HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Tuesday, May 28, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 148 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Remembering our heroes By ALLEN MOODY to spend in complete and keep close to our after being killed near HIGHLANDS SUN EDITOR mourning, said Tony hearts. Nha Trang, Vietnam. Folkner, guest speaker It was the ninth Master of Ceremonies AVON PARK — It was at Lakeview Memorial annual Memorial Day Violet Swart, of Lakeview a day to remember the Gardens’ Memorial Day Ceremony & Cookout Memorial Gardens, trav- fallen; to pay tribute Ceremony & Cookout. at Lakeview Memorial eled to Washington, D.C. to those who made the While remembering Gardens, which is recog- along with her husband, ultimate sacrifice and those who died in nizing its 50th year. and found Sgt. Jenkins’ a solemn reminder service of their country, Special tribute was name on The Wall and that those who never it was inevitable those paid to Sergeant Charles took several photos, returned home did so in memories would bring W. Jenkins, of Lake which were on display. ALLEN MOODY/STAFF order that we may enjoy back images of good Placid, who was the The Sebring High the freedoms we enjoy times and humorous first person buried at School Air Force JROTC The Sebring High School Air Force JROTC presents the colors at the start of the Lakeview Memorial Gardens Memorial Day today. moments, which are Lakeview Memorial Ceremony & Cookout. But it was not a day important to remember Gardens on April 2, 1969 HEROES | 2A Brazil citrus estimate dwarfs Florida’s FILE PHOTO In this file photo, workers pick oranges in a citrus grove near Sebring. South American growers also dealing with greening, fruit flies By PHIL ATTINGER STAFF WRITER SEBRING — While Florida citrus production estimated went down ap- proximately 4 million boxes this month, JIM ERVIN/CORRESPONDENT Brazilian crop estimates went up. David Lanier has been a constant presence on Main Street in Avon Park since the early 1950s. He won’t be taking any more appointments at The projected figure of 388.89 million that location after May 31. boxes of various citrus varieties predict- ed to come out of Brazil this year is 36% higher than the 2018–2019 prediction The end of an era for iconic law man of 285.98 million boxes, and 21% higher than the average crop size for the last By JIM ERVIN 10 years, according to Fundecitrus, an joined the Army. He served CORRESPONDENT association of São Paulo regional citrus in the military from 1946- growers and juice manufacturers set up ’47 with the 7th Infantry to foster sustainable citrus development. AVON PARK — David Division. “We were the The estimate uses the same 90-pound Lanier has been in the occupation of Korea,” he box size as U.S. Department of business of law for 66 years. reminisced. Agriculture estimates. He has been a constant Finally, for his last stop Fundecitrus, in cooperation with presence on Main Street before returning home, Markestrat, FEA-RP/USP and FCAV/ since the early 1950’s. Lanier attended college. Unesp, released a crop forecast on May The iconic figure has “I went to the University 10, the same day as USDA’s most recent given his life to serving his of Florida for my under- forecast, for the São Paulo region and community. graduate degree in business west-southwest Minas Gerais Citrus Belt. The end of that long and administration. Then I The total predicted orange production winding road, the good and went to the Florida Law by variety is as follows: peaceful reward for a life School for the JD ( Juris • 76.97 million boxes of Hamlin, Westin well spent, soon approach- Doctor) Law Degree. and Rubi. es for this husband, father, “I was married my last • 19.75 million boxes of Valencia lawyer and Sunday school year in college. My wife Americana, Seleta and Pineapple. teacher. A pillar in the law then, Sujette, she lived • 116.20 million boxes of Pera Rio. community as well as his across the street from us • 128.30 million boxes of Valencia and home community, Lanier when we were little kids. I Valencia Folha Murcha. has decided to retire. went (to school) on the G.I. • 47.67 million boxes of Natal. “We set May 31 (as our Bill. It ran out, I didn’t have The report states that grove yield re- retirement date), however, any money. So my wife covery was triggered mainly by a climate we’re not gonna make that. got a job in the university that favored bloom and fruit set, unlike I’m not going to take any- library. That was the little the last crop. more