HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Tuesday, August 20, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 232 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Student County arrested gets with gun FEMA at APHS money By KIM LEATHERMAN STAFF WRITER $4.35M received AVON PARK — Parents of Avon Park High School students received a call or saw a post By PHIL ATTINGER STAFF WRITER on social media that would make their heart skip a beat. A “weapon was discovered by SEBRING — County Administrator Randy Vosburg a Highlands County Sheriff’s PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF School Resource Deputy,” the confirmed Monday that FEMA post said. The following line Vehicles line up Monday morning on eastbound Sebring Parkway to turn off at Ben Eastman Road, a detour had sent the final $4.35 million said there was no threat to they will make for three to four months while the 90-degree turn is reshaped into a three-spoke, two-lane reimbursement for Hurricane students or the staff and was roundabout. Irma. meant to assuage fear. The “I have a check in my hand,” investigation is still ongoing. Vosburg said, noting that he had About 12:30 p.m. an anon- already handed it to the Clerk of ymous student told School the Courts for deposit into the Resource Deputy Jim Brimlow Parkway closed county’s bank that a 17 year-old male student accounts. had a gun. Officials with the Traffic rerouted 3-4 months to Lakeview Highlands Highlands County Sheriff’s said County com- the deputy had the suspect in By PHIL ATTINGER missioners had asked about custody within about three or STAFF WRITER four minutes. bumping up the Deputy Superintendent SEBRING — Monday morning found 2019-20 budget to get a $5 mil- Andrew Lethbridge with The county and contracted work crews making VOSBURG changes on Sebring Parkway. lion influx from WEAPON | 4A If you didn’t encounter them Monday, the fund balance, Traffic Operations Supervisor Eddie Cardona in an effort to make sure needed had eight employees and a crew from staff positions could get covered. Oglesby Construction at 8:15 a.m. Monday, Vosburg and members of the DeSantis: setting up barrels and laying down tempo- Office of Management and rary stripes — all to help redirect motorists Budget (OMB) had pledged to off Sebring Parkway onto Lakeview Drive. PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF find the funds. Florida Detours will stay in place until after “This make us feel better Highlands County Traffic Operations sets out road Highlands County Road & Bridge crews about this (position),” Vosburg barrels to direct eastbound Sebring Parkway traffic said. “I think we’ll be good with better finish turning the 90-degree turn into a two- to turn right on Ben Eastman Road. Traffic Opera- lane, three-spoke roundabout connecting rolling forward.” tions Supervisor Eddie Cardona, at right, said subtle The $4.35 million influx Parkway Phase 1 to Phase 3, said County details in how barrels are placed, road stripes placed prepared for Engineer Clinton Howerton Jr. will allow the county to “buy in on construction zones and even size of speed limit back” critical positions in the Both Howerton and Cardona warn motor- signs help ensure safety during construction. recession ists this is a long road closure. Veterans, Human Resources, Howerton said work on the round- Cardona said his crews have installed larg- Code Enforcement, Children’s about should take three or four months. er speed limit signs on the affected section Advocacy Center and Public By JIM TURNER Information departments. NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Commuters will need to allow more time, go of Lakeview Drive, to remind motorists to Vosburg said the public slower and drive with a lot of patience, he slow down on the residential street. information position will play a said. Monday saw power company contract TALLAHASSEE — As state vital role as the state ramps up That was especially true Monday morning. crews trimming trees back from power lines economists warn that the its requirements for high-per- As eastbound lanes closed at Ben Eastman and numerous teenagers waiting at school economy is slowing, Gov. Ron centage recycling, through Road, cars had to enter Lakeview Drive just bus stops. DeSantis believes education of the public to keep west of a one-lane work zone with private Florida Department of Transportation, Florida is better their recycling clean of food and contractors trimming trees back from Duke District 1, has funded almost a third of positioned for a other debris, as well as materials Energy power lines. Parkway Phase 3. Brian Rick, public informa- recession than that the county currently can’t Cardona said, before the county built the tion officer for FDOT District 1, wanted to it was a decade recycle effectively, like plastic Parkway, its 8,000 daily drivers used to ride remind motorists the roundabout build is a ago. bags or glass. on