Remember When
40 Years Ago - 1969
Editorial excerpts by Publisher George Dupee were as follows:
"The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council has great plans for the orderly development of Central Florida. In our opinion there will be tremendous growth, far exceeding that envisioned by the planners.
Regardless of that, it is interesting to note what the Council has in mind for Lake County. Their plan is to maintain the status quo, and if possible, to increase it. Somehow we are to provide recreational facilities for all of Florida and most of the nation. It is implied that we are to do this for free."
38 Years Ago - 1971
Editorial comment from Publisher George Dupee 2-4-1971:
"At long last Highway 27 is to be four-laned south of 50 to the county line. It is, of course, too little and too late. The road should be six-lanes and it should be completed before Walt Disney World is open. From the report of Commissioner Jim Hoskinson, the construction of 27 is to begin in February and be completed in 17 or 18 months. WDW is to open in eight months. Isn't that great planning?
In the last few days we have heard one of our political leaders say that we do not want or need any further growth in Florida. Maybe Senator Muskie of Maine is right, Florida's border should be closed and no additional permanent residents permitted. Maybe he is right but we don't think so. There are only about six million people in Florida, which is about the population of Los Angeles County. As you look around Clermont and Groveland it does not appear that we are exactly over-crowded. How many acres of orange groves now exist within the city limits?
We are going to have growth, whether we want it or not. We must provide adequate roads, schools and public services."
-- Members of Clermont Planning and Zoning Commission met with City Council to discuss secondary road needs for Clermont, which were to be presented to the Lake County Commissioners March 1. Number one priority was four-laning SR 50 through Clermont's city limits, to include leveling, medians, protected turn lanes, an overpass at East Avenue, an underpass at West Avenue, flashing crossing lights at Bloxam Avenue and temporarily at East Avenue until the overpass is built.
-- The Lake County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended granting a Conditional Use Permit to Wild Kingdom Inc. Ron Groton of Clermont, representing the corporation, showed colored slides of the proposed huge tourist attraction, which will be located on 920 acres at the intersection of US 27 and SR 19, to front on SR 19, approximately eight miles north of Clermont.
Many species of wild animals will be viewed by various means of transportation, including a train ride, land rover ride and elephant ride. Several motels are planned, including a Safari motel modeled after a motel in Kenya, Africa, from which the animals can also be viewed. (Four hotels were built facing US 27.)
Groton said Wild Kingdom is scheduled to open one year after Walt Disney World. A large crowd was present at the hearing. Howey-in-the Hills residents raised many objections.
-- Effective April 3 the ANI (automatic number identification) and ONI (operator number identification) system will go into effect.
The old method of dialing a long distance number was to dial 112, your digit number, area code and the seven-digit number of the person you are calling. The new method will speed service; all you need to do is dial 1, area code and digit number.
20 Years Ago - 1979
-- Chris Franklin, a student and athlete at CHS, was honored as one of Central Florida's top student/athletes at an event at the Orlando Downtown Athletic Club.
Clermont Little League Vice President Kenny Peacock announced the 1989 All-Star team players that took on the League champion Reds and won the game, 26-17. All-Star members were: Clermont Auto Athletics - Cody Loughlin, Joe Heath; Kiwanis Cubs - David Bradshaw, Mike Sheppard; Spiro's Pizza Phillies - Eric Bressler, Shannon Dooley; Market Basket Reds - Steven Pender, Demetrius Woolfolk; BonJorn/Jones Twins - Logan Baker, Bret Jones; Elks Yankees - Diane Smith, Seth Thomas.
-- A new shopping center, to be known as Clermont Plaza, is working its way through the permitting process to become a reality at the northwest corner of US 27 and Highland Ave. Planned to have 65,000 of commercial space, it will include a Food Lion Grocery Store as the anchor store.
-- A retirement reception will honor Clermont Elementary teachers Marion Ann Caldwell, Claydean Hogan, Adelaide Hall and Jennette Burton.
-- Fred and Betty Plummer and Craig and Cathy Bishop participated in the 7th annual Arthur Smith KDW (Kingfish, Dolphin and Wahoo) fishing tournament at West Palm May 18-19. Craig and Fred were pictured holding the 53.5 pound, 611/2 inch long dolphin which Fred caught off his 22'8" boat.
The dolphin was big enough to win 2nd place, a $27,000 Galaxy boat and $7,671 in cash. It took Fred 7 1/2 hours to get the dolphin into the boat, which was about four miles off shore in the Atlantic Ocean. Fred's fighting chair was a 55-gallon drum and his pole holder was a deck shoe! He used 50-pound tackle and his bait was skirted ballyhoo. Betty Plummer was driving the boat, one of 649 entered in the tournament.
Friday, June 19, 2009 - www.dailycommercial.com/0619AnnDupee