Man killed in deputy-involved shooting near Leesburg identified
LEESBURG, Fla. — A man who was killed in a deputy-involved shooting near Leesburg Thursday afternoon has been identified as 32-year-old Erik Leopold Sharpe, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Just before 3 p.m., deputies responded to 10110 Morningside Drive after receiving a 911 call reporting an armed domestic battery. When they arrived, they were confronted by Sharpe, who was armed with a firearm, LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. According to Vachon, Sharpe’s actions forced deputies to discharge their firearms. Sharpe was killed, and the deputies were not injured. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting,
Armed person confronts Lake County deputies during domestic call near Leesburg
LEESBURG, Fla. — Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to an armed domestic battery call near Leesburg discharged their firearms after being confronted by an armed person Thursday afternoon, according to LCSO. Just before 3 p.m., deputies responded to 10110 Morningside Drive after receiving a 911 call reporting an armed domestic battery. “Once our deputies arrived, they were confronted with an individual armed with a firearm whose actions forced our deputies to discharge their firearms,” LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. The deputies were not injured. The armed person is deceased, Vachon said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate
Chad Farnsworth selected as next Lake County Schools superintendent
TAVARES, Fla. — Lake County Schools Deputy Superintendent Chad Farnsworth will be the district’s next superintendent following a unanimous vote by the School Board Wednesday. Farnsworth will succeed Superintendent Diane Kornegay, who is retiring at the end of the 2026-27 school year after leading the district for a decade. Farnsworth has served as deputy superintendent since 2024 and previously spent seven years as the district’s assistant superintendent and chief of staff. He also served four years as superintendent of Bradford County Schools. The School Board received seven applications for the position, with Farnsworth and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Chief of
Amazon driver found unresponsive near Fruitland Park identified; cause of death still unknown
FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. — An Amazon delivery driver who was found unresponsive and later died has been publicly identified, but her cause of death is still unknown more than a week after she was found. Jaylene Vargas Gonzalez was found unresponsive inside an Amazon delivery vehicle around 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10. Deputies responded to the area of Clark Road in unincorporated Fruitland Park after receiving a report that the vehicle had been running while stationary for an extended period of time, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stephanie Earley told Inside Lake last week. Gonzalez was transported to a local hospital,
Umatilla man killed in CR 439 crash Monday
UMATILLA, Fla. — A 49-year-old Umatilla man was killed Monday afternoon in a head-on crash on County Road 439 near Umatilla, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Around 5:45 p.m., the Umatilla man was driving a 2020 Ford Escape northbound on County Road 439, south of Freeman Drive, while a 22-year-old Lake Mary man was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado southbound, FHP said. According to FHP, the Umatilla man failed to maintain his lane and entered the path of the Silverado. The front left sides of the vehicles collided, causing both vehicles to overturn. The Umatilla man was pronounced deceased
Fatal crash shuts down CR 439 near Umatilla
UMATILLA, Fla. — A fatal crash has shut down County Road 439 near Umatilla, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred around 5:45 p.m. Monday near Freeman Drive. The road is shut down at County Road 42. No other information was immediately available. This is a developing story.
News Briefs
2 Lake County intersections transitioning to all-way stops
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Two Lake County intersections will permanently transition to all-way stops beginning Thursday, Aug. 20, as part of recommended safety improvements. The intersections are Radio Road and Treadway School Road in Leesburg and East Crooked Lake Drive and Country Club Road in Eustis. Message boards are already in place to alert motorists of the upcoming changes. Drivers are encouraged to use caution and be prepared for the new traffic patterns beginning Thursday.
Dinosaurs return to Mount Dora library through August
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Dinosaurs are on display at the W.T. Bland Public Library through Aug. 31 as part of a free prehistoric exhibit for visitors of all ages. The exhibit includes a 20-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a juvenile T. rex, an in-flight pterosaur, a fossil dig panel and a giant dinosaur egg photo opportunity. Dinosaur-themed bookmarks and educational materials are also available. The library will host “All About T. rex” at 2 p.m. Aug. 29, featuring paleontologist Jimmy Waldron of Dinosaurs Will Always Be Awesome. The program is designed for adults and children ages 8 and older and will
Orlando Health South Lake Hospital to add Lake County’s first NICU
CLERMONT, Fla. — Orlando Health South Lake Hospital will begin construction in August on Lake County’s first neonatal intensive care unit, bringing specialized newborn care closer to home for local families. The 7,200-square-foot, 10-bed Level 2 NICU will be located inside the hospital’s Center for Women and Babies and is expected to open in 2027. The unit will care for premature infants, babies with low birth weights and newborns with other medical conditions requiring specialized treatment. It will operate in partnership with Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, allowing patients access to advanced neonatal services when needed.
