C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 Dixie Days On notice Rotary, Pool Paradise Avon Park mayor unhappy get victories with CRA director’s work PAGE SPORTS, 1B PAGE 2A 12B Wednesday-Thursday, May 25-26, 2011 www.newssun.com Volume 92/Number 61 | 50 cents Inside Avon Park hears good audit news, talks annexations Heston wants to focus on bringing Wright scolds businesses inside city limits council, recall By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY council. “Your overall finan- committee [email protected] cial health assessment is Oops. AVON PARK — Council favorable,” he said. By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY members were in a relaxed There were still areas, as in [email protected] Preacher now and playful mood during bank reconciliations, where AVON PARK — Former Monday’s regular meeting — improvement is needed, but city council member Joe says world will joking among themselves, on the whole, Halleron con- Wright used the regular city end in October greeting people in the audi- gratulated city hall. council meeting Monday to ence, and good naturedly To the good, there have News-Sun photo by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY deliver a message. PAGE 10B correcting each other on been increases in the unre- The audience at Avon Park’s regular council meeting “I am concerned about the Monday was subdued and serious Monday night. Forecast minor procedural points stricted reserves of the gener- politics of our city,” he throughout the evening. al fund, the water and sewer began, pointing out that there The annual audit report for unrestricted net assets and $420,000 for the fiscal year. than $1.3 million to being have been three interim city 2009-2010 shows improve- the solid waste fund. The area that showed more than $100,000 in the managers in four years, and ment, James Halleron of This in spite of property remarkable improvement — James Moore CPAs told the tax revenue decreasing by going from a deficit of more See AVON, page 3A See WRIGHT, page 3A Sunshine mixing with some clouds High Low 91 69 More go Complete Forecast No. Go. Throw. PAGE 12A back to Online Students get tips work in on water safety April Question: Are you Unemployment ready for Hurricane drops by .6 percent Season? By ED BALDRIDGE [email protected] Yes SEBRING — Numbers released late Friday show fewer % in Highlands County collecting 53.8 unemployment benefits, accord- ing to the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Local numbers for the month of April indicate that just 10.1 No percent of the employable popu- lation is collecting benefits com- 46.2% pared to 10.7 percent in March. The percentage is slightly bet- ter than the 10.4 percent of April of 2010 indicating that the job Total votes: 80 market may be stabilizing local- ly. Next question: “Anyone who wants a job can Should Lake Placid get one,” Heartland’s Workforce hire a town News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS for Innovation’s Director Roger administrator? Meadow Cassel learns hands-on swim safety techniques Tuesday morning as she pulls YMCA Lifeguard Matt Hood told county commissioners Thompson to the wall during a field trip with the Kindergarten Learning Center. at a recent meeting. Make your voice heard at “There are jobs out there, but a By SAMANTHA GHOLAR great. It gives every student the The second station, the kiddie bigger problem may be underem- www.newssun.com [email protected] opportunity to be near the water.” pool, allowed students to get the ployment right now,” Hood SEBRING — Dozens of 5- and 6- The students broke into small hands-on learning to enforce what added. Obituaries year-olds from the Kindergarten groups and went to two stations. The they all had learned. Three YMCA Underemployment is the term Alma Moore Learning Center took a trip to the first was a coloring/learning station. lifeguards demonstrated how to stay used for individuals who are tak- Highlands County YMCA Tuesday Bo Alvarez Foundation representa- safe while also helping a person who ing lower-paying jobs than nor- Age 91, of Lake Placid morning to learn a valuable summer tives brought coloring sheets, books, may be drowning. mal in order to keep working — Eunice Teal time, as well as everyday, lesson in and pamphlets to the students and The students were allowed to a financial consultant who now Age 77, of Sebring water safety. taught them the three things they throw floats and life preservers to the works as a general laborer, for Dean of Students Rick should do if they find someone in “drowning” lifeguard in the pool. example Florida’s seasonally Obituaries, Page 7A Kogelschatz accompanied the stu- danger of drowning: No. Go. Throw. The students