Swaine Reappointed to Judicial Nominating Commission STAFF REPORT
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HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Monday, July 8, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 189 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Tanglewood shows its patriotic side By SHARON WEATHERHEAD undertaking,” said The tables and stage and Thomas Jefferson CORRESPONDENT Company President and were festively decorated explained their views in Producer Donna Scorse. in red, white and blue. “‘The Egg.” They debated The Broadway Lights “It was important for us The flags of all branches between the dove, turkey Theater Company of to entertain our audience of the military were and the eagle. Tanglewood present- while maintain a deep displayed. The tops of The performance was ed their very special sense of devotion to our the flags had the symbol moving as well as timely, “Tribute to the Red, veterans, past, present of America, the American entertaining and fun. It White & Blue” on Friday and future. We could Eagle. was the intent to demon- and Saturday. The not look at the history A short clip from strate America’s greatness event was open to the of American without the movie “1776” was though narrative, music SHARON WEATHERHEAD/CORRESPONDENT community. looking at war and ap- shown to hear how the and song with interactive “Our Tribute to the preciating the sacrifices American Eagle was audience participation. The Broadway Lights Theater Company of Tanglewood Red, White & Blue of our veterans and the chosen. John Adams, performs “God Bless America.” was a courageous American people.” Benjamin Franklin PATRIOT | 2A Swaine reappointed to Judicial Nominating Commission STAFF REPORT Sebring attorney Bob Swaine was reap- pointed to the Florida Judicial Nominating Commission by Gov. Ron DeSantis last week. Swaine was one of three Tenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission appoint- ments and one of 66 SWAINE overall made by the COURTESY PHOTO/FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION governor. Swaine was first appointed to ‘If you can’t eat it, sit on it,’ a Florida black bear seems to say after a tussle with a bear-resistant garbage can. Highlands County got awarded the Judicial Nominating Commission a $48,000 grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission last year to help residents purchase such cans for bear-prone by Gov. Rick Scott. areas. They are still available. The Judicial Nominating Commission is a panel that recommends lawyers to become judges when an opening occurs. There are 26 nine-member Judicial Nominating Commissions in Big bears ‘tracked’ in Hammock Florida — one for each of the judicial districts in the state, as well as one for the five district courts of appeals. Residents reminded to use BearWise tips The final one is for the state Supreme Court. According to The Florida Bar, the JNC is “the screening entity that identifies the list of final candidates for the Governor. Their structure and com- position must provide a climate that fosters public confidence in the pro- cess while encouraging highly qualified applicants to apply. They must not be a political or partisan entity and should be representative of the community to be served by the judge.” While all nine members of each JNC are appointed by the governor, there are two different ways to be selected for a position. The governor selects five members “each of whom is a resident COURTESY PHOTO/FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION of the territorial jurisdiction served by COMMISSION the commission to which the member A bear cub peeking around a tree. is appointed, of which at least two are members of The Florida Bar engaged in By PHIL ATTINGER has an option: Bear-proof the practice of law.” STAFF WRITER cans. The remaining four positions are Last year, the Board selected by the governor with input SEBRING — Bears have of County Commission from The Florida Bar. The Board of begun to move around, and set a price of $75 to get a Governors of The Florida Bar submits residents should be aware. new bear-proof can from three names to the governor for each Rangers in Highlands the supply the county of the four positions. The governor Hammock State Park have purchased with a $57,770 can then select a name from that list taken casts of two tracks grant from the Florida Fish or request three different individuals, from large bears in the past and Wildlife Conservation each of whom has not been nominated month: A paw print from Commission (FWC). before. a 200-pound female and County commissioners In determining which nominees to a paw print twice as large then dropped the price to COURTESY PHOTO/HIGHLANDS HAMMOCK STATE PARK send to the governor, The Florida Bar from a 350-pound male. $25 if residents would turn Ranger Blake