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It's Debate Day! Stream the 2026 Apopka Mayoral Debate. Visit WESH.com to watch the live stream starting at 5:30PMIt's Debate Day! Stream the 2026 Apopka Mayoral Debate. Visit WESH.com to watch the live stream starting at 5:30PM

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  • Melissa Byrd Profile

    Melissa Byrd represents District 7 on the Orange County School Board. She has previously taught at Forest City Elementary and Pace Brantley Hall School, served as PTSA vice president and chair of the School Advisory Council at Piedmont Lakes Middle, and volunteered at Clay Springs Elementary.

The Apopka Chief
January 7, 2022
The Blue Darters (11-4) dominated from start to finish.
The Apopka Chief
January 7, 2022
Pickerington Central ended the streak at 14 while claiming the Diamond Division championship of the Florida Prospects Holiday Tournament.
The Apopka Chief
January 7, 2022
New Year’s is a time for fresh starts and new projects. People plan their New Year’s Resolutions from spending more time with family to joining the…
The Apopka Chief
January 7, 2022
With only the national championship game remaining in the college football season, I had, by far, my best effort at picking the bowl games, ending with…
The Apopka Chief
January 7, 2022
It was anything but just another game for the Apopka High boys basketball team when they faced the Ocoee Knights.
The Apopka Chief
December 31, 2021
The Northwest Orange Republican Women, Federated (NORWF) held its annual Christmas party in Apopka, where Officiant Past President Beverly Blackmon installed the new board for 2021-2022.…
The Apopka Chief
December 31, 2021
In conjunction with Froggers’s of Apopka, the Apopka Police Department helped make Christmas brighter for several families in Apopka with gifts given to children in three…
The Apopka Chief
December 31, 2021
This roseate spoonbill was a nice Christmas present to see for those visiting the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive on Christmas Day. Roseate spoonbills are not seen…
The Apopka Chief
December 31, 2021
This week, the Nomi Health COVID-19 testing site was relocated from City Hall back to Edwards Field and was changed to walk-up service.
The Apopka Chief
December 31, 2021
The city of Apopka election scheduled for March is, so far, shaping up as expected with all five declared candidates having qualified for the four positions…
MLK paradeThe Apopka Chief
January 22, 2021
A dance troupe was one of the many groups participating in the 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. More parade photos on 14A.
City will look at possible land swap for Camp WewaThe Apopka Chief
January 22, 2021
Over the next two weeks, the city of Apopka will explore the possibility of a land swap with the Central Florida YMCA.  Read about it on…
Finance directorThe Apopka Chief
January 22, 2021
The City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Gladymir Ortega as Apopka’s new finance director on Wednesday, January 20. Ortega replaces Jamie Roberson, who served more…
Jim Keck Goin' Fishin'
Specks are bitin’ like crazy while bass are snoozin’The Apopka Chief
January 22, 2021
Hello Folks, We are more than halfway through January and I hope your new year is startin’ off in the right direction. If you are fishin’,…
Looking to stealThe Apopka Chief
January 21, 2021
As Apopka Blue Darters girls basketball coach Brittany Hardy (r) watches from the sideline, Janiya Johnson (1) and Apopka teammate Kiera Knight double-team an Evans player.…
AdventHealth Central Florida names Randy Haffner new CEO/presidentThe Apopka Chief
January 15, 2021
Randy Haffner has been named president and CEO for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, effective February 1.  Read this story on page 9A.
Just whistling alongThe Apopka Chief
January 15, 2021
A pair of fulvous whistling-ducks swim along a canal on the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Read more on page 1A.
Apopka native president of regional Realtor associationThe Apopka Chief
January 15, 2021
An Apopka Realtor was installed as president of an association that oversees more than 18,000 real estate professionals throughout Central Florida. Apopka native Natalie Arrowsmith of…
Magnolia Park improvementsThe Apopka Chief
January 15, 2021
Construction has begun on the $4-million remake of Magnolia Park. Details on page 1A.
Jim Keck Goin' Fishin'
Water temperatures have droppedThe Apopka Chief
January 15, 2021
Hello Folks, I hope y’all are enjoyin’ these cooler days we have been havin’. The colder days have dropped the water temperatures and some folks are reportin’ that they are seein’ some bass on…