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HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Tuesday, June 11, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 162 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun District readying new religious expression policy By MARC VALERO for its policy, which states, “It is the policy of the evaluated, regardless of their religious content, based STAFF WRITER School District that the district will not discriminate on expected academic standards relating to the against a student, parent, or school personnel on the course curriculum and requirements. SEBRING — A new policy on religious expression basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression.” • A student may not be penalized or rewarded in public schools will have a public hearing and be The proposed policy includes three sections under based on the religious content of his or her work if the considered for approval today by The School Board of “Student Expression of Religious Viewpoints:” coursework, artwork, or other written or oral assign- Highlands County. • School District will treat a student’s voluntary ments require a student’s viewpoint to be expressed. Legislation from 2018 resulted in Section 1002.206 expression of a religious viewpoint on an otherwise The proposed policy includes statements on of the Florida Statutes, known as the “Florida Student permissible subject in the same manner that a school “Students Engaging in Religious Activities and and School Personnel Religious Liberties Act.” district treats a student’s voluntary expression of a Expression at School:” The Florida Department of Education developed a secular viewpoint. • A student may pray or engage in religious activi- model policy on religious expression in public schools • A student may express his or her religious beliefs ties or religious expression before, during, and after for the basis of the school district policies. in coursework, artwork, and other written and oral the school day in the same manner and to the same The School Board of Highlands County used the assignments free from discrimination. A student’s wording from the Florida Department of Education homework and classroom assignments shall be POLICY | 4A Nearly ready MARC VALERO/STAFF A caucus session during employee/district contract talks in the Garland Boggus Board Room at The School Board of Highlands County. School district employee contract negotiations begin By MARC VALERO STAFF WRITER SEBRING — Contract negotiations started Monday between The School Board of Highlands County and the MARC VALERO/STAFF two unions representing teachers and support employees. From left: Children’s Museum of the Highlands board members Jennifer Pauze, Jessica Hartline, Will Swaine and Bobbie Clark and Museum Announcements on the School Executive Director Kelly Dressel accepts a check for $25,000 from Raji Sonni, Smitha Sonni and Ashok Sonni. Board’s website show a negotiations meeting with the Highlands County Educational Support Personnel Sonni Family helps Children’s Museum of the Highlands Association scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Monday and negotiations with the Highlands County Education By MARC VALERO Association (teachers union) from STAFF WRITER 1 p.m. until completion if possible. Both negotiations meetings were held SEBRING — As the Children’s in the Garland Boggus Board Room. Museum of the Highlands prepares to In the late morning hours, Highlands reopen soon in its North Ridgewood News-Sun went to the board room to Drive location it received a big boost check on the negotiation session, which from its supporters Doctors Ashok and at the time was on a break during a Raji Sonni. closed caucus session. The Sonni’s offered to match the Contracts typically cover multiple funds raised by the museum’s mystery years, but certain parts of the contract dinner theater, which raised over are open annually. Salary is always open $21,000. and then each side (management and Children’s Museum Executive union) can open two other areas for Director Kelly Dressel was grateful discussion. Monday morning when the Sonni’s In August 2018, both the teachers presented her with a check for $25,000. and school support personnel unions The Sonni’s daughter, Smitha Sonni, approved their respective employment said she enjoyed the museum as a MARC VALERO/STAFF contracts with the Highlands County child. School District. “It is our pleasure to help contribute The Children’s Museum of the Highlands may open within 10 days, according to Museum The teachers had voted 98.7% so that all the children of Sebring can Executive Director Kelly Dressel. “yes” with 1.3% “no” in ratifying their really learn and grow from it,” she said. contract. Ashok Sonni said, “We love children. the years to come. The community donation up to $25,000 so the museum The support personnel had voted We moved here 37 years ago