Lewis at Highlands Hammock State Park displays a says the Board of Governors looks at The female’s track was in their non-locking blue mold made of a bear track found this past week in the north end of things, such as “Length of Practice, spotted June 15 off North garbage bins. the park. This bear, a male, is estimated to weigh 350 pounds. Beside Area of Practice, Reputation and Prior Branch Access Road. The FWC agreed to pay the him, on the table, is a cast of a female print taken on June 14 from JNC Service,” among others. male’s prints were found county up to $48,000 to get the same area of the park. When a judgeship opens, the gover- just this past week along the bear-proof cans from Rehrig nor requests the proper JNC to meet same road. Pacific, the same vendor problems with or potential the Legislature delivered a “for the purpose of selecting and Bears are one of Florida’s that supplied the county’s for bear conflicts. $91.1 billion budget to Gov. submitting names of qualified individ- success stories, in terms blue 95-gallon blue trash The local fee helps rebuild Ron DeSantis, the $500,000 uals to the governor for appointment to of conservation. Once bins. The county bought the program to buy more program wasn’t in it. the bench.” rare, they have flourished 214, and FWC also sent 37 cans, as needed. The Legislature also The Judicial Nominating Commission thanks to protected status, similar cans from another It’s needed, because not reduced overall funding for will check applicants for eligibility and but also thanks to local grant. only does Highlands County nuisance wildlife control interviews legal candidates. A vote is codes that require residents All 251 cans went to Road have bears, the Bearwise by $1.1 million to a total of taken on which names to send to the and businesses to lock up and Bridge, where Director program that paid for the $2.6 million, News Service governor for consideration of a judicial garbage on days other than Kyle Green has taken cans wasn’t in the budget reported. vacancy and the “JNC has no more than pickup days. applications from residents this year. Susan Neel, FWC Highlands County doesn’t to buy them. Residents News Service of Florida SWAINE | 2A have an ordinance, but it must live in an area with reported May 7 that when BEARS | 3A Classifieds ................... B7-10 Good morning To Lottery ........................... B2 Comics ..................... B11-14 Viewpoints ....................... A9 Daniel Phypers Local Sports ...................... B1 TV Listings ......................A13 Weather .........................A14 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | July 8, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com Woman arrested on Pet of the week battery cruelty toward child By KIM LEATHERMAN residence allegedly said Lyons had called her a drug user. STAFF WRITER where Lyons been drinking heavily The minor told the was in an before they arrived. The deputy that he was hit SEBRING – Mary “emotional boyfriend said it started hard enough to spill Cranfi eld Lyons, 43, of and intoxi- out with a verbal dispute his drink on the floor. Sebring, was arrested cated state,” while he was driving her The report shows that a by Highlands County in the back to her house earlier. witness corroborated the Sheriff’s deputies on yard, the The boyfriend told victim’s story. Thursday. She faces arrest report LYONS deputies Lyons slapped Lyons is being held charges of battery, touch- said. him three times on the without bond because ing or striking and cruelty The dep- right side of his face, of a parole violation. toward a child, abuse uties asked Lyons if she according to the report. According the Highlands without great harm. Due had been in a physical Deputies made contact County Clerk of Courts to the domestic nature altercation with anyone with the 12 year-old website, Lyons has had of the crime, victims will and she replied in the victim who said Lyons several cases in the not be identifi ed. negative. Deputies then called the boyfriend a court. Deputies arrived at a called her boyfriend who “Meth Head” and he POLICE BLOTTER The following people Meggan Rose Cooley, on charges of drug The following people were arrested on felony 35, Sebring, on charges equipment possession were arrested on felony charges and booked of methamphetamine and methamphetamine charges and booked into the Highlands possession and drug possession. into the Highlands COURTESY PHOTO County jail on June 28: equipment possession. Michele Gomez Roy, County jail on July 3: Tara Lee Atton, 38, Cristoval Sebastian 67, Sebring, charged Rebecca Ann Garman, Juice is an eight-month-old Golden Retriever Mix with beautiful Tampa, charged with Gonzales, 19, Frostproof, with cruelty towards a 35, Lake Placid, charged long hair and is quite playful. probation violation. on charges of drug child.