C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 All-County hoops Up for grabs Avon Park’s Baker leads Poll shows state could go either 2011-12 honorees way in presidential election SPORTS, 1B PAGE 3A PAGE 12B Friday-Saturday, May 4-5, 2012 www.newssun.com Volume 93/Number 57 | 50 cents Inside Still unsure Supervisor candidate School Presentation from Beebe dies during forum DOE rep leaves teachers with 52-year-old reportedly had massive stroke board hit unanswered questions By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Highlands Tea Party. at 6 p.m., had progressed normally, [email protected] Beebe’s cause of death is as each Supervisor of Elections SEBRING — Richard “Rick” thought to be a stroke, but is yet to candidate introduced themselves with sex PAGE 2A Beebe, candidate for Supervisor of be confirmed. Beebe was 52. with a presentation and then Forecast Elections, died unexpectedly MaryAnn Lewis, a candidate for answered questions from the audi- Tuesday night during a candidate the school board, was at the meet- ence. The candidates sat behind a forum at Homer’s Restaurant. The ing. abuse event was presented by the She said the event, which began See BEEBE, page 6A A little warmer with clouds and sun lawsuit High Low 90 66 Day of Prayer Federal suit filed Complete Forecast by victim of PAGE 12A Orestes Gonzalez Online By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY [email protected] SEBRING — A federal lawsuit was filed against The School Board of Highlands County and school employ- ee Maria Gonzalez Wednesday morn- ing in the United States District Court Question: Should all for the Southern District of Florida. of the fines collected The lawsuit was filed by the Miami in the BP oil spill based firm of Herman, Mermelstein, case go to states Horowitz, P.A. on along the Gulf? behalf of the family of a teenager who was sexually abused at an Yes after-school daycare program % The victim, called 88.6 Jane Doe in the law- Gonzalez suit, was 10 years old in 2011 and attended the after-care program at Lake Country Elementary News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS School in Lake Placid. No Attendees salute the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance Friday on the lawn of the Highlands County Courthouse during the National Day of Prayer ceremony. According to a press release issued by the attorneys, the lawsuit claims 11.4% that the girl was sexually abused multi- ple times between 2008 and 2010 by Community Orestes Gonzalez, the husband of school nurse and after-care supervisor Total votes: 79 joins in praise See LAWSUIT, page 5A Next question: Should guns be By SAMANTHA GHOLAR [email protected] banned near the site SEBRING — Across the country on Thursday, of the Republican millions gathered to pray together among differ- County National Convention ent denominations and religions, all for the pur- in Tampa? pose of uniting as one body for the good of America, it’s cities and communities. Make your voice heard at financials a The National Day of Prayer was observed www.newssun.com locally by many attendees and headed by the Highlands County Clerk of Courts for the 17th mixed bag year. News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS Index By ED BALDRIDGE Clerk of Courts Bob Germaine invited three Joe Lewis sings ‘Amazing Grace’ on Thursday morning Community Briefs 2A during the National Day of Prayer on the lawn of the [email protected] Dear Abby 11B See DAY, page 5A Highlands County Courthouse in Sebring. SEBRING — Clerk of Courts Editorial & Opinion 4A Auditor Tasha Morgan presented a Healthy Living 5B mixed bag of information to the com- Lottery Numbers 2A missioners Tuesday as she ran through Highlands County’s second quarter Movie Review/Times 11B Volunteers dig deep financials. Religion 8B According to Morgan, revenues Sports On TV 2B were tracking almost as expected with Sudoku Puzzle 11B during Day of Caring $36.3 million already in the county’s bank as of March 31. Follow the By SAMANTHA GHOLAR Caring a huge success. The [email protected] 400 volunteers worked Although 22 percent above the bud- News-Sun on SEBRING — Wednesday throughout the county doing geted reveune, this year’s overall col- was filled with kind hearts various jobs to improve lections were projected to be almost $4 lending helping hands to bet- United Way partner agencies. million less than the 2010-2011 fiscal ter the lives and businesses year, Morgan said. www.twitter.com/thenewssun “Everything went perfect,” of the local community as said Fells. The decrease inthis year’s revenue and hard-working volunteers Volunteers did everything was mostly creditied to lower home made an impression that will from replacing ceiling tiles at values and decreasing ad valorem taxes, Morgan said. stick around for years to the Boys and Girls Club in County Administrator Ricky Helms come during the Highlands Sebring to yard work at local www.facebook.com/newssun County United Way’s Day of told commissioners later in the meet- News-Sun photo by SAMANTHA GHOLAR organizations. Caring. ing that next year’s ad valorem collec- CliftonLarsonAllen LLP employees Kathi One busy group of over a Highlands County United tions were estimated to decrease Taveniere, Sarah Albritton and Dawn West dozen volunteers spent their spend their morning painting the outdoor Way Director Julie Fells area of the Hansen House Wednesday. 