C M Y K www.newssun.com Streaks prevail Sebring tops Avon Park in low-scoring game SPORTS, B1 Looking for clues EWS UN Sebring police investigate N -S killing of 19-year-old Highlands County’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1927 INSIDE ON A2 Sunday, January 5, 2014 Volume 95/Number 3 | 75 cents 2 killed when truck runs over four pedestrians FDOT: No light at Northwood Study shows signal not needed By PHIL ATTINGER [email protected] SEBRING — U.S. 27 at Northwood Boulevard won’t be get- ting a traffic signal. The Florida Department of Katara Simmons/News Sun Transportation has conducted a study A Ford Ranger pick up truck is mangled from its collision with a concrete utility pole following the driver striking four pedestrians who were taking their morning walk in the Fairmount Estates community Saturday morning. to see if a signal is warranted at the intersection, and, for now, it’s not. The intersection is north of Witnesses said Sebring at the location of both Love Bugg’s gas station and car wash and truck was speeding Blue Lagoon Saloon. Frontage Road on the east side of the highway pro- vides access to and Fairmont Plaza, By SAMANTHA GHOLAR while Northwood Boulevard also [email protected] provides access to self-storage lots SEBRING — Two people were killed Saturday and Colony Point mobile home park, morning when a speeding truck hit four people behind the businesses. walking along Seattle Avenue in Sebring. Robin Stublen, communications Two of the people who were hit by the truck specialist for the FDOT District 1 were identified as Fairmount Mobile Estates winter office in Bartow, said that according residents Holly and Ross Fadely. The names of the to the department’s Manual for other two pedestrians and the driver of the truck Uniform Traffic Control Devices, a were not made available. The Florida Highway highway intersection needs to have Patrol confirmed that Holly Fadely was killed, but more than 105 vehicles pass through Katara Simmons/News Sun the identity of the other fatality was not released as Clothing and debris from four victims of a hit and run lay spread across the lawn and the side streets during the busiest of press time on Saturday. road at Seattle Avenue Saturday morning. A driver of a black Ford Ranger struck the eight hours of the day, but traffic Two people were airlifted to Lakeland Regional four Fairmount Mobile Estates residents before colliding his vehicle with a concrete leaving Northwood Boulevard only utility pole a few blocks away from where the victims were struck. One of the four vic- See TRUCK, A5 tims, Holly Fadeley, was confirmed killed by Florida Highway Patrol. See FDOT, A5 County commission to pay for CFRPC to do parks plan By BARRY FOSTER ice agreement will serve to hensive plan, which set out The proposal comes in our large areas of growth are announced instead of housing News-Sun correspondent keep the county in compli- pre-defined areas that would response to state mandates proposed to be,” said they intend to keep the land SEBRING — Highlands ance with provisions it be imposed as the county under The Community Commissioner Jim Brooks. for agricultural purposes. County Commissioners have imposed on itself through the experiences growth. Planning Act, in which the However, there are areas When asked why county voted to ink a deal with the Highlands County “The current plan that we county set aside a certain that at one time were set to staff could not prepare such a Central Florida Regional Comprehensive Land Use have is not concrete in writ- amount of acreage for recre- have been developed for resi- plan, Highlands County Planning Council to develop Management Plan. ing,” Highlands County ation, based on population. dences, such as the sprawling Planning Supervisor Susan a countywide parks plan as Staff members told com- Recreation Director Vicki “It just seems like this is 66,000-acre Blue Head BuChans told the board it well as an update to the exist- missioners the action is part Pontius told the board. information that we should Ranch property which recent- would take them “two to ing trails plan. of the recreation and open “That’s one of the things this already have or already be ly was sold to SPP Land The $40,000 advisory serv- space element of the compre- will establish.” aware of. We know where LLC. That firm has See COUNTY, A6 Featuring Fred Memorable Leavittʼs art to be featured quotes from 2013 at HCA gallery Compiled by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY INSIDE ON B7 IfIf II hadhad JesusJesus ChristChrist “He was pinpoint accurate on a dead run. He used two hands and shot from his hip.” Index withwith meme atat thethe Steve Bullock describing Bill Ross, a 1978 Arts & Entertainment B7 Lake Placid graduate who died in 2012, at the meeting,meeting, the the countycounty January ceremony naming Lake Placid High Business A8 commissionerscommissioners School’s gym in honor of him. Classifieds A9 Warmer High 81 “It’s about property rights — the right to Crossword Puzzle B11 wouldn’twouldn’t havehave agreedagreed Low 65 withwith me.me. do on your property what you want, and the Dear Abby B11 right to the peace and quiet of agricultural Editorial & Opinion A4 Details, A12 land.” County Commissioner James Brooks, during Horoscope B11 Bob Skipper after a county commission meeting on going debate on the proposed Swamp Obituaries A6 regarding the proposed Swamp Hammock outdoor Hammock outdoor recreation park. 0990994 01007 recreational site next to his ranch. Jan. 15 Sudoku Puzzle B11 MORE QUOTES, A3 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 3 4 8 7 3 C M Y K Page A2 News-Sun ࡗ Sunday, January 5, 2014 www.newssun.com Texas-based regional development group to look at area’s assets By BARRY FOSTER who are in the industry and News-Sun correspondent know what businesses are SEBRING — While the looking for. We need that Highlands County third-party perspective.” Economic Development The site selectors will Commission continues to focus in on the region’s tar- look at recruiting new mem- geted industries including bers, Florida’s Heartland agriculture, food processing, Rural Economic logistics and distribution, Development Commission, manufacturing and medical also known as FHREDI, has concerns. hired the Texas-based Site The study comes with a Selection Group to come in $100,000 price tag. That and tell members of the six- will be underwritten by a county consortium their Rural Development Grant strengths and their weak- from the Florida nesses. Department of Economic “I have asked them not to Opportunity. Reynolds said Phil Attinger/News-Sun sugar-coat anything,” said the grant money was allo- Sebring police officers and Highlands County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigations look for clues Friday along the fence FHREDI Chief Executive cated from the state just last line between Briarwood Apartments and The Villas Apartments. They are investigating the murder of Rishard Rooks, 19, Officer Gina Reynolds. “I week. of Sebring who was found dead before 12:30 a.m. Friday at Briarwood Apartments, 1335 Spinks Lane. am really excited to see A final report is expected what comes back.” to be ready for presentation Reynolds said the com- sometime this summer. munity analysis would be “a Reynolds said the idea SPD investigating homicide working document” that will be to look at the six- would be used to orchestrate county region as a whole By PHIL ATTINGER Briarwood Apartments, 1335 Spinks Several people told the News-Sun the development of new and not just individual [email protected] Lane in Sebring. that Rooks was shot. business and industry counties. SEBRING — Police are investigat- A call came in at 12:24 a.m. and offi- “It’s very early in the investigation,” throughout the region. “If there are clusters of ing the murder of a local man, whose cers arrived at 12:27 a.m. Police Carr said Friday. Calls seeking more Plans are for Reynolds businesses in the region, we body was found shortly before 12:30 cleared the scene mid-morning, but information on Saturday were not and FHREDI officials to need to have the resources a.m. Friday. other than that, Carr said police would returned. meet with representatives of to support them,” she said. Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr said not yet release anything else about the Those with information on Rooks Site Selection Group In addition to Highlands Rishard Rooks, 19, of Sebring was case, including how Rooks was killed murder are encouraged to contact Monday to develop a team County, FHREDI represents found dead early Friday morning at or where on the property he was found. Sebring police at 863-471-5108. to do the work. The idea DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, would be to have the com- Hendry and Okeechobee pany send a site selection counties as well as Community Briefs group to the area, investi- Immokalee, South Bay, gate its benefits and draw- Pahokee and Belle Glade. Roads temporarily 2014 Pokémon World public, but registration is backs. “This is going to be so closed Championships in required. Participants need “We want the site selec- beneficial to our communi- Washington, D.C. next sum- not have used Good tors to look at our area from ties and it is something that AVON PARK – West Bell mer. Shepherd Hospice services the business perspective,” never has been done Street will be closed from Players of all ages and she said.