WINTER HAVEN SUN Wednesday, December 25, 2019 www.winterhavensun.com TAKE ONE IT’S FREE An Edition of the Sun INSIDE THIS EDITION Pamlico Air to Busy December hire 200 in Lake Members of the Women’s Club of Winter Haven Wales participated in several events this month. By CHARLES A. BAKER III PG 2 Staff Writer LAKE WALES – Corporate staff with the air filter manufacturing corporation Pamlico Air, based out of North Carolina, recently announced plans to expand into Lake Wales. Pamlico staff have plans to hire 200 area Couple hits home residents, according to Lake Wales Area run with wedding Chamber of Commerce and Economic A Polk County couple Development Council President and CEO had a baseball-themed Kevin Kieft. The large warehouse on Scenic Highway wedding — complete with where members of American Legion an umpire to officiate. Memorial Post 71 used to meet was PG 5 PHOTO BY CHARLES A. BAKER III purchased in November for around $4.2 Sixteen-year-old junior Xaria Lopez reacts to being named Miss Winter Haven High 2020 Thursday, Dec. 19. million and Pamlico Air staff will soon be ‘Chinaberry’ bids manufacturing air filters there. Kieft said the industrial space purchased farewell was the last vacant industrial space left in This week marks the final Lake Wales during his quarterly chamber regular installment of Miss Winter Haven update at a Lake Wales City Commission historian Bob Gernert Jr.’s meeting Dec. 17. Future industrial growth “Beneath the Chinaberry in Lake Wales may need to be built on Tree” history column. High crowned land available along State Road 60, west PG 16 of town, Kieft suggested. By CHARLES A. BAKER III Chayanna Dorcant, junior Taryn Wright, Air filters will be manufactured at the Staff Writer sophomore Mattison Hoppenrath, junior facility for export across the United States, Gertrude Alain and sophomore Anaisha according to the Pamlico Air website. WINTER HAVEN – Sixteen-year-old Leonard. Their other manufacturing facility is junior Xaria Lopez wasn’t just crowned Miss Escorts were senior Antonio Miranda, located in Wilson, N.C. Winter Haven High 2020 on Thursday, Dec. sophomore Joshua Johnson, junior Jose Pena, This will be the second major 19 — Lopez was also named Most Talented junior Chance Trinklein, sophomore Jalen manufacturing facility to announce and Miss Congeniality. Hairston, junior Chase Walden, sophomore expansion into Polk County this month. The young leader has plans to pursue a Caden Kok and junior Deaven Sinnett. Florida Caribbean Distillers staff Athlete of the Week career as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and also as a Men’s Wearhouse of Lakeland provided recently announced plans to build an Winter Haven’s Trinity dance choreographer. tuxedos and About Love Bridal provides aluminum can manufacturing facility Hardy is the leading scorer Freshman Hailey McDermott was First dresses, including other sponsors. in Winter Haven, with plans to hire for the Blue Devils girls Runner-Up. Other contestants included The competition was presented by Winter hundreds of additional Polk County area residents once ready. basketball team. sophomore Jazmin Jiminez, sophomore Haven High and the Culture Connection PG 19 CROWNING | 4 PAMLICO | 4 Come see what you get with your CHRISTMAS SALE purchase* Lowest Price Now! SAVE $800 Page 2 December 25, 2019 Woman’s Club of Winter Haven has busy December By CHARLES A. BAKER III This year the ladies used a “Be the I in KIND” banner Staff Writer made by students in the iMagination Academy at Lake Region High School. Library supporters or anybody WINTER HAVEN – Dressed in their Christmas who stopped by could take a selfie with the banner. finest, members of the Women’s Club of Winter Haven On Dec. 16, the ladies met at Girls Inc. on Havendale participated in several events in December. Boulevard to decorate their annual “Sock Tree.” For two afternoons, the ladies pre-registered athletes This year the ladies decorated a Christmas tree with who participated in the 27th Annual Jingle Bell Run 250 pairs of socks for the girls who use Girls Inc. Dec. 14 and raised money for the library. The annual Afterward the ladies had lunch at Harborside with run benefits The Friends of the Winter Haven Library PHOTO PROVIDED FSU student and Winter Haven High School graduate Left to right (seated) are Delores Barton, Suzanne Sherry and Peggy Fuller. Standing and this year funds went toward making the library Kassie Provost, who received a college scholarship from are, from left, Cheryl Menser, Attilia Gogel, Jane McGinnis and Girls Inc. Executive youth department better. the club last year. Director Peggy Threlke. Legislation targets pharmacy benefit managers By CHRISTINE SEXTON Rep. Jackie Toledo held a news conference Dec. 17 to pharmacies, the bill would make clear that PBMs are not announce a proposal (HB 961) that would create a new law allowed to engage in what’s known as “spread pricing,” or News Service of Florida called the “Prescription Drug Cost