appointments after bit of money that we had. The average yield in this crop season the 31st. We have probate It was a little close but we is estimated at 1,051 boxes per hectare cases that are still running made it.” and 2.24 boxes per tree, which represents that we’ve got to finish up. Lanier and his wife an increase in comparison to the 756 We’ll be here until July or Sujette have two sons, Rick JIM ERVIN/CORRESPONDENT boxes per hectare and 1.63 boxes per tree August probably,” he said, and Jim. Sujette passed away six years ago. He is harvested in the 2018–2019 crop. looking toward the day he After 66 years of practicing law, David Lanier is ready to call it quits Florida’s May citrus harvest predictions can truly say he’s retired. now married to Carolyn and retire. He plans to close the doors on his practice at the end of indicate that initial October forecasts for Lanier was born in Avon Sue, who once owned Sue’s May. oranges, grapefruit and other specialty Park in 1927 and has lived Cubby Hole Dress Shop in crops was off more than 10%. here all his life, except for Sebring. who was already practicing youthful personality. It’s Mark Hudson a state statistician for the war years. He attended Lanier said, “I decided law when Nunnallee was amazing. I hope I can age USDA, said the orange crop is projected Avon Park High School to be a lawyer when I was born. as gracefully and beautiful- to fill 72.4 million 90-pound boxes, down for his first two years of 12 years old. My next door “The Laniers are one ly as he has. from the April estimate of 76.5 million schooling before finish- neighbor was the county of the oldest families in “I’m an attorney as well,” boxes and the October estimate of ing up at Bolles Military judge. I thought he was Central Florida,” Nunnallee Nunnallee said. “I’m 66 so 79 million boxes. Academy in Jacksonville. the smartest person in said. “He’s several gen- I’ve been around a block or Hudson was cited by News Service “After that, I worked on a the whole world, I was so erations old Florida. I’ve two. In regards to attorneys, of Florida as saying those calculations merchant ship. My folks let impressed. That’s when I known David my entire they say the law’s a jealous include figures on already processed me head out on this ship at decided to be a lawyer. But life. He’s one of the finest, mistress, and of course it is. boxes and oranges still in the field. 17 years old. I was a cook. then I had to do all these most likable, most lovable, It is an extremely demand- The May figure for oranges, USDA I had a good time, and I other things first.” genuine people I’ve ever ing profession. The fact said, is still above the 44.95 million boxes enjoyed it. The war was Walter Nunnallee has known. Wonderful sense that David has been able to harvested during the 2017-2018 growing coming to an end at that known Lanier his entire of humor. I think he’s 92, do that so competently and season, which was plagued by Hurricane time,” he said. life. His parents, Hue and but he operates and thinks in such good cheer for 66 As a young kid, Lanier Nancy Nunnallee were like he’s 35. He’s got a very CITRUS | 4A decided on a change and good friends with Lanier, youthful view of life, a very ERA | 6A Classifieds ......................B3-7 Lottery ..............SPORTS WIRE TV Listings ....................... B8 Good morning To Comics .................News Wire Obituaries ........................ A4 Viewpoints ....................... A5 Fred Evans Local Sports ....................A7-8 Today’s Woman .................. B1 Weather .............SPORTS WIRE facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | May 28, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com HEROES FROM PAGE 1A began the ceremony with the presentation of colors and Abi Smith led the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Smith got out the first few words solo and was quickly joined by the crowd of several hun- dred who had gathered to pay their respects. Following the “Pledge ALLEN MOODY/STAFF of Allegiance” the Sebring Air Force JROTC Tony Folkner was the featured speaker at Lakeview Memorial Gardens’ Memorial Day Ceremony & paid tribute to the Cookout. POW/MIA veterans and explained what the items on the POW/MIA Table are and the meaning behind each one. Retired Marine, Pastor John Beck, led the opening prayer and was followed by Folkner’s talk. There was a special wreath presentation for each service branch, as Robert Campbell played the bagpipes, followed by Sebring VFW 4300 performing a 21-gun salute.