HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Monday, October 21, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 294 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Pumpkin Patch pops up in Lake Placid Annual 4-H event takes place a day later By JERRY MEISENHEIMER rain. However, somehow parents and lots of excit- up. So, it took an older CORRESPONDENT the rain worked a miracle ed kids. The pumpkins, brother or sister to carry overnight; because, by which came all the way the prize pumpkin to LAKE PLACID — 9 a.m. on Sunday morn- from Ohio, were arranged the checkout area. But, Saturday was the day ing the park was full of according to size. They picking a pumpkin for scheduled for the 10th bright orange pumpkins looked like they had Halloween wasn’t the Annual Pumpkin Patch of every size. What a actually grown right there only thing going on in event at Stuart Park in difference 24 hours made. under the trees during the park. There was a downtown Lake Placid. From the time the the night. table set up for the kids JERRY MEISENHEIMER/CORRESPONDENT But, if you went there 4-H-sponsored Pumpkin Some of the pumpkins to decorate pumpkin Onistie Galban,11, of Lake Country Elementary, helps her little to check it out, all you Patch opened, the park were so big the smaller sister, Maci Folsom, 4, pick out the perfect pumpkin. encountered was heavy was full of volunteers, kids couldn’t pick them PUMPKIN | 2A Senate to decide fate of Scott Israel BY NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE — Florida senators will start a special session today to decide the fate of suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel. Gov. Ron DeSantis made Israel’s ouster one of his first priorities after ISRAEL taking office in January, accusing the embattled law-en- forcement veteran of “incom- petence” and “neglect of duty” COURTESY PHOTO for deaths resulting from mass COURTESY PHOTO shootings at Parkland’s Marjory The change in Sylas Ruetz since his stem cell treatments in June has been Stoneman Douglas High School nothing short of a miracle, according to his family. Sylas Ruetz seems to be having a good time on his swing set. in 2018 and Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport the previous year. The Senate, which has the authority to reinstate or Stem cell treatment remove elected officials, will convene the special session this morning. The Senate Rules Committee then will meet at 10:30 a.m., to consider the nothing short of a miracle recommendations of Special Master Dudley Goodlette, a for- By KIM LEATHERMAN There was a lot of thinking mer Republican legislator ap- STAFF WRITER progress might be a “fluke.” pointed by Senate President Bill After years of little success Galvano to preside over Israel’s SEBRING — Sylas Ruetz’s with other treatments, it was appeal of the suspension. recent stem cell treatment hard for the family to believe In a stunning blow to for severe autism has been some of Sylas’ behaviors were DeSantis last month, Goodlette nothing short of a miracle. A not a one-off deal. found the Republican governor very expensive miracle. The “The first time Sylas came failed to make the case for 6-year-old’s family is once to me and hugged me and Israel’s suspension and recom- again raising money for a kissed me, I almost cried,” mended the Senate reinstate second round of stem cell Shannon said. “I didn’t want the Broward County Democrat. therapy the family hopes will to make a big deal about it The Rules Committee will advance Sylas’ abilities even and alarm him. Then, he did hear from lawyers representing further. it three more times that day. Israel and DeSantis, as well as Things were perfectly Now, Sylas climbs up into his from members of the public. normal for Sylas and his mother’s lap when she gets Parkland victims’ families parents, Jimmy White and off work and just looks at her, fiercely oppose giving Israel Linsey Ruetz. When Sylas hit it’s unbelievable.” his old job back, a message the 15 months-old, everything Sylas plays with his 2 year- still-grieving parents are certain changed. The fun and loving old brother Oliver, which is to deliver in stark terms to the son was diagnosed with new. Oliver has learned Sylas’ bipartisan committee and to autism by 2 years of age. “sign” language and the two the full Senate, which will meet Sylas was non-verbal and share a secret language. Sylas later in the week to cast the withdrawn. is communicating with the decisive votes on Israel’s fate. The toddler developed an help of an iPad. Without question, the Senate eating disorder called pica, Dr. Freimuth wrote a letter committee meeting and floor where he would eat inappro- in support of fundraising sessions will be emotionally priate items. The food issues efforts for