C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 Dirty Dozen It’s FACA time Adults and kids gather for in Sebring fun in the mud INSIDE, 5A PAGE 1D LIVING, 1B Sunday, May 27, 2012 www.newssun.com Volume 93/Number 67 | 75 cents Forecast MEMORIAL DAY Carlson Humid with some case on sun; a p.m. storm High Low slow track 89 70 Several defense Complete Forecast PAGE 8A motions have been Online denied by judge By ED BALDRIDGE [email protected] SEBRING — Closing in quickly on its second year, the legal maneu- vering leading up to the manslaugh- Question: Do you ter trial for former think the low water Highlands County level in Lake Jackson Commissioner Jeff is hurting the Carlson is still in the disposition county’s tourism? Joshua Gaidos and Dominique Bryant, cadets in the Avon Park High School Junior ROTC unit, salute former stage. soldiers at grave sites Saturday morning at the Bougainvillea Cemetery. Cadets visit this and other cemeteries Carlson was each Memorial Day weekend placing flags at the graves of soldiers. arrested on charges Carlson Yes of boating under the influence and manslaughter when the 22-foot center console boat he 47.7% was driving hit a channel marker in Honoring the brave Indian River and resulted in the See CARLSON, page 6A By SAMANTHA GHOLAR No [email protected] AVON PARK – Each step they took 58.2% was precise and careful as Avon Park High School Junior ROTC cadets Are you ready? worked their way through thousands Hurricane preparation of graves Saturday morning at Total votes: 79 Bougainvillea Cemetery. guide inside this issue For the past few years, cadets from Next question: the unit have paid a visit to the ceme- Does America do tery (and others) during Memorial Hurricane enough to honor the Day weekend delivering flags to for- fallen veterans? mer military members grave sites. Chief MSgt. Dennis Green, instruc- seminar on tor for the JROTC course at APHS, Make your voice heard at News-Sun photos by KATARA SIMMONS explained how the tradition has come (From left) Avon Park High School Junior ROTC Deputy Commander www.newssun.com alive. Melisa Dominquez and Squad Commander Katherine Norman place tap Friday “The American Legion Post 69 used flags on soldiers’ graves at Bougainvillea Cemetery Saturday morning during the unit’s Memorial Day service project. By ED BALDRIDGE See ROTC, page 6A Obituaries [email protected] Donald Berry SEBRING — The Highlands County Board of County Age 85, of Sebring Jetton Scholarship Commissioners along with the Obituaries, Page 7A Emergency Operations Center is inviting the citizens of Highlands County to attend the 2012 Hurricane Index goes to his widow Preparedness Seminar schedule on Arts & Entertainment 5B By SAMANTHA GHOLAR campus. The scholarship Friday. Books 7B [email protected] was created to “honor mili- The seminar runs from 6-9 p.m. at Business 1C SEBRING — A smiling tary families of these great the Bert J. Harris Agricultural Chalk Talk 4B Alicia Jetton said a special American Heroes” and will Center. privilege to be the first Classifieds 4C be dispersed each year near “This seminar will serve as a recipient of an annual schol- Memorial Day. Community Briefs 5A refresher to those that are familiar arship established by Azure The 21-year-old soldier with hurricane preparedness as well Crossword Puzzle 2B College in memory of her was shot and killed June 20, as a good learning experience for Dear Abby 2B late husband and fallen 2011 in combat in the Kunar new residents,” said Gloria hero, Army PFC Joshua Editorial & Opinion 3A Province of Afghanistan. Rybiniski, public information officer News-Sun photo by SAMANTHA GHOLAR Jetton. Horoscope 2B “Education was important for Highlands County. Alicia Jetton, widow of Army PFC Joshua Jetton The PFC Joshua L. Jetton Lottery Numbers 2A who was killed in action in Afghanistan last June, to him (Joshua) and it is to On Thursday, the National Memorial Scholarship was Movie Times 2B shares a moment with her twins Carter and me,” Jetton said. Oceanic and Atmospheric Hayden after accepting a scholarship to Azure awarded to Alicia Friday News from the Watershed 3B College Friday afternoon. afternoon at the Sebring See JETTON, page 6A See COUNTY, page 6A Pause and Consider 2B Sports On TV 2D Follow the News-Sun on High school FCAT reading scores below state average By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY tests was lowered from a 4.0 as much as 60 percent, went from the 23rd percentile ent for curriculum, as she [email protected] to a 3.0, as was done earlier ordered the score marking to the 36th; and Sebring briefed the school board. www.twitter.com/thenewssun SEBRING — Preliminary for the writing portion of the grade level work lowered to ninth-graders went from the “What are the expectations? results have been released for test. that used in 2010. 