HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Monday, September 23, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 266 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Jacaranda evacuated for fire Next Generation Village also evacuated, had no fire By PHIL ATTINGER in Sebring also had a at 19 E. Main St. started estimate how much STAFF WRITER short-lived evacuation. in an exhaust fan in the damage the fire caused, Neither scene reported subterranean boiler but said the college — AVON PARK — Fire any injuries. room. Firefighters cut the which owns the building danger Saturday af- However, while the power and got the flames and uses it for student ternoon at the Hotel Next Generation alarm put out quickly. housing — may want to Jacaranda in Avon Park reportedly had no fire, Most of the time spent hire an electrician to fix PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF prompted an evacuation, Avon Park city firefighters at the scene, he said, was the problem. From left, Avon Park city firefighter Clinton Culverhouse but the danger was short did see flames at the to ventilate the smoke While firefighters prepares to head into the Hotel Jacaranda boiler room on lived. Jacaranda. from the building. ran loud fans inside Saturday afternoon with Jacaranda General Manager Sharon Likewise, a fire Avon Park Firefighter He said the fire appears the building, students Schuler and Craig Oechsle, with the Specialized Maintenance alarm reported at Next Clinton Culverhouse accidental. Department for South Florida State College. Generation Village said the Jacaranda fire Culverhouse can’t FIRE | 2A Rescues and Rescuers PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF Crews with Marmer Construction finish up concrete sidewalk, curb, gutter and apron work Friday on the Sebring Roundabout. County commissioners adjusted the overall budget for the roundabout by $88,275 last Tuesday to account for the work to be done. Concrete done on roundabout Apron, curbs ready for next stage of paving By PHIL ATTINGER STAFF WRITER SEBRING — County commissioners COURTESY PHOTO/HIGHLANDS FIRE & EMS FOUNDATION approved a change order Tuesday to in- crease the budget slightly for the Sebring A quilt and some bunker gear make a perfect perch for two Humane Roundabout and other work being done Society of Highlands County cats, posing here for a joint Humane by Marmer Construction. Society/Highlands Fire & EMS Foundation photo calendar, to be sold It comes just a month and a half after later this year in time for the holidays. the Marmer and county staff revised their $1.37 million contract by $812,241, leaving a total contract price of $561,981. Calendar to help County Engineer Clinton Howerton Jr. told commissioners that as Marmer Humane Society and prepared to do the concrete work on the roundabout this week, they found their estimates $88,275 short. Fire EMS Foundation The vote was 4-0 on the change order. By PHIL ATTINGER Commissioner Ron Handley abstained, STAFF WRITER citing family connections by marriage with the Sebring-based construction SEBRING — Esther Averill’s 1960 children’s book, “The company. Fire Cat,” tells how a homeless cat adopted by firefighters Work on the concrete portions of finds purpose as a rescuer and even helps give homes to the roundabout were complete or near other cats. completion by midday Friday, with Highlands Fire and EMS Foundation, in partnership crews finishing up work on the side- with Humane Society of Highlands County, may help do walks through the traffic islands on the that this year. Instead of adopting pets en masse, they approaches to the traffic circle. will showcase them in a joint pet, firefighter and fitness County Road and Bridge Department calendar. road graders rolled back and forth over They hope to have it for sale by November, in time the circle itself, leveling ground for the for stocking stuffers, said Judy Spiegel, president of the next stage of construction, which would Humane Society. likely be the first layer of pavement. “It’s the first time we’re doing something like this,” COURTESY PHOTO/HIGHLANDS FIRE & EMS FOUNDATION Howerton told commissioner and has Spiegel said. “We’re pretty excited about it.” told the Highlands News-Sun that he an- She said Highlands County Fire Rescue Chief Marc Highlands Lakes Volunteer Assistant Fire Chief Scott Watson cuddles ticipates completion by early November, Bashoor approached her with the idea of having a calen- with an adoptable dog from the Humane Society of Highlands dar that featured fitness and animals. County. The Humane Society and Highlands Fire & EMS Founda- CONCRETE | 2A tion are putting together a joint photo calendar to benefit both RESCUE | 2A non-profit organizations. Celebrating the Constitution By ROBERT MILLER the Preamble of the and Highlands Chapter NEWS CLERK Constitution of the Sons of the American United States of America Revolution, Pastor Derek SEBRING — “We the were the springboard Lambert of First Baptist people