the very expensive charged. got so bad, Sylas would vomit treatments. In one excerpt Goodlette received a death at the sight of foods that were she says the treatment is threat after his report was red or had red sauce. He ate believed to treat the inflam- released in late September, only a handful of chips or mation in the brain. Galvano spokeswoman Katie crackers at a time, according “Stem cell treatment could Betta confirmed. Galvano to his grandmother. COURTESY PHOTO ultimately improve Sylas’ directed the Senate sergeant to Sylas would also have Sylas Ruetz, left, and baby brother Oliver cozy up to one another on a quality of life in many areas,” alert the Florida Department repetitive motions called she wrote. “It could lead to of Law Enforcement about the chair, something Sylas would not have done before his stem cell treat- “stimming” which can ments, according to his family. increased speech, thereby threat, which the Senate presi- interfere with learning, said enhancing his ability to dent considered “very serious,” Dr. Carrie Freimuth. “He is eating everything,” parents work, bringing him communicate in his social Betta said. Since his first stem cell grandmother Shannon Ruetz to school and picking him environment. It could im- “The Senate is coordinating injections that took place said. “He is interacting with up at Victory Ridge Academy prove his motor skills, which with Capitol Police to ensure over five days, and included us and he sits down at the in Lake Wales. One day his would allow him to dress the safety of all visitors, staff 80 million stem cells that dinner table and tries to use teacher came out and told himself, feed himself and use and senators attending meet- were donated umbilical cells, his utensils. He never did that Shannon that Sylas, who the potty, instead of diapers.” ings related to the special there has been a significant before. His doctor said his is normally a loner and The doctor also said Sylas’ session. President Galvano has improvement in Sylas. condition would not let him didn’t interact, was actually anxiety should also lower. requested that enhanced secu- According to his family, Sylas taste things before. Now he approaching other kids to There were many potential rity precautions and protocols, has started potty training. can taste things and he can’t play. The teacher did not tell improvements the doctor which are confidential, be in He has gained 11 pounds in get enough.” Shannon until it happened a listed that the family has place for the proceedings,” she eight weeks, which the family Shannon is the primary few days in a row, in case it said in an email. considers miraculous. care giver to Sylas while his was a fluke. TREAT | 2A Classifieds ......................B6-9 Good morning To Local Sports ...................... B1 Puzzles ............ A9-10, B11-12 Viewpoints ....................... A7 Wayne Whitaker Lottery ........................... B6 TV Listings ......................A11 Weather .........................A12 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | October 21, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com Trump scraps plan to host G-7 at Doral THE ASSOCIATED PRESS offi cial to publicly fl oat the selection of his WASHINGTON — property to host the Responding to stinging summit when in August criticism, President he mentioned it was Donald Trump has on the short-list and abruptly reversed his praised its facilities and plan to hold the next proximity to Miami’s year’s Group of Seven international airport. His world leaders’ meeting comments, more than a at his Doral golf resort in month before the offi cial Florida. announcement, drew Trump announced a instant criticism from rare backtrack Saturday good governance groups night after facing accu- and Democrats, who said sations that he was using it raised concerns that the presidency to enrich Trump was using the himself by hosting the White House to boost his international summit at personal fi nances the private resort owned The vociferous crit- by his family. icism only intensifi ed “Based on both Media with Thursday’s offi cial & Democrat Crazed and announcement, drawing Irrational Hostility, we wide condemnation will no longer consider from Democrats and Trump National Doral, ALEX SANZ/AP PHOTO even some Republicans. Miami, as the Host Site Trump insisted he would for the G-7 in 2020,” This June 2, 2017, fi le image made from video shows the Trump National Doral in Doral. President Donald Trump said on Twitter on host the summit at cost, Trump tweeted. He said Saturday he is reversing his plan to hold the next Group of Seven world leaders’ meeting at the golf resort. though he refused to his administration “will about the position of the He insisted his staff had the country.