Times staff
Thursday, September 23, 2010
COUNTYWIDE
Lake County magistrate to succeed Springstead
Gov. Charlie Crist announced Thursday that he has chosen a Lake County judicial magistrate to replace retiring Hernando County Circuit Judge Jack Springstead. Heidi Davis, 45, of Mount Dora was selected for the open spot on the 5th Judicial Circuit bench over Hernando County attorneys John Napolitano and Steve Toner. The judgeship covers Hernando and Citrus counties. "Heidi's great respect for the bench, behind-the-scenes experience in the courtroom, and her knowledge of the law will help her serve with fairness and common sense," Crist said in a statement. Davis has been the general magistrate in Lake County since 2004. Before that, she was a judicial law clerk in Lake County from 2001 to 2004 and from 1998 to 1999. In between her stints as a law clerk, Davis was an associate with the law firm of Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop and Madison. Davis earned her bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina and her law degree from Stetson University College of Law. Springstead will officially step down from the bench on Nov. 30. He was re-elected without opposition to a six-year term in 2008.
SPRING HILL
Fire commission votes to raise millage rate to 2.50
Citing a loss of property tax revenues brought on by the slide in home values, Spring Hill Fire Rescue commissioners voted 4-1 Wednesday to raise the district's millage rate from 2.2686 to 2.50 to fund the district's proposed $14,337,176 budget for 2010-11. Even with the higher rate, Chief Mike Rampino said the district's budget will drop more than $905,000 from the current year.
Today's pick
Toddler Time/Storytime Preschool Programs: Toddler Time for ages 18 to 35 months at 10:15 a.m., followed by Storytime for ages 3 to 5 years at 11:15 a.m., West Hernando/S.T. Foggia Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., Spring Hill. (352) 540-6391.