C M Y K Gifts for the guys www.newssun.com Ideas for the special man in your life Tough night Auburndale rolls EWS UN N -S LIVING, B12 past Sebring Highlands County’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1927 SPORTS, B1 Friday-Saturday, December 20-21, 2013 Volume 94/Number 151 | 50 cents Code enforcement complaints to remain anonymous By BARRY FOSTER 30 percent of claims unfounded, likely neighbor disputes Handley suggested an agree- News-Sun correspondent ment might be reached with SEBRING – Highlands the Highlands County County commissioners have department would have plaints probably would The margin was 4-1 for told commissioners currently Sheriff's Office for a nearby agreed to continue to allow required a name, address and reduce the number of actions keeping the current system – that approximately 30 per- deputy to make an initial residents to anonymously telephone number for any- filed, commissioners agreed with Commissioner Jim cent of complaints were drive-by assessment of ini- complain about code body reporting a suspected in keeping the current sys- Brooks casting the lone dis- unfounded, and often are the tial reports before sending enforcement violations. violation. tem of being able to inform senting vote. result of disputes between code enforcement officers to Under a proposed new poli- Saying that making people the county on possible Highlands County Zoning neighbors. cy, the code enforcement accountable for filing com- breeches of the code. Supervisor Linda Conrad Commissioner Ron See CODE, A3 School Light ’em up 7 arrested grades will spark for home tougher standards invasion Group suspected of other Sebring High gets crimes, HCSO says B, while APHS, By PHIL ATTINGER LPHS get C’s [email protected] SEBRING — Sheriff’s deputies News Service of Florida arrested six Avon Park residents and one High schools across the Sebring resident in connection with a state will face tougher stan- Lake Placid home invasion within 24 dards next year after more hours of the crime. than three-quarters of them All seven were charged with burglary, made one of the state’s top battery, aggravated battery, aggravated two grades on report cards assault with a weapon, and robbery with announced Wednesday. a firearm. They are currently being held Sebring High School was in the Highlands County Jail. They are one of those, getting a B. listed below, along with addresses and Avon Park and Lake Placid, bond amounts: however, both had C’s. In all, 78 percent of high See ARRESTS, A7 school and “combination schools” received an A or a B in the 2012-13 school year, the state Department of Education said. The portion Commission of high schools making the highest mark ticked up by wants to talk one percentage point over 2011-12, to 48 percent, space needs while 30 percent of schools made a B, slipping from 32 percent a year ago. with sheriff “With more high schools By BARRY FOSTER earning A’s, it is clear that News-Sun correspondent our teachers are succeeding SEBRING – Highlands County com- in providing Florida students missioners Tuesday voted to have a with a quality education,” workshop with Sheriff Susan Benton to Gov. Rick Scott said in a look at both short- and long-term solu- news release announcing the tions for law enforcement space needs. numbers. The special session tentatively has But the high grades will been set for a daytime meeting on Jan also spark tougher standards 14. under a State Board of The most recent discussion of the Education rule, adopted in Katara Simmons/News-Sun matter floated to the surface again two 2011, that requires the stan- The King family makes Christmas decorating a ‘family thing’ and starts putting up lights around Halloween. They use over 25,000 lights to decorate their six-acre property on Northern Boulevard weeks ago, when commissioners were (top photo) in Lake Placid. According to Robert King, they have a long tradition of putting up lights, asked to look at an extension on a See HIGH, A7 but this year was more meaningful after his dad Robert underwent a triple bypass in May 2012. lease for the Liberty Star Plaza, where Herb Somers starts decorating his home in August for the Christmas season. For more than 40 part of the Highlands County Sheriff’s years, Somers has put on a special light display and this year he’s used about 45,000 lights to Office currently is headquartered. brighten the season. ‘It’s his hobby, he does it to make people feel good,’ his son, Herb Somers II said. The Sebring home is located on Lakewood Road and the public is welcome to stop by. Know of At the time, Commissioner Ron some good light displays? Go to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/newssun and let every- body know where they are. See