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Campfire Caused Blaze That Threatened Golf Hammock

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Campfire Caused Blaze That Threatened Golf Hammock C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 And the winner is ... Final five SFSC game halted in Finalists named for ninth inning, tied 1-1 Heartland Idol SPORTS, B1 SPORTS, B1 LIVING, B14 Sunday, March 24, 2013 www.newssun.com Volume 94/Number 36 | 75 cents Forecast Campfire caused blaze that Swamp Hammock Strong T-storms later threatened Golf Hammock in the day High Low on agenda 87 61 for county Complete Forecast PAGE A14 Commission to Online vote on disputed property Tuesday By BARRY FOSTER News-Sun correspondent SEBRING — Another round for the Question: Home proposed Swamp Hammock sales are up and Recreational Club is slated for the unemployment is Highlands County Commission’s down. Do you think monthly night meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the government center in the economy is truly Sebring. It will be the second time in as recovering? many months for the hearing and yet another turn on the twisting road devel- opers have been on for better than a Yes year. Plans to revamp a defunct equestrian 24.8% News-Sun photo by SAMANTHA GHOLAR development on Marguerite Road Desoto City firefighters hustle to wet down an area of a wildfire just behind Golf Hammock Thursday afternoon. The fire reportedly came to light last year after gained momentum suddenly after high winds picked up blowing the flames onto dry brush. neighbors were alerted by Facebook posts as to activities on the property. No At the time, competitive mud bog See SWAMP, A9 75.2% Total votes: 105 LP man Next question: Should the county commission approve charged in the Swamp Hammock issue on Tuesday? fatal crash Make your voice heard at News-Sun photo by SCOTT DRESSEL By BARRY FOSTER An aerial photo from the Division of Forestry (left) shows the area burned in Thursday’s fire. The north edge www.newssun.com News-Sun correspondent of the Golf Hammock subdivision is at the lower part of the overhead view, and was in great danger as the flames raged in the treetops just feet from homes Thursday afternoon. LAKE PLACID — Polk County Obituaries sheriff’s officials have charged Jeffery A. Harris of Lake Placid with driving Ethelda Ables No injuries, little structural damage while license suspended or revoked Age 90, of Sanford causing death. Ernest Higgins By SAMANTHA GHOLAR “I’ve got my hoses ready,” he said. The 21-year-old Lake Placid man [email protected] More photos “It sounded like traffic was com- of Ocoee was believed to have been at the wheel SEBRING – The Highlands PAGE A6 ing,” said Erica Gardner, who lives of a Nissan four-door that went across Ed Jordon County Fire Services and the next to Heyeck. “Then all of a sud- the median of U.S. 27 near Cypress Age 68, of Sebring Florida Forest Services have deter- den you saw it, there was black Gardens Boulevard on Wednesday, col- mined the cause of the Quail “It started burning pretty fast,” smoke.” liding with two other vehicles. Obituaries, Page A5 Wildfire that began Thursday after- said Fred Heyeck, whose Golf Fire personnel from nearly a The Wednesday evening crash noon in the Sebring Hills area. Hammock house was closest to the dozen entities had control over the Index claimed the life of 20-year-old Suyleyka At 4:55 p.m. Thursday the wild- approach of the fire at around 5:15 wildfire at approximately 7:15 p.m. Najera, also of Lake Placid. Arts & Entertainment B6 fire ignited due to a campfire. The p.m. “You could hear the wind after Florida Forest Service dozers Polk County Sheriff's officials say fire spread over 60 acres and sucking into that fire.” Business B12 established control lines all around Harris had been released from the Lake threatened homes in the Golf Heyeck, a 25-year police veteran Chalk Talk A8 the fire. City Correctional Facility earlier that Hammock subdivision and Sebring from New Jersey, said he’d seen Classifieds A10 Hills area. plenty of fires and wasn’t scared. Community Briefs A2 See FIRE, A5 See DRIVER, A9 Crossword Puzzle B13 Dear Abby B13 Editorial & Opinion A4 Lottery Numbers A2 Home-grown stars help AP get Home Field Advantage Movie Times B13 Religion B8 Youth baseball fields to get makeover Sports On TV B2 By SAMANTHA GHOLAR The campaign is in conjunction Technology B7 [email protected] with Warner Brother Pictures’ AVON PARK — Durrah Martin release of the Jackie Robinson Complex will be getting a new and biopic “42.” improved look in the coming weeks “It will be fairly similar