HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Monday, June 29, 2020 VOL. 101 | NO. 181 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Virus cases increase more than 8,500 Highlands County numbers get sorted out STAFF REPORT 29 deaths, which brings For Highlands County facilities and five cases saw the biggest increase (150); and Collier (121). the toll to 3,419 resident residents, Sunday was are correctional institu- in the state, seeing an DeSoto County has Even a trace of good deaths and there have also a day to have tion related. additional 2,152 cases. seen greater than a 10% news is welcome for been 99 non-resident Saturday’s report correct- There have been 11 No other county saw positive testing rate every Florida residents when deaths. Still, that’s slightly ed regarding the number deaths in the county and more than 834 new cases, day for the last two weeks it pertains to COVID-19. better than the 8,900 and of cases in the county. 57 hospitalizations. which was the increase and is up to 585 cases, So the release of Sunday’s 9,500 of the previous two Highlands County now FDOH records show reported in Orange while Hardee County has numbers by the Florida days and the positive per- stands at 324 cases, which Highlands County has County. Other counties also exceeded the 10% Department of Health centage of 12.3% was also is a two-day increase of really picked up the to see big jumps were threshold the past two was ugly, but at least is a bit better than those 40 cases from Friday’s testing the past two days, Hillsborough (788); Duval weeks and now stands at a little better than the days. report. with 1,208 tests given. (740); Broward (574); 411 cases. Glades County previous two days. Despite increased Of the county cases, That was more tests than Palm Beach (461); Polk has seen 161 positive There were 8,530 new testing in Florida, the three belong to non-res- the previous eight days (313); Pinellas (307); cases, while doing far less cases in Florida to bring Sunshine State still ranks idents. Thirty-five of the combined. Lee (232); Volusia (188); testing than Highlands the total to 141,075 cases No. 32 in tests given cases have been associ- As has frequently been Osceola (184); Leon (176); and there an additional per million population. ated with long-term care the case, Miami-Dade Seminole (164); Pasco VIRUS | 2A HLT bringing Wreck numbers went down over shutdown back Patriotic Numbers, costs Revue could go up By SHARON WEATHERHEAD next weekend CORRESPONDENT By PHIL ATTINGER STAFF WRITER Highlands Lakeside Theatre (HLT) is showing their community spirit by SEBRING — This week, Highlands hosting their annual July 4th Patriotic County Public Safety Director Marc Revue! This is a perfect opportunity Bashoor said another number has for you and your family to recharge come back up since the shutdown and enjoy a safe afternoon event on ended: Wrecks. the holiday weekend. Bashoor said that when Florida went The free 30-minute show will be into lockdown, Highlands County Fire held every hour from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Rescue saw a 25% reduction in calls, on Saturday, July 4. Please note directly attributable to fewer accidents. that there will be limited seating to “That was directly attributable to observe safe social distancing as people staying home,” Bashoor said. required by COVID-19 restrictions. Officials with other law enforcement There will be no gathering inside the agencies also confirmed seeing such a between shows. trend. If you wish to enjoy the show via The Highlands County Sheriff’s live-stream in the comfort and safety Office didn’t have exact numbers, but of your own home, this is an option officials felt certain that a review of the this year. The website highland- number for that period would show a slakesidetheatre.org — look for the downward trend. COURTESY GRAPHIC/THEZEBRA.COM Live Streal link towards the top of the Lake Placid Police Chief James page. There is also no charge to enjoy Costs of a single ticket could run in the thousands of dollars in higher insurance rates over three Fansler said his agency had seen not years, according to a study performed by insurance comparison site TheZebra.com. this option either. just a drop in wrecks in their area, but The songs will be familiar patri- also a drop in moving violations and It wasn’t necessarily speeding or likelihood of getting ticketed will be otic favorites including “God Bless crime in the neighborhoods. aggressive driving, although he said higher. America,” “The Battle Hymn of Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund Highlands drivers have problems with The results of a study TheZebra.com the Republic” and a special choral said for the period from March through those traits as much as anywhere, but did of ticket costs and how they affect arrangement of “The Star Spangled May, all calls for service went down to rather poor decisions. insurance states that insurance com- Banner.” 3,520 from the 2019 total of 4,123. “People [are] pulling out in front of panies take driving habits into account In addition to the already talented In March 2019, the city agency had somebody at the last minute,” Bashoor when setting policy premiums. cast, some of the older Summer 70 traffic crash reports, but just 51 for said. They see drivers who forget to buckle Institute Participants will be singing. March this year. Careless driving is but one violation seat belts, blow red lights, tailgate, Larissa Meagher, already a veteran Likewise, April 2019 saw 63 crash that can earn a ticket from law enforce- speed, or leave the scene of an acci- at HLT, will be one of the featured reports in Sebring, but April this year ment, and with the approaching July 4 dent — and get caught —as higher soloists. Meagher is a current college had 27. weekend, motorists might want to use risk drivers and adjust their policies scholarship recipient and is home In May 2019, Sebring police worked extra caution. accordingly. doing her studies remotely for her 64 wrecks, but only had 40 in that TheZebra.com, a car insurance re- Drivers don’t pay a rate hike just once collegiate theater program. month this year. view site, posted a warning this month or just one year, TheZebra.com states. This is an important fundraiser For criminal offense or incident that motorists should be careful on the Traffic tickets typically impact car event for HLT’s Scholarship Fund. reports, there were 195 in March 2019 road next weekend, not only because insurance rates for three years. The funded programs include theater versus 181 this March, 219 in April 2019 roads would be busier than normal, The amount drivers pay for breaking camp tuition, degree programs and but 147 this April, and 210 in May 2019 but also because tickets will spike their traffic laws depends on the violation continuing education for members with just 173 in May 2020. insurance rates. and which state they live in. Getting a of all ages. This helps our community “As evident by the ‘numbers’ there In an article, TheZebra.com predicts ticket could raise car insurance costs grow new talent each year so the the- was a reduction for each category from more people will pick driving as their anywhere from 4.4% to 78.3%, or ater can continue to offer high quality 2019 to 2020 that seems to correspond method of travel this year, because $68-$1,212, on average, TheZebra.com shows for our enjoyment. with the timeline of the COVID-19 of reluctance to get on planes due to states. This year there will still be food pandemic,” Hoglund said via email. concerns from COVID-19. Some common tickets in Florida, and and beverage sales, but with a more Those numbers have started to The site warns that one in 12 the amounts each one will raise car limited menu. Be sure to stop by come back up, Bashoor said, now that American drivers gets pulled over for a insurance rates annually are as follows: and purchase a July 4th hot dog and businesses have reopened and people traffic violation every year, on aver- - Speeding in a school zone — $379/ chips combo meal. It’s like being at a are out driving more than they were age, with approximately half of them year for three years, or $1,137 total. backyard barbecue without the heat! over the last two to three months. ticketed. - Driving too slowly — $379/year for Bashoor also attributed some of With that many more people on three years, or $1,137 total. REVUE | 2A those wrecks to driving behavior. the road, the site states, along with a greater law enforcement presence, the WRECK | 2A Summer may decide fate of leading shots in vaccine race THE ASSOCIATED PRESS test a government-created shot Fauci said. starting in July, followed about a Vaccine experts say it’s time People on six continents month later with another 30,000 to set public expectations. Many already are getting jabs in the expected to test a British one. scientists don’t expect a coro- arm as the race for a COVID-19 Those likely will be divided navirus vaccine to be nearly as vaccine enters a defining sum- among Americans and volun- protective as the measles shot. mer, with even bigger studies teers in other countries such If the best COVID-19 vaccine poised to prove if any shot as Brazil or South Africa, Dr.