C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 O Christmas tea Wild eats Dragons roar Mixing up holiday cheer Still tickets left for Wild Upstart Lake Placid with iced tea Game Dinner stuns rival Sebring PAGE 12B PAGE 2A PAGE 1B Wednesday-Thursday, November 30-December 1, 2011 www.newssun.com Volume 92/Number 141 | 50 cents Forecast ’Tis the season ... Sutherland, Mostly sunny an pleasantly cool flu season, that is King sign High Low 70 44 Complete Forecast contracts PAGE 12A Online New directors in AP each to make $65,000 per year By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY [email protected] AVON PARK — With only Question: Will you one difference, the employ- attend one of the ment agreements signed on three county Nov. 22 by Maria Sutherland, Christmas parades? administrative services direc- tor, and John King, public King Sutherland safety director, are identical. Yes The single difference has to do with their retirement In the event of an involun- accounts — Sutherland’s tary termination, both 34.8% being 401(a) defined-contri- Sutherland and King would bution retirement plan, and be entitled to 20 weeks of King’s the Avon Park Police severance pay and three Retirement System. months of health and life As department directors, insurance. No they each work at the will Each would have to sign a and pleasure of the city man- general release waiving all 65.2% ager and may be discharged claims from the city and its for any reason, or no reason, officials. subject to certain provisions regarding severance pay. See DIRECTORS, page 5A Total votes: 118 Next question: Does the good start to the holiday shopping season give you Don’t rain on confidence in the economic recovery? Light activity so far, so there’s Make your voice heard at my parade www.newssun.com still time to get vaccinated By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY control for Florida Hospital Heartland Weather wipes out AP Christmas Obituaries [email protected] Division, was able to be more specific. parade, no reschedule date set yet Venbert Chambers Jr. SEBRING — With winter comes the “There are 26 states that are reporting flu season, so now is the time to prepare. By ED BALDRIDGE wanted to be cautious with Age 68, of Sebring sporadic activity,” she said. Florida is one Tom Scanner, media specialist with the of those states. She added that the Florida [email protected] the pending weather,” said Gregory Keyes Center for Disease Control, told the Hospitals in Highlands County have not AVON PARK — The pos- Avon Park’s Executive Age 66, of Sebring News-Sun Tuesday morning that each flu yet had any confirmed cases. sibility of high winds and Director Dave Greenslade. season is unique, which means they are Lutz echoed the CDC’s appraisal of the rain with a storm front “It was a matter of safety. I Robert Kurtz impossible to predict. flu strains seen so far matching those caused the Avon Park know that this was the first Age 94, of Sebring “There is not a lot of activity right covered by this year’s vaccine. Chamber of Commerce time that we have canceled now,” he said, “but it could pick up in the She warned, however, that a fourth Board of Directors to call off the parade, but we wanted to coming weeks and months.” the annual Christmas parade make sure that everyone was Helen Nichols strain has shown up in the Midwest with He said there was good news in that “it Monday night. protected.” Age 91, of three cases reported in Iowa. So far, she appears we have a good match (in) the “We didn’t want to cause The National Weather Gaithersburg, Md. said the cases have been fairly mild. vaccine and the flu strains we’re seeing.” problems for floats that could Gordon Smith Meredith Lutz, director of infection See FLU, page 5A be in other parades and we See PARADE, page 6A Age 80, of Avon Park Obituaries, Page 5A Index Celebrations 8B Music, art come together at Lakeshore Mall Classifieds 8A Clubs & Organizations 7B HCA Art & Music Fest is this weekend Community Briefs 2A By ED BALDRIDGE Drawing artists from the but is looking to open one in Community Calendar 5B [email protected] Caladium Arts and Craft Group, Sebring, according to Leavitt. Crossword Puzzle 11B SEBRING — More than 100 the Highlands Art League, Lake “He told us he likes the energy Dear Abby 11B pieces of artwork will deck the Placid Art League, the out there and the work we have halls at the Lakeshore Mall this Tanglewood Fine Art League and done with promoting artists. This Dinner Diva 11B weekend as part of the Heartland The Artists Group, the display is the kind of potential these Editorial & Opinion 4A Cultural Alliance Art & Music will feature a wide range of local events have. They draw not only Friends & Neighbors 