence suggests this was not a random act and that Abbriella knew her killer “We could tell pretty quickly that there was a lot of passion and a lot of violence involved in the particular death,” Nienhuis said The grandmother of Abbriella stated on social media “My granddaughter Abby didn’t have a chance to grow into what you supposed to be Cubel is currently being charged with first-degree murder as a juvenile but Nienhuis said it is likely he will end up being charged as an adult Contact us: [email protected] Hurricane Milton made landfall nearly two weeks ago Flooding is still causing big problems after the storm dumped more than a foot of rain in some parts of the greater Tampa Bay area the Withlacoochee River is finally starting to go down but it’s going to take some time for floodwaters to recede Hernando County emergency manager David DeCarlo joined "Florida Matters" to say it’s the highest the river’s been since the 1930s Hurricane Milton dumped a lot of rain on its way through the Tampa Bay region nearly two weeks ago and much of it is still making its way through the river system What does the Withlacoochee River look like this week we reached crest at approximately 19.7 feet which is on the northern end of our county we've not seen that type of flooding since 1960 so it's pretty historic A lot of people who live along the river have not seen that type of flooding and just didn't expect it to get that high Even though the gauges and forecast said it was going to get up there I think it caught a lot of people by surprise There's a lot of areas that they didn't think would flood and ended up flooding There are several lakes within that area of Ridge Manor in Hernando County by the Trilby gauge that began to flood but ingress and egress into their neighborhoods just far exceed what a vehicle can get through Today's numbers this morning were 19.3 and the Croom was just under 13 feet It's forecast to slowly recede over the next several weeks Are there some other communities you're worried about particularly along that river Several little different areas and pockets within the Ridge Manor community area ended up getting closed because the river just inundated that section of 301 There were some areas near Cortez Boulevard that water got over that we've never seen before it's a learning experience for not only the residents We do have PODs and opened up a nice little comfort station at Ridge Manor community park so people can take advantage of that We understand people are hurting and they need commodities such as water We also have some state representatives and FEMA representatives there at Ridge Manor Community Park to help those individuals register for FEMA assistance Do you have a sense of how many people are affected at this point because these rivers have been going up and they're slowly going down We really don't have a strong hold on how many people are affected I do know through our GIS and Property Appraiser we do have a little over 3,400 residential properties along the river so we're trying our best to get the information for any unmet needs We're trying to collect that so we can fulfill those unmet needs Not only do we have the river on the east side we're still feeling the effects of Hurricane Helene on the west side of the county We're in the process of still collecting storm debris from Hurricane Helene on the west side of the county We have comfort stations at the south end of the county and then we have another one at the old beach property on Shoal Line Boulevard for Hernando Beach residents So we're dealing with two different storms and we're still in recovery in the other storm You mentioned a few things I wanted to clarify: PODs and MREs Can you just explain what those two things are We have cases of water and MREs for those that are affected you stay in the car and go through the line A volunteer will place the items in your trunk So that's at the Ridge Manor Community Park there we set up laundry stations there for people because we understand a number of homes got affected We've set up hot meals at that location as well as at the park to help the community Are there still shelters open at this point or are you basically doing what you can to help in terms of laundry but people are having to find their own places to stay if their homes are underwater we still have the Enrichment Center located on John Grubbs Boulevard in Brooksville that is still open It still has people that were seeking public shelter from Hurricane Helene We have people there from Hurricane Milton We do still have a public shelter open and available so you can get refuge there at the Richmond Center We set up a laundry trailer so you can do your laundry there at the public shelter So we're trying to meet those accommodations and basic necessities for the public during these catastrophes I've seen quite a lot of footage of sheriff's deputies out and about on flat bottom boats Is that still something you're having to do or are these rivers starting to slowly come down If someone still needs to get rescued or evacuated we are assisting those evacuees not only through the sheriff's office but also fire rescue We've done a number of those evacuations when they call our Public Information Center which is still open and available from 8 a.m if you have any storm-related or flooding questions You can call 352-754-4083 if you live in Hernando County or call 911 if you need to get evacuated so we can deploy those and get to you as soon as possible The Withlacoochee and some of these other river systems that are affected wind their way through several counties and have you been able to coordinate in terms of anticipating effects or warning people what those effects may be if there are other folks in other areas who may be worse affected down the track?  