A teenage girl has caused chaos at a school in Florida after she handed out $10,000 of her grandmother’s money that she stole to her classmates.

A 14-year-old girl, whose name is undisclosed, is facing felony charges for stealing $13,500 of her grandmother’s savings after breaking the safe. Later, she handed the money out to her classmates.

The Police went to the Lake Weir Middle School, located in Summerfield, about 60 miles northwest of Orlando after they got reports of a student giving away hundreds of dollars to classmates.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office told the media that they aren’t certain why the girl distributed the money to students, even to those she didn’t know. They also are unclear about why she stole only half of her grandmother’s savings.

Meanwhile, the teenage girl who had stolen the money told the officers that a friend who left the school had given her the money. Whereas other students who were given the money confirmed that the girl told them the money was her grandmother’s.

School officials spoke to one of the students' parents’ to whom the girl had offered money. Michelle Spaulding, a parent, revealed to the media that her daughter told her a girl, whom she doesn’t know, offered her $100. But her daughter said she didn’t accept it because she felt it was stolen and didn’t want anything to do with it.

The parent said she wished the grandmother gets the whole money back because it was devastating. She also said she felt bad for the family.

Fortunately, so far, the Sheriff’s office and school officials have retrieved $2,500 from the girl’s backpack and $700 from the children who were given the money. They hope to get more money back.

U.S. Army veteran Sven Tilly never will forget experiencing the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. He got the opportunity to watch the silent, solemn ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a Villages Honor Flight mission in April. “It was unbelievable,” said Tilly, of Summerfield.

“I’m not shocked easily after all these years that I’ve been around, but that was something else.” Today is Veterans Day, but local organizations like Villages Honor Flight work tirelessly to honor Tilly and other veterans year-round. This year the group is marking its 10th year and 57 missions.

Witnessing the changing of the guard is just one moving experience veterans have on Honor Flight missions, where they travel to Washington, D.C., to tour war memorials and monuments from their respective service. Villages Honor Flight took 25 veterans and 25 guardians on its first mission to Washington, D.C., in 2012. So far it has taken 1,959 veterans to Washington, D.C., and given 316 veterans a flightless, virtual experience.

“This year was a record year with 400 veterans, and I think it’s also safe to say that we probably had an excess of 25,000 volunteer hours this year,” said Joe Hambright, Villages Honor Flight chairman.

The Villages is no stranger to military service. In fact, about 16% of the more than 126,000 Villagers have donned a U.S. military uniform.

Of the more than 1,900 veterans who have participated in a local mission, 882 served in the U.S. Army, 582 in the U.S. Navy, 301 in the U.S. Air Force, 153 in the U.S. Marine Corps, 23 in the U.S. Coast Guard, 13 in the U.S. Merchant Marines and five in other unspecified services, according to the organization.

The local hub is part of the national Honor Flight Network, which has more than 128 hubs across the country. The national network has given more than 245,000 U.S. veterans an Honor Flight experience, according to its website.

Shaking hands with thankful students, etching the name of a fellow solider on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and returning to a cheerful, patriotic crowd are just a few special moments that veterans coming home from a Villages Honor Flight mission often say left them speechless or with tears in their eyes.

For many participants, the journey is an emotional one.

For some, it’s the first time they’ve laid eyes on the memorial dedicated to the war or military branch in which they served. For many Vietnam veterans, they feel it’s the first real recognition of their service as well as the welcome home they never had.

For U.S. Army veteran Brian O’Connell, the Honor Flight mission brought him a lot of closure.

“We were never treated this well (after the Vietnam war),” the Leesburg resident said.

Many women veterans share a similar sentiment, often saying it’s their husbands who are assumed to be veterans and thanked for their service.

Sue Roper, president of Tri-County Women Veterans, said these women finally are recognized on their Honor Flight mission.

In fact, this year was historic for Villages Honor Flight as it hosted the first all-women honor flight in Florida.

In May, the hard work of members of the Tri-County Women Veterans came to fruition when the $100,000 they raised paid for the all-women mission, Roper said. More than 100 women veterans took part in the historic mission, both as guardians and participants.

“It’s so heartwarming,” said Roper, a U.S. Navy veteran and resident of the Village of Bonita. “I can’t believe it, and I can’t believe we have so much support.”

Ruth Jones, a World War II Women’s Army Corps veteran, was blown away by the experience.

“It was fabulous,” the Village of Bonita resident said. “It was just overwhelming. It was really great, and I had a wonderful time.”

Like many World War II veterans who participate in a mission, Jones received a standing ovation from the crowd when the mission returned home.

For the hundreds of Villages Honor Flight volunteers — including guardians, medical staff, flight directors and countless others — all of the hard work is worth making the veterans feel special.

“When you see the twinkle in their eyes, it’s all worth it,” said Peter Tetrault, vice president of administration for Villages Honor Flight and a Village of Winifred resident.

Guardian Robert Elstad agreed.

“I just got hooked,” Elstad said. “It’s a wonderful day all about them, and it’s a great way to serve the people who serve our country. I mean, it brings tears to my eyes.”

Guardians spend 24 hours with their veteran on their trip, and the experience is an honor, said Sunny Watson, a U.S. Army veteran who lives in the Village of Glenbrook.

Since the beginning, Villages Honor Flight’s missions have been made possible by the endless support from the community and its donors.

It costs $600 to send one veteran on a mission. It costs $85,000 to $90,000 to host one mission to D.C. and $5,000 to host a flightless mission, said Wayne Grunewald, Villages Honor Flight CFO/treasurer.

To keep the missions going, Villages Honor Flight hosts several fundraisers throughout the year to send as many veterans on missions as possible, said Duane Roemmich, public relations and media coordinator for Villages Honor Flight.

Since 2012, the organization has raised $2.4 million through donations from the public and guardians as well as fundraisers, said Grunewald, of the Village of Sunset Pointe.

Some of its biggest partners are Parady Financial Group, Fresh Made Kitchen Restaurant Group, City Fire American Oven and Bar, Cody’s Original Roadhouse and the Suleiman Family Restaurants.

“A lot of these veterans are our clients, and we’re part of The Villages community,” said Linda Bennett, director of events at Parady. “Greg (Parady, CEO and president) gives back to those who have been good to us. He’s very passionate, and veterans are his No. 1.”

Parady has supported Villages Honor Flight since the hub started. The company also has honored four veterans by sponsoring them on four Villages Honor Flight missions. It also hosts a celebration each year with Villages Honor Flight to pay tribute to local veterans and present a donation.

“Our relationship with Villages Honor Flight is the best and we’re very honored to be part of it,” Bennett said.

Various restaurants also host fundraisers throughout the year and donate portions of their earnings to Villages Honor Flight, said Roemmich, of the Village of Collier.

Moving into the 2023 season, the hub is making several changes to reduce stress on its volunteers while maximizing the experience for the veterans, said Hambright, a Village of Amelia resident.

The schedule for 2023 will include two missions to Washington, D.C., on April 19 and Sept. 27 and one flightless mission Nov. 19. A second flightless mission hasn’t been scheduled yet.

The ratio of veterans to guardians also is changing from one veteran to one guardian to two veterans to one guardian. This change is being made because veterans attending missions now often are younger and more mobile than previous generations, Hambright said.

The minimum age requirement also is dropping to 78 years old, and a fit-to-fly form from a doctor no longer is required.

The application process is on a first-come, first-served basis based on the veterans war period. Older veterans, such as those who served in World War II, still will jump to the top of the list if they apply.

Honor Flight missions are free for veterans. Any U.S. veteran who served at least one day in active duty is eligible to participate in an Honor Flight mission. Villages Honor Flight serves veterans in Lake, Sumter, Marion, Citrus and Hernando counties.

“The organization cannot be beat,” said Bill Amtower, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Village of Piedmont resident. “They really know what they’re doing, and they do a wonderful job.”

For more information about Villages Honor Flight or to make a donation, visit villageshonorflight.org.

Staff writer Veronica Wernicke can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5307, or veronica.wernicke@thevillagesmedia.com.

ORLANDO, Fla. – As Tropical Storm Nicole continues to near the east coast of Florida, watches and warnings are now in effect for every county in east Central Florida.

A hurricane warning is in effect for all of Brevard County, coastal Volusia and coastal Flagler counties. This means hurricane conditions can be expected within the next 36 hours. Farther inland, a tropical storm warning is in effect for inland Volusia, Lake, Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. A tropical storm watch is also now in effect for Sumter, Marion and inland Flagler counties.

[TRENDING: Nicole expected to become hurricane, projected path shifts over Central Florida | Powerball announces delay to record-breaking $1.9B drawing | Become a News 6 Insider]

Nicole will move near southern Brevard County during Wednesday evening, likely moving onto the coast early Thursday morning. The system will bring in rain squalls with scattered storms. These squalls will have wind gusts of 40-60 mph, heavy rainfall with an isolated tornado potential as well.

Storm total rainfall from repeated rounds of heavy rain could produce accumulations of 4-6 inches across coastal counties and 2-5 inches further inland. Some locally higher amounts will be possible.

Nuisance flooding and ponding of water on roadways will be likely. This additional rainfall is expected to stall any decrease in river levels or even cause some slight rises.

