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+ Teacher seeks fortune 

Lakewood Ranch High School teacher Bryon Stedman is hoping to take a spin at a television game show.

A longtime fan of the "Wheel of Fortune," Stedman auditioned Jan. 19 in Tampa, at the encouragement of his wife, Cynthia.

“I solved my puzzle, but there were a lot of people there,” said Stedman, who incorporated students in his television production classes into his audition video. In about a week, he learns whether he will advance to the actual competition.

+  A thankful responder

Logan Youngblood, a third-grader at Braden River Elementary, was one of many students who wrote a thank-you note to firefighters during "First Responders Week" in the school district where free lunches were offered to all first responders.

"I wish I was a firefighter because the suits look so cool and the fire trucks have so much space," Youngblood said. "Thank you for protecting us, and the whole world, from dangerous stuff." 

+ Queen of Hearts

Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch member Sally Waldo drew the lucky card Jan. 9. 

After winning the raffle drawing, Waldo got to pull from a deck of cards hoping to find the Queen of Hearts — and she did, earning a split of $232.

"It's fun," Waldo said, after cheers erupted from her fellow Rotarians. 

Each week, the club collects money for the raffle, and whoever's ticket is pulled gets draw for the Queen of Hearts. The collection pot grows until she is found.