C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 Looking back Can you help? Sebring stunner Residents enjoy learning Rotary’s annual Circle of Blue Streaks topple history of Tin Can Tourists Cans event set for today unbeaten Hardee in OT PAGE 3A PAGE 3A SPORTS, 1B Friday-Saturday, December 14-15, 2012 www.newssun.com Volume 93/Number 153 | 50 cents Forecast Hinote picked to Nice, breezy with intervals of sunshine High Low lead CRA 76 58 Complete Forecast in Sebring PAGE 12A By SAMANTHA GHOLAR [email protected] Online SEBRING — Longtime Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) member and acting director for the past eight months Robin Hinote has been officially named Executive Director. Question: After many months of delibera- tion, the title comes as a breath of If the U.S. economy fresh air to the board and the entire goes over the fiscal News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS agency. cliff, who will you Boys and Girls Club Emporium Manager Levon Stukes and Avon Park High School student Devante Felix Hinote became involved with the move a dresser that was purchased from the Emporium on Thursday in downtown Sebring. Felix is part of CRA 10 years ago blame the most? the Boys and Girls Club Junior Achievement program and spends a portion of his school day working at the thrift store. For more information or to make a donation, call Stukes at 873-6160. when she was hired by retired CRA director Pete Pollard. “It’s been my goal Room to grow since day one. I asked Pete Pollard Hinote when I came on Democrats By SAMANTHA GHOLAR bigger. The Emporium has already board with my first interview in [email protected] maxed out the space in its store. Boys and 2002 what it would take to fill his SEBRING – The Highlands With the addition of the second 54.1% shoes. He’s been training me since I County Boys and Girls Club store and space, the Emporium started out to take his position,” Emporium has quickly become a Girls Club will be able to better serve the Hinote said Thursday morning. success after only a few short community and its customers. Eight of the nine finalists were months in the business. Emporium “We grew out of this space very Florida residents. Each of the appli- The Emporium, which opened quickly. