• The Apopka Chief
  • Posts
  • Russell, Messina head to mayoral runoff, Gallo elected school board chair

Russell, Messina head to mayoral runoff, Gallo elected school board chair

The Apopka Chief Newsletter: August 21 Edition

Author

Sarah Merly
August 21, 2026

Welcome to The Apopka Chief weekly newsletter!

Happy post-primary election Friday! Thank you to all who voted on Tuesday and in early voting.

In Chief news, the nomination period for our annual Best of Apopka contest closes this Sunday at 11:59 p.m., so be sure to nominate your favorite business for voting! And if you’d like to help traditions like Best of Apopka to continue, please consider becoming a member. Rumor has it that if you become a member before Sept. 15, you’ll be entered for a chance to win two SeaWorld tickets and a parking pass—and since I’m an annual passholder there, maybe we’ll run into each other!

P.S. This week, we included a special section in the paper for Fall Ball, including previews of the season, coaches, and more. Click here to find the special section, and see the links below for a few of the stories!

~Sarah Merly, Editorial Assistant & Reporter

Front Page

Chris Messina speaks with a reporter Tuesday night at his Orange County mayoral election watch party. | Photo by J.C. Derrick

Other Front Page News: 

Other Local News

Apopka City Commission debates public comment time limit 

Individual time limit to potentially increase from three to four minutes

Apopka nonprofit names new COO

Tina Sopp to join Lifeboat Project leadership team

Bankson wins GOP primary for House District 39 

Incumbent will face Democrat Jarod Fox in November.

Northwest Church plans recommended for denial by Apopka DRC 

Yothers Outparcel receives approval; Lester Oaks to return with revised plans.

Police Beat: APD makes 22 arrests, responds to 39 crashes Aug. 9-15

In the period from August 9-15, 2026, the Apopka Police Department received 1,646 calls for service, responded to 39 crashes, issued 50 citations, and made 22 arrests.

Strada, Pericola poised to battle for Webster’s seat 

Republican primary still too close to call.

Apopka weighs future of Kelly Park Road agreement amid funding shortfall 

Final right-of-way parcel remains unresolved.

Florida Finds: Steinhatchee offers a place for sunsets, scalloping and slowing down

Little town tucked away in Gulf Coast’s Big Bend and Nature Coast area

Aging Matters: Hot summer days are a problem for the elderly 

From 2018 to 2022, Florida had nation-high 31,000 heat-related emergency room visits. 

Local Sports


Quarterback Dominick Sanguine led Wekiva to victory with his legs last Friday night in the 2026 Kickoff Classic. | Photo by Dana O’Connor

Lifestyle

Apopka Historical Fact: Site of William Edwards Hotel (1 E. Main St.)

“The hotel, named for an Apopka pioneer, was built in 1926 for a cost of $180,000, financed by bonds. It replaced the old city hall, which had been demolished in 1926. Ragsdale Pharmacy opened in the hotel in 1927 and city offices still continued to operate from this location.

“In 1933, the hotel was leased to R.R. King of North Carolina, who renamed it King’s Inn. It was sold at auction in 1936 to A.D. Rainville of New York, and in 1938 it was bought by A.H. Albee of New Hampshire, who named it the Palms Hotel. It was sold in 1941 to Glover Burney, and in 1944 C.L.C. Bruner bought it and let rooms cheaply to servicemen. It was later demolished.”

-Apopka Historical Trail by Steve Rajtar