Another major concern is the prolonged period of dangerous beach conditions. A storm surge warning is in effect for the entire east Central Florida coast, for the potential of 3-5 feet of surge above ground level and as much 6 feet in spots.

Strong and gusty onshore winds through Wednesday night and Thursday will produce very high seas, rough, pounding surf, large breaking waves and dangerous rip currents.

These winds, high seas, and surf will combine with high tides to bring the threat of significant beach erosion around the next several high tide cycles.

Preparations need to be completed by midday on Wednesday, as conditions will rapidly deteriorate through Thursday.

The Jewish Pavilion will be honoring Lori Slutsky at their annual luncheon on Dec. 1 at the Hilton Altamonte Sprigs at 11 a.m. The $35 luncheon includes a holiday shopping bazaar. To register visit https://jpav.ticketspice.com/jp-connections-lunch-2022.

The luncheon is being co-chaired by Marlene Adler and Susan Livingstone who serve on the Friends of the Jewish Pavilion Board with Slutsky, who is really looking forward to the festivities and is a little overwhelmed and very humbled. Her parents are coming from Summerfield Florida, and several of her good friends are going to join her for the celebration.

Slutsky conducts Shabbat services once a month for the residents at The Mayflower, She also frequently fills in when needed to conduct services at other facilities. Slutsky is on the Friends Board, which allows her to work on various fundraisers held on behalf of the Jewish Pavilion. She also helps to assemble and deliver 'goody' bags for the residents in the Lake Mary/Sanford area on Jewish holidays.

Lori Slutsky sees the joy it brings to so many of the residents and it makes her feel so good inside that she is able to bring this to them. She remembers her grandmother and how much her Judaism meant to her and this makes Slutsky smile. She feels like her Jewish Pavilion volunteer work is the 'missing piece' from her life that she didn't know was missing. Slutsky loves that we are able to bring Judaism to so many residents who may have no other way to experience Shabbat or any of the holidays. She especially loves sharing stories with her elders and truly knowing how important it is that she come to see them.

Slutsky comments: "One of the seniors, Phyllis Schaffer, at The Mayflower, is so sweet. We always have a nice chat about some of her memories, and sometimes her daughter comes to share in the service as well." Slutsky loves the warm feeling we all have when we're together.

Slutsky grew up in a conservative home and went to shul on Shabbat. She remembers as a small child going to shul with her dad's mom and dad and all her friends wanting to sit with her because her grandfather (an usher on Shabbat) always distributed candy. She went to Hebrew school through high school, and graduated college with a degree in Judaic studies. Slutsky spent a year living in Israel after college and experienced many special things.

Slutsky never 'worked' with seniors, but she took care of her maternal grandmother for almost 15 years, until she passed at the ripe old age of 100. Slutsky spent a lot of time with her grandmother and her grandma's friends in the apartment home where she lived.

When searching for some way to do volunteer work, Slutsky recalled, "I was looking for a volunteer opportunity through my work portal, the Jewish Pavilion listed an 'open' opportunity. I applied, and within 10 minutes I received a phone call from Nancy Ludin, and here I am."

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Hillsborough County, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2022) - Hillsborough County has issued a mandatory evacuation for Evacuation Zone A as well as those in mobile and manufactured homes and residents in low-lying areas prone to flooding starting at 2 p.m. today, Monday, Sept. 26. The County has also issued a voluntary evacuation for Evacuation Zone B. Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise signed the evacuation order today in order to protect residents in coastal areas from expected storm surge.

The County will open 43 shelters at 2 p.m.

Below is the list of shelters now open to residents:

General Population Shelters

Special-Needs Shelters

The special-needs shelters are only for residents with medical issues that require electricity assistance or cognitive issues that would not be supported in a general population shelter.

Residents bringing pets to one of the four pet-friendly shelters need to bring a sturdy carrier for each pet that allows room for the pet to stand up and move around, as well as a collar with a leash and supplies for each pet to last seven days. More information on how residents can prepare their pets can be found here: Pet Disaster Planning.

Residents are urged not to evacuate to hospitals, as they are not shelters.

HART Evacuation Routes Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) will continue to run the regular bus route service until further notice. Residents needing transportation assistance to a shelter should proceed to the nearest bus route. Bus drivers will transport evacuees to a bus transfer center, where they will be taken to the closest open shelter.

Get Connected. Stay Alert. For more information on Hillsborough County's response to Hurricane Ian, visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe and sign up for the HCFL Alert system. Additionally, you can follow Hillsborough County on social media at Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor for updates.

Residents without digital access are encouraged to call 833-HCSTORM or 833-427-8676, the County's storm information line, for information on Hurricane Ian or visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe.