A Relative Success
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 On to state Fancy affair Two Devils, two Streaks Black tie event aids headed to Lakeland Highway Park SPORTS,1D PAGE 2A PAGE 1C Wednesday-Thursday, February 15-16, 2012 www.newssun.com Volume 93/Number 23 | 50 cents Inside Bowl party Group seeks to put tourism tax on ballot Soup Up the Arts By ED BALDRIDGE County attorney directed to review petition the county commission and set for Thursday [email protected] the county attorney review SEBRING — At the the petition for accuracy and at SHS request of a group of citizens, county vetting process, asked Macbeth answered. County American Party, the for legal coherency. county commissioners direct- at the Tuesday meeting why Three separate political Highlands County Tea Party “Our county commission PAGE 2A ed County Attorney Ross county attorney Ross organizations are seeking fur- and the Highlands County and our county attorney are Macbeth Tuesday to review a Macbeth had not taken a look ther discussion and possibly Voters League met in August the ones that need to look at Forecast petition to put the tourism tax at the language of the petition a county-wide vote to repeal of 2011 to discuss what it and decide whether they on the ballot in November. presented to him earlier. the 2 percent tourism tax and direction to take about the agree with it or not. So what Bill Youngman, a commu- “I do not serve as your put a new tax in place with a tax. you are telling me, as of right nity activist and successful attorney nor as the attorney sunset. Youngman said he was champion of the e-Verify for your organization,” Leaders of the Highlands directed by the state to have See TOURISM, page 5A Partly sunny and a little warmer High Low 83 60 A relative success Deleon’s Complete Forecast PAGE 8A review Online to come early Question: Do you By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY think this will be [email protected] the last cold snap AVON PARK — At Councilor of the season? Paul Miller’s urging, the city council voted to formally review City Manager Julian Deleon’s work per- Yes formance earlier than scheduled. “Julian has been doing a good job 47.7% for us, an outstanding job. It’s only fair to do an evaluation now,” Miller said. Deleon also thought the idea was a good one. News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS Some councilors were concerned No Heartland Idol teen winner Asia Gilroy (from left), adult winner Amanda Mercer and junior winner Larissa Meagher, who is Mercer’s daughter. that setting an earlier date might cre- ate problems down the line. The 52.3% worry was Deleon has only been city manager for six months. If an early Families shine review set a precedent, that short a Total votes: 109 time might hurt another city manager in the future. Next question: at Heartland Should the FCC end See DELEON, page 4A the television Idol finals blackout rule for professional sports? By ED BALDRIDGE [email protected] Make your voice heard at SEBRING — For the first time since the start www.newssun.com of Heartland Idol, a mother and daughter took top honors in two separate divisions. Obituaries Warm music filled the cold air on Sunday night when finalists for Heartland Idol took the Mary Lou Kroeger stage at the Highlands County Fair. Age 83, of Sebring Adult winner Amanda Mercer took home Susan Mackenzie $1,000 after her performance of “I Dream a Little Dream.” Her daughter, Larissa Meagher, Photo by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Age 70, of Lake Placid Julian Deleon, city manager, won the junior division, and the two, along with reports good news to the city coun- Obituaries, Page 6A teen winner Asia Gilroy, shared the stage for the cil Monday night. Utility revenues final bows. have risen, creating a reserve of Index “I am better at the theater numbers rather than News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS $1.1 million, and plans are under- Larissa Meagher holds back tears of joy Sunday after earn- way to extend water service to more Celebrations 3C See IDOL, page 7A ing first place in Heartland Idol’s Junior Division. neighborhoods. Classifieds 1B Clubs & Organizations 3C Community Briefs 2A Crossword Puzzle 2C Chabeli Dear Abby 2C Ravelo is crowned Lake Placid’s Chabeli Ravelo named Editorial & Opinion 3A 2012 Miss Friends & Neighbors 5C Highlands 2012 Miss Highlands County County Living 1C Saturday By SAMANTHA GHOLAR and won over the judges with The Most Photogenic award Lottery Numbers 2A evening. [email protected] her smile and full personality. was given to Rachel Smit and Movie Times 2C Ravelo will take on the SEBRING – Another young Ravelo had a large crowd of Miss Congeniality was awarded NASCAR This Week 3D coveted woman now reigns as the new supporters present and they had to Larissa Fantetti. Sports On TV 2D position of Miss Highlands County. no problem making it known Ravelo was crowned by last representing year’s winner, Julie Kirsh, and Highlands Chabeli Ravelo, Lake Placid who their favorite girl was County in High School senior, was Saturday. received several items along numerous crowned 2012 Miss Highlands Other winners of the night with her tiara – a bouquet of www.twitter.com/thenewssun events and County Saturday evening at the include first runner-up Larissa flowers from Sebring Florist, future pag- Highlands County Convention Fantetti; second runner-up sash and silver tray from the eants Highlands County Fair throughout Center. Danielle Acosta; third runner-up Association, a photo session, the state Ravelo, a bubbly brunette, Nicole Munoz; and fourth run- this year. outshined her fellow contestants ner-up Salina Walker. 0790994 01001 News-Sun photo by SAMANTHA GHOLAR See RAVELO, page 7A Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com WAUCHULA STATE BANK; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, #1 front strip; 0 0 0 1 6 9 1 1 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Wednesday, February 15, 2012 www.newssun.com COMMUNITY BRIEFS Changes Soup Up the Arts serving Rooney speaking at Department, 7205 S. Lincoln Day Dinner George Blvd. ahead Davis is a professional SEBRING — District 16 football player, academic up food, art and charity U.S. Representative Tom scholar student, speaker in with Rooney will be the speaker more than 3,000 schools By SAMANTHA GHOLAR “Both of these families on Saturday at the annual worldwide, motivational [email protected] 10th annual have a real strong need right Lincoln Day Dinner spon- programs in 47 states and NCLB SEBRING — Delicious event set for now,” said SHS art instructor sored by the Highlands 40 countries including soups and plenty of artwork Steve Van Dam. County Australia, Brazil, England, waiver will be on the agenda Thursday at Funds raised through the Republican Japan, Russia, Egypt and Thursday afternoon at event will also be disbursed Executive South Africa. Sebring High School’s Art Committee Lee was part of the 1993 By CHRISTOPHER Sebring High to two other local students Club Soup Up the Arts (HCREC). national championship TUFFLEY and families this year; Van fundraiser. Soup Up will be Placid High School student Recording team at Florida State [email protected] Dam and the students really held at the SHS cafeteria Alex Barajas, who was bat- artist, coached by Bobby SEBRING — Florida felt the obligation to reach beginning at 4:30 p.m. tling leukemia at the time. Elizabeth Bowden. His all-time best became one of 10 states to out to more of those who are Rooney The annual fundraiser is in This year’s Soup Up will Salvatico bench press was 650 receive a waiver from the in need. its 10th year and continues to benefit Lake Country is the entertainer for the pounds. After college, he ultimate requirement of the “Our goal is also to include help needy families in the Elementary third grader evening. taught math at an alterna- No Child Left Behind law. two other students this year. community as well as pro- Pedro Palaciof and SHS jun- The event will begin tive high school and The waiver came into effect Lindsey Hammortree, who vide scholarships to SHS stu- ior Juana Salvodor. with a social hour at 5:30 worked at a drug rehabili- Thursday, the result of an we’ve done this event for dents. Palaciof is currently in p.m., with dinner at 6:30 tation center. Lee had the executive order issued by before, is again going Last year’s Soup Up event Tampa battling brain cancer p.m., at the Chateau Elan. opportunity to try out for President Barrack Obama. through treatment and our raised more than $4,000. A while Salvodor is here in This event is the only the NFL in Dallas. There, No Child Left Behind goal is to include her,” Van large portion of the funds Sebring recovering from a fundraiser for the HCREC. he set the NFL strength requires all students be pro- were given to former Lake recent brain tumor removal. Seats are still available for record on the bench press. ficient in reading and math See SOUP, page 7A $75. Please call Olivia at He also played APFL foot- by 2014. 381-6993 to reserve your ball for the Kansas According to an seat or register and pay Koyotes. Associated Press story by online by visiting Light refreshments will Kimberly Hefling and Ben www.republicanparty- be served. Fuller, in exchange for flex- ofhighlandscounty.com/.