of the United for a discussion on our Church of Sebring spoke States, in order to form Constitution and how it about God and the a more perfect union, was formed. Champion Constitution followed establish Justice, insure For Children hosted by Rob Gillmore leading domestic Tranquility, “A Celebration of the 7th and 8th graders in a provide for the common Constitution of the series of Patriotic songs to defense, promote the United States of America” set the stage. The featured general Welfare, and at the Champion guest speaker for the secure the blessings For Children Circle program was author and of Liberty to ourselves Theatre this past Friday “living historian” Allan K. and our Posterity, do afternoon. Stone. ROBERT MILLER/STAFF ordain and establish After remarks from Stone, the author of The crowd attending “A Celebration of the Constitution of the United States of America” at the this Constitution for members of the Patriots the book, “We Have Champion For Children Circle Theatre Friday afternoon were treated to several Patriotic songs the United States of Chapter National Given You A Republic-If from 7th and 8th graders with St. Catherine’s Catholic School. America.” Society Daughters of the These words from American Revolution CELEBRATE | 2A Classifieds ......................B4-8 Good morning To ................A7-8, B9-10 ....................... A6 Local Sports ...................... B1 Puzzles Viewpoints David Pooley Lottery ........................... B6 TV Listings ....................... A9 Weather .........................A10 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun 2019_09_23_sea_01.pdf 1 22-Sep-19 22:39:06 A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | September 23, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com toward downtown and the left lane CONCRETE in to circle around to go north or AP attorney to FROM PAGE 1A make a U-turn. • Those entering from the north but can’t give an exact date. will have the right lane to go west discuss legal issues Meanwhile, the Florida toward U.S. 27 or go through to Department of Transportation, via downtown. The left lane will be for social media, told the public that going through to downtown or a with rumble strips Friday marked the end of National U-turn. Roundabouts Week with a posted PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF • Those entering from the By MARC VALERO diagram of the elements of traffi c south will have the right lane to STAFF WRITER circle with tips online at fdot.tips/ While crews from Marmer Construction go straight through toward South roundabout on how to navigate fi nish concrete work Friday morning on Florida State College and the left AVON PARK — The installation of rumble strips at a them. the Sebring Roundabout, road grader lane to head west to U.S. 27, or city intersection is being consider to slow down traffi c, While all local roundabouts are operators fi nish leveling out the lanes for make a U-turn. but City Attorney Gerald Buhr will explain some of the single-lane constructions, the the new traffi c circle, in preparation for Other advice for roundabouts, in potential legal issues with the traffi c control devices at Sebring Roundabout will have two paving. general, is to always yield to traffi c tonight’s City Council meeting. lanes of traffi c on the circle. will be as follows: that is already on the circle, always City Manager David Flowers said the location that is Based on advice from FDOT and • Those entering from the west circle around to your right, always being considered for the rumble strips is the three- explanations by Howerton, traffi c will have the right lane to turn right signal your turns off the circle and way stop intersection at East Circle Street and North fl ow on the Sebring Roundabout always be courteous. Delaney Avenue, which is on the north side of Lake Verona. “People are kind of fl ying through it,” he said. In a Sept. 9 letter, City Attorney Gerald Buhr stated rumble stripping is “one of a set of raised strips on a road that makes a low sound when vehicles drive over it to warn drivers to slow down or change direction because they are getting close to something.” It can also be accomplished by cutting grooves in the road, he noted. Buhr stated, in general, anytime the City chooses to alter its streets and alleys, or any traffi c control device, it needs to consider the fact that the City could lose some of its immunity under sovereign immunity. If the City Council believes rumble strips are in the best interest for the City, Buhr advises the City should hire an experience street engineer to assist in evaluat- PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF ing the value of rumble strips for traffi c calming safety From left, Deputy Todd Harris and Sgt. David Stewart of the compared to the potential for additional liability or Residents at the Hotel Jacaranda, a student housing building Highlands County Sheriff ’s Offi ce stand by Saturday afternoon lawsuit defense.