FAMILIAR Janet King’s ‘Oranges’ chosen as offi cial print for THEME the 48th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival B4 ▲ Heartland Football Camp a huge hit A9 EWS UN Delcosta NHighlands County’s Hometown Newspaper-S Since 1927 75¢ Florist is ready to deliver PAGE B1 B5 www.newssun.com An Edition of the Sun Sunday, June 29, 2014 Pharmacist Compton charged A reluctant hero with theft comes up big UNSUNG appointed of pills HEROES to school BY PHIL ATTINGER Staff Writer SEBRING — A Kmart board seat pharmacist is fac- ing charges of stealing She’s in ve-way race drugs from his place of work and giving them to win election to post to third parties to sell. Kwabena Yeboah BY BARRY FOSTER Boateng, 35, of 3237 N. NEWS-SUN CORRESPONDENT Buckingham Road in Avon Park, is facing a SEBRING — One of the candi- charge of grand theft. dates for District 5 Seat of the High- According to Highlands lands County School Board has got- County Sheriff’s Of- ten a leg up on her competition fi ce reports, pills start- from Tallahassee. ed disappearing from Gov. Rick Scott has announced the the Kmart Pharmacy at appointment of Jill Compton as a Lakeshore Mall on Sept. school board member of Highlands 14, 2013. He was arrested SEE COMPTON | A8 Wednesday. The thefts reportedly contin- ued for six months. Reports said he took 1,000 Oxycontin pills (30 mg each) at a retail value of $888.65 and SEE PILLS | A4 Phil Attinger/News-Sun Jill Compton, candidate for Seat 5 on the School Board of High- lands County, states her quali cations at the beginning of Education Thursday night’s candidate’s forum at the Sebring Elks Lodge on Lake Jackson as (from left) Clinton Culverhouse, William budget up, ‘Pep’ Hutchinson, William ‘Tres’ Stephenson and Trevor Mur- but no new phy listen. buses on list School board Christopher Tuffl ey/News-Sun BY PHIL ATTINGER Brad Millsap, has been a big brother to 15-year-old Eddy Batista since late in 2013. Staff Writer candidates SEBRING — A feder- field questions al grant and a servic- Brad Millsap had to be talked into es contract make up part of a $411,493 in- it, but he now loves being a ‘Big’ BY BARRY FOSTER crease in the Highlands NEWS-SUN CORRESPONDENT County School District BY CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY “All of them deserve special recogni- budget for the coming NEWS-SUN CORRESPONDENT tion,” he said of the people known as SEBRING — It was a lightning school year. “Bigs.” The ones they mentor are known, round session, with fi ve candidates That still doesn’t Because June is the month in which of course, as “Littles.” for Highlands County School Board mean the school dis- we celebrate fathers, we wanted to fi nd But if he could chose only one Big, District 5 handling 10 questions trict has money for an Unsung Hero who touches young Vasquez said, he wanted the communi- each before the Highlands Coun- buses, said Superinten- people’s lives. We reached out to Big ty to know about Brad Millsap, who has ty Republican Executive Committee dent of Schools Wally Brothers Big Sisters of the Gold Coast to been a big brother to 15-year-old Eddy Thursday night. Cox and Assistant Su- fi nd a volunteer who goes out of his way Batista since late in 2013. Most questions were given either perintendent Mike Av- to mentor young people. Vasquez met Millsap during a High- 30- or 60-second response times. It eryt, head of opera- KiKo Vasquez, community director for lands County Leadership class. Im- was the fi rst session for the group tions. Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto coun- pressed, Vasquez worked to recruit him after offi cially qualifying as candi- Averyt said $129,600 ties, said there are dozens of men and as a mentor. dates for the post, which was left of the hike is to cover women who mentor children, generous- Millsap told Vasquez, “I’ve already vacant when former member Andy ly giving of their time and their hearts to SEE BUDGET | A7 help young people be successful. SEE HERO | A6 SEE FORUM | A8 Hot with some Arts & Entertainment .... B4 Dear Abby ..................... B2 Lottery Numbers .......... A2 facebook.com/ VOL. 95 afternoon storms newssun High 94 Low 75 Business ..................... B5 Horoscope .................... B2 Puzzles ......................... B2 NO. 74 twitter.com/ Details on B12 Classifi ed .................... B8 Obituaries .................. A6 Viewpoints .................... A5 thenewssun a / LLY OWN ED 3045823 Avon Park Lake Placid Sebring Sun‘n Lake North community minded 800W. Main St. 600 U.S. Hwy 27 N. 327 U.S. Hwy 27 N. 5033 U.S. Hwy 27 N. www.heartlandnb.com i 863.453.6000 