C M Y K LIVING B12 www.newssun.com NEWS-SUN New year, new you? Highlands County’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1927 Sticking to your New Yearʼs Sunday, January 26, 2014 Volume 95/Number 12 | 75 cents resolutions Dragons done DeLaney opposes name change Boys and girls stopped in By PHIL ATTINGER who served as president of the Monday at 123 E. Pine St. run for titles [email protected] Avon Park City Council for two Kris DeLaney, the former AVON PARK — South Delaney terms and as mayor for 28 years. mayor’s grandson, said it’s fine if SPORTS, B1 Avenue bears the name of a man Current council members are the city wants to name a street for who helped bring Walker scheduled to hear community King, but it shouldn’t be the Memorial Hospital, South Florida input on changing the street name street the city named for his Junior College and federal hous- to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. grandfather. Polk gets ing projects to Avon Park. Boulevard or if there are other In a letter sent to the city coun- Delaney Heights still bears the suitable streets to name for King. See BATTLE, A6 E.A. DeLANEY Sr. aid to name of Edgar A. DeLaney Sr., The meeting is set for 6 p.m. buffer AP A little Range more than By TOM PALMER Halifax Media Group frost on the BARTOW – Polk County has received $200,000 to aid in ongoing work to buffer Avon Park Air Force windows Range from encroachment by sur- rounding development, Gov. Rick By SAMANTHA GHOLAR Scott’s office announced Friday. [email protected] Polk was one of eight counties to SEBRING – Though the weather receive funds. forecast didn’t predict it, fluffy white Highlands County, where a portion snow beckoned little ones to roll, toss of the 106,000-acre military base lies, and even eat it under the blue skies at received $40,000, which will be used the Sebring International Racetrack for marketing, according to the Saturday morning during the ninth announcement. annual Winter Fest. The Avon Park Air Force Range is Hundreds unloaded from their vehi- the largest bombing and gunnery cles to take in the annual fundraiser for range east of the Mississippi River. the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun The facility includes approximately Coast. A large pile of freshly fallen 400 square miles of restricted air- snow awaited attendees along with a space. snowy descent down the snow slide. A study coordinated by the Central BBBS Resource Director Kiko Florida Regional Planning Council has Vazquez was thrilled about the event been under way since 2009 to exam- and greeted visitors with a huge smile ine potential land-use conflicts in all while keeping the event flowing areas bordering the base and to look throughout the day. Volunteers kept for ways to eliminate or to mitigate wait times for lines as minimal as pos- those conflicts by liming potential sible, while dozens of Bigs spent the development. day with their Little counterparts soak- Some conservation easements have ing in the fun. already been purchased in Highlands Rev. George Miller, a longtime Big County to reduce potential develop- Brother, watched his Little, Cornelius ment of ranches adjacent to the base. Douse, and his friend, Ryland Seaser, In Polk County the main ranchland take to the snow slide for some icy that has been under consideration lies fun. on the south side of Lake “This actually is our first time ever Weohyakapka slightly more than a coming to Winter Fest. It’s our first mile north of the base’s boundary. year,” said Seaser’s mother, Shonta In 2012 the Polk County Momon. “It’s great; we’re enjoying the Commission authorized the Polk day.” County Environmental Lands Program Seaser was happy to be spending the to attempt to acquire two tracts event with his best friend Douse and totalling 4,480 acres either through an supporting the cause. outright purchase or purchase of a “It’s a lot of fun,” the two boys said. conservation easement. Katara Simmons/News-Sun “This is a great event and it really Cameron Brock (from left) of Avon Park and Tyler Lowe of Bartow are all smiles as they take See MORE, A6 the plunge down the snow slide. See WINTER, A3 Logan Palmer named Some sun Miss 12 Hours of Sebring High 75 By BARRY FOSTER “I haven’t missed a race que _ Porsche. Low 57 News-Sun correspondent since I was, like, 4,” she “But really, I love the Details, A12 SEBRING – Officials at said. “When I was very lit- experience; it is a tradition the Sebring International tle, my parents would take with my family,” she said. Raceway have named