We have regional calls between all our emergency management partners from Pasco We understand that the Green Swamp is overflowing it's going to go and that's what's happened our northern counties were working with them because the Withlacoochee River in Hernando County was technically closed by Florida Administrative Code rule because of the flooding We asked our neighboring counties if they could close their boat ramps in preparation to assist us because we didn't want any boat traffic down on the Withlacoochee It causes a wake that will just further inundate the residents of those homes that are in the area people going on the river and taking property that doesn't belong to them Is that something you've had to deal with this time?  but it hasn't been reported to me at this point in time We wanted to take those preventative measures to give security to those residents I know Citrus County closed their boat ramps and they installed a curfew on the river We worked with FWC and they closed the river for us We have 20 emergency support functions all the way from volunteers and donations A number of different county entities and community partners need to really get together and work as a team to meet the needs of the communities that we serve It's coming up on almost a month now since Helene How are the emergency staff and the county folks doing Do you have what you need to keep people supported through this time Are you starting to reach a point where we need extra help we asked for an incident management team or an EOC support team for Hernando County because we only have a certain amount of staff and the amount of work that those two disasters entailed just needed extra help I know I'm overwhelmed and I'm not scared to ask for help So they came in and they were here for a couple weeks and they assisted us with documentation and support work and operations and logistics We did the same for our health and human services We have a health and human service support team actually on site right now because not only do we need help with that but the transitional sheltering complexities are going to arise We understand that it's going to be much more than what our staff can handle due to the amount of devastation that we have So we absolutely have asked for assistance What do you think the priorities are going to be Obviously that water is going to take a while to recede It may take some time for the full extent of the damage to come into focus as you mentioned at the start of our conversation there is still a lot of storm debris from Hurricane Helene that needs to be picked up and carted away How do you prioritize over the next few weeks for all that you need to get done It's like juggling four or five balls and making sure they all stay in the air A number of different departments have stepped up and taken control of different priorities our Department of Public Works is taking care of our contractors for debris pickup and debris monitoring Our utilities and building departments are still monitoring the water systems and doing damage assessments on the west side but we really can't do damage assessment on the east side until the water recedes We're just going to keep that in that cycle continue to do our damage assessment with what we can in the areas that we get gain access to and continue that damage assessment as the water recedes We can gain access further and further into those neighborhoods to help not only the citizens but collect that data for emergency permitting or anything of that nature we still have people or residents who will have to be cutting out drywall and renovating their homes and that's just more debris that's going to have to be picked up We're going to have our east side convenience center for garbage or construction debris that's going to be open The problem is that the water came up to our east side convenience center and we had to turn the power off So we're trying to make alternative measures to get either large dumpsters or find another location to put that debris because people just have regular refuge that they normally have on a day-to-day basis This is compiling up because the garbage trucks just can't get in that area So we're trying to do everything we can to assist and meet those demands of public needs we haven't had any fatalities within Hernando County itself from either of these storms not only to a residence but also first responders working very closely with electrics They're going individually house by house within the flooded areas pulling meters as they see fit to make sure that the electrical systems aren’t compromised So it's an absolutely collective effort from all of our partners and nonprofits Could you remind our listeners the number to call if they need help in the Hernando County area?  You can call that number to get any services or any information They'll refer you or they'll be able to answer your questions there on the phone if you need evacuation That'll go straight to our dispatch center with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office and they'll make arrangements for water assets to evacuate you out of the area But if you have any storm-related questions Please use 911 for emergency services only Response times may be delayed just because of the water and we can't get emergency services in to you We'll have to get to you by boat or any other type of water asset The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office will host two information sessions on civilian response to active shooter incidents on May 30 designed to enhance public awareness and preparedness at the Hernando County Building Department Training Room Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the