C M Y K www.newssun.com Captain Jack is back Latest ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ saga NEWS-SUN opens today REVIEW, 11B Highlands County’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1927 Lowering taxes? Shaping up Avon Park council looks at possibly Entries flowing in lowering property tax rate for Heartland Tri PAGE 2A PAGE 12B PAGE 1B Friday-Saturday, May 20-21, 2011 www.newssun.com Volume 92/Number 59 | 50 cents Inside Recall effort in Avon Park hits a technical snag By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY don’t know where to start [email protected] Dates on signed petitions cause question about (the deadline time clock),” SEBRING — Supervisor when mandated 30-day window opened Campbell told everyone, of Elections Joe Campbell explaining he was under time invited the Avon Park city council members Brenda collect signatures and deliver were delivered to city hall on pressure as well, having only clerk Cheryl Tietjen and Gray, Terry Heston and Paul them, in this case to the City Monday, May 16, the earliest 30 days by statute to verify members of the Avon Park Miller were present, and Jack of Avon Park. valid date would be April 16. and count the signatures. recall committee to a meeting Agard, another member of Registered voters who sign The problem is that 16 of Calling the state division Thursday morning to discuss the recall committee, took recall sheets must date them the signatures predate April of elections for direction, PAGE 2A problems with some of the part in the meeting via speak- when they sign. The 30-day 16 — a few of them dated as Campbell said he was told it recall petitions. erphone. delivery deadline begins with early as Feb. 21, a few others was the responsibility of the Forecast Four representatives of the According to state statute, the earliest signed sheet. dated April 3. committee seeking to recall a recall effort has 30 days to Because the signatures “That’s our problem. I See RECALL, page 8A T-storms possible in Entertainment the afternoon Teaching tactics High Low 92 69 district gets Complete Forecast PAGE 12A approval this Online time around Will be back on agenda for June 7 Question: By SAMANTHA GHOLAR Should the county do [email protected] more to promote SEBRING — The controversial alcohol ordinance and downtown entertainment dis- agri-tourism? trict issue was once again addressed at the Sebring City Council meeting Tuesday evening. With a full council Yes and a room full of mum- bling, concerned citizens, 54.8% the meeting became a bit heated at times. Clark and Whitlock were absent from the April 19 News Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS Clark Joseph Garcia , Director of Special Operations with the US Corrections Group, explains the Sport meeting when the issue was No Chassis vehicle. The truck is used as a high-risk inmate transporter and allows the combat control defeated by a 2-1 vote, with system to provide safety to corrections officers and the public. Fells and Stanley voting 45.2% against. But the two who Advanced training tour makes a stop at SFCC missed out on the first vote requested the issue be put By SAMANTHA GHOLAR back on the agenda. This Total votes: 62 [email protected] time around, Clark, Griffin AVON PARK — More than 40 agencies repre- and Whitlock voted in favor, Whitlock Next question: sentatives throughout central and south Florida while Fells and Council Do you wait for large were at South Florida Community College Stanley voting no for the ordinance once jackpots before you Thursday morning participating in the U.S. again. buy lottery tickets? Corrections Special Operations Group Training The ordinance will allow the ban on alco- seminar. Make your voice heard at Director of Special Operations Joseph Garcia See SEBRING, page 8A www.newssun.com was especially enthusiastic about the training of these individuals and making correction facilities Obituaries safer and correctional officers more efficient. News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS “The tour travels all over the country. We got an Law enforcement agents listen to a presentation Richard Clark invite to come to Miami and to Tampa, but we at South Florida Community College on Lake Placid to Age 84, of came here. We like to go to smaller cities and Thursday. Thomasville, Ga. specifically look for offices that may be under be busy place tight budget constraints so that they can benefit “All these sponsors underwrite the cost of the Laurence Conway from this high quality of training,” said Garcia. tour, which allows us to train these people free of on Saturday Age 77, of Davie The US-CSOG is sponsored by Woolrich, MSA charge,” Garcia