FHP: Hit-&-Run HCSO: Man Tries To Suspect Found Burn Roomie’s Bed A3 A3 Herald-THE Advocate HARDEE COUNTY’S HOMETOWN COVERAGE 118th Year No. 6 2 Sections www.TheHeraldAdvocate.com 70¢ Plus 5¢ Sales Tax Thursday, January 4, 2018 Freeze Fosters Hopes For Flakes By TOM STAIK region on Wednesday, bringing freezing can be expected across consecutive night of at- or more than four years for North time snow fell in most of Of The Herald-Advocate dreary cold wet weather portions of west central and below-freezing temperatures. Florida. Florida— saw overnight tem- Jack Frost is nipping. through most of the day. Ac- southwest Florida into the The mercury is expected to Freezing rain — and possible peratures in the 20s and Temperatures this week cording to the National weekend.” bottom out at 31 degrees. snow — was expected as far brought a light powdering to dipped below freezing Weather Service in Ruskin, The cold spell was expected Winds are likely to be cut- south as Gainesville today. the county on Jan. 19, 1977. overnight as a strong cold front temperatures overnight were to continue today and tonight ting. It remains unlikely — The winter weather has pushed south across the Sun- expected to dip to 32 degrees. (Thursday), with low tempera- “Wind-chill values make it though not entirely impossible prompted local emergency of- shine State. “Temperatures will be well tures overnight predicted at 30 feel even colder, with wind- — the arctic blast will yield the ficials to urge caution when While the weather was below normal for much of the degrees. chill values in the teens and 20s makings of snowmen in Her- using space heaters to warm frightful, Mother Nature will upcoming week,” according to The three-day cold spell is possible,” the statement said. itage Park. homes. likely not be letting snowflakes a statement issued Tuesday by projected to continue Friday The artic weather prompted It has been 41 years since “If using a space heater to fall. the Weather Service. night, with the Weather Service weather officials to issue the Hardee County last saw snow. get the chill out of your home, The front moved through the “Overnight lows near or below predicting the region’s third first winter storm watch in That cold snap— the last See FREEZE A3 ’Cat Turned ’Dawg To Play For National Title By TOM STAIK when Hardee advanced to the quarterfinals of Of The Herald-Advocate the state playoffs. At Hardee, he played basket- Hardee County’s most famous ‘Cat tuned ball and football, and competed in track. Addi- ‘Dawg has had a rosy start to the new year. tionally, he found success in prep weightlifting, Keyon Brown, a 2014 graduate of Hardee where he lifted his way into the state finals. Senior High School, received field time — Monday night’s game will showcase a battle recording a solo tackle — as the Georgia Bull- of the SEC as the Georgia Bulldogs face the dogs marched to a 54-48 victory over the Okla- Crimson Tide following Alabama’s 24-6 defeat homa Sooners in double overtime in Monday’s of the Clemson Tigers in the Sugar Bowl on Rose Bowl. New Year’s Day. Brown, a 6’3”, 257-pound outside linebacker Georgia’s appearance in the title game will who has traded-in his Wildcat roar for a Bull- mark the squad’s first run at a national cham- dog bark, will now play with the Bulldogs in pionship since Heismen Trophy-winner Her- this coming Monday night’s College Football schel Walker led then-head coach Vince National Championship at Mercedes Benz Sta- Dooley’s squad to victory in 1980 as the PHOTO BY IAN MAULE/TULSA WORLD dium in Atlanta. ‘Dawgs downed Notre Dame 17-10 in the Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Caleb Kelly (19) walks to his sideline as Georgia The 22-year-old junior from Wauchula plays Sugar Bowl. Bulldogs linebacker Keyon Brown (11) celebrates after Oklahoma's loss to the under the No. 11 jersey. The title game will be aired live on ESPN. Georgia Bulldogs at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Monday. Additional pho- Brown helped lead the Wildcats to an 11-2 The pregame show starts at 7:30 p.m. Kickoff tos from the Rose Bowl are available at www.tulsaworld.com. record and a district championship in 2013, is at 8. Local Governments Plan For Busy Year In 2018 By TOM STAIK relson is expected to present ing game for possible reim- grant from the Federal Aviation culture grant is expected to once the bypass is completed. Of The Herald-Advocate the School Board with a tenta- bursement after paying out Administration. According to fund a new roof for town hall, Hardee