training is part of the department’s ongoing effort to help the community prepare for emergencies Deputies will present information from the Department of Homeland Security along with videos demonstrating how to react in an active shooter situation “Your awareness and preparedness are as important as our training in keeping your community safe,” Nienhuis said in the press release “There could be crucial minutes before law enforcement arrives on the scene.” Attendees are encouraged to bring a notepad and pen for note-taking Participants must be at least 15 years old and firearms are not permitted in the building visit the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office website at www.hernandosheriff.org and navigate to the News and Events section Attendees should select either the morning or evening session when registering Contact us: [email protected] HERNANDO — With incumbent Gus Guadagnino deciding not to run for reelection two new names are on the Hernando County School Board District 4 ballot this fall decided to run for the school board to ensure her children receive the quality education they deserve one of whom is medically complex and disabled Bonczek has built her life around her son Jacob fighting for his education and making sure he got what he needed in school is a retired Air Force veteran who joined the military after finishing college with a degree in biology He joined the Air Force because there were few job opportunities in his chosen field and he also wanted to follow in his parent's footsteps His father was a World War II Army veteran and his mother was a World War II Marine veteran Bonczek and Cioffi are running for the seat in November meaning candidates appear on the ballot without party affiliations and voters from any political party can vote for them Cioffi receiving 44.34% and Gregg Laskoski receiving 26.81% Since none of the candidates received more than 50% the top two candidates advanced to the general election Bonczek began the process of running for school board in August 2023 One factor that influenced Bonczek's decision to run was an incident that took place at Fox Chapel Middle School in 2023 where a transgender teacher experiencing a mental crisis during school hours made statements that were perceived by some as threats against students Bonczek said she didn’t like how the situation was handled or the lack of communication between the school and parents “If I can make a positive change in our county and make our schools better then that's what needs to be done,” she said Cioffi began considering running for school board after several friends suggested he should Cioffi was shocked by their insistence and hesitant to accept the idea His friends said he had the leadership qualities needed in a school board member Cioffi received endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police Bonczek said she didn’t seek or receive any endorsements other than those from parents it's all on my own and my merit,” she said a Spring Hill resident and data and survey managing tech said he’d like to see the school board candidates put the children and parents in the community ahead of their employees and the voters ahead of the unions He said he would also like the school board to pay school bus drivers competitive wages comparable to those in surrounding counties Three of the most pressing problems Bonczek would like to address if elected to the school board are improving the bus situation providing exceptional student services to those in need Bonczek aims to hire more bus drivers and raise their pay to retain current staff and attract new teachers Bonczek plans to implement stricter discipline on buses to help ensure the safety of both bus drivers and students She suggested hiring retired police officers as bus drivers to make sure students behave on buses Bonczek said she would like to ensure that parents with children in exceptional student services do not have to pay for their children’s education She said she would like to hire ESC-certified teachers and make sure they are heard to prevent burnout Our kids should get services; they're federally funded,” Bonczek said She also intends to have the exceptional student services classrooms painted with educational visuals rather than relying on posters that could be torn down by other students ensuring a more durable and engaging learning environment A number one priority for Bonczek is school safety She said having children still in school gives her insight into what is happening in the school system “My daughter comes home and tells me they're having sex in the bathroom and they've got THC gummies in the bathroom in middle schools,” Bonczek said She said she wants to protect students and teachers by having canines run through the schools occasionally “We just had a school shooting in Georgia that my nephew was on the call he went to the school shooting in Georgia,” Bonczek said “Here's the thing we’ve got to keep our kids safe safety should be our number one priority.” Three of the most pressing problems Cioffi would like to address as a member of the school board are enhancing the classroom environment Cioffi said that a big part of improving the classroom environment would be eliminating cell phones in schools In order to accommodate overcrowding and reduce the reliance on portable classrooms Cioffi intends to build more public and charter schools in Hernando County there are 135 temporary buildings that are over 20 years old and it's just appalling to me,” Cioffi said Cioffi said he aims to address the lack of respect in the classroom which he believes stems from a leadership issue He said students think they can act and speak without repercussions while teachers are not receiving the necessary support to