explained. Obituaries, Page 5A Peraclete, Draeger, Ontario Knife Company and 5K race, Devane Park the National Sheriff’s Association. See TOUR, page 6A Index dedication, early settlers presentation planned Classifieds 9A Community Briefs 2A By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Community Calendar 10B [email protected] Dear Abby 11B County discusses livestock zoning SEBRING — Saturday promises to be Editorial & Opinion 4A exciting, fun-filled, and educational in Lake By ED BALDRIDGE parcels and lower, in some cases, 10.1 acres and put as many ani- Healthy Living 5B Placid, with the day full of different events. [email protected] the set-backs for farm structures mals on there as they can feed. The Chamber of Commerce’s 5K race Lottery Numbers 2A SEBRING — Commissioners that are involved in commercial That could be a huge, huge envi- begins the day at 7:30 a.m. Registration has Movie Review/Times 11B decided Tuesday that when it production. ronmental disaster,” said County been good, Eileen May, president of the Religion 7B comes to hogs, sheep, chickens Additionally, the changes Attorney Ross Macbeth. Chamber of Commerce, said, so expect a Sports On TV 2B and goats, the staff needs another would have eliminated the need County Extension Director competitive event. Runners are welcome to look at zoning. for a special exemptions to raise Mike Jensen pointed out that register Saturday morning. Race officials In a public hearing, proposed an unlimited number of hogs, raising goats and locally grown will be on site by 6:15 a.m., and 6:45 a.m. is changes to County Ordinance sheep, chickens and goats on food were the two fastest grow- the registration cutoff. Chapter 12 proposed by Zoning parcels of larger than 10 acres. ing sectors in agriculture in At 10 a.m., the newly renovated Devane www.facebook.com/newssun Supervisor Linda Conrad were “While there are some limita- Highlands County. Park will be dedicated and reopened to the sent back and County Planning tions for under 10 acres, there are “An issue came up a couple of public. and Zoning. not limitations for over 10 acres. years ago. There were four goats At 2 p.m., the Lake Placid Historical The changes proposed would Anyone who wants to set up a 0790994 01001 allow more animals on smaller feed lot in our county could buy See COUNTY, page 7A See SATURDAY, page 6A Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com wauchula state 6x1.5 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Friday, May 20, 2011 www.newssun.com Bicyclist taken to hospital Avon Park looks at lower property taxes By ED BALDRIDGE cut, but suggested cutting [email protected] the millage rate from the AVON PARK — Avon current rate of 5.85 to 5.0. Park’s city council took a That percentage would look at lowering their ad make Avon Park more com- valorem tax rates at their petitive with the rates in meeting on May 9. other municipalities across Stairway “I think we need to be the county. competitive with Lake “If you lower your mill- to Heaven Placid and Sebring, it age to 5.0, you would have always helps with business- to lower your budget by es. When businesses see “There’s a lady who’s $190,000. I will start with that Avon Park has a higher sure all that glitters is department heads and try to ad valorem rate, they gold find that savings,” Deleon choose to go to the lower And she’s buying the said. rates,” said Interim City stairway to heaven” Council agreed that a cut Manager Julian Deleon in ad valorem was the direc- during his presentation. The opening lyrics and “When seriously large tion they wanted to take, chords of Led Zeppelin’s News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS An unidentified bicyclist from Avon Park is transported to a local hospital Thursday after businesses look for a loca- but were cautious about “Stairway to Heaven” are he sustained back injuries during an accident along Memorial Drive near College Drive in tion they look at the mill- how that would effect the among the most iconic in Avon Park. According to Florida Highway Patrol Trooper John Paikai, details about the age,” Deleon said. city’s over all budget. the history of rock. As a accident were still unclear as of press time. It seems the cyclist was traveling south on The property tax rates are “Have staff bring some- prolific amateur guitarist, Memorial in close proximity to traffic, when two vehicles collided. Paikai was unsure if the cyclist had been hit by a car or may have hit a pot hole and fallen off of his bike during the 3.81 mills for Lake Placid, thing back to us for the pro- Sgt. Sean Callahan loved collision. The cyclist believed a car had hit him, but his bike showed very little damage.