HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Monday, August 19, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 231 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Proposed schedule/busing changes for Academy By MARC VALERO at a recent School Board more than 45 minutes length from 45 minutes STAFF WRITER workshop it was noted each way. This allowed to one hour. that some students had us to add an additional The school day SEBRING — New class lengthy bus rides when 40 minutes of instruc- starts with breakfast at and busing schedules attending the district’s tion time to our bell 8:45 a.m. and concludes for the Academy at alternative school for schedule.” at the end of eighth Youth Care Lane will be those with disciplinary The new schedule period at 4:15 p.m. considered by the School and/or drug issues. shows an eight-period District Transportation Board of Highlands Director of Safety and day with separate Director Willie Hills County at its Tuesday Security Michael Haley time periods allotted said, “We are working MARC VALERO/STAFF meeting. said, “We were able to for breakfast (8:45 to on different ways to get The School Board of Highlands County, at its Tuesday meeting, Previously school modify the bus schedule. 9:05 a.m.) and lunch students to the Academy will consider a new student class schedule and new bus route buses picked up the stu- By doing so, the students (12:25 to 12:55 p.m.). with trunk stops for the Academy at Youth Care Lane. dents at their home, but are riding the bus no The class periods vary in BUS | 2A Callahan preparing for bench trial Facing racketeering, 33 grand theft charges By PHIL ATTINGER STAFF WRITER SEBRING — Major Callahan Jr., preparing to go to trial on racketeering and grand theft charges, will do so in front of the judge. He has not made a plea yet in the case of his alleged scheme to commit tax fraud CALLAHAN by filing taxes in victims’ JR. names and then forging their endorsements on refund checks. However, he did waive his right to a jury trial on July 8, had a status hearing on Aug. WILFREDO LEE/AP PHOTO 8 and has another pre-trial conference set for Sept. 4. Job applicant Esta Williams, center, uses Tracy Simeton’s back to fill out a questionnaire as they wait in line at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office & Casino Hollywood during a job fair in Hollywood, Fla. of Statewide Prosecution is handling the case. The Lake Placid man, former owner of three Pointe 1 Tax Services offices in Florida jobless rate drops in July Highlands County, allegedly bilked clients out of more than $50,000 in tax refunds, according to a news release from the Sebring tied for highest unemployment rate in the state Florida Department of Law Enforcement. At least 24 clients were victimized, NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Economic Opportunity. authorities said. The latest monthly totals, The case began in 2013 when the TALLAHASSEE — The reflecting 344,000 jobless Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, Sebring state’s overall jobless rate Floridians in a workforce Police Department and Lake Placid Police dipped to 3.3 percent, down of 10.35 million, come two Department all received complaints about 0.1 percentage point from days after state economists Pointe 1 Tax Services. June, according to num- projected the state will take A large number of the complainants bers released by the state in about $867 million less in received benefits from the Social Security Department of Economic revenue over the next two Administration, and were not eligible for Opportunity on Friday. years than anticipated. tax refunds, but the staff at the Pointe 1 Florida Panhandle coun- Economists attributed the locations told the customers they could ties ranked well in the latest drop in expected revenue to get a refund. state jobless rate numbers a combination of a slowing Other victims were told they were released on Friday. economy and the reverbera- going to receive stimulus money from the The state’s overall jobless tions of financial decisions. government. rate dipped to 3.3 percent, The state’s jobless esti- Victims provided information, but down 0.1 percentage point mate for July indicates there WILFREDO LEE/AP PHOTO didn’t receive any payments, according to from June, according Job applicants are sorted at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to numbers released by JOBS | 2A Hollywood during a job fair in Hollywood, Fla. TRIAL | 2A the state Department of Desselle awarded 2018 Highlander Veteran of the Year By ROBERT MILLER Tehran during NEWS CLERK the Iran hostage crisis of 1979. Highlander LAKE PLACID — Marvin “He just Linn Desselle was awarded called one day Highlight the Highlands News- and said, hey, Sun Veteran of the Year grab whatever An occasional series