North Central Florida students win big in Florida 4-H Forest Ecology Contest

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2024

North Central Florida students win big in Florida 4-H Forest Ecology Contest

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Several students across North Central Florida earned top spots in a competition at the University of Florida.

More than 70 students attended the annual Florida 4-H Ecology Contest at UF’s Austin Cary Forest on March 30.

Participants prepared for the challenge by brushing up on their wildlife and nature skills.

Alachua County’s William Pruden took home the gold for having the highest individual score in the Intermediate group.

Meanwhile, Marion County’s Lane Taylor, Kylie Goodson, Cora Taylor, and Ada Perryman earned the title of first place senior team.

Here is a full leaderboard showing how top contestants stacked up across the state:

Junior Division:

· 1st Place Individual: Jada Foucha, Sumter County

· 2nd Place Individual: Joycelynn Gardis, Leon County

· 3rd Place Individual: Addalynn Upton, Marion County

· 1st Place Team: Sumter County – Addilyn Childs, Jada Foucha and Caroline Cattrell

· 2nd Place Team: Marion County – Addalynn Upton, Callie Rae Cassidy, Jax Adamiak and Joshua Force

· 3rd Place Team: Sumter County – Eden Wilkins, Ava Baltzersen and Lily Toman

Intermediate Division:

· 1st Place Individual: William Pruden, Alachua County

· 2nd Place Individual: Isabella Wise, Okaloosa County

· 3rd Place Individual: Madison Wall, Marion County

· 1st Place Team: Marion County – Caleb Force, Forest DeRoy, Jacob Metzgar and Madison Wall

· 2nd Place Team: Okaloosa County – Isabella Wise, Kaden Wise and Kayleigh Thames

· 3rd Place Team: Pinellas County – Charles Wood, Charlotte Watkins, Christian Galiano and Ellis Godfrey

Senior Division:

· 1st Place Individual – Jocelyn Wood, Pinellas County

· 2nd Place Individual – Ada Perryman, Marion County

· 3rd Place Individual – Helena Perryman, St. Johns County

· 1st Place Team: Marion County – Ada Perryman, Cora Taylor, Kylie Goodson and Lane Taylor

· 2nd Place Team: Pinellas County – Annalise Watkins, Jocelyn Wood, Maleah Godfrey and Wesley Wood

· 3rd Place Team: Duval County – Kaela Weaver, Mina Shippey, Skye Burgos and Ziva Ponciano

TRENDING: Forestry officials offer reward for arsonist in Levy County

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Palm Bay, Florida parents of premature twins held NICU wedding

Published

9 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Palm Bay, Florida parents of premature twins held NICU wedding

A Florida couple, both with prior health issues, welcomed miracle twin boys nine weeks prematurely.
The couple’s planned wedding was interrupted by the early birth of their sons, Joshua and Rhett.

Ben and Danielle Cassidy were told they likely wouldn’t be able to have children.

But this year they will celebrate Mother’s Day just months after having an impromptu wedding in the AdventHealth for Children hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit shortly after Danielle gave birth to twins prematurely — a week before the Palm Bay couple was scheduled to get married.

Both babies, Joshua and Rhett, are doing well despite arriving nine weeks ahead of schedule on Jan. 19, 2026, just one day after their scheduled baby shower. With a proper wedding out of the question with two premature babies in the NICU, a nurse took action.

Issabel Kenkel, the nurse behind the ceremony, said she was already in wedding planning mode for her own upcoming nuptials when she found out the Cassidy family’s ceremony would be interrupted.

“I couldn’t just let them do something small. They needed decorations and something fun, so I spoke to the music therapist and the chaplain,” Kenkel said. In short order, a wedding was being planned for their hospital room and the couple was saying their vows in the company of their safely delivered newborns.

“When we found out we could request staff members to be on our team, that’s when we requested Issabel and having that kind of consistency from someone who has such a big heart and is so kind,” Danielle said.