Reduction Act” and charging insurance companies or other payors more than make clear that certain practices, such as directing patients to what the PBMs pay pharmacies or pharmacists that fill the TALLAHASSEE — In an attempt to lower health-care costs pharmacies owned in whole or in part by pharmacy benefit prescriptions. for Floridians, a Tampa Republican and other lawmakers want managers should be prohibited. Among other things, PBMs would be banned from imposing to crack down on the role of pharmacy benefit managers. The 53-page bill was lauded by the Florida Pharmacy registration or permitting requirements for pharmacists that Association, which maintains that so-called PBMs are driving are more stringent than federal or state requirements Access-Art independent pharmacies out of business. But it was criticized PBMs that violate the law would be subject to $10,000 civil by the managed care industry, which calls it a “misdirected penalties and could have their certifications revoked by the Art & Engagementment attack.” state. Mondays: 1:30 - 2:30 Pharmacy benefit managers work with health plans and Moreover, PBMs that repeatedly violate the law could be Art-making & Engagement for Individuals with Special Needs serve as sort of middlemen between drug manufacturers prosecuted under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade 3rd Tuesdays: 1:30 - 2:30 and pharmacies. Toledo’s bill, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Practices Act. Caregiver Support & Art-making for persons Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, would substantially amend the state’s The Legislature last year took steps to try to control with dementia (facilitated by the FL. Gulf Coast Alzheimer’s Association) pharmacy laws to define pharmacy benefit managers and skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs by authorizing drug importation from Canada and other countries for Wednesdays: 1:30 - 2:30 allowable practices. Art-making & Engagement for Individuals Michael Jackson, executive vice president and CEO of the state programs and consumers. A staff analysis of the drug with Alzheimer’s and dementia Florida Pharmacy Association, pointed to a need to lift the importation law noted that about $333.4 billion is spent on Thursdays: 1:30 - 2:30 “fog behind the PBM industry.” retail prescription drugs, with 14 percent paid out of pocket Hand Drumming for Everyone “Nearly every prescription provided to residents in this by consumers. state must come through a pharmacy benefit manager or But the drug importation programs require federal approval 110 3rd St SW-Downtown PBM. There is not much known about this industry which as well as new rules and regulations, which Florida Agency Winter Haven, FL 33880 also means there is a lot of confidential information related for Health Care Administration Secretary Mary Mayhew has 863-224-8557 to prescription drug costs that the public does not have access conceded could take upward of two years. Programs & Materials Provided by Sidestreet’s generous donors. We are a 501c3 to,” Jackson said in a statement to The News Service of Florida. As of Dec. 17, a Senate version of Toledo’s bill had not been “In the beginning, PBMs were simply claims processors. filed. But Senate Banking and Insurance Chairman Sen. Doug They are now medical decision makers by determining which Broxson, R- Gulf Breeze, held a lengthy meeting on the role medications are covered and which are not,” Jackson added. of pharmacy benefit managers in November and said his Toledo was joined at last week’s news conference at a Tampa committee would revisit the issue during the 2020 legislative pharmacy by Fine, Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, Rep. session, which begins in January. Kamia Brown, D-Ocoee, and Rep. Mike Beltran, R-Lithia. While the Florida Pharmacy Association backs the bill, the Winter Haven Sun In addition to the prohibition on steering patients to Florida Association of Health Plans is critical of it. 99 3rd St. NW Winter Haven, FL 33881 Phone (863) 533-4183 Junk Away www.winterhavensun.com Classifieds:[email protected] Reclaim your space! Obituaries: [email protected] News to: [email protected] Merry Christmas Events to: [email protected] From Our Family To Yours! ; Light Handyman Work Regional Publisher Editor Office Manager ; Remove Unwanted Items Vincent Grassia Steven Ryzewski Lora Belue Organize & De-Clutter [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ; ; Interior painting Circulation Supervisor Advertising Director 802 Henry St. Sandye Harrison Kim Edwards Lake Wales, FL 33853 ; Odd Jobs [email protected] [email protected] 863-676-6361 ... And More The Winter Haven Sun is an affiliate of D-R Media & Investments, LLC www.CrazyFishLakeWales.com Call for free estimate 863-224-2124 B CHARLES A BAKER III December 25, 2019 Page 3 Polk commission discusses ‘sanctuary county’ proposal By CATHY PALMER Second Amendment.” Lindsey, on the other hand, had a different opinion.