HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Friday, July 5, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 186 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Animal attack suspected in death By Staff reports identifi ed the body as that of 45-year- could fi nd no injuries other than those autopsy. LAKE PLACID — The Highlands old Melvin Olds Jr. infl icted by the animals. An autopsy Offi cials warn residents to be wary County Sheriff’s Offi ce is waiting the Offi cials said a pack of dogs was will be performed today to determine of any pack of dogs in that area or, for results of an autopsy to determine the seen in the area shortly after the body an offi cial cause of death. Offi cials said that matter, any dog that appears to be exact cause of death of a Lake Placid was discovered. The investigation has during the autoposy, a swap of the aggressive. man found Thursday just before noon revealed injuries indicative of an animal wounds will be done to determine if Animal Services and FWC offi cials in Highway Park. attack, believed to be from a pack of the attack was done by domesticated were on scene Thursday afternoon Offi cials said dispatchers received a dogs. canines or coyotes. setting traps in the area. call from a woman who found the man Dr. Stephen Nelson, medical ex- Florida Fish and Wildlife If anyone in the area sees a pack behind a residence in the southeastern aminer for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Commission offi cials will join detec- of dogs or any dog that is aggressive, portion of Highway Park. They have Florida, responded to the scene and tives from the Sheriff’s Offi ce at the please call 863-402-7200. Champion for Children Fire in the sky growing By PHIL ATTINGER STAFF WRITER SEBRING — When Highlands County fi rst set up a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) it was done in a slightly more-than-con- ventional way. MARINE The Champion for Children Foundation, Board of County Commission, Highlands County Sheriff’s Offi ce, School Board of Highlands County, Department of Children and Families, and other agencies ANDRES LABRADA/CORRESPONDENT agreed on a one-stop shop to address child abuse, but ROBERTS The crowd trickled in through the evening, wary of the thunderstorm that visited the area late Wednesday, but all attending the fi reworks display at Sun ‘n Lake of Sebring were in for a treat. CHAMPION | 5A County celebrates Fourth of July Parkway may By ANDRES LaBRADA canceled. CORRESPONDENT Ariel Starling Fells, the director of become ‘Schumacher’ community services for the Sun ‘n SEBRING — The national holiday Lake Improvement District, said, “The From turn west to celebrating America’s birth as a coun- plan is, as soon as this weather clears try was kicked off Wednesday with up, we will continue with the evening. U.S. 27 will get new name events in the afternoon and fi reworks We still have fi reworks scheduled at By PHIL ATTINGER at night in Sun ‘n Lake of Sebring. nine o’clock … but we are setting off STAFF WRITER During the heat of the day, Greg these fi reworks tonight.” Dickson and his crew were busily As the clock ticked closer to the SEBRING — Residents and business- working through the thick humidity scheduled fi reworks display, the fes- es on Sebring Parkway west of Scenic of the above-average record heat. tivities continued regardless. Several Highway probably won’t like They were quickly setting up the vendors of food, drink, popcorn, and the decision made Tuesday pyrotechnics for the night’s fi rework a DJ playing music waited patiently by the County Commission. show. The surrounding areas of the for the rain to clear. The DJ revved up The Board of County Sun ‘n Lake Golf Club were barred the crowd as it trickled in and the rain Commission voted to start off in anticipation of the expected poured heavily putting everything in the process of renaming the large crowd that attend this event jeopardy; however, the community section of the Parkway from every year. With expectations high, kept arriving to support the event the 90-degree turn west to the hot and humid weather well into and to celebrate The United States of U.S. 27, which encompasses the 90’s and with expected lightning America’s Independence Day. both residents and business- HOWERTON and thunderstorms, it put the whole Fortunately, the rain cleared up es that had to change their event, especially the fi reworks show, later on in the night, only to reveal a in question. beautiful amber pink sky and nature’s addresses 20 years ago when the Parkway SHARON WEATHERHEAD/CORRESPON- was fi rst built. It was raining at the scheduled own light display of lightning. The DENT At