Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1.
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By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
SANFORD, Fla. -- Jeff Triplett, the former Sanford mayor who led the city through the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman crisis more than eight years ago, died of lung cancer on Feb. 27, 202, at the age of 52 - a shocking breaking news development considering few people even knew he had been sick.
Triplett passed away that morning, a Saturday, his brother, Kent Triplett, announced in a Facebook post.
The current mayor issued a statement on Triplett's passing via social media that very afternoon.
"The City of Sanford is saddened by the news of the passing of former Mayor Jeff Triplett Saturday morning," Mayor Art Woodruff said, adding, "Mayor Triplett, who served from 2011 until 2020, truly loved the City and its residents. He led the City with compassion through difficult times and will be missed by the City and the many organizations he worked with. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers."
The current mayor (shown here) issued a statement on Triplett's passing via social media.
"The City of Sanford is saddened by the news of the passing of former Mayor Jeff Triplett Saturday morning," Mayor Art Woodruff said, adding, "Mayor Triplett, who served from 2011 until 2020, truly loved the City and its residents. He led the City with compassion through difficult times and will be missed by the City and the many organizations he worked with. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers."
Funeral arrangements were private and the family was asking for the public to respect its privacy.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the American Cancer Society in Jeff Triplett's name.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.