The Modiste Market returns to historic Lakeside Inn this Sunday
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — The Modiste Market returns to the historic Lakeside Inn on Sunday, June 28, offering visitors a Regency Era-inspired shopping and entertainment experience. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakeside Inn, 100 N. Alexander St., and features local artisan vendors, live music, dance lessons, themed refreshments and photo opportunities throughout the property. New this year is the Embroidery Salon, sponsored by Gary Sligh Fabric Arts, where guests can enjoy a hands-on experience inspired by the artistry of the Regency era. The first 100 attendees will receive a collectible gold charm to mark
Mount Dora to celebrate America’s 250th with Freedom on the Waterfront
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Mount Dora’s annual Freedom on the Waterfront celebration returns Friday, July 3, with live music, food vendors, family activities and a fireworks and drone show over Lake Dora as part of America’s 250th Anniversary celebration. The free event will be held from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Elizabeth Evans Park, 100 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora. This year’s event will feature live performances by Tonic and opening act Cat Ridgeway, along with food vendors, local vendors, community exhibitors and a Family Fun & Kids Zone. The evening will conclude with a patriotic fireworks and drone
Lake Amateur Radio Association to host 24-hour Field Day exercise in Tavares
TAVARES, Fla. — The Lake Amateur Radio Association will host its annual Field Day event from 2 p.m. Saturday, June 27, through 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at the Lake Technical College Institute of Public Safety Range Campus, 13000 Frankies Road in Tavares. The public is invited to attend the event, which serves as amateur radio’s annual open house and emergency preparedness exercise. LARA and several local agencies will showcase mobile command and communications vehicles while amateur radio operators attempt to contact as many stations as possible during the 24-hour event. More than 40,000 amateur radio operators, commonly known as
Around The County
Man killed in deputy-involved shooting near Leesburg identified
LEESBURG, Fla. — A man who was killed in a deputy-involved shooting near Leesburg Thursday afternoon has been identified as 32-year-old Erik Leopold Sharpe, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Just before 3 p.m., deputies responded to 10110 Morningside Drive after receiving a 911 call reporting an armed domestic battery. When they arrived, they were confronted by Sharpe, who was armed with a firearm, LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. According to Vachon, Sharpe’s actions forced deputies to discharge their firearms. Sharpe was killed, and the deputies were not injured. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting,
Armed person confronts Lake County deputies during domestic call near Leesburg
LEESBURG, Fla. — Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to an armed domestic battery call near Leesburg discharged their firearms after being confronted by an armed person Thursday afternoon, according to LCSO. Just before 3 p.m., deputies responded to 10110 Morningside Drive after receiving a 911 call reporting an armed domestic battery. “Once our deputies arrived, they were confronted with an individual armed with a firearm whose actions forced our deputies to discharge their firearms,” LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. The deputies were not injured. The armed person is deceased, Vachon said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate
Chad Farnsworth selected as next Lake County Schools superintendent
TAVARES, Fla. — Lake County Schools Deputy Superintendent Chad Farnsworth will be the district’s next superintendent following a unanimous vote by the School Board Wednesday. Farnsworth will succeed Superintendent Diane Kornegay, who is retiring at the end of the 2026-27 school year after leading the district for a decade. Farnsworth has served as deputy superintendent since 2024 and previously spent seven years as the district’s assistant superintendent and chief of staff. He also served four years as superintendent of Bradford County Schools. The School Board received seven applications for the position, with Farnsworth and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Chief of
Man killed in deputy-involved shooting near Leesburg identified
LEESBURG, Fla. — A man who was killed in a deputy-involved shooting near Leesburg Thursday afternoon has been identified as 32-year-old Erik Leopold Sharpe, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Just before 3 p.m., deputies responded to 10110 Morningside Drive after receiving a 911 call reporting an armed domestic battery. When they arrived, they were confronted by Sharpe, who was armed with a firearm, LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. According to Vachon, Sharpe’s actions forced deputies to discharge their firearms. Sharpe was killed, and the deputies were not injured. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting,
Armed person confronts Lake County deputies during domestic call near Leesburg
LEESBURG, Fla. — Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to an armed domestic battery call near Leesburg discharged their firearms after being confronted by an armed person Thursday afternoon, according to LCSO. Just before 3 p.m., deputies responded to 10110 Morningside Drive after receiving a 911 call reporting an armed domestic battery. “Once our deputies arrived, they were confronted with an individual armed with a firearm whose actions forced our deputies to discharge their firearms,” LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. The deputies were not injured. The armed person is deceased, Vachon said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate
Chad Farnsworth selected as next Lake County Schools superintendent
TAVARES, Fla. — Lake County Schools Deputy Superintendent Chad Farnsworth will be the district’s next superintendent following a unanimous vote by the School Board Wednesday. Farnsworth will succeed Superintendent Diane Kornegay, who is retiring at the end of the 2026-27 school year after leading the district for a decade. Farnsworth has served as deputy superintendent since 2024 and previously spent seven years as the district’s assistant superintendent and chief of staff. He also served four years as superintendent of Bradford County Schools. The School Board received seven applications for the position, with Farnsworth and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Chief of
Amazon driver found unresponsive near Fruitland Park identified; cause of death still unknown
FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. — An Amazon delivery driver who was found unresponsive and later died has been publicly identified, but her cause of death is still unknown more than a week after she was found. Jaylene Vargas Gonzalez was found unresponsive inside an Amazon delivery vehicle around 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10. Deputies responded to the area of Clark Road in unincorporated Fruitland Park after receiving a report that the vehicle had been running while stationary for an extended period of time, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stephanie Earley told Inside Lake last week. Gonzalez was transported to a local hospital,
Umatilla man killed in CR 439 crash Monday
UMATILLA, Fla. — A 49-year-old Umatilla man was killed Monday afternoon in a head-on crash on County Road 439 near Umatilla, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Around 5:45 p.m., the Umatilla man was driving a 2020 Ford Escape northbound on County Road 439, south of Freeman Drive, while a 22-year-old Lake Mary man was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado southbound, FHP said. According to FHP, the Umatilla man failed to maintain his lane and entered the path of the Silverado. The front left sides of the vehicles collided, causing both vehicles to overturn. The Umatilla man was pronounced deceased
Fatal crash shuts down CR 439 near Umatilla
UMATILLA, Fla. — A fatal crash has shut down County Road 439 near Umatilla, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred around 5:45 p.m. Monday near Freeman Drive. The road is shut down at County Road 42. No other information was immediately available. This is a developing story.