and have here has given us back much more could afford to buy new things and 100% “yes” in ratifying their contract. stayed here and don’t have any plans than we have offered over the years.” move in. The salary negotiations were for the of leaving. Hopefully we have many Raji Sonni said, to support the mu- 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years. more things to do for this county in seum, they wanted to do a matching MUSEUM | 4A Saturday crash ends in tragedy By KIM LEATHERMAN headed west on Tower later taken to a trauma STAFF WRITER Street (toward U.S. 27) center in Lakeland. when she pulled into the Schneider said he spoke LAKE PLACID — A path of a 2018 Ford Transit with her son, Brett Hogan two-vehicle crash E350 passenger van driven with Highlands County Saturday at 5:40 p.m. by Joey Wade Micco, of Fire Rescue, on Monday claimed the life of one Okeechobee. morning and reported her and sent several people to Micco was driving to be in stable condition. AdventHealth Lake Placid. northbound on U.S. 27. Micco was treated for Capt. Mark Schneider of Schneider said there were minor injuries on the the Lake Placid Police seven passengers in the scene by EMS. Three of Department said Bernard van. The two vehicles his seven passengers Hogan, of Lake Placid, was collided in what is com- were taken to the local pronounced dead at the monly referred to as a hospital. hospital. T-bone accident. Schneider said ev- According to Schneider, The northbound lanes eryone involved in the the crash is still under of U.S. 27 were shut accident was wearing seat investigation but he did down, and Lake Placid belts. He also said alcohol give a preliminary report. Police Department and was not a contributing Donna Hogan was COURTESY PHOTO/LPPD Highlands County sheriff’s factor in the crash. driving a 2016 Ford Edge deputies diverted traffic According to records, Donna and Bernard Hogan were in this SUV during a crash on Saturday night. Donna Hogan SUV with her husband through turn lanes. this is the 12th traffic went to an area hospital and was transported to a trauma center in Lakeland. Bernard Hogan Bernard in the front Donna Hogan was taken fatality on Highlands was pronounced dead at the local hospital. passenger seat. She was to the nearby hospital and County roads this year. Classifieds ......................B2-5 Lottery ................Sports Wire TV Listings ....................... B6 Good morning To Comics .................News Wire Obituaries ........................ A2 Viewpoints ....................... A3 Kim Pascoe Local Sports ....................A5-6 Today’s Woman .................. B1 Weather ...............Sports Wire facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | June 11, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com OBITUARIES Randolph V. 1976. and Jessica Martin. He Case dismissed against Hawes McKinney He owned and operated was blessed with eight By KIM LEATHERMAN $10,000 or more and scheme to the McKinney Service great-grandchildren. STAFF WRITER defraud, less than $20,000. Center in Lake Placid He was predeceased Hawes’ case was dismissed just for more that 10 years. by his aunt, Betty Pitts; SEBRING — Assistant State Attorney before jury selection was to occur on Victor was a member of uncle, John R. McKinney; Richard Castillo dropped its case Monday. The jury selection has been Randolph Victor American Legion Placid Uncle Hamp; and grand- against Maureen Hawes on Friday. canceled. McKinney, of Lake Placid, Post 25 and served as son, Kevin J. Dixon Jr. Court documents cite the case was Hawes was arrested on Feb. 6, 2017. Florida passed away a fi re chief for the Sun Family will receive “terminated and dismissed” for “facts The allegations were that she stole Wednesday afternoon, ‘N Lakes Volunteer Fire friends at Placid Temple and circumstances.” money from then-Florida Hospital June 5, 2019. Victor was Department. He loved to Church of God from The charges were grand theft of Heartland Medical Center. a native of Georgia, born tinker and had a knack 2-3 p.m. with celebration on the April 29, 1943 for fi xing anything that services beginning at in Sylvania. He was the needed repaired. Victor 3 p.m. Saturday, June 15, 5 THINGS son of Emma Burnette was a Pentecostal and 2019. The Funeral Honor That Will Make You (Williams) McKinney and sang in the Placid Temple Team from the U.S. Army SMARTER Ralph McKinney. Church of God choir. will sound Taps and pres- Victor is survived by ent the Colors. In lieu of He was a United States 1. People tend to call thousands of teeth. adhesive and lubri- his wife, Linda; chil- fl owers, contributions are Army veteran. Victor something a slug if it The four tentacles are cating, and it actually dren, Joyce Suit, Marie asked to be directed to was a police offi cer in looks like a snail but has retractable — two are for slurps up water.

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