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HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Monday, May 13, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 133 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Aviation/Aerospace program landing at Sebring Airport By MARC VALERO Regional Airport. Center. building an airplane and STAFF WRITER Highlands Aviation/ “We are recruiting kids other activities, Rousch Aerospace Program for the program and it is explained. SEBRING — The Director John Rousch, really an exciting oppor- Prior to his retire- school district’s aviation/ who has been teaching tunity,” he said. ment from the school aerospace classes will aerospace curriculum During their school district, Rousch taught be moving next school in the Highlands School day, the program’s the aviation program at year to the Experimental District for 20 years, students will be bused Lake Placid High School COURTESY PHOTO Aircraft Association (EAA) said it is an exciting to the EAA Center twice along with the shop and Chapter 1240’s Aviation situation bringing the a week in the mornings drafting programs. Astronaut Story Musgrave, right, works with students, in the Development Center program from all three for the classroom and Highlands Aviation/Aerospace Program, to build an AirCam (ADC) at the Sebring high schools to the EAA lab sessions that include FLIGHT | 2A aircraft. Cleaning up the lovebugs PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF Business Development Director Meghan DiGia- como, at left, and Development Services Director Benjamin Dunn talk to county commissioners last Tuesday about efforts to build up economic development in Highlands County. EDC: County getting KIM LEATHERMAN/STAFF At Bumper 2 Bumper Car Wash in Lake Placid, these crew members are using high pressured water and brushes to get lovebugs off vehicles. attention There’s no substitute for elbow grease New efforts, partners By KIM LEATHERMAN bringing new business STAFF WRITER SEBRING — The insect we love to By PHIL ATTINGER hate; the lovebug. They show up in STAFF WRITER droves in May and September. They cover every surface, such as homes SEBRING — Business developers have and cars. They arrive uninvited into begun to take note of Highlands County, homes and businesses. Their smashed Business Development Manager Meghan bodies have a distinct smell and dry DiGiacomo said Tuesday. to a cement like substance onto car “We’re starting to see where we’re windshields and grills. really getting a lot of interest in the area,” Locals swear that this season is the DiGiacomo told the Board of County worst they have ever seen. People Commission. are taking pictures and videos of Development Services Director bug-splattered windshields and mak- Benjamin Dunn, her boss, said a law ing videos for social media of swarms. KIM LEATHERMAN/STAFF firm that recently moved up from South It may not be imagination, says Dr. Florida wanted to bring more businesses Several car washes throughout the county had long lines for lovebug removal. Both the auto- Norman Leppa of the University of matic and hand wash facilities are very busy. to Highlands County from that area. Florida. “(They) considered us to be the “con- “They are not worse, but they are cars deep. smells lovely. cierge of customer service,’” Dunn said. more abundant,” the professor joked. There are home remedies and Getting the bug splatter off is no “Your priority was to get more user When asked if the short winter had commercial products to arm your- laughing matter. Short of using a sand friendly,” Commissioner Greg Harris anything to do with the abundance of selves with in the battle of the bugs. blaster, Leppa said there is no sub- said of a previous report by the county’s bugs, he wouldn’t commit 100%. From oils to sprays and diaper wipes, stitute for car soap, water and elbow economic development staff. “You’ve “It’s possible because it is all Dr. Leppa does not endorse many of grease. Robert Johnson, who washes accomplished that.” climate driven,” he said. them. cars at Bumper 2 Bumper in Lake There’s still more work to do, No matter if they are worse or if it “This is the year for baby oil,” Leppa Placid, whole heartedly agreed with DiGiacomo said. our collective imaginations, there are said. “Lots of people are putting baby the good doctor. They both agreed This fiscal year, she said, the county’s ways to live with lovebugs. One thing oil in white buckets of water. What that a good car wax before lovebug economic development division has is for sure, both the commercial and they end up with are whole buckets season can help. However, since had more than 50 business meetings, hand wash car cleaners throughout of lovebugs but they are still dealing more than 85 meetings with established the county are very busy. On Saturday, with the lovebugs.” BUGS | 2A