BOARD, A7 PM showers High 81 Low 65 K of C, Gordon deliver Details, A12 Index smiles for Christmas Classifieds A8 By SAMANTHA GHOLAR Highlands County Boys and Girls Dear Abby B11 [email protected] Club, which attracts around 125 Editorial & Opinion A4 AVON PARK — Hundreds of kids after school each day in Avon Healthy Living B5 kids were given something to smile Park. Puzzles B11 about Thursday afternoon as the “The Knights of Columbus went Knights of Columbus organization out and bought all of these pres- Religion B8 hosted its fifth annual toy give- ents. We gave them a list of names Movie Review B11 away at Our Lady of Grace and ages and they purchased age- Sports B1 Catholic Parish. appropriate and gender-specific Katara Simmons/News Sun The Knights Post 5441 put the Dee Gordon (left), a former Avon Park star who plays for the Los gifts for all the kids,” said Boys Angeles Dodgers, presents and air hockey table to Dylan Brignoni magic into Christmas for around and Girls Club Executive Director Thursday afternoon during the Boys and Girls Club Christmas event. 200 children in the area. Each of Executive Director Woodraun Wright (right) and Emporium manager 0790994 01001 the children are members of the See KIDS, A5 Levon Stukes look on and as the 10-year-old reels in excitement. Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com WAUCHULA STATE BANK/Cheryl Hen; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, front strip; 0 0 0 3 4 2 0 2 C M Y K Page A2 News-Sun ࡗ Friday, December 20, 2013 www.newssun.com Outdoor Community Briefs Car wash to benefit Lake Placid Elementary sculpture man injured in School at 7 a.m. on skydiving accident Monday, Dec. 30, for cul- vert installation. Detours exhibit SEBRING – Nurse On will be posted. Call will be hosting a car The road will re-open at gets OK wash to benefit Victor 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. Bryie starting at 9 a.m. 31. By SAMANTHA GHOLAR Saturday at Advance Auto For more information, [email protected] Parts, 3550 call 402-6529. SEBRING — Funding U.S. 27 has been approved by the North (cor- Barbecue to benefit Sebring Community ner of U.S. Moon family Redevelopment Agency 27 and the (CRA) for visual enhance- Sebring SEBRING – J&M ments to the City on the Parkway). Rollingsmoke Bar-B-Q will Circle. The CRA has teamed Bryie Bryie be serving a delicious up with the Polk Museum of was seri- lunch Saturday as a benefit Art to enhance the down- ously injured in a skydiv- for Doug and Connie town Sebring area with Courtesy photo ing accident earlier this South Florida State College Honors Program graduates Emilia Pereira, Dylan Wolfgram, Moon, and grandson sculptures chosen from the Noor Abul-Hosn, Christopher Martinez, and Daniel Montes were recognized Dec. 17 for month. He and his family Landon. The benefit will 14th annual Florida Outdoor their hard work, dedication and for completing the program. need the public’s support. take place at Glisson’s Sculpture Competition. Volunteer to help or Animal Supply, 4525 U.S. Director Robin Hinote is bring your car by to be 27 South. thrilled that CRA board SFSC Honors Program washed. If you have any Doug Moon has been in approved the funding for the questions or would like to the hospital since Nov. 2 project, which is a part of make a donation in Bryie’s after complications from an the CRA’s marketing plan. honor, contact Nurse On appendectomy on Oct. 27. The project will display one- recognizes graduates Call general manager He is currently on dialysis of-a-kind sculptures from Melissa Lane at 381-9325. and in Florida Hospital artists throughout North Orlando. He was intubated Santa visits Avon America. Special to the News-Sun ty in areas connected with the challenge to become for 15 days and placed in a “The CRA approved this AVON PARK – South their academic studies, and above average,” said Park Library medically induced coma. for five pieces. Lakeland Florida State College recent- make substantial oral presen- Christopher Martinez, 29, On Dec. 10 he underwent a and Winter Haven, the other ly recognized five Honors tations. Students must Honors Program graduate. AVON PARK – Jingle tracheotomy and on Dec. two cities participating in Program graduates at a achieve a 3.30 cumulative “At first, I felt discouraged bells are ringing at the 11 he was diagnosed with the exhibition, each have 10 reception on Dec. 17 on the grade point average to gradu- about attending college since Avon Park Library! Several membranous nephropathy pieces. We committed to Highlands Campus. The stu- ate from the program. I was older than the average holiday events will take and acute interstitial only five because we want, dents graduating in This year was exceptional student.