MINNEOLA -- The word is getting out that there's a new library in town.

Though usually serene, Minneola's schoolhouse library was abuzz with the energy and excitement of nearly two dozen children for a teddy-bear tea party Monday.

Librarian MaryKay McGuire, the morning's hostess, read stories to the children and led them in song before making sure each teddy bear went home with a child. ...

GROVELAND -- A Good Samaritan ended up fighting off the man she stopped to help when he tried to steal her purse. And it appears he wasn't a stranded motorist, after all.

According to sheriff's spokesman Cpl. Jim Vachon, Sarah Spencer was driving home at about 11 p.m. on Groveland Street in Groveland Wednesday when she came upon a white, newer model car parked sideways in the road, leading he ...

Fees at Florida's state parks will increase July 1. It's the first fee increase in five years.

Threatened with closing some state parks throughout the state next year, state officials decided to raise the fees instead.

There are three state parks in Lake and Sumter counties: Lake Griffin State Park, Lake Louisa State Park and Dade Battlefield Historic State Park.

"It's a sign of the tim ...

CLERMONT -- Two Clermont business owners -- Bret Jones and Robert Thompson -- were spotlighted as two of the region's 40 top young business and civic leaders by the Orlando Business Journal.

Thompson, 27, is a founding partner of the PR firm, Thompson, Wesley, Wolfe. Jones, 29, is the managing attorney for Bret Jones PA. Both companies are based in Clermont.

"It was a definite honor to ev ...