Lakeview Drive. Speaking at the PARKWAY | 4A Meanwhile, today’s meeting He said his crews have done little things Florida League has another land use hearing for motorists may not notice to make things less of Cities’ annual Black Bear Citrus LLC in Lake DESANTIS confusing for them. conference Placid. Oglesby Construction put in directional on Friday, the The company got 200 acres arrows and road stripes to redirect Parkway Republican governor pointed to of citrus grove on State Road traffic. the state continuing to hold top- 70 changed from agriculture Eastbound/inbound traffic heading line credit ratings and receiving to mixed use in February. positive media comparisons to toward downtown will turn right onto Ben That same parcel, located Northeastern states for its “fiscal Eastman Road to enter Lakeview Drive. west of Old State Road 8, is on plans,” and for having amassed From there, they may turn left, go to the agenda for a Large-Scale a sizeable reserve amid a record Hiawatha Avenue and turn left toward Home Comprehensive Plan amend- $90.3 billion spending plan for Avenue to get back on the Parkway. ment for essentially the same the current fiscal year. Northbound/outbound traffic, heading PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF thing today. “I think we are much better away from downtown Sebring, will turn left A staff member of the plan- positioned to weather an at Home Avenue toward Lakeview Drive to As traffic begins a detour from Sebring Parkway to ning department will make the economic downturn then we head to Ben Eastman Road or the traffic Lakeview Drive via Ben Eastman Road, eastbound presentation. County staff and were in 2008, 2009, when we signal at Scenic Highway. traffic finds work crews trimming trees back from the applicant have said that this really took it on the chin there,” Northbound traffic will turn right at power lines. Parkway users are warned to be patient is an appropriate change. DeSantis said in a speech his Home Avenue toward State Road 17. Those in the next three to four months with the two-lane Objections have come on Home Avenue going straight across the residential street used by residents, delivery and lawn PREPARED | 4A Parkway can do that, too. maintenance companies, cyclists and pedestrians. COUNTY | 4A Goodson freshens up murals By KIM LEATHERMAN and many were painted by lush orange groves. Tuesday [today]. Maintaining STAFF WRITER Goodson. The most recent Goodson was hired by the the mural’s color and fixing mural painted by Goodson was City of Sebring to seal the cracks is important to the SEBRING — Keith Goodson on the Lake Placid Memorial mural, which was originally integrity of the artwork. may not be from Highlands Library’s west wall. It is colorful painted by Kenneth Treister. “The towns want to keep County but he does spend a and a whimsical look at the Treister also designed the the artist’s original look but considerable amount of time evolution of the library experi- sculptures and benches in the just refresh it,” Goodson said. working locally. Goodson is a ence through the years. park. Goodson agreed to seal “Sometimes the artist isn’t muralist and artist whose work Murals can last for decades the mural and touch up parts around to touch it up.” can be seen throughout the with a little refreshing and that were faded. His work in Highlands county whether gracing walls upkeep. That’s what Goodson The work began on Thursday, County is not done however; in massive or more modest was doing when the Highlands Aug. 15, when Goodson applied Goodson is scheduled to return murals or hanging in homes News-Sun caught up with him paint to the trim that frames to Lake Placid when he is done and businesses. on Monday. Goodson has been the mural and clear coated KIM LEATHERMAN/STAFF Goodson has completed working on the Sadie Kahn the entire piece on Saturday. with Kahn’s mural and revitalize many murals in Lake Placid, Memorial Park mural. Fittingly, Monday he gave Mrs. Khan a some of those murals as well. Keith Goodson touches up the mural of also called the Town of Murals. the mural depicts Sadie and her touch up as well. He expects The Lake Placid Mural Sadie and Michael Khan Monday in the The town has nearly 50 murals, husband, Mike, surrounded by to be finished with the piece MURALS | 4A Sadie Kahn Park in Sebring. Classifieds ......................B5-8 Sports ............................ B1 Viewpoints .........................A Good morning To Puzzles/Comics .......A5-6, B9-10 TV Listings ....................... B9 Weather .........................A10 Patricia Lewis Lottery ........................... B2 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | August 20, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com Swift action saves the day with car fire By KIM LEATHERMAN STAFF WRITER SEBRING — Things got hot under the collar for the driver of a black Lincoln on Sunday afternoon as the car he was driving caught fi re.