9B Fest. artists who wish to offer that visitors but encourage commerce Lottery Numbers 2A Held inside the mall, the sea- unique Christmas present. as well,” Leavitt said. sonal festival will feature music, “We are fortunate to have Along with the art for sale, Movie Times 11B art and jewelry from 11 a.m. to 4 James Hahn this year, as well as Leavitt said the event will have NASCAR This Week 3B p.m. Friday, Saturday and some talented local artists. This is music and other cultural experi- Sports On TV 2B Sunday. all about mixing art, culture and ences, all free to the public. “It is a win-win for everyone. business and creating new oppor- “We have three days of music, The artists, the Alliance, the mall tunities for Highlands County,” local authors who will sign books, and those seeking that unique Leavitt said. wood carvings and sculptures. Courtesy photo gift,” said Fred Leavitt, president Hahn, the inventor of the Something for everyone,” Leavitt Music and art will fill the halls at the Lakeshore Mall of the Heartland Cultural Alliance Cabbage Patch Kids, has a gallery said. this weekend during the Heartland Cultural Alliance Art & Music Fest. 0790994 01001 and organizer for the event. in Lake Wales and Juno Beach, See HCA, page 3A Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com WAUCHULA STATE BANK; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, #3 front strip; 0 0 0 1 4 4 4 6 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Wednesday, November 30, 2011 www.newssun.com COMMUNITY BRIEFS Still Festival of Trees Pennsyvania school event seeking retirees meet tickets entries SEBRING — Retired SEBRING — Festival of employees of Pennsylvania Trees is a Christmas tree public schools will hold left for auction to benefit Habitat their Fall luncheon meeting for Humanity and The on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Inn Humane Society of On the Lakes of Sebring. Wild Highlands County. The Social time will begin at 11 event will be held during a.m. with “formal” activi- the Heartland’s Holiday ties starting at 11:30 a.m. Game Spectacular on Saturday at The event is organized Courtesy photo the Highlands County Fair by the Citrus Chapter of Class One of the Youth Leadership Highlands program will participate in several “service Convention Center. the PA Association of days” during the remainder of the school year. Friday marks their second service day Festival of Trees is invit- School Retirees. All Dinner where the 17 students will learn about economics and tourism in Highlands County. ing businesses, churches, retirees from all categories Special to the News-Sun non-profit organizations of school services who are LAKE PLACID — and other “artsy” individu- members of the PA school Tickets for the Rotary Economics, tourism, more als to decorate a Christmas retirement system are Wild Game Dinner have tree, wreath or centerpiece encouraged to attend. For been selling briskly, but to be put on auction on reservation information, event chairman David part of Youth Leadership Saturday, Dec. 3. Quilts are call 471-3769 or 314-0219 Smith says there’s still also being accepted. This ASAP. time to get tickets before event is unique because it this weekend’s event. Highlands class’ education provides an opportunity for Volunteer drivers “You can call ticket those who need a decorated By SAMANTHA GHOLAR community. Students got the experience and lessons needed for veteran chairman C.B. Brewer at Christmas tree for their [email protected] opportunity to visit places learned during the program transportation vans 863-441-5617 and he’ll home or office to bid on A brand new program for around Highlands County to propel themselves into make sure you get them,” one, while helping two The DAV and VA vans students in Highlands and volunteer at each of further leadership opportuni- said Smith. worthy non-profit organi- transport veterans to Bay County is gearing up for a them. ties. “Tickets will also be zations in Highlands Pines VA Hospital, Port unique event. “I really feel as if the “The should think as they available at the gate, so County. Successful bids Charlotte or Fort Myers VA The Youth Leadership service day left a deep go through this process everyone can come to the include delivery of trees to Clinics. Generally, there Highlands Program is fund- impact with some of them. I ‘How are we, as citizens of party, even if they don’t home or office. are more than 100 veterans ed by the Mason G. Smoak know it did. It made a differ- Highlands County, giving buy in advance.” All entries will be per month who travel on Foundation and is designed ence with them,” said back to this community?’ It will be quite a party, judged by a panel of judges these vans.