C M Y K www.newssun.com NEWS-SUN Highlands County’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1927 Sunday, December 8, 2013 Volume 94/Number 146 | 75 cents Streaks roll Sebring cruises to win over district foe A Classic Thousands line streets of Lemon Bay Sebring to see annual parade SPORTS, B1 Christmas PHOTOS INSIDE ON A3 PAGE B12 County HELICOPTER CRASH KILLS 1 to study Witness: Crop duster nosed private dived, exploded EMS at sod farm By BARRY FOSTER News-Sun correspondent By SAMANTHA GHOLAR SEBRING – Despite a stri- [email protected] dent stand against even talk- SEBRING — A helicopter ing about the idea of privatiz- reportedly nosed-dived into the ing Highlands County’s ground at a sod farm near the Emergency Medical Services Sebring airport late Friday after- by Commissioner Jim noon, apparently killing the pilot. Brooks, the balance of the No official information had been Highlands County released as of Saturday afternoon, Commission Tuesday agreed but an eyewitness spoke to the to continue investigating the News-Sun Saturday morning near possibility. the scene of the crash site on the Brooks, a former Sod, Citrus and Cane property near Highlands County EMS coor- Sebring International Raceway. dinator himself, said he was The National Transportation not in favor of even entertain- Safety Board was probing the ing the idea. wreckage, which was near an irri- “The coun- gation pond, Saturday morning. ty is respon- Joshua Snell, an employee with sible for pro- the contracting company that helps viding EMS manage the property, said the inci- service. dent occurred around 5:20 p.m. We’re Friday. responsible “We had been working back for the level Brooks there all morning then we moved Katara Simmons/News-Sun Investigators inspect the scene of a helicopter crash at the Sod, Citrus and Cane property near the Sebring of service,” up here to the front at about 12 Regional Airport Saturday morning. The pilot was reportedly killed when the crop-dusting helicopter nose he said. “I don’t know that I (noon). I saw what happened. He dived into the ground and exploded at 5:20 p.m. on Friday. am comfortable with that flew over a few times, probably idea.” about four or five times. Each time ground,” Snell said. the time the fire trucks got here, he was OK. Other commissioners dis- he kept getting lower and lower. Snell stated that another employ- (there) was nothing really left but “It was definitely a crop duster agreed, with Commissioner The last time he was right on top of ee called in the emergency and he smoke. I saw the pilot’s leg all but I don’t know that he was spray- Don Elwell suggesting the those trees and it looked like he went to the crash site and offered mangled up in there. It is bad,” ing anything or not.” commission take a look at the nose dived then I saw it (helicop- help. Snell said. “There was one other numbers to see if privatiza- ter) blow up when it hit the “It burned up really quickly. By worker nearby when it crashed but See CRASH, page A5 tion or even a blended system might be advantageous to cit- izens either in dollar savings or in increased service. “I think we should take a Boys and strong look at it. It certainly won’t hurt,” Commissioner Jack Richie said. Girls Club The idea of hearing a pres- entation from private sector ambulance services came ‘regrouping’ from resident Dick Noll, who in Avon Park made the suggestion follow- See PRIVATE, A7 Not on Monday agenda with annexation, impact fees, fire assessment By PHIL ATTINGER [email protected] Katara Simmons/News-Sun Warm AVON PARK — Residents interested Christmas light fanatics who also want to see Santa Claus will have a great opportunity from 6-8 in city annexation, impact fees or the fire p.m. at the home of Dan Johnson, 901 S. Egret St. in Sebring. Kris Kringle will be there Tuesday High 84 assessment will have plenty to hear and through Thursday and again from Dec. 17-19, hearing what children want for Christmas and let- Low 65 ting parents get a photo. talk about at Monday’s City Council Details, A12 meeting. However, they probably won’t hear New place to visit with Santa Index about a proposal by the Boys and Girls Arts & Entertainment B5 Club to expand facilities in Avon Park. Wally Former principal playing host to St. Nick this year Business B10 Randall, director of com- Classifieds A9 munity relations for the By PHIL ATTINGER can catch also him at 901 S. photos as they like, he said. Crossword Puzzle B11 non-profit, said Friday he [email protected] Egret St. in Sebring, sitting in a Walking among inflatable and Dear Abby B11 