HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Thursday, May 17, 2018 VOL. 99 | NO. 137 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 AN EDITION OF THE SUN Giving back First edition CHECK OUT our newest magazine. Your hometown auto guide that keeps you moving in style. DETAILS, Inside Bowling alley owners ‘noncompliant’ PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF Building Highlands County Sheriff’s Office staff clear overgrowth for Earl and Janet Hunt, an elder couple in Lake Placid, for Wednesday’snited U Way Day of Caring. They are, from left, Detention Deputy Joey Lezama, Sheriff’s Purchasing Manager Becky Tyson, Administrative Assistant Dorothy Morero demolition past and Victims’ Advocate Liz Fischer. due date By KIM LEATHERMAN United Way Day of Caring STAFF WRITER AVON PARK – The bowling alley effort draws 24 businesses, owners, Phoenix Rising Unlimited Inc., have missed the deadline to 300 volunteers demolish the 16-lane building at 6800 By PHIL ATTINGER United Way Day of Caring. U.S. 27. STAFF WRITER Highlands County Sheriff’s On March 28, Avon Park’s special magistrate, Jefferey Dawson, ordered LAKE PLACID — “It’s quite Office had approximately 30 members volunteer this year. the owners to enclose the building a blessing,” Janet Hunt said within five days and demolish it as Highlands County Sheriff’s Twelve of them helped the Hunts at their home off State within 45 days. He said the building Office deputies and staff was a hazard because it was falling in helped clear up her and her Road 70. “He’s a retired police chief, on itself and children were reportedly husband’s property. playing inside it. Earl Hunt, on oxygen, can’t so this is an honor for us,” said Nicole Brown, detective Phoenix Rising Unlimited Inc. is get outside much. The Hunts co-owned by Linda, Jonathan and have been clients of Nu- with the Special Victims Unit. Brown, Lt. Tyrone Tyson of Christopher Davis; they did not show Hope of Highlands County up for the first hearing. for years. They used to do the COPS Unit, Purchasing Manager Becky Tyson, Although late, the owners did a lot more volunteer work put up a fence on three sides of the themselves, with Manna administrative assistants Brittany Jones and Dorothy building that still allowed people to Ministries and with the enter the building easily from the Benevolent Protection Order Morero, Victims’ Advocate Liz Fischer, 911 dispatchers front. By April 24, the Avon Park city of the Elks in Lake Placid. officials planned on taking the owners “They were both big at giv- Alicia Peters and Melanie Williams, nurse Treson to court the next day because of ing back to the community,” noncompliance with the fence. said Jonda Allan, Nu-Hope Francis and Criminal Investigations Det. Melissa Avon Park Public Safety Officer case manager. BOWLING | 2 While Nu-Hope provides Lander gathered shingles in-house services, sometimes from the couple’s yard, clients have needs beyond mowed the yard, trimmed what the non-profit agency around trees and other ob- Highlands County 911 Dispatcher Melanie Williams helps clean up can provide. As luck would jects — including an antique storm-tossed shingles from an elderly couple’s yard in Lake Placid. She have it, the Hunts’ needs CARE | 4 was one of approximately 30 volunteers from the Highlands County Teen center coincided with this year’s Sheriff’s Office who helped with Wednesday’s United Way Day of Caring. for at-risk Public meeting set for road project youth to open soon U.S. 27/SR 64 intersection By MARC VALERO STAFF WRITER By MARC VALERO Paulk Street, U.S. 27 north- STAFF WRITER bound from Dyal Street to SEBRING — A group of church, West Hill Street and SR 64 community and business leaders AVON PARK — The from Self Avenue to U.S. 27. have worked and prayed together for Florida Department of Other improvements nearly two years to open a teen center Transportation will hold a include resurfacing the with a program to mentor and help public information meet- existing roadway on U.S. 27 at-risk youth. ing this month to answer from West Townsend Street Grace Bible Church Lead Pastor questions about a planned to Batts Street, constructing Dustin Woods explained recently intersection improvement an eastbound right-turn about two years ago the community experienced the tragedy of three at U.S. 27 and State Road 64. lane on SR 64 to U.S. 27 and young men losing their lives to gun Interested parties will upgrading the southbound violence in downtown Sebring. have the opportunity to right-turn lane on U.S. 27 to MARC VALERO/STAFF “Like most communities, we pulled talk one-on-one with FDOT SR 64, replacement of traffic staff and make comments The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public informa- together and talked about how we are signals at the intersection of going to fix this problem,” he said. about the project at the U.S. 27 and SR 64, installing tion meeting, 5-7 p.m., May 23, in the Avon Park Council Chambers, to meeting, which will be held answer questions about planned improvements to the intersection of “But, unlike most communities we new pavement markings actually stuck to it.” 