County's Crime Has Gone Down
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C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 Book signing Swing states County showdown Local author celebrating An in-depth look at the key Sebring, Lake Placid first novel being published states for Tuesday’s vote battle to draw PAGE 2A LIVING, 1B SPORTS, 1D Sunday, November 4, 2012 www.newssun.com Volume 93/Number 136 | 75 cents Forecast Early voting draws 15,000-plus Proposed AP city charter not By BARRY FOSTER longer each day, the number of early Meanwhile, absentee ballots had News-Sun correspondent voters won’t have topped the more increased only slightly from mid- on ballot Fog in the morning, SEBRING — As of mid-morning than 20,000 that turned out four years week figures with 10,620 as of mid- then partly sunny Friday (the latest numbers available), ago. morning Friday. News-Sun staff activity at the early voting polls at the “Remember, we had 12 days in Eyes now turn to Tuesday, when AVON PARK — The proposed High Low Highlands County Government 2008 and only eight days this year,” the bulk of the local voters are revision of the city charter is not on Center in Sebring, the Avon Park city said outgoing Highlands County expected to descend on the 25 differ- the Nov. 6 ballot. 82 60 council chambers and the Lake Placid Supervisor of Elections Joe ent polling locations scattered A special advisory committee Complete Forecast Town Hall has been brisk, with Campbell. throughout the county. Campbell has made up of private citizens worked PAGE #A 14,917 residents turning out to cast Friday numbers indicated there had predicted a 70 percent turnout for this over the summer to write an updat- their ballots and avoid what could be been 7,474 Republicans, 5,314 election cycle. ed charter reflecting changes in Online long lines on Tuesday. Democrats and 2,129 in minor parties Although polls have been open and those with no party affiliation. See EARLY, page 7A See CHARTER, page 6A Question: Consumer County’s confidence is report- edly at its highest level since February crime has of 2008. Is yours? Yes gone down 26.1% Uniform Crime Report shows 14.2 percent drop No By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY [email protected] 73.9% SEBRING — Sheriff Susan Benton joined Governor Rick Scott and other Florida criminal justice Total votes: 92 officials in a press conference Thursday to announce the results of Next question: the 2012 Uniform Crime Report for the first half of the year. Who will win the News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS presidential election? Ricky Rugenstein of Sebring fuels up a 1909 gasoline engine Saturday morning during the CCC Festival at Scott said according to the report Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring. there has been a 3.8 percent reduc- tion in Florida’s crime index between Make your voice heard at Jan. 1 and June 31, 2012 compared to www.newssun.com the same time in 2011. 27th According to the UCR, Bradford Obituaries County’s crime volume saw the largest decrease — 68.7 percent. Terry Lowder Liberty County experienced the Age 70, of Lake Placid annual largest increase — 90 percent since 2011. Charles Willson Highlands County’s crime volume Age 77, of Sebring CCC dropped by 14.2 percent, Benton announced in a press release. “Our Obituaries, Page 7A total crime index for the first six Festival months of 2012 is 1,438 index Index crimes, while the state’s total is Books 7B 359,051. Highlands County repre- News-Sun photo by Business 1C KATARA SIMMONS sents only .4 percent of the state’s Kadence Kincaid, 10, and Centennial Notebook 6A total,” she said. Mackenzie Sullivan, 10, carefully By comparison, during the first six Classifieds 4D check out a baby gator Saturday months of 2011, Highlands County’s morning during the CCC Festival Community Briefs 2A in Sebring. Gatorland in Orlando total crime index offenses was 3,183. Crossword Puzzle 2B brought several creatures to help “Today’s numbers tell a story of educate folks about wildlife such Dear Abby 2B dedication by Florida’s sheriffs and as a ball python, king snake and Editorial & Opinion 3A a rose haired tarantula. See CRIME, page 6A Horoscope 2B Lottery Numbers 2A Movie Times 2B Pause & Consider 2B CANDIDATE PROFILES Places to Worship 6B Sports On TV 2D Garcia focused on Follow the Benton seeks News-Sun on third term communication By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY investigator of By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY [email protected] the public lic schools. www.twitter.com/thenewssun [email