0790994 01001 called this year’s Day of See DAY, page 6A See FINANCIAL, page 5A Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com WAUCHULA STATE BANK; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, financial goals; 0 0 0 1 9 4 8 7 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Friday, May 4, 2012 www.newssun.com COMMUNITY BRIEFS Meet focuses on county’s ‘economic toolbox’ County Democratic By ED BALDRIDGE tion.” Party holds [email protected] Lake Placid Council Member and election SEBRING — Members of the busi- Executive Director of the Highlands ness community, chamber executives, County Citrus Growers Association SEBRING – The advisory committees and elected offi- Ray Royce echoed Richie’s com- Highlands County cials gathered on Thursday at the ments. Democratic Party is hold- Chateau Elan to look at opportunities “I have been in this community for ing an election from 10 within Highlands County’s “econom- over 30 years and this is really a con- a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to ic toolbox.” centrated effort to increase the com- elect delegates to the Organized by Kristina Anderson, munications throughout the county,” Democratic Party executive director of the Highlands Royce said. “It does everybody good Convention in Tampa. County Economic Development when the chambers, EDC and the The election will take Commission & Industrial TDC (Tourism Development place at the party office, Development Commission, the gath- Council) collaborate like this.” ering had focus on improving com- 4216 Sebring Parkway. News-Sun photo by ED BALDRIDGE “This is about quality of life. What Democratic candidates for munications between stakeholders on John Barben of the Avon Park Airport Redevelopment Agency and Mike other mission statement can anyone local and state offices a county-wide basis. Willingham of the Sebring Airport Community Redevelopment Agency both have?” said Royce. will be present to meet “We have a lot of local tools avail- discuss Thursday the progress and services available within Highlands County’s airports. John Scherlacher, executive direc- the voters. Voter registra- able for economic development,” tor of the Highlands County Tourism tion and vote by mail sign Anderson said. “I wanted to make Development Council, also encour- this annual development day a little Commission Chairman Jack Richie. said. up will be available. aged communications. different and encourage communica- “This is a great effort to encourage “This is real progress and good All Democrats are “The TDC has been meeting with tions and collaboration between the communications. This is a fantastic collaboration,” Richie added. encouraged attend to vote the chambers for the last six months different entities within the county.” thing. Working together is so essen- “Kristina is working hard, and actual- for delegates, meet the on a monthly basis. It is so important candidates, learn about More than 30 were in attendance tial to the success of our county and ly the catalyst for the recent increase voter registration status for the panels, including County the EDC is doing it right,” Richie in communications and collabora- See COUNTY, page 5A and what the Democratic Party is doing in Highlands County. Williams to speak Visit from Florida at LP chamber luncheon DOE still leaves LAKE PLACID – The Greater Lake Placid teachers unsure Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY tions beginning in 2014, will be held at [email protected] which causes intense concern. noon Wednesday at the SEBRING — A special Teachers are also worried Lake Placid Elks workshop was held at The about fairness and accuracy. Lodge. Lake Placid Police School Board of Highlands For example, one math Chief Phil Williams will County Wednesday afternoon. teacher pointed out that end- be the presenter. His Two officials from the Florida of-course tests are held weeks topic will be an overview Department of Education — before the end of the semester of a small town police Juan Copa, bureau chief of — how can teachers and stu- department. research and evaluation, and dents be held responsible for The luncheon is spon- Fred Heid, bureau chief of material that has not yet been school improvement — trav- covered? Courtesy photo sored by the town of Lake Team Joker was named best team with an overall score of 86 in the Big Brothers Big Placid.