863.699.1300 863.386.1300 863.386.1322 sl s . A2 | NEWS-SUN | Sunday, June 29, 2014 www.newssun.com FREE ICE CREAM ON A HOT DAY Man charged with collecting debt NEWS-SUN Highlands County’s Hometown through robbery Newspaper Since 1927 http//:www.newssun.com BY PHIL ATTINGER Arrest reports state The News-Sun (USPS – ISSN Staff Writer that Garza told the 0163-3988) is published every Sunday, Wednesday & Friday. Peri- man if they didn’t odical postage paid at Sebring, FL LAKE PLACID — An comply he would and additional entry office(s). All Avon Park man alleg- “crack him in the material contained herein is the edly tried to collect head” with the crow- property of the News-Sun, which is an affiliate of Sun Coast Media on a debt by arming bar. Group. Reproduction in whole or in himself, forcing his Garza reportedly part is forbidden without the writ- way into the debt- walked through the ten permission of the publisher. All material submitted for publication or’s friend’s home and house and took a $300 becomes the property of the news- taking that person’s black Dell Samsung paper and may be edited for clar- laptop computer and laptop, with its char- ity and space, as well as reprinted, phone. ger, and an $85 Boost published and used in all media. Hector Garza Jr., Hydro mobile phone. Postmaster: Send address change Katara Simmons/News-Sun to: News-Sun, 2227 U.S. 27 S., Ari Montalvo, 6, takes enjoys an ice cream cone Saturday afternoon along with his sister Arieli, 12, and mom Elizabeth at the new 32, of 2000 N. Mar- The man report- Sebring, FL 33870. Twistee Treat location in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Sebring. Elizabeth Montalvo said ‘It was delicious, very good and we had ex- tin Road in Avon Park ed seeing two oth- cellent service.’ While not officially open, Twistee Treat was serving up free frozen treats and mini Nathan’s hot dog sliders during is facing charges of er people with Gar- COmmITMENT TO a trial run before they open for business Wednesday. Twistee Treat employees were encouraging visitors to make a donation to armed burglary and za at the time, two of ACCURACY the Miracle League instead of paying for their ice cream. The Miracle League was was on site raising awareness about their pro- robbery with a weap- which had handguns, The News-Sun promptly cor- gram for disabled individuals and collecting donations. rects errors of fact appearing in on. He allegedly took reports said. He didn’t its news stories. If you believe we items in exchange for see what kind of car have made an error, call the news- a $300 debt. they were driving, but room at (863) 385-6155, ext. Highlands mornings during the According to the knew Garza drove a 516. If you have a question or Hammock seeks SNAPSHOTS week of July 7- July Highlands County red Ford Mustang. comment about coverage, write to LOCAL NEWS Scott Dressel, editor, 2227 U.S. volunteers 12, 2014 at Highlands Sheriff’s Office, Garza At 3:30 a.m. that 27 South, Sebring, FL 33870; Hammock, Seven — also known to both same morning, the email [email protected].; or SEBRING — ■ Lake Placid resi- Lakes and Lake June- the victim and debtor debtor was notified call (863) 385-6155. Highlands Hammock dents to open and in-Winter Scrub State as “Peno” — knocked through Facebook State Park is seek- close Lake June-in- Park. on the door of 17212 about the incident. Off ICE ing volunteers for the Winter Scrub State Call 863-471- 5324, Brymwood Lane in He went to 17441 Location: 2227 U.S. 27 South, Sebring, FL 33870 following: Park. Opportunities to office of the Park Okeechobee at ap- Brinkerhoff Lane in Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon- ■ Custodian for the assist with trail and fa- Services Specialist. proximately 3 a.m. Lake Placid and con- day-Friday Civilian Conservation cility maintenance are Sunday. fronted Garza, reports Phone: (863) 385-6155 Main Fax: (863) 385-1954 Corps (CCC) Museum. also available. Bunco at Shrine The man and wom- said. Duties include clean- ■ Handyman to Club Tuesday an living there told They argued outside SUBSCRIPTION ing restrooms, vac- maintain and repair law enforcement Garza’s car, reports RATES uuming carpet, and rental bicycles; AVON PARK — officers that they said, and Garza alleg- Home hosting visitors. ■ Seven Lakes water The public is invit- opened the door edly admitted to tak- 12 mos. Tax Total ■ $72.22 $5.06 $77.28 Volunteer experi- quality monitor with ed to play Bunco at to find Garza, who ing the items, saying In Florida mail enced with zero-turn lightweight kayak or the Highlands Shrine barged through the he would only give 12 mos.