has asked the item to be SEBRING — If you want to sleigh at the home of Dan molded plastic displays, home- pulled from the agenda. see Santa Claus this season, Johnson, former educator. made structures, antique horse- Editorial & Opinion A4 “(We) don’t think we Randall “Jolly Old Kris Kringle” will Santa will be there from 6-8 drawn vehicles and more lights Horoscope B11 have the support neces- stop off at several places to p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and than he has counted, Johnson Obituaries A8A6 sary to get the motion passed,” Randall make photo appearances and get Thursday, and again at the same said has decorated his yard for said. “We’re regrouping.” gift requests from children. time on Dec. 17, 18 and 19, at least 10 years, “more like 20 Sudoku Puzzle B11 The Boys and Girls Club has asked if In addition to his regularly Johnson said. years.” Sports on TV B2 the city would be willing to revert part of scheduled time at the Lakeshore Admission is free. People are This is the first time Santa the land given to it by the School Board Mall and Sebring’s Carousel of welcome to visit, walk through has come to visit. Johnson got a Lights, this week and next, you the display and take as many See BOYS, A6 See SANTA, A8 0990994 01007 Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com HEARTLAND NATIONAL BANK***; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, front strip; 0 0 0 3 4 0 7 5 C M Y K Page A2 News-Sun ࡗ Sunday, December 8, 2013 www.newssun.com Elwell Cans circle the Circle Community Briefs Road work through March. Members plans 6th scheduled of any Lineage Society (CW, SR, DAR, SAR, AVON PARK – 1812, SUVCW, etc.) are town hall Excavation Point Inc. will invited, as well as genealo- be mobilizing Monday to gists working to join a lin- meeting start improvements to West eage society. Bell and West Pleasant The group will gather at Special to the News-Sun streets. The right lane of 10 a.m. for a social gather- SEBRING — County northbound U.S. 27 at West ing at the Avon Park Band Commissioner Don Elwell Bell Street will be closed Stand and 11 a.m. for will be hosting his sixth Tuesday through Thursday lunch at the Hotel town-hall style meeting at 6 for curb and sidewalk Jacaranda. For further p.m. on Thursday in the removal and construction details, visit Plantation Ballroom of the during daytime hours. gradeless.com/lineage/Avo Kenilworth Lodge in Sebring. Final completion date for nPark.htm on the Web or For this meeting, however, the entire project is cur- call Dr. Gradeless, at 382- Elwell has decided to change rently scheduled for March 8954. up the agenda format just a 10. bit. All temporary traffic Chamber lunch is “At many of the previous control devices will be Wednesday town hall meetings, I’ve tried posted prior to start of con- to briefly review and give struction. Delays and tem- LAKE PLACID – The updates on 8-10 important porary lane closures are Greater Lake Placid topics affecting the county,” expected periodically dur- Chamber of Commerce Elwell said. “Although that ing working hours. Membership Luncheon will seemed to work well, I think Escalante is guest take place at noon it might be best this time to Wednesday at the Lake focus on the two or three of Tea Party Placid Camp & Conference biggest, ‘hottest’ issues we’re Center. The luncheon is facing right now, leaving SEBRING — Armando sponsored by Wauchula some time during the meeting Escalante will speak at The State Bank. Holiday enter- for an open Highlands Tea Party at 6 tainment will be offered by forum where p.m. Tuesday at Homer’s Jacqueline Alonso, Miss citizens can Restaurant. He will speak Lake Placid and Nala certainly on “Cultural Marxism Price, 2013 Teen Heartland bring up any- Impact on American Idol. Cost is $10 per per- thing they Society.” son. like.” RSVP the chamber on or Elwell said Lineage Society Elwell before Monday at cham- the commis- meets Tuesday [email protected] or call 465- sion’s current efforts to insti- 4331. tute a successful county-wide AVON PARK – The recycling program is one of Winter Encampment ‘The Nutcracker’ the most popular topics Samantha Gholar/News Sun Luncheon for genealogists Longtime Rotary members (from left) Gordon White and Haywood Taylor collect dona- visits Circle “I get a lot of questions and and Lineage Society mem- tions from the community Friday morning during the annual Circle of Cans event that Theatre comments on that almost benefits the Salvation Army during the holiday season. ‘On my morning walk this morn- bers wintering in Florida daily,” he said.