42nd percentile to the 50th. They aren’t well spelled out.” and the 9th and 10th grade This is because student This means student scores These scores, however, are The District as a whole Florida Comprehensive scores tumbled after the sec- will show improvement over not useful as a true measure- lags behind the state average Assessment Test reading por- ond generation FCAT was last year when the more diffi- ment of annual yearly growth — ninth-grade reading is 45 tions. made more difficult, and stu- cult test was introduced and because of the tinkering and percent versus 52 percent; www.facebook.com/newssun Scores are early for the dents had to get more ques- the cut off score was 3.5. adjustments. 10th-grade reading 44 per- two grades because students tions correct to stay on grade Lake Placid 10th graders, “It’s difficult to play by the cent versus 50 percent. took the test online, saving level. for example, went from the rules, when you don’t know County fourth-graders bested time. The state board of educa- 35th percentile to the 51st; at what they are,” said Becky the state average, 29 percent 0990994 01007 The cutoff score for these tion, shocked to see drops of Avon Park the 10th-graders Fleck, assistant superintend- to 27 percent. 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 1 9 5 6 8 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Sunday, May 27, 2012 www.newssun.com Famous hymn was written in Sebring Elder ready for Music is the language of the heart, a involved in his local Methodist Brotherhood Ride universal language that speaks to all Episcopal church, where he sang in the people, going places where words alone choir. He found himself especially ful- By SAMANTHA GHOLAR zations and individuals have will not penetrate. It is also the lan- filled when participating in evangelistic [email protected] contributed to Elder’s, ride guage of the mind. rallies and revivals. Friends encouraged SEBRING — In a few including the West Sebring There is a song that most of us know, him to resign from the school system to short days, Tim Elder will Volunteer Fire Department and I’m certain that you have heard or enter full-time music evangelism and join a group of his fellow and the firefighters’ union. sang it in your place of worship called for five years he struggled with that first responders and partici- Each of the 30 riders are “I Surrender All,” written by Rev. Centennial Notebook decision. pate in an honorable event currently active firefighters, Judson Wheeler Van DeVenter. Not Finally, when in prayer, he said that will take place across EMS or law enforcement, only is the song completely beautiful, “Lord, if you want me to give my full the state of Florida. each riding in honor of one but also Van DeVenter was a personal uating from college, Van DeVenter time to thy work, I’ll do it; I surrender Elder, Sebring Forest of their fallen brethren. friend of George E. Sebring and this became an art teacher and then supervi- all the thee.” For the next several years, Area Supervisor for the “The first day we will go song in particular was written in the sor of art for the high school in Sharon, he traveled extensively through the state Department of just over 100 miles, the home of George Sebring as Van Penn. United States, England and Scotland, Forestry, is one of many other days we will average DeVenter was conducting a meeting. In 1885, he toured Europe, visiting first responders that will 70 miles. We will stop at assisting in evangelic work, leading the Born in 1855 on a farm in Monroe art galleries and museums and studied bike across the state during each of the stations that the singing for evangelists. County, Mich., Van DeVenter grew up painting. He was also a musician, hav- the Brotherhood Ride. fallen guys worked at along While Engaged in meetings in East interested in art and music. He became ing studied in numerous singing The event takes place the way,” said Elder. a Christian at the age of 17. After grad- schools. Van DeVenter was heavily See HYMN, page 6A each year in memory of fall- The riders will be lodging en first responders all over at local Elks Lodges and the state. This year’s ride various other agencies will honor 10 fallen heroes along the route, according Pigman All-Star donates to Special Stars — eight law enforcement to Elder.