HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Monday, August 26, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 238 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Man shot in Avon Park early Sunday 2nd shooting in county in 36 hours HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN STAFF midnight near Hal McRae Boulevard heartlandcrimestoppers.com. Crime police noted he was being uncoopera- and Delaney Avenue. The victim was Stopper tips can be eligible for a cash tive with law enforcement on Friday. AVON PARK — The Highlands County airlifted to an out-of-county trauma reward. The SPD is seeking anyone with Sheriff’s Office is looking for informa- center. The Sebring Police Department are information to come forward by calling tion regarding an early Sunday morning Anybody with information on the still looking for information regarding Detective Sgt. Jeff Reinhart at 863-471- shooting that took place in Avon Park. shooting is asked to call the Highlands the Friday afternoon shooting that 5107. Tipsters can also remain anon- It was the second shooting to occur in County Sheriff’s Office at 863-402-7200, took place at Martin Luther King Jr. ymous and possibly receive a reward Highlands County in 36 hours; a man leave a tip on the HCSO smartphone Boulevard and Lemon Avenue. The by calling Heartland Crime Stoppers at was shot in Sebring Friday afternoon. app or call Heartland Crime Stoppers victim of that shooting was also airlifted 800-226-8477 or visiting the Heartland The sheriff’s office stated the Avon Florida at 800-226-TIPS or visit www. to an out-of-county trauma center, but Crime Stoppers website. Park shooting took place just after Manslaughter, attempted murder cases also ‘stacking up’ Continuance dates going two, three months By PHIL ATTINGER STAFF WRITER SEBRING — Two high-profile man- slaughter cases have been continued in hearings this past week, along with a slew of attempted murder cases. Dalton Hooks, 17, of Sebring has pleaded not guilty to charges of DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage in connection with a wreck Nov. 18, 2018, that resulted in the death of Andrew Warren Stephens, 14, also of Sebring. His next hearing is 8:30 a.m. Dec. 18. COURTESY PHOTO Meanwhile, 24-year-old Samuel Joseph Tucker has his DUI- The Highway Park Cemetery. manslaughter case continued until 8:30 a.m. Sept. 18. It’s been more than two years since his drunk-driving automobile crash Highway Park Cemetery clings to secrets in the early morning hours of July 24, 2017. By KIM LEATHERMAN Transportation gave the His passenger, 22-year-old Alyssa Kay STAFF WRITER council a reimbursement Vice, died in the crash. grant for up to $16,000. The He was charged with manslaughter LAKE PLACID — Nestled council has only been able while driving under the influence and in Highway Park on to use about $7,500, Colon two charges of DUI property damage. Crestmore Drive is a mys- said. Shortly afterward, he fled to Ireland, terious cemetery that many Colon said there is no but was eventually found in Cork, who live in the small town source of funding such as Ireland, and returned earlier this year to may not know about. It is government, trust funds Sebring by U.S. Marshals. appropriately named after or cemetery fees to pro- Several attempted murder cases the subdivision it is housed vide maintenance for the are still on the books, listed below in in. It is mysterious because cemetery. She said the lots alphabetical order. no one seems to know who were as low as $225 and • Derwin Traevon Callahan Jr. stands started the cemetery or some people paid as little as accused of attempted second-degree when. It seems it always $25 in the past. The cost of murder, shooting a missile into a existed keeping the grass mowed is dwelling or vehicle and possession of a No one really knows $2,400 annually. firearm or ammunition by a convicted how many people are COURTESY PHOTO “There is a small amount interred in the cemetery. in a savings account that felon. His next court date is 1:15 p.m. A stone maker now defines the Highway Park Cemetery. Aug. 26. According to Highway Park is left over from when my • Jordan Travon Carpenter, 21, of Neighborhood Council Ayala said it’s difficult to become overgrown, van- Dad, Rev. Leroy McGahee, Avon Park is one of several accused of President Evelyn Colon, the tell how many people are dalized and unkempt. was president of the attempted murder and robbery with a cemetery was already in buried in the cemetery. The Highway Park Association,” Ayala said. firearm for a shooting on Dec. 19, 2018, use before the Lake Placid “The former Board Neighborhood Council, “However, we are unable to at Dollar General at 86 N. Olivia Drive subdivision was platted in members of the Highway Highway Park Cemetery to