that time, the section from just west 5 p.m. start time for the event, but mood changed, the crowd grew as of Scenic Highway to the U.S. 27 was called guests arrived anyway. Locals con- more people arrived and the show Golf carts were decorated in red, white and tinued to stream in even under the blue before the parade in the Tanglewood PARKWAY | 5A possibility that the festivities may be FOURTH | 5A community on Thursday. Reports of sea lice another beach threat to consider By KIM LEATHERMAN lifeguard’s purple fl ag and bathing suit. The “lice” like hair STAFF WRITER ignored it. The purple fl ag and cling to it and sting the would have alerted the swim- back of the head and neck and PENSACOLA — It’s all fun mers and sunbathers that there shoulders while the swimmer is and games until someone gets were ne’er do wells swimming unaware. bit — or in this case, stung. In beneath the surface. Other pressures that trigger Highlands County, residents According to the Department the stingers are contact with are an hour-and-a-half drive of Health, the season for sea surfboards, creases in the skin away from either coast and lice is from March to August — and sitting in a wet bathing suit have miles of coastline to yes, the whole summer. after swimming. discover on this peninsula we What most people call sea Some swimmers say they feel call Florida. lice are really the larvae of the COURTESY PHOTO/DOH a slight itchiness while in the Knowing families are travel- jellyfi sh, “thimble fi sh.” Just like water but most have no idea, ing to beaches near and far for regular jellyfi sh, these larvae Welts from sea lice, which are now swimming in the Panhandle beaches. says DOH. Here’s where irony summer vacations, it is import- sting, a lot and painfully. Their rears its ugly head. Wherever ant to stay abreast of the con- stings leave welts, blisters and cases can be treated with home using a Calamine-type lotion. the swimmer’s bathing suit is, ditions before packing the kids rashes (dermatitis) on skin. The remedies and over-the-counter On a side note — contrary to so is the sea lice and its bites. and sunblock. For instance, aftermath of the little stingers remedies. the common jellyfi sh, there Short of recommending skinny the Florida Department of is called seabather’s eruption. In the past, the home rem- is no need to urinate on the dipping, the DOH did say Health has issued warnings for Symptoms are manifest from edies were fairly harsh to skin affected area; vinegar will do. women could reduce the area patrons of certain beaches in 4-24 hours after a swimmer is that was already in discomfort Here’s how they get you. This affected by wearing a two-piece the Panhandle near Pensacola exposed. Symptoms and the and included turpentine, larvae’s stinging mechanism suit instead of a one piece. regarding “sea lice.” dermatitis last about a week. fi ngernail polish, and gasoline. is triggered by pressure. The Also, no one should wear a “Sea lice” is a bit of a misno- The welts can be very itchy and Now, the DOH says relief other thing they do is burrow. T-shirt swimming. There is far mer for the painful organism uncomfortable. Kids are more can be found with antihista- So, while they are burrowing too much surface area covered that attacks unsuspecting susceptible to more signifi cant mines such as Benadryl, OTC into a swimmer’s bathing suit, that will likely get stung. swimmers. Unsuspecting, reactions. Sometimes a case hydrocortisone and bathing the larvae receive pressure and that is, unless they saw the requires hospitalization. Most in non-colloidal oatmeal and sting the person inside the THREAT | 5A Classifieds .................... B8-10 Lottery ........................... B2 Viewpoints ....................... A9 Good morning To Comics ..................... B11-14 Obituaries ........................ A5 Weather .........................A14 Cynthia Hern Sports ............................ B1 TV Listings ....................... B7 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | July 5, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com AP believes time is right Brickell Building to be checked for Publix return by insurance adjuster By MARC VALERO chain with 1,221 stores, Publix’s criteria for a By MARC VALERO STAFF WRITER including 800 in Florida, new location, Anderson STAFF WRITER to revisit Avon Park. said. There is probably AVON PARK — It has Deputy Mayor Jim a “magic number” of AVON PARK — An been more than 10 years Barnard said Tuesday he how much traffic and insurance company since the Avon Park remembers the effort a population size is in the representative is sched- Publix relocated to a couple of years ago to get area.