C M Y K www.newssun.com NASCAR This Week PAGE B3 More T-storms High 92 Low 74 EWS UN Details, A12 N -S Highlands County’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1927 Wednesday-Thursday, August 7-8, 2013 Volume 94/Number 94 | 50 cents What does failing grade mean for school’s students? Katara Simmons/News-Sun While abundant showers have many places in Highlands County covered in water, officials say the rains have still not made up for the Letter years of drought that lowered aquifer levels. details Rains still issues haven’t Katara Simmons/News-Sun in AP Memorial Elementary School in Avon Park received an F in the latest school grades, making it the first caught up county school to get the failing mark. Employees want Deleon Parents can request transfer to drought to be placed By BARRY FOSTER to school with better grade News-Sun correspondent SEBRING — Heavy rains have on leave By SAMANTHA GHOLAR over 100 ended up with one due tional help for its students. blanketed Highlands County over [email protected] to the DOE’s padding of the The Florida DOE has also set By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY the past few weeks, flooding streets AVON PARK — Following grades in light of changes to the up what is known as an [email protected] and threatening homes. However, the Florida Department of test. Opportunity Scholarship. AVON PARK — The local officials say the problem may Education’s release of the state’s Just like on a student’s report “If a child attends a failing News-Sun has obtained a be more with the frequency of the school grades last week, con- card, an F grade is the lowest a school they (parents) have the copy of the letter, signed by rain rather than the amount. cerns with the FCAT testing school can receive from the opportunity to request to be seven current City of Avon “We need a few days of sunny along with wariness about the Department of Education. transferred,” Highlands County Park employees and one who weather to allow some of this water future of schools in Highlands According to DOE website, Deputy Superintendent of was fired on Aug. 2, request- to evaporate or sink into the County has emerged among par- schools that have consistently Schools Dr. Rodney Hollinger ing the city council put City ground,” said Highlands County ents and local residents. scored Ds or Fs will receive said. “The students has to be Manager Julian Deleon on Engineer Ramone Gavarette. Memorial Elementary School assistance from the state to help transferred to a school that has a administrative leave while He said there are a number of was graded an F, the first in the them serve students. The website C or better. The school district they investigate his manage- “bowls” in Highlands county, espe- school district’s history since the also states that the 100 lowest designates what school or ment style. cially in the southern portion, where state testing has been implement- performing reading results for schools the transfers can go to Richard K. land elevations allow water to accu- ed. Statewide, 262 schools were elementary schools will receive Sullivan, an slated to be get an F, but just assistance to implement addi- See FAILING, A4 attorney from See RAINS, A7 LaBelle who represents the group, Deleon presented their request Survey results used to for a investigation Thursday. The issue will be addressed at Monday’s city council create downtown festivals meeting. The letter, dated Aug. 1, Special to the News-Sun commitments from the festivals in historic states in part, “It is apparent SEBRING – In June 2013, Sebring Community Downtown Sebring in the to us through his actions that Push Event Productions, a Redevelopment Agency, the next year. the city manager doesn’t collaboration between Gray City of Sebring and the A Downtown Sebring trust much of his staff ... we News-Sun file Dog Communications (Casey Highlands County Online Event Survey was are continuously ridiculed, The annual Roaring 20s festival draws a good crowd Wohl) and Plan B Convention and Visitors taken to find out what event- picked on and constantly tar- to downtown Sebring in February, and will return in 2014 as part of a six-event schedule developed by Promotions (Lora Bureau to produce, manage goers wanted in regards to Push Event Promotions. Todd), received partnership and promote six, multi-day See LETTER, A7 See SIX, A5 Index Celebrations B6 CEO Doubleday brings plenty of Classifieds A9 Clubs B6 experience to Heartland Workforce Dear Abby B11 By SAMANTHA GHOLAR the company. The new CEO is no my college classes focused on con- Editorial & Opinion A3 [email protected] stranger to the field of workforce ducting vocational assessments and Friends & Neighbors B5 SEBRING — Donna Doubleday training and counseling. Doubleday vocational evaluations, moving me Obituaries A5 has