partners more than 20 prospects or there were vehicles in lines several requests for information, eight speaking Rosita Brown of Lake Placid used engagements and 10 active leads. the bucket method. And basically, as Grants the county has received include: Leppa cited, the water and oil mixture • A $300,000 Economic Development did capture the bugs — thousands Association grant to develop an “avia- of them but she was stuck emptying tion cluster” out of Polk and Highlands the smelly mess. She still had bugs Counties. around doorways. The results were a • A $40,000 state grant for a Housing mixed bag. and Financial Responsibility to help Leppa said there are many home attract private investment in affordable remedies that may work in a small, rental housing. confined area such as a small porch. • A $22,500 grant to fund an asset He says some people have luck with mapping exercise, to list resources the fans, as long as the area is small. county can use to leverage state funding “Everyone asks me what works,” he and resources, and find areas that can be said. “I had some people have luck developed commercially. with Cuban Tree frogs on their porch. • A $971,500 Governor’s Job Growth The frogs ate the bugs but then they Grant for infrastructure improvements asked me how to keep the frogs from for the city of Avon Park — specifically pooping.” to extend water and sewer north to serve It seems his best solution is pa- not only the NuCor plant but prospective tience. Sandy Kessler, from Sebring, industrial development north of the city. swears by her homemade product that includes citrus and mouthwash Right now, she said county’s strategy KIM LEATHERMAN/STAFF is to define and execute a unified de- poured into a spray bottle from the KIM LEATHERMAN/STAFF velopment vision; refine a strategy for This bucket and oil solution demonstrates dollar store. Kessler uses citrus dish targeted business recruitment, retention that yes, the concept works but dumping soap mixed with Listerine and sprays Scrubbers like these handmade items are it cannot be fun. This bucket was found at her white home daily. She said she supposed to be great for getting love bugs off EDC | 3A Market 27 in Avon Park. has a 95% success rate and her house windows. Classifieds ......................B4-6 Local Sports ....................A7-8 Viewpoints ....................... A4 Good morning To Comics .................News Wire Lottery ................Sports Wire Weather ...............Sports Wire Douglas Long Highlands Health................ B1 TV Grid ........................... B8 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | May 13, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com FLIGHT FROM PAGE 1A After his retirement, the program was on hiatus until a local corporate sponsor provided support to reinstate the program two years ago with an online program with lab hours on the weekends building an AirCam aircraft. This school year the program was offered in the morning for one pe- riod at Lake Placid High with the students going to the airport on Saturdays COURTESY PHOTO for their lab hours. “The next step is Highlands Aviation/Aerospace Program students in the lab portion of their studies. what we are doing next year where all three COURTESY PHOTO 5 THINGS high schools will have That Will Make You kids coming out to the The Highlands Aviation/Aerospace Program will accept 10 to SMARTER airport and we will 12 students for next year’s program from each of the district’s conduct the session out three high schools. here,” on Mondays and 1. Leprechauns are fairies. Although are known for their money, and there’s Wednesdays, Rousch middle of all the aviation who have been in the they might not match your initial idea apparently a lot of it in the cobbling said. They will be in the activities is just the best program will be taking of what a fairy is, leprechauns are con- business. classroom for one period way to do it,” he said. the advanced class next sidered a part of the family. Like other 4. Leprechauns are sneaky. Wherever and then in the hangar The program will accept year, he said. They will fairies, they are small in size and prone there are leprechauns, there are stories for the second period about 10 to 12 students be able to jump right to mischief. of people trying to steal their gold. building an airplane. per school. into it and help the new 2. Sometimes they are red. Although The rule is, if you’re lucky enough to On the Friday “C” day Currently the students kids learn how to handle the little Irishmen are now synonymous catch a leprechaun, you can never take class schedule, students are building an aircam the tools and put things with the color green, they weren’t your eyes off the little men, or they’ll will remain at their that is owned by astro- together.

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