HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Tuesday, November 17, 2020 VOL. 101 | NO. 322 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Four to swear into county commission By PHIL ATTINGER District 3 seat The new chair will then take Facilities, Road & Bridge, Traffic pair of hearings on a small- STAFF WRITER and Christopher nominations for vice-chair. Operations, and Public Safety scale land use change and a Campbell will All commissioners are Departments, as well as get a zoning change for 0.66 acres SEBRING — Shortly after take the oath for elected at-large and serve the new report from Emergency at 12714 U.S. 98, between the the gavel raps this morn- District 5. county at-large, although they Manager LaTosha Reiss on the highway and Red Beach Lake, ing, Highlands County will Commissioner must live within the districts COVID-19 and CARES Act relief from medium-density residen- swear in four new county Arlene Tuck, as from which they are seated. situations. tial to commercial/business. commissioners. ROBERTS the only current Before starting their daily After which, they have Another pair of hearings In order of their place on the incumbent, business, the new commission scheduled six public hearings, on land use and zoning will agenda, Kevin Roberts will take in District 4, will then take will recognize Steve Cooper, primarily on land use requests, review a request to change the oath for the District 1 seat, nominations from the new who is retiring from Camp and five action items including 10.05 acres further east at 4321 Kathleen “Kathy” G. Rapp will commissioners to elect a chair Cloverleaf; present awards for budget amendments and the U.S. 98 from agriculture to swear in for District 2, Scott A. from their ranks to preside over years of service to employ- vacation of an easement. Kirouac will swear in for the meetings for the next year. ees working for the Parks & The county will consider a SWEAR | 8A COVID numbers show smaller increase STAFF REPORT Florida saw a smaller increase in new COVID-19 cases with the release of Monday’s numbers by the Florida Department of Health. There were 4,663 new cases recorded, which brings the total to 889,732. The numbers say there was no increase in resident deaths, which remained the same at 17,518, while there was one additional non-resi- dent death to bring the total to 216. Highlands County had an increase of 26 new cases, making it 3,257 total MARC VALERO/STAFF cases since the beginning of the pan- demic. There are 22 non-residents to The Shops at Shelby Crossing are among the many business properties along U.S. 27 that the City of Sebring is planning to annex into the city have tested positive, which is one fewer limits. than FDOH reported on Sunday. The number of deaths remained at 129 and there are currently 68 hospitalized, according to the Agency for Health Care Growth spurt: Sebring annexing Administration. There were 72 hospital- ized Sunday. The virus continues to gain momen- tum throughout much of the United U.S. 27 business district States. As of 5 p.m. Monday, Johns Hopkins showed the total of cases in the By MARC VALERO U.S. at 11.14 million, with an increase of STAFF WRITER 133,045 cases. The number of deaths in the United States is 246,854, which is an SEBRING — Sebring, the City on the Circle, is moving increase of 875 from Sunday’s numbers. toward also being the city with a much larger area of the The number of children in the U.S. to U.S. 27 business district within its boundaries. test positive for COVID-19 has exceeded Today’s City Council meeting agenda includes four 1 million, according to a report released public hearings for the first reading of annexation or- by the American Academy of Pediatrics dinances: Aldi area, Alan Jay/IHOP area, Home Depot/ and Children’s Hospital Association on Lowe’s area and Outback/Pier One area. Monday. The organization said as of Nov. City Administrator Scott Noethlich noted there are 12, a total of 1,039,464 children have nine parcels in the Aldi area alone. tested positive and things weren’t getting Essentially the city is annexing on U.S. 27 starting any better. at the Aldi area and moving south all the way down to “In the one-week period ending Nov. almost the Gate station at Lakeview Drive and U.S. 27, 12th, there were 111,946 new cases in he said. The Gate station is already within the Sebring children, which is substantially larger city limits. than any previous week in the pandem- The annexations will not include Lakeshore Mall at MARC VALEROSTAFF ic,” the report stated. this point, but will include all the outparcels in front of AAP President Sally Goza, MD, FAAP, The Home Depot is slated to be annexed by the City of Sebring. the mall, Noethlich said. said the virus is taking its toll on families The Alan Jay Chevrolet and Toyota dealerships are and communities, as well as the medical part of the