Highlander Award for highlighting the you can grab, winners of the 2018 2018 at the second annual we gotta go,” Highlander Awards Highlander Awards ban- Moddie said. quet, held July 18 at Seven The Desselle’s Sebring Raceway Hotel. and their young daughter Desselle obtained the had to leave everything rank of Master Sergeant behind and get out of the ROBERT MILLER/STAFF during his 24 years in the country. Moddie Desselle with a photograph of her husband, Marvin Desselle, United States Air Force. Later he was stationed who was awarded the Highlans News-Sun 2018 Highlander Award for He was a veteran of the at Okinawa, Japan where Veteran of the Year for his work with veterans. Vietnam War, Desert Storm he would live for 14 years. COURTESY PHOTO and the Gulf War. During “Basically we raised both two grandsons. military. Desselle was a his military career, Desselle our kids there,” Moddie Desselle and his wife Service Officer with the The late Marvin Desselle with his service dog, was stationed in Little said. Desselle had two moved to Lake Placid in Disabled American Veterans Petee. Desselle trained service dogs for fellow Rock, Arkansas and Tehran, daughters, one residing 1998 and immediately veterans as well as helped veterans afford Iran. Desselle and his wife, in Tampa, Florida and the became involved with the AWARD | 2A them with his program PTSD4Vets. Moddie, were stationed in other in Texas. He also had Classifieds ......................B5-8 Good morning To ....................... A7 Local Sports ...................... B1 Puzzles ....................... B9-10 Viewpoints ........................ A10 Ada Weeks Lottery ........................... B2 TV Listings ....................... A9 Weather facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | August 19, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com AWARD AP council discuses early voting FROM PAGE 1A By MARC VALERO chosen if any, Flowers said. Anderson said then early Sutherland said she pre- (DAV), got involved with the American Legion and STAFF WRITER Early voting would prob- voting on Saturday and fers Friday and Saturday. helped start the Highlands County Chapter 1097 of ably require five election Sunday and take Monday Councilman Stanley the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). AVON PARK — The Avon workers and with delivery off and then the Tuesday Spurlock said he wouldn’t Desselle’s legacy will forever be shaped Park City Council agrees and extra equipment — election day. That gives support Sunday voting. “I by two nonprofit endeavors that he started: that there should be an consumables, etc. — it people who are working just don’t think it is right.” HeroesandAngels.org and PTSD4Vets. early voting period for the would cost between $2,000 the best opportunity to Anderson said the City According to the website, Heroes and Angels was upcoming city election, and $2,500 if the city did come in. had Sunday voting last created “to never forget the sacrifices made by every but has yet to agree on five days of early voting “There are no excuses time. Hero or Angel and to thank them often for their what days would be appro- again. at that point, if you didn’t Flowers noted that was a selfless sacrifices.” priate to give citizens an Councilwoman Maria want to come, you just countywide election. The site goes on to describe Heroes as “men and additional opportunity to Sutherland asked if that didn’t want to come,” he Flowers said he would women that are serving or have served honorably vote. was already budgeted. said. get more information from in the United States Military, Law Enforcement or At a recent City Council Flowers responded that Councilwoman Brenda Ogg and send the council Fire Department and their family members that meeting City Manager the election is in the new Gray asked what it would members an email and supported them while they served. Angels are the David Flowers asked the budget year so he believes cost for two days of early then discuss it at the next gracious donors that give from the heart to make City Council if it wanted to it is not budgeted at this voting. City Council Meeting. our mission possible.” have early voting this year. time. Flowers said he would Anderson said he want- Desselle appreciated not just the military but all The City of Avon Park Anderson said some check on the cost, but es- ed at least one weekend first responders as well. He wanted to help not just will have an election people work and it will timated it would probably day because for some veterans, but also firefighters, police and EMTs. according to Highlands be a struggle to get be around $1,500. people who work Monday After he passed, his wife and daughters kept the Supervisor of Elections people out to vote this Barnard asked how through Friday that (vot- charity going.