With the first week of school now in the books, Osceola County school officials this week took a first look at Superintendent Michael Grego’s plans for the new academic year.

News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan

Recent Helping Others Make the Effort, or HOME, program graduate Layka Perez stands in her daughters' bedroom at the family's new home. Ariangely, 7, foreground, and Michelle, 9, are both happy to finally be able to sleep in separate beds.

By Juliana A. Torres
Staff Writer

Three years ago, Layka Perez was homeless.

She had escaped an abusive relationship and just moved from Puerto Rico to find better medical care for her youngest daughter, who for unexplained reasons was losing her hair. She couldn’t speak English and her housekeeping job at Walt Disney World wasn’t making her enough money so that she could pay a deposit to rent an apartment.

Osceola County tourism officials are seeking a clearer direction on how – and which – groups should benefit from tourist tax dollars.

LeMieux

LeMieux is Crist's closest political adviser and will hold the Senate seat Crist hopes to win in the November 2010 election.

Osceola County Sheriff's Office deputies early Wednesday arrested 26-year-old Mario Dixon, a county deputy, and charged him with domestic stalking.

The investigation of Dixon, who has been with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office since 2004, began Aug. 25 when the Sheriff's Office received a 911 call at approximately 11:51 p.m. from a woman Dixon had been dating.