each had a chance to adjusted rate in April was 10.8 dents on the trip. “This is the first The students were taught: Never participate in the exercise. The percent, the lowest since Index year that we have done this,” said jump in to try to save someone. Go YMCA lifeguards encouraged the September 2009. Celebrations 8B Kogelschatz. “The Bo Alvarez find an adult. Throw a life-saving kids “Never jump in to try to save Classifieds 6A Foundation backed this trip. It’s device to the person in need. someone. Always get an adult.” See JOBS, on page 7A Clubs & Organizations 7B Community Briefs 2A Community Calendar 5B Crossword Puzzle 11B Dear Abby 11B LP continues town administrator discussions Editorial & Opinion 4A By ED BALDRIDGE tion last November. minute resolution regarding nominate and to hire a town power is already outlined in Lottery Numbers 2A [email protected] Mayor John Holbrook the employment of a town administrator. the charter.” Movie Times 11B LAKE PLACID — The informed council that he administrator that brought The council would then Worley stated that local NASCAR This Week 3B Lake Placid Town Council asked Town Attorney Bert some criticism from Council have to ratify or veto the citizen Marlene Barger, along Sports On TV 2B continued its discussion on Harris to explain pertinent Member Debra Ann Worley. nomination at a regular meet- with Council Member Cheryl hiring a town administrator parts of the charter and to Harris told council that ing. Davis, were in the process of Monday night. define possible duties of the a under the current city charter, “He already has the power establishing an advisory Citizens voted down a town administrator. the mayor serves as the chief to hire an administrator,” committee which would seek charter change that would Harris, at the direction of executive officer and that Harris said at one point dur- 0790994 01001 create a city manager posi- Holbrook, introduced a last- Holbrook has the ability to ing the discussion. “That See LAKE, page 7A Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com WAUCHULA STATE BANK; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, front strip Wauchula State Bank 6x1.5 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Wednesday, May 25, 2011 www.newssun.com COMMUNITY BRIEFS How to save a life Mayor not happy Rally set in Avon Red Cross teaches CPR to Aktion Club with Hoagland’s Park AVON PARK — Special to the News-Sun Operation Save Avon Park AVON PARK – Staying progress with CRA will be holding a rally at calm and responding quickly By CHRISTOPHER CRAs to the city council, 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the is the key to saving a life. TUFFLEY sitting as the CRA Board. corner of U.S. 27 and That is what Emily [email protected] The Airport CRA spent Main Street. Williamson, health and safe- AVON PARK — ty instructor with the slightly more than $90,000 Community Redevelopment Discovery Camp American Red Cross, told and has a rounded balance Agency Director Wes the members of the Aktion of $96,000, Main Street set for summer Hoagland kept his job Club last Thursday, May 19, spent just more than Monday night, but by the SEBRING – Discovery at Ridge Area Arc. $75,000 and has a balance most tenuous of threads. Camp is an amazing way Williamson provided a basic of $411,102 and the In the third year of his to enjoy the summer cardiopulmonary resuscita- Southside CRA spent contract with the city, the break from school. tion class for adults with almost $11,000 — $6,000 council — and especially Choose a week or sign up learning disabilities. in facade grants — and has Mayor Sharon Schuler — for the whole summer, “After checking the scene nearly $100,000 in the are upset with Hoagland’s elementary age children and the condition of the bank, although $30,000 is lack of production. will enjoy the different patient, the most important earmarked for a matching Tasked on his arrival with topics and learn about a thing you should do is grant. developing an overall rede- what?” Williamson asked Council member Parke wide variety of subjects. velopment plan, nothing the class of 50 students. Sutherland discussed his They will get to play in has yet been set on paper or “Dial 9-1-1,” the group applications for two facade the Children’s Museum decided. responded in unison. grants from the Main Street for one hour each day and “I’m still in the visioning Williamson had trained CRA. will spend the rest of their process,” Hoagland told the class on basic first aid time with other campers, Schuler, “I’m looking for Sutherland’s law practice about a couple months ago doing crafts and activities community input.” is located at 900-902 West so that question was easy for on each week’s theme.