protected] SEBRING — Candido “Candy” defender’s Benton is the and SEBRING — Susan Benton is Garcia is running for sheriff. He has office. Garcia first woman running for a third term as Benton lived in Highlands County for 27 also served on Garcia ever independ- Highlands County sheriff. years. the board of ently elected sheriff in Florida. The A fifth-generation Floridian from Garcia was born in New York directors for Habitat for Humanity, few women who served as sheriffs www.facebook.com/newssun Miami-Dade County, Benton City. He said that over the course of as a member of the Homeless earlier were all widows of men who became a deputy sheriff here in his career he served with the Secret Coalition of Highlands County, and had died in office and only served 1979. Prior to joining the sheriff’s Service as a regular motorcycle a Guardian ad Litem. out their husbands’ terms. office, she worked as a physical escort for Vice-President George H. He is currently the senior pastor education teacher and then a police W. Bush, as a policeman in Puerto 0990994 01007 officer in Miami-Dade County pub- See BENTON, page 4A Rico, a deputy sheriff here, and an See GARCIA, page 4A 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 4 8 2 6 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Sunday, November 4, 2012 www.newssun.com Ware plans book signing Two arrested in Lake Placid for first published novel home invasion By SAMANTHA GHOLAR [email protected] SEBRING – Longtime writer, colum- Call was what led to deputy nist and Sebring resident Laura Ware hitting, killing pedestrian has furthered her love of writing into a bigger potential success. Ware has News-Sun staff “The victim was repeat- authored a unique novel that she feels LAKE PLACID — Two edly beaten with a metal is different than many of the other men have been arrested in pipe to the point of needing works out right now. connection an armed home to be airlifted to a trauma Ware’s first published work, “Dead invasion robbery where a center due to suffering Hypocrites,” was begun several years man was severely beaten numerous serious lacera- ago in 2006. Upon recently completing with a metal pipe for his tions and contusions on his the book during the up and coming cell phone on Saturday. head and forearms. The self-publishing era, Ware decided to do The robbery at 153 suspects did all of this for just that. Sarasota St. in Lake Placid only getting a cell phone.” Ware’s novel became first an e-book was the call Deputy Cory “This was a team effort available for purchase on any e-reader Dale Tomblin was to identify and or electronic smart device before the responding to when apprehend these task of self publishing. his patrol car struck suspects and that a The novel is of the fiction genre and News-Sun photo by SAMANTHA GHOLAR and killed 48-year- simple information Laura Ware will hold a book signing for her novel ‘Dead Hypocrites’ on Sunday, portrays a message of faith as Ware Nov. 11, at Brewster’s Coffee Shop in Sebring. old Sherri L. report taken by classifies it as a Christian fiction book. Stewart, who Deputy Pearlman “The book is about a detective who stepped in front of the same evening is a Christian but is struggling with his ‘I want to give people think about.” his cruiser near Button provided a substan- faith. He has a lot of questions about it. “Dead Hypocrites” is currently avail- Mirror Lake Drive. tial lead in this A serial killer comes to his town and entertainment, but also able on Amazon.com for $17.99. Highlands case,” lead detective starts killing Christians who are hyp- something to think about.’ Ware will be holding her very first County Sheriff’s Hank Smith said. ocrites all the while the detective is book signing from 3-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Office detectives Button was arrest- hanging on to his faith,” explained LAURA WARE Nov. 11 at Brewster’s Coffee Shop, have arrested W. ed at the Highlands Ware. author 2191 U.S. 27 North, in the plaza next Scott Button, 46, of County Jail where According to Ware, the book has to Home Depot. Ware will be selling 418 Highlands he has been since been accepted positively by the people copies of her book at a discounted Blvd. in Lake Wednesday on other Dampier who she knows have read it. The book said. “I’ve seen it on the e-publishings, price at her book signing. Placid and Roy burglary charges. was inspired by something Ware heard but this is just a different feeling.” As for the book itself, Ware is Anthony Dampier Jr., 53, Dampier was arrested at in passing regarding the entertainment Ware, whose newspaper columns pleased with it.