County’s Economic The check isn’t in the mail tive report on storm-related well over $1 million thus far to Assistant City Manager Olivia and a grant from the Economic Development Agency and In- quite yet. costs in the early part of this clear roadways and rights of Minshew, the project is ex- Development Agency will dustrial Development Author- From the town of Zolfo year. The report, according to way of debris. pected to break ground by allow the municipality to move ity also have a busy schedule Springs to the city of Bowling board Chairman Paul Samuels, While storm-related issues spring. forward with developing engi- following the high-profile ac- Green, local government is is expected to be presented in and reimbursements are an Wauchula is also watching neering plans for the possible quisitions of the former Winn- hoping 2018 will usher in res- workshop before the end of across-the-board priority for new development with the installation of water lines to Dixie grocery store on U.S. 17 olution to the aftermath of Hur- February. throughout the county, local final approval of the Hidden Sterner Road. north of Walmart and the for- ricane Irma. Storm-related costs at the government also have a Acres Subdivision late last The completion of the U.S. mer Florida Hospital Wauchula At Zolfo Springs, finalizing school district are continuing to plethora of big-ticket items on year. 17 bypass — arguably one of complex on Carlton Street at storm-related reimbursements mount. tap this year. Zolfo Springs is also expect- the biggest projects in the South Florida Avenue. from the Federal Emergency Education Facilities Director The city of Wauchula is em- ing high-profile developments county — is also on tap in The acquisitions, which re- Management Agency is one of Rob Krahl reported late last barked on a multi-million-dol- this year, according to Rober- Zolfo Springs as town leaders quire electricity to power air the top eight goals for the town month that flood mitigation lar renovation to the Wauchula son. prepare to take over the former systems to maintain a controlled as it moves into a new calendar and repairs of the high-school Municipal Airport thanks to a A U.S. Department of Agri- U.S. 17 as its new Main Street See 2018 A3 year, Town Manager Linda auditorium could cost upward Roberson noted. of $100,000. TENT TITANS At the Hardee County The Hardee Board of County School District, storm recovery Commissioners — the lead and mitigation is continuing. agency in storm debris removal Finance Director Greg Har- — is also in the midst of a wait- WEATHER DATE HIGH LOW RAIN PPD Art 12/26 79 51 0.00 12/27 83 56 0.00 12/28 80 57 0.00 12/29 71 57 0.00 Contest 12/30 69 50 0.00 12/31 73 40 0.00 01/01 68 43 0.02 TOTAL Rainfall to 01/01/2018 - 50.15 Now Open Same period last year - 43.34 Ten Year Average - 49.17 The Herald-Advocate's 18th Source: Univ. of Fla. Ona Research Center annual Pioneer Park Days Cover-Art Contest arrives this INDEX week along with the new year. Classifieds . .B4 If you have a talent for draw- Courthouse Report . .A9 ing and would like to see your work published for thousands Crime Blotter . .B3 of people to see, this is the con- Entertainment . .B4 test for you! Hardee Living . .B7 The competition is open to Obituaries . .A7 all ages and to anyone from Save The Date . .A2 any locale. All it takes is a fa- miliarity with the annual festi- School Lunch Menus . .B9 val, which is celebrating its Solunar Forecast . .B9 50th year in 2018, and, of course, skill with paper and pen. PHOTO BY TOM STAIK There are divisions for The big top has settled atop the Hardee County School District’s Education Facilities Complex on State Road both adults and for children 12 66 in Zolfo Springs. Crews from Sarasota-based Pestguard Commercial Services erected the colorful tent Tues- and under. day as they braved the chilling winds. Officials are hoping the planned fumigation of the complex will vanquish See CONTEST A3 a troupe of termites that have taken center stage at the complex. A2 The Herald-Advocate, January 4, 2018 Kelly’s Column Until the early 1980s about 17 percent of adults were obese, Flash rising to around 34 percent 10 years ago. The highest obesity By Jim rate is in the 40s and 50s age group. He said obesity rates are SAVE highest among black and Hispanic women. Back The obesity rates for children ages 2 to 5 rose from 9 percent By Chris Richcreek 10 years ago to 14 percent. With television, computers and smart THE phones people probably do not get as much exercise as they used 1.