taken the reigns as CEO of has decades of experience under more in the direction of work- Heartland Workforce, following in her belt. force,” Doubleday said. Puzzles B11 the footsteps of the recently retired “I have been working in Some of Doubleday’s former What’s Cooking B9 Roger Hood. Workforce for the majority of my positions include vocational evalu- Doubleday has been running career. I began almost just out of ator, transitional employment coor- Heartland Workforce since early high school teaching work habits, dinator, rehabilitation counselor, Courtesy photo July and has continued the long- work ethics and job-seeking skills Donna Doubleday is the new CEO of the standing tradition and mission of to people with disabilities. Some of See NEW, A4 Heartland Workforce. 0790994 01001 Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com WAUCHULA STATE BANK/Cheryl Hen; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, low down pymnt front; 0 0 0 3 1 5 5 7 C M Y K Page A2 News-Sun ࡗ Wednesday, August 7, 2013 www.newssun.com Citizens group plans push for tourist tax repeal By BARRY FOSTER erendum. The measure is designed statute is written, we have no time motels, apartments, rooming hous- Development Commission has been News-Sun correspondent to let voters decide whether or not limit on this. Then, when we get es, condos, time shares or RV park run, pointing out that they had not SEBRING — Following a Friday there should be a sunset on the the completed petitions the com- spaces which are rented, leased or spent the money in the areas that night meeting at the Sebring Beef levy, in much the same manner that missioners will be compelled to put leased for considerations on stays were outlined as targets when the O’Brady’s restaurant, members of the extra one-cent sales tax is it up for a vote, and that could of six months or less. tax was passed more than a decade Citizens for Government reviewed periodically by the elec- mean a special election,” said Critics of the tourist tax say that ago. Accountability have decided to torate. CFGA spokeswoman Mary for more than a decade those in In recent months, the commis- push ahead with a petition drive to The group now needs to collect Begnston. charge have had little to show for sion had changed the way the get the matter of the retention of a the signatures 10 percent of the Because commissioners have claims of bringing visitors into the money could be distributed to more tourist tax on a ballot initiative. registered voters who would like to been told the insertion of a sunset area, especially during the summer accurately reflect the way the The action comes in the wake of see the tax put up on a ballot for provision is not possible, the peti- months, which was the original money currently is being spent. resident Bill Youngman’s attempt the people to decide. tion instead calls for the outright promise. The Citizens for Government to have Highlands County commis- “According to the Florida repeal of the tax, which is assessed Moreover, opponents have been Accountability meet the first sioners put it up as a citizen’s ref- Division of Elections, the way the on accommodations on hotels, critical of the way the Tourist Friday of each month. Community Briefs Sebring Chamber Highlands County. The Senator Bill Galvano will seeks volunteers children are in need of be the guest speaker. everything that fills a back- The luncheon is spon- SEBRING – Would you pack for kindergarteners sored by MidFlorida Credit like to spend a morning, or through seniors. Union. Cost is $10 per per- afternoon, one (or more) In exchange, Affinity son. Call the chamber to days a week in an interest- Health Professionals will reserve a seat on or before ing and fun environment? return a gift of its own, a Friday at If you like variety, this is 15-minute relaxation mas- [email protected] or call definitely for you. sage. The drive begins 465-4331. The Sebring Chamber of today and will end Commerce is in need of Thursday, Aug. 15. Drop Highlands/Hardee volunteers to help staff the off supplies at the office, hospice training chamber’s Welcome Center 2827 Alt. U.S. 27 South. office at 227 U.S. 27 North classes scheduled and at the downtown loca- Galvano to speak at SEBRING – Cornerstone tion. These volunteer posi- chamber luncheon Hospice and Palliative Care tions are not for those who seeks volunteers in the like to push the same but- LAKE PLACID – The Highlands and Hardee Courtesy photo ton day after day. However, Greater Lake Placid Walker Memorial Academy students Lisette Marasigan (from left), Nestlee Bautista, and counties area to help hos- those who are: a people Chamber of Commerce Jada Taylor try out the new iPads that the student body will be using this coming school pice patients and their person, someone who Membership Luncheon will year.