access those funds at this in Avon Park. Deputies also charged 1935. Land for the cemetery Park Cemetery Association Association and volunteers time.” him with possession of cocaine and was donated by Highlands did not routinely keep have been putting a lot of Highway Park is predomi- drug equipment after a traffic stop on Lodge 20 Prince Hall, AF & running records of burials. time, sweat equity and grant nantly populated by African Jan. 5, when deputies arrested him on a FM and the Bostic Family. But, following a recent money toward rehabilitat- Americans who celebrate warrant for the shooting. His next court Colon said an additional lot search of the Highlands ing the cemetery. their culture even in bury- date is 8:30 a.m. Oct. 22. was negotiated as well. County Board of County The HPNC was awarded ing the dead. In this case, • Colton Lee Driggers, 26, is charged “We do not have an Commissioner’s archives by a Community Resilience a couple of customs have with attempted first-degree murder, ag- exact date as to when the the new Board members, grant Keep America created challenges. Colon gravated assault with a deadly weapon, cemetery was founded,” we discovered 112 record- Beautiful for $10,000 and said many of the coffins are battery, battery on a law enforcement Partrice Ayala, secretary for ed burials,” Ayala said. the funds were used to help buried in vaults but some officer and resisting an officer with the Highway Park Cemetery “However, there are many with two large projects, of the vaults are buried 6-12 violence. His case is continued until Association said. “However, more people who are laid to the Veterans Memorial inches above ground. Many we have located a head- rest at the cemetery.” and the cemetery. The vaults began to sink in the CASES | 3A stone that has a burial date Until recently, it has Florida Department of of 1947.” CEMETERY | 2A School Board approves internet access program By MARC VALERO Teacher David Irwin, who available Information will be loaned an inter- Marcelo Claure, STAFF WRITER found the opportunity for stu- Systems net hotspot device for founder of the 1Million for the district, offered dents who Director connection to their dis- Project Foundation, read SEBRING — The School an overview of the wouldn’t Darrell trict-issued Chromebook an article in 2015 about Board of Highlands nationwide program to have inter- Layfield laptop computer. America’s homework gap. County gave its ap- the School Board at its net access. said Friday The 1Million Project The article stated in proval to participate in meeting on Tuesday. School the district Foundation is an inde- 5 million households, the 1Million Project The Highlands District Board hopes to pendent 501©(3) public school-aged children in Foundation and Sprint plans to initially pro- Member HOWERTON SHOOP have the charity, with a mission to the U.S. are unable to do plan that will provide vide connectivity for Jan Shoop program help 1 million high school their homework properly online access for high 35 students at each of said in this day and age started very soon. students who do not have because they do not have school students who the district’s three high with all the books that are “We’ll be moving pretty reliable Internet access internet access at home. don’t have home internet schools. online, the internet is not quickly,” he said. at home reach their full It also included stories of connectivity. School Board Vice Chair a necessity, but it certain- The schools will potential by giving them children going to school Lake Placid High/Lake Donna Howerton said it ly makes it much easier identify the students mobile devices and free two hours early to use Country Elementary is something that is very for them. who will participate in high-speed Internet Technology Resource nice that is being made District Management the program and who access. SCHOOL | 3A Classifieds ......................B5-8 Good morning To ..................... B11-12 ....................... A7 Local Sports ...................... B1 Puzzles Viewpoints Connie Todd Lottery ........................... B2 TV Listings ..................... A11 Weather .........................A12 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | August 26, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com CEMETERY LP woman killed on U.S. 27 HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN STAFF FROM PAGE 1A Silverado, driven by next of kin. Christopher Clarkson, Clarkson had no injuries, sandy soil after many A 66-year-old Lake Placid also of Lake Placid, was in but a passenger in the car, years. woman was killed Saturday the same lane and struck Kimkia Molina, was taken Colon also said the evening at the intersection the Equinox from behind, to Highlands Regional headstones and and of U.S.