address the problem but we need to change the paradigm on that.” said she wished the school board would take into consideration more of the parents' concerns and would let parents have more of a voice in the decisions that are being made she said she feels that the school board has not been handling parent involvement in schools very well “I do feel like parents have kind of been placed on the back burner over the last four years,” she said Some changes Bonczek would like to see in the curriculum to better prepare students for college and future careers are adding more certificate programs and making them available for all the high schools in the county Bonczek said she would like an EMT program in schools where students can get a job as an EMT straight out of high school Cioffi said he would like to perform a curriculum review in collaboration with the Department of Education in Tallahassee He is worried that schools are not teaching civics and American history He wants to make sure students know the difference between a democracy and a representative republic and they know how the electoral college works He also supports DeSantis’ mandate that schools in Florida teach the dangers of communism “Making sure that our kids are getting the best education is number one.” is concerned that there seems to be a lot more political posturing in the school board than there has been before Measures Bonczek would like to take to ensure school safety is to address bullying as soon as it happens Administrators and school resource officers should be walking around campus throughout the day Bonczek said she would like the administration to become more involved with what is happening in schools you're going to catch more things,” Bonczek said “No different than if you're involved with one child or your own child You find out things when you're involved with all the children and you know them and they know you less things are going to happen.” Cioffi said he thinks that the current measures in place to ensure school safety are effective As an alumnus of Hernando High School and father of two graduates said he has witnessed changes in the school system due to evolving safety standards “I went to school at a time when there were kids who had shotguns in their windows because they were going hunting or shooting after school They didn't have grudges and guns in schools,” Steele said Contact us: [email protected] Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHERANANDO (WMC) - Federal cuts impacted the First Regional Library in Hernando First Regional Library is being affected by the actions taken against the Institute for Museums and Libraries (IMLS) in Washington According to Library Director Lori Barnes all remaining staff at the IMLS were placed on administrative leave and all funding that flows from IMLS to public libraries was frozen at that time These funds go directly to the state library agency She also mentioned that MLC was made aware late Tuesday that access to the Hoopla eBook platform a service that is wildly popular with the patrons in the five-county area We have received many comments from patrons who are upset regarding this action on our social media accounts We are hopeful that the action taken against the IMLS will be reversed very soon so that our patrons can continue to receive these popular services Hoopla is a digital media service offered by libraries and TV shows instantly via streaming or download The First Regional Library posted on their website that the Hoopla Service is currently unavailable due to the suspension of grants from the Institute and Library Services (IMLS) and we share in your disappointment about the loss of this resource They also stated that they are not sure when or if Hoopla will be reinstated — Chinsegut Hill in Hernando County holds the key to more than a century of women’s history the more you understand Hernando County,” said former Brooksville Mayor Natalie Kahler Kahler said she's left in awe everytime she visits “It’s just a place that makes you take a deep breath and relax,” Kahler said but it’s the history that keeps amazing her “A lot of things we take for granted to this day like the right to vote all of that comes down to the people who lived in this house,” Kahler said It was the women who lived in the house on Chinsegut Hill that were the driving force for change “It shows me that one persona can make a difference.” Kahler said Elizabeth Robins bought the place in the early 1900s She was a writer and an actress who fought for women’s voting rights in the United States and the United Kingdom “She lived a really fascinating life,” Kahler said Kahler said she found it odd when there was no mention of Robins or any other woman in what was considered one of the county’s most comprehensive history books Kahler felt compelled to share the untold story of Robins Kahler said she took it upon herself to go to New York University to find Elizabeth’s diaries Kahler brought back photocopies of Elizabeth’s diary entries including her most personal thoughts and intriguing stories One of those stories includes the time when Robins wanted to find out more about human trafficking “She goes undercover in England as a Salvation Army worker to start interview the girls that are sex workers to find out how they got there Kahler shares those stories in her podcast E.R “She wanted people to see the humanity in every person and I think when you see the humanity in your adversary you are a little more willing to come up with a solution,” Kahler said Kahler feels a strong connection to the history at Chinsegut Hill “My mom calls it the Downton Abbey of America,” she said Delving through centuries of untold stories Kahler said she’s discovered the kind of person she wants to be.