to most www.twitter.com/thenewssun as Walmart, The Scotts Company refurbishment. Lots of seeding and and and Warner Brother Pictures have feeding, there’s going to be work all teamed together for the Ultimate done to all of the pitchers’ mounds, Home Field Advantage Project. leveling the ground out and lots of Add Avon Park hometown hero other things,” said Chris Strunk, the Tom “Flash” Gordon and his son, Scotts Company Manager of Sports www.facebook.com/newssun News-Sun photo by DAN HOEHNE current Dodgers’ star Dee Gordon Marketing & Sponsorship. Former MLB pitcher and Avon Park native Tom ‘Flash’ Gordon speaks to an were key in getting the project to Saturday’s rededication and excited crowd of dignitaries, young athletes, residents and family members Saturday morning at Durrah Martin Field. Gordon is one of the many partners spend an estimated $40,000 to refurbishment ground breaking and supporters of the Ultimate HomeField Advantage Project which will fund upgrade the fields where both the total cost of ball field refurbishment. 0990994 01007 played as youngsters. See FIELDS, A9 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 2 8 0 1 5 C M Y K Page A2 News-Sun ࡗ Sunday, March 24, 2013 www.newssun.com Plea deal in works for defendant in Doty case By SAMANTHA GHOLAR clothing and shoes of Felipe and [email protected] Alleged getaway driver due back in court Monday Rodriguez wore during Doty’s mur- SEBRING – Nicole Hebert, one der. of the defendants in the Aaron Doty Stevenson of Bartow is representing It is believed would just be treated as another Burgos offered his Orlando apart- murder case, is scheduled to appear Hebert and has been working on a Hebert will cooper- piece of evidence; her testimony ment to the alleged murderers once in court at 1:15 p.m. Monday for a plea deal. If a deal is struck and ate in the prosecu- would just be another piece of evi- they had fled Highlands County, possible plea deal. accepted by Circuit Court Judge tion process of the dence. We’ll see if she cooperates investigators say. Hebert allegedly drove her Angela Cowden, the entire case other defendants. (with the prosecution),” said Rodriguez and Felipe will re- boyfriend, Kenneth Felipe, 19, and could change drastically. Assistant State Houchin. appear before Cowden for their Jonathan R. Rodriguez, 20, to “What happens if the deal is Attorney Steve Court dates and pre-trial hearings third pre-trial hearing at 8:30 a.m. Orlando following the June 2012 accepted depends,” Stevenson said. Hebert Houchin said Friday are in place for the remaining Thursday, April 18. murder of the 20-year-old Doty. “Both sides have to reach a deal and that “plea discus- defendants in the Doty case: Travis Both the state and defense asked Hebert has been held in the the judge has to approve it. I can not sions are going on. Makris and Giovanni Burgos (both for another pre-trail hearing at the Highlands County Jail on a speak on the details because it’s “Any plea agreement calls for her out on bond) will be in court for last hearing in late February. $250,000 bond since her arrest last currently being worked on. But I cooperation and testimony with the pre-trail hearings at 8:30 a.m. Each sides stated the case is com- summer, charged with accessory spoke with the State Attorney’s case. Wednesday, April 17. plex and more time is needed to after the fact. Office this morning and we are “It doesn’t change the case, not in Makris is charged with accessory prepare before case is ready for trial Defense attorney Robin H. working out the details.” relation to the other defendants. It after the fact. He allegedly kept the or jury selection. Final five chosen for Highlands County’s quality of Heartland Idol finale health ranks 37th in state By CHRISTOPHER Rankings,” is released every has risen 13 percent. TUFFLEY December by the United The Teen Pregnancy [email protected] Health Foundation. It pro- Prevention Alliance’s lower- SEBRING — Here’s the vides health outcome data at ing the rate of teen pregnan- news about the county’s the state level. cy is an example of how the health in a nutshell: In a Both reports use the same united efforts of many agen- ranking among states, criteria in arriving at a rank- cies and organizations is the Florida places 34th out of 50 ing. The information gath- best way to solutions, the for the second year in a row. ered covers a wide range of health department said in its In a ranking of Florida public health issues. release. counties, Highlands County Twenty-five factors were “These Rankings show us places 37th out of 67.
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