C M Y K Friday’s Scores A hidden danger Clewiston . 49 LaBelle . 59 Sebring . 44 High-tech gadgets are great, but their LIVING, Avon Park . 7 Lake Placid . 32 Lake Region . 14 batteries can be a danger for kids B14 www.newssun.com NEWS-SUN Highlands County’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1927 SPORTS, B1 Sunday, October 6, 2013 Volume 94/Number 120 | 50 cents Ex-deputy, wife jailed on arson, A warm welcome drug counts Accused of growing City hopes to build marijuana in home ‘gateways’ on either News-Sun staff LAKE PLACID — A former Highlands County Sheriff’s Office end of Main Street deputy and his wife were arrested Thursday and charged with arson, pro- By PHIL ATTINGER ducing marijuana, owning a structure [email protected] where drugs are manufactured and AVON PARK — Residents may get their first look possession of marijua- this month at plans for new city gateways. na over 20 grams. However, depending on funding, it may take as Hiram Obregon and long as 10 years before plans become the monuments his wife, Lisette and parks on both ends of Avon Park’s Main Street. Obregon, were booked That’s why members of the advisory board for the and held on no bond. Main Street Community Redevelopment Agency The warrant stems agreed Thursday to have representatives from from a July 17 house H. Obregon Tindale-Oliver & Associates Inc. in Orlando put fire that occurred at together construction plans on the gateways for CRA the Obregon’s home, Board and Florida Department of Transportation 3335 Northern Blvd. approval. in Lake Placid. During Once that’s done, the city could get started revamp- the fire investigation ing its image to motorists arriving on state and feder- by the State Fire al highways. Marshal’s Office, an Architect Randy Raiman and designer Mark Erquitt insurance investigator have advised turning the wide medians on Main and HCSO detectives, L. Obregon Street at the intersections of U.S. 27 and South items — such as light- Delaney Avenue into pocket parks with improved ing and electrical products that are crosswalks, meandering paths and each with a monu- typically associated with an indoor ment welcoming motorists to Avon Park. marijuana grow operation — were Erquitt and Raiman designed two monument types found. — one archway and one ground-level — with the There appeared to be marijuana same brick and cornice styles as the historic Avon plants in the residence that had been Courtesy illustrations Park City Hall and The Hotel Jacaranda to fit the Plans for the gateway on the west end of Main Street in Avon Park (top) would shielded from the fire by topsoil. The downtown character. allow better visibility for the monument, which could be an arch like the one root systems were submitted to the pictured, for drivers on U.S. 27. There is also the opportunity to build a small- er, ground-level monument at a lower cost. See CITY, A6 See FORMER, page A7 Burglary thwarted Run to the Heartland Heartland leaders by traffic stop gather to hear Two arrested for trying to steal Gov. Scott speak TVs from closed restaurant By BARRY FOSTER County convention center by News-Sun correspondent school superintendents, By PHIL ATTINGER Sheriff’s Office public infor- SEBRING – Education administrators and school [email protected] mation officer. and economic development board members from SEBRING — Deputies They cited Michael representatives from all over Highlands, Desoto, Glades, making a traffic stop Stephen Sramek Jr., 26, of Thousands flock to downtown the heartland turned out at Hardee, Hendry and Thursday stopped burglars 4324 Elson Ave. in Sebring the Highlands County Okeechobee counties. from taking several televi- on the seat belt violation, Sebring for 10th annual event convention center Dubbed “The num- sions from a closed Sebring and then arrested him for NSIDE Thursday evening to ber one recruiter for restaurant. driving without a license and I , A5 hear Florida Florida,” Scott first Two people have been a probation violation. Index Governor Rick Scott gave the crowd a charged in connection with Deputies also found a talk about the rela- keynote address then the case. Highlands County large, flat-screen television Arts & Entertainment B6 tionship academia has answered questions Sheriff’s deputies are still in the car that the Elson Business A9 with the development from school board searching for other suspects couldn’t explain. After talk- Scott Classifieds A11 of business in the chairman Andy Tuck who were trying to take tele- ing to the driver, he led them T-storms Crossword Puzzle B13 Sunshine State. and FHREDI Chief visions from the former to the closed restaurant, High 91 Organized by the six- Executive Officer Gina Seville’s Muggs restaurant at through on open door at the Dear Abby B13 Low 73 county Florida Heartland Reynolds. 2521 U.S. 27 N. in Sebring. rear where they found sever- Editorial & Opinion A4 Rural Economic Scott took the opportunity Deputies first learned of al more television screens Details, A14 Horoscope B13 Development Initiative, an to tout his programs for bet- the burglary after stopping a stacked up to be picked up, Obituaries A6 array of economic develop- ter education and lower taxes car in the area for the driver Hays said. The inside of the ment board members and as the cornerstone of a plan not wearing a seat belt, Sudoku Puzzle B13 county commissioners were according to Nell Hays, See BURGLARY, A6 0990994 01007 Sports on TV B2 joined at the Highlands See SCOTT, A6 Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com HEARTLAND NATIONAL BANK***; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, front strip; 0 0 0 3 2 7 9 3 C M Y K Page A2 News-Sun ࡗ Sunday, October 6, 2013 www.newssun.com Man, 48, charged with Community Briefs Guardian ad Litem garlic bread, dessert and encouraged to bring with volunteer info beverage. Take out is avail- you any minerals, fossils, molesting 15-year-old girl available able. gems and other artifacts to display and inquire about. School assignment revealed abuse AVON PARK – The Life Chain links in This meeting will focus Guardian ad Litem pro- Lake Placid on the trips by returning gram, which serves abused members and any rocks and By PHIL ATTINGER No information was avail- named in arrest reports, said and neglected children LAKE PLACID – The minerals they may have [email protected] able as to what type of she awoke at roughly the across Highlands County, is National Life Chain has acquired. AVON PARK — assignment it was. same time to find Perez’s seeking volunteers. Dawn been held on the first The birthstone for Information revealed after a According to arrest arm reaching over her and Shinskey, a recruiter for the Sunday in October since October are opal and tour- school assignment now has a reports, Perez has improper- toward the girl, HCSO program, will have infor- 1987. This is a call for all maline. If you have any of Frostproof man facing ly touched the victim on reports said. mation about becoming a Christians to mobilize these gemstones, in any charges of lewd and lascivi- multiple occasions both over When she asked him what volunteer from 2-4 p.m. against the abortion holo- form, bring them in and tell ous behavior on a 15-year- and under her clothing in he was doing, he said he was Tuesday at the Avon Park caust in America. about them. old girl. both covering the girl with a blan- Memorial Library. Stop by All are invited to partici- There will be rocks, ores, Apolinar Perez, 48, is also Highlands ket, reports said. with any questions you may pate in the Life Chain in minerals available to add to facing a probation violation and Polk When deputies had the have. Lake Placid from 2-3 p.m. collections. For more infor- and is being held without counties — woman call Perez and ask If unable to attend this today. The group will meet mation, call 453-7054. bond on that charge. The including a again about the sexual alle- orientation session, call in the parking lot between prior charge was vehicular week before gations, he denied them, Dawn Shinskey at (863) Publix and the Bank of Democratic Party manslaughter and probation his arrest. reports said. 534-4597 or email America to choose the sign meets Monday has another two years on it, Reports Reports also noted he did Perez [email protected] to display while standing arrest reports said. state the girl not seem to be upset or for more information. along U.S. 27. This is an SEBRING – The Bond on the lewd and las- was sleeping in the same bed angry about the accusations, hour of silent prayer, not a Highlands County civious charge is set at with Perez and another but that the called ended Hall to speak at Tea loud demonstration. Bring a Democratic Party will meet $200,000. woman since that room was shortly after he advised her Party meeting chair if unable to stand for at 6:30 p.m. the first Deputies first learned of the only one in the house that he should move out of an hour. Monday in October, Oct. 7 the situation on Tuesday with air-conditioning. the home. SEBRING – Rev. George at its headquarters, 4216 after the girl told a school The victim said she awoke Deputies also interviewed Hall of Avon Park Lakes Gem and Mineral Sebring Parkway, next to official after she completed a in the night to find Perez’s Perez, but the contents of Baptist Church will speak Club meets Tuesday Ruby Tuesday’s.