their me out for night practice on “To be honest with you, I Index queen for this year’s running Thursday and when I got have a passion for this race. Arts & Leisure B5 of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of older I was allowed to stay This is more than a race to Sebring Fueled by Fresh for the whole time.” me, it is a family tradition Business A7 From Florida. Palmer’s father, the late and I wanted to be Miss 12 Classifieds A9 Wearing the tiara and the Mark Palmer, had designs on Hours because of my dad – I Crossword Puzzle B11 sash for the 2014 classic will being a driver himself, she know he’d be thrilled.” be 23-year-old Logan said. Interestingly enough, Dear Abby B11 Palmer. The Sebring native “He actually had his own Palmer is close friends with Editorial & Opinion A4 recently graduated from car – a Mazda – and did the two women who served Living B12 Florida State University some club racing,” she said. as race queens over the past majoring in History with a “I think he really would have couple of years. Rickie Sudoku Puzzle B11 minor in Media liked to have raced the 12 Albritton was last year’s The Lists B8 Communications. Hours.” Miss 12 Hours and Hanna Having grown up in Palmer admitted that while Shoop, who reigned over the Sebring, Palmer has been she has no personal favorite endurance classic two years Delaney Photography attending the 12 Hours for as teams, she is partial to Logan Palmer has been selected Miss 12 Hours of Sebring long as she can remember. Sebring’s most-winning mar- See RACE, A6 2014. 0990994 01007 Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com HEARTLAND NATIONAL BANK***; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, front strip; 00034873 C M Y K Page A2 News-Sun ࡗ Sunday, January 26, 2014 www.newssun.com Second suspect arrested Community Briefs Work continues on Topics covered will include Pleasant Street patrol techniques, first aid, terrorism, Florida Statutes, in Jan. 5 robbery AVON PARK – West and those mandated by the Pleasant Street in Avon Florida Department of Park will be closed from News-Sun staff walking when firearm, and illegal use of Business Regulation. U.S. 27 (north line) to SEBRING – A second a car stopped; credit cards for the Jan. 5 The course will be held North Anoka Avenue on arrest has been made in the the occupants incident. For the Jan. 12 Question: Should 6-10 p.m. Monday through Tuesday to paving road. Jan. 5 robbery of a man jumped out incident, he faces a second Avon Park pick a street Thursday, and begins Work will be done during walking on Saint Lucie and chased the charge of robbery with a Monday at the SFSC daytime hours only. that is not already Street. Jerry Lee Callahan victim, ulti- firearm. Highlands Campus PSA, For further information named after somebody Fields, 18, of 141 Zion St., mately strik- This case is still under 600 W. College Drive. Fields contact Excavation Point, Lake Placid, has been ing him with investigation. Anyone with when it names a street Pre-registration is Inc. at 471-1997. charged with robbery with a a handgun information is requested to after Martin Luther King required, and the course firearm in connection with and robbing him. contact the Highlands Jimmy Smith Show Jr.? number is CRN 11638. The the case. Fields is currently being County Sheriff's Office is slated at Lake cost of the course is $170 On Jan. 16, Highlands held in the Highlands Criminal Investigations Unit per person and may be paid County sheriff's deputies County Jail under $100,000 and Detective Bret Hinkle at Placid Elks Lodge Yes by cash, check, or credit arrested 18-year-old bond. 381-0669 or 402-7252. card. Participants may reg- LAKE PLACID – Lake Alkheem Rasheed Portee on Portee was charged for the Anyone with information ister in Building B on the Placid Elks Lodge will host % a warrant associated with Jan. 12 attempted armed rob- who wants to remain anony- 83.7 SFSC Highlands Campus or “Remembering the this crime. bery in the area of Service mous and be eligible for a at any SFSC campus or Legends” starring Jimmy As previously reported, at Alley and Park Street. He cash reward is asked to call center. Smith from Pigeon Forge, No approximately 5 p.m. on Jan. was already in jail facing Heartland Crime Stoppers at For more information, Tenn. on Saturday, Feb. 15. 5, deputies responded to a charges for his involvement 1-800-226-TIPS(8477), con- contact Richard Morey, This event is open to the robbery that had just in the Jan. 5 robbery. tact via the Internet at 16.3% coordinator.