Sarah Panko

Journalism Highlights

Explore some of my reporting work from Spectrum News 13, where I covered Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties, and WRBL News 3 in Columbus, Georgia.

Lake County detectives try to ID ‘Judy Doe’ in 34-year-old cold case

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Lake County detectives are hoping to identify a young woman in a 34-year-old cold case who they think was likely a homicide victim.  
On April 18, 1984, a decomposed body was found off of a dirt road in Altoona in the Lake Dorr recreation area of the Ocala National Forest. 
Authorities are calling this case "Judy Doe" because the man who found the body lived in the area and said her name was 'Judy,' and that she had hitchhiked from California. 
He said he hung out with her, w...

Site of Marion high school shooting has new, positive purpose

OCALA, Fla. -- For many students, this year safety is top of mind. For students at Forest High school in Marion County, it’s also about moving forward.
"I was in upstairs B hallway in criminal justice class, so obviously the whole situation was very scary," said student Avery Brown. 
Brown was there April 20 – the day a former student came inside the school, shooting into a classroom.
A bullet hit a 17-year-old in the ankle. 
Since then, that room served as a reminder of how close they came to a...

On this farm, inmates raise their food

OCALA, Fla. -- A small group of Marion County inmates are doing more than just serving time -- they're also helping grow and take care of the food they eat in the jail.
The Marion County Sheriff Inmate Work Farm is located at the corner of County Road 35 and County Road 464 in Ocala and is home to more than 2,000 chickens, more than 60 pigs and about 50 cows.
"I feed them, (and) I make sure they eat good and turn the water sprinklers on when it's real hot outside," said Antonio Clay, who is one...

Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter builds homes for veterans

UMATILLA, Fla. — Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter is done building homes in a Lake County neighborhood.
The 13 affordable homes are for veterans, activity military and spouses of those who have served. 
It's called the Veterans Village and it's located in Umatilla. 
Shawn Unger moved into the development at the end of June. 
"(I) wanted to get out of the apartment living and into a home. I do have two small children in the house, so a little more wholesome living than that of the apartment,"...

Everyday Hero: Lake Co. woman commits life to volunteering

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake County woman is all about the volunteer work. 
It’s something Meena Ande does almost every weekend -- even driving into Orlando to lead different projects. 
Ande is a project manager and volunteer with ‘Hands On Orlando.’ The nonprofit plans and leads volunteer projects throughout Central Florida.  
"Second Harvest is one of (the projects) where we box all the food that goes out to various places, organizations or countries,” she said. “There are places where we help t...

Lake County stormwater system generates new business

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. -- A $10.2 million stormwater system in Lake County called Victory Pointe is drawing new business.
City officials say it's all part of an effort to revitalize downtown Clermont.
In about a month, Bill Downs says Suncreek Brewery will be open on Minneola Avenue in Clermont.
He says they wanted to be the city's first brewery.
"We’re a seven barrel brewery. We came here to Clermont basically because of the expansion that the city presented to us the Master Plan," Downs said.
That...

Freestanding ER to open in Four Corners

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. -- Some Lake County residents will no longer have to travel several miles to get to an emergency room. 
A new ER and medical pavilion is opening July 31 in the Four Corners area. 
"We're very excited to have the hospital coming right across the street from us," Jessica Whitehouse said.
Whitehouse is the director of community relations for Cagan Crossings. 
It's home to more than 3,000 residents and they have a new development in the works. 
"The residents are going to love it,...

Bear sightings in Mount Dora increase

MOUNT DORA, Fla. -- If you’ve seen bears around Mount Dora, you’re not the only one.
City officials say there’s been an increase in bear activity in the past several weeks.
Just last week Florida Fish and Wildlife officials say they had to kill a bear that was a public safety threat.
Matt Walker, the community manager at The Country Club of Mount Dora, says residents have actually named a bear they keep seeing -- they call him 'Benny The Bear.'
The club has programs in place to help homeowners w...

Baby found unresponsive at day care dies

CLERMONT, Fla. -- A 9-month-old boy who was found unresponsive Tuesday afternoon at a Lake County day care center has died, according to authorities.
A worker for the residential day care at 14109 Summerset Court, took the unconscious baby to the Clermont Care Center at 15701 State Road 50.
The day care worker took the baby to an urgent care because it was the closest place to go. Lake County Sheriff's deputies said in a news release that the urgent care was in walking distance of the residentia...

Clermont credits crime drop to ‘Oakhurst Project’

CLERMONT, Fla. -- In just a year, officials say one Lake County city went from crime-ridden to crime-free, and they credit a police project for turning things around. 
Robin Brown says her family has owned a town home in the Oakhurst neighborhood for about 20 years. 
"When we first got it, it was so nice it was quiet, and then different people started moving in and things changed," she said. 
Brown says the neighborhood became known as the PJs -- or the projects. 
"(There were) parties all night...