The hospital ceremony was all the more special because of the Cassidy family’s own health struggles.

“I have five autoimmune diseases and didn’t really think I would have kids. It’s been a rough journey. When Ben and I met, we were floored at how much a miracle it was to have kids,” Danielle said.

Ben, who battled and beat cancer, said he was worried that his prior treatment would result in negative health outcomes for his future children. Having twins for him was an unexpected blessing.

“When we found out we were pregnant, we found it so shocking. We said, wouldn’t it be great if it was twins? It filled out our hopes and dreams list,” Ben said. “They’ve been miracles for sure.”

The Cassidy couple said there was so much fear and uncertainty when their twins were born nine weeks early. Being able to get married right away just made them feel all the better about the future.

“It was nice getting married because we didn’t have to wait any longer to make it official. It made it that much harder for her to get rid of me,” Ben said.

“The unknown made it scary,” Danielle added. “We had no idea how long we would be in the hospital. Our wedding was going to be at the beach with immediate family and parents. Having NICU babies, we realized we’d never be able to get to the beach. It was really special having the people who care for our babies be part of the ceremony.”

The couple hadn’t even planned to have a band at their wedding ceremony and now the hospital’s music therapist was performing live for them and the chaplain was conducting the ceremony, something nurse Kenkel said was just part of her job.

“The babies are going to have the best outcomes if the families are taken care of and going home happy,” she said. “Being in the NICU is already so stressful. This is just one more thing I could do to take care of my patients.”

Tyler Vazquez is the Growth and Development Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. X: @tyler_vazquez.

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Florida man taken into custody related to call threatening business

Published

21 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Florida man taken into custody related to call threatening business

The Vero Beach Police Department took a man into custody May 8 in connection with a threatening phone call directed toward a business.

The agency received information at 5:21 p.m. May 7 about a threatening call to Thrive IRC Inc. at 2300 5th Ave. in Vero Beach, according to a news release. The call included someone threatening to come to the business with an AK rifle and “light the building up.”

Detectives began investigating the threat and identified Michael Sean O’Brien, 27, of Vero Beach, as the person associated with the phone number used during the call.

O’Brien was taken into custody at about 3:30 p.m. May 8 without incident. He was charged with the false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner, which is a second degree felony, according to the news release.

O’Brien was booked in the Indian River County Jail at 6:13 p.m. May 8 but was released at 1:36 p.m. May 9 after posting the $5,000 bond, according to the jail website.

No additional information was available the afternoon of May 9.

Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.

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Florida woman on 2026 “100 Women to know in America” list

Published

1 day ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Florida woman on 2026 “100 Women to know in America” list

Charmaine Hickey, of Lang Realty in Port St. Lucie, was named in KNOW Women’s “100 Women to KNOW in America” list.

A Treasure Coast woman was named in a “100 Women to know in America” list for 2026.

KNOW Women is a global media company dedicated to giving women leaders connections and visibility. The company released a list of “100 Women to know in America” for 2026 to highlight the most influential women in business and leadership.

Charmaine Hickey, who works for Lang Realty in Port St. Lucie, was on the list.

“Charmaine’s recognition on a national stage like this comes as no surprise,” said Scott Agran, president of Lang Realty in a news release. “Her leadership, integrity, and commitment to both her profession and her community exemplify what this award stands for. She represents the very best of our industry.”

Hickey holds many industry designations and is known for her expertise in complex real estate transactions, as well as her client-first approach defined by honesty, patience and attention to detail, according to the news release.

Her community involvement includes serving on nonprofit boards, mentoring emerging leaders and supporting initiatives focused on education, women, families and youth.

“I am truly honored to be recognized among such an inspiring group of women,” said Hickey in the news release. “This award reflects not just individual achievement, but the power of community, mentorship, and lifting others as we grow. I’m grateful to be part of a network of women who are building meaningful impact every day.”

To see the full list go to theknowwomen.com.

Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.

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