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, May U.S. 27 and State Road 64. and signage, installing To reach at-risk youth there were 23, in the Avon Park Council complete in spring 2020. Additional lane closures concrete curb, sidewalks two big objectives — where to do Chambers, 123 E. Pine St. The estimated construc- and temporary lane shifts and traffic separator, adding it and what type of program for the Improvements include re- eight new street lights and tion cost is $8 million. on SR 64 will occur during A single continuous lane nighttime/overnight hours youth, Woods said. placing the existing roadway improving drainage. Bountiful Blessings Church has a with concrete pavement Construction begins in closure on U.S. 27 will be in from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., place during intersection beautiful facility/gymnasium for a from U.S. 27 southbound early June according to the ROAD | 2 CENTER | 4 from West Pleasant Street to FDOT and is expected to be construction. Classifieds..... ................................B4-6 Let’s Go ................................. B1 Viewpoints .............................A3 Good Morning To Comics ...................... Local Sports ....................... Weather .................. William Morse News Wire A7-8 News Wire facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Lottery ..........................SPORTS Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | Thursday, May 17, 2018 www.highlandsnewssun.com Tuck pre-submits resignation Royce to continue as vice mayor By KIM LEATHERMAN 4 against 4 seat. If no think that I can help the terms on the Town “We are fortunate to STAFF WRITER Republican Democrat people of Lake Placid Council,” Royce said. have a mayor that is very incumbent qualifies, a and the council from the “I appreciate the faith dedicated,” he said. “It is LAKE PLACID — Jack Richie. winner will commissioner’s position. my fellow Town Council very rare that I have to sit During the regular “The be declared I have a lot of people that members have in me to in as mayor; I may occa- Monday Town Council Supervisor after the are asking me to check exact the duties of the sionally run a meeting or meeting Councilwoman of elections, Aug. 28 into things already.” mayor in his [Holbrook’s] sign checks if the mayor Arlene Tuck put in her Penny Ogg, primary Tuck will remain on as absence. is out of town.” letter of resignation TUCK told me that ROYCE election. a councilwoman, with from the Lake Placid I had to The all the voting rights that Town Council. The letter [submit her resignation] swearing in for the it entails, through to the was read into record by 10 days before qualifying county commissioner November meeting. Mayor John Holbrook. dates that start on June is on Nov. 20. Assuming In other actions The resignation will be 18,” Tuck said. Tuck wins, she wanted taken by the council, effective Nov. 13. Tuck has served on the to make the effective Councilman Ray Royce Tuck didn’t put in her council for the past four date of her resignation was re-elected as vice resignation because of years and just began her the day after the regular mayor. Royce has been a anything bad happen- second term in April. Nov. 12 Town Council councilman since 2008 ing at the council. Her She also served from meeting. and is in the middle of resignation is in place 1980-1982. “It’s hard to think serving his third term. He because she is running As of right now, only about resigning, when I has served the town as for Highlands County two Republicans are just started my second vice mayor since 2010. Commission District Seat running for the District term,” Tuck said. “I really “I have enjoyed my International Museum Day is Friday By ELAINE LEVEY day of culture — the Avon Park in the early invite the public to come CONTRIBUTED STORY “Highwaymen.” They 1900s. The most popular visit and meet the folks were African-American of photos are of citrus that make it all possible. AVON PARK — The artists that made a pretty trees with family all Refreshments will be Historical Society of good living selling their dressed up and photos served in the museum Avon Park is participat- paintings out of the of their automobiles. and railroad dining car. ing in the third annual trunks of their cars or Mrs. Oliver Crosby, the adno=3567393 International Museum going door to door in the founder’s wife, in period Day on Friday.