Swift tornado left Tavares residents unprepared

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. -- Officials say the county's notification system didn’t alert residents before a tornado hit the city of Tavares, because it occurred quickly.
Ralph Smith is the owner of Lake Tire & Auto on Burleigh Boulevard in Tavares.
He says he was celebrating the Fourth of July at home when he got a text from a friend.
"Someone texted that a tornado had come by, and the small tornado damaged the Fish Camp and broke a big limb on one of my trees," Smith said.  
Next door, Jim Jordan, the...

Skatepark to open in Lake County Neighborhood

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.-- A skate park is being built in Lake County and is set to open in the next few months.
Preparation work is being done at Sunset Island Park on Ward Avenue in Eustis.
Team Pain Skate Parks in Winter Springs was chosen to create the skate park that will be about 10,000 square feet and will feature a bowl for all skill  levels between 4 and 6 foot deep, ledges, stairs, handrails, grinding rails, and ramps.
"In every neighborhood there's always kids that ride bikes and skateboard...

Hit-and-run victim fights to make road safer

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. -- Residents on one Lake County road say it's a 'suicide mission' to cross the street, and one woman is living proof of the danger. 
Elodie Samanos says it's not easy to think about a time when doctors didn't think she would survive, and if she did, she would be confined to a wheelchair. 
"Magician, this guy. This surgeon is magic. (He) not only saved my life … but he saved my legs. It's still hard, and now (it’s) seven years," Samanos said.
Samanos and her husband live on Lake...

Everyday Hero: Student's hosts blood drives

A Lake County high school student is being called a Shining Star because of her actions after the Pulse attack. 
Jasmine Ramjeet is 17-year-old Leesburg High School's student liaison between the nonprofit agency, OneBlood, and her school's blood drives.
"I want us to raise as much blood possible," she said. "It's important to people who are in the hospitals, whose lives are in danger, like people who are having surgery right now or who have Leukemia and need to get blood transfusions whenever th...

FWC tries to enforce boat safety

CLERMONT, Fla. -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says Florida's boating season kicks off next week, the same week as National Safe Boating Week.
Authorities say every day, they're on the water ​enforcing boating laws and checking for the required equipment. 
Tod Howard makes sure all of his boats has that equipment. 
He owns the Carefree Boat Club in Clermont, where members reserve boats online and Howard makes sure they're ready to go. ​
"We make sure everybody has a pers...

FDLE looking into link between missing teen, body

MOUNT DORA, Fla. -- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says it's conducting an investigation to determine whether there's a link between a missing Lake County teen and a body found in Volusia County.
Mount Dora Police say 16-year-old Justis Garrett was dropped off at Mount Dora High School on April 13 and never came home.
The following week, on April 18, a woman's remains were found on Gasline Road in DeLand. 
Police say Garrett was living in New Smyrna Beach before moving back to Lake Co...

Sinkholes drain retention pond as tests continue

OCALA, Fla. — Officials say tests are still underway on sinkholes that opened up in the Fore Ranch Community in the Wynchase subdivision in Ocala. GEO-TECH employees say they're looking for lime rock with standard ground penetration tests.
City officials say a week ago, sinkholes started opening up in the area. The retention pond the sinkholes were forming in has drained.
In total, officials say there are about 12-15 of them. 
"Having them so close makes you wonder, is there a big sinkhole under...

Ocala students hold ‘Never Again’ rally to end gun violence

OCALA, Fla. — Marion County students held a rally to end gun violence in schools and the community.
It comes after the April 20 shooting at Forest High School.
Brandon Almeida is Forest High School's student body secretary. He was at Wednesday afternoon’s assembly where students thanked those who helped them recover after Friday's shooting inside the school.
"As soon as it happened, you know, it's something that you know you just have to accept and see where you go on from here," Almeida said.
S...

Limited parking spaces at Lake Minneola High concerns nearby residents

MINNEOLA, Fla. — School officials say there aren’t enough parking spaces for students at Lake Minneola High, forcing some students to park in nearby subdivisions, like Pine Bluff.  
"Ambulance or fire truck or even the trash guys can't get through sometimes. We can't get through. We have to go around," said resident Peggy Kerr. 
Kerr and her neighbors say the students are parking on both sides of the street. They're so close together, residents can barely drive through. 
Sometimes, they say they...

Dunnellon family wonders: Could remains found be Rachel Campbell?

Marion County authorities are trying to identify human remains found Oct. 13 in Chatmire, just north of Dunnellon. 
The remains were found in a vacant lot near 19897 SW 107th Lane. 
Chatmire is the same area authorities say 27-year-old Rachel Campbell was possibly heading to after leaving her Dunnellon home. 
Campbell hasn't been seen or heard from since Aug. 4, and her family is concerned the remains could be hers.
"It's chaotic. The worse thing is the unknown and the late nights, just scared f...

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