annexations. The Alan Jay Nissan dealership community. is already in the city. “As a pediatrician who has practiced Lowe’s and The Shops of Shelby Crossing are included in the annexations. COVID | 8A According to Noethlich’s initial estimate, the annex- ations would provide about a half a million dollars in property taxes to the city. Highlands News-Sun asked why the city was doing these annexations now? Noethlich replied, “Because Council requested that we Thanksgiving do so.” Most of the properties are already receiving city water and sewer utilities, he said. edition There is a proposed agreement between the city In honor of Thanksgiving, the and county for the provision of services between now Highlands News-Sun will be printed on and Sept. 30, Noethlich said. Under the proposal, Thanksgiving Day. the county would continue to provide services until We hope your Thanksgiving is a MARC VALERO/STAFF Sept. 30. Starting on Oct. 1, 2021, the city would be peaceful and wonderful time with family The Aldi supermarket is part of the many properties along U.S. 27 and friends. that the City of Sebring will be annexing into its city limits. ANNEX | 8A Classifieds ......................B5-8 Obituaries ........................ A8 Viewpoints ....................... A6 Good morning To Comics ....................... B9-12 Sports ............................ B1 Weather .........................A12 Armand Gendron Lottery ........................... A2 TV Listings ......................A11 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun adno=00050534 A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | November 17, 2020 www.highlandsnewssun.com 5 THINGS That Will Make You Give the gift of safety this holiday season SMARTER Special to the Highlands be placed on informing Gene S. Spaulding, Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. “Put 1. Turmeric has aging and many diseases. News-Sun consumers of their rights director of the Florida safety first by planning PROVIDED BY FLORIDA been used in India for 3. Curcumin boosts and responsibilities when Highway Patrol. “While your route ahead of HIGHWAY PATROL thousands of years as brain-derived neuro- it comes to buying and traveling on Florida’s time, staying alert, and a spice and medicinal trophic factor, linked to selling a vehicle. roadways this holiday never driving impaired or herb. Curcumin is the improved brain function TALLAHASSEE — As “While this holiday season, please remember distracted.” main active ingredient in and a lower risk of brain Floridians and visitors season may look different your fellow citizen and Sheriff Bobby Schultz, turmeric. It has powerful diseases, including de- are gearing up to travel than ones past, we’re practice safe driving president of the Florida anti-inflammatory effects pression and Alzheimer’s on Florida roadways encouraging everyone on habits. Always buckle up, Sheriffs Association said, and is a very strong disease. this holiday season, the the road to have patience, never drive impaired, and “The holiday season is a antioxidant. 4. Curcumin should Florida Department practice safe driving allow yourself plenty of special time when fami- 2. Turmeric dramatical- lower your risk of heart of Highway Safety and behaviors, and make sure time to arrive at your des- lies and friends tradition- ly increases the anti- disease. Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) everyone in the vehicle tination so that you and ally travel for gatherings oxidant capacity of the 5. Turmeric can help has launched its Safe is properly buckled,” your families can enjoy to celebrate. While our body. Oxidative damage prevent (and perhaps Holiday Travel campaign said FLHSMV Executive this holiday season.” deputies will be patrolling is believed to be one of even treat) cancer. to ensure motorists Director Terry L. Rhodes. FLHSMV and its part- to ensure their safety, we the mechanisms behind Source: healthline.com Arrive Alive to their “Arriving to your desti- ners are committed to the ask that the citizens that destination. FLHSMV nation is truly the best safety of all motorists on we proudly serve travel is partnering with the gift you can offer your our roads and educating safely. On behalf of our Florida Department of loved ones and fellow everyone on safe driving Florida sheriffs, I fully LOTTERY NUMBERS Transportation, Florida motorists.” to always Arrive Alive. No support the FLHSMV’s Sheriffs Association, Winning Numbers In 2019, preliminarily, matter what season, as Safe Holiday Travel POWERBALL Florida Police Chiefs Next Jackpot: there were 10,163 crashes you celebrate, FLHSMV campaign.” Association, and AAA – Saturday, November 14, 2020 Tuesday, November 17, 2020 during the Thanksgiving has helpful tips to keep The winter holiday The Auto Club Group to 7-15-18-32-45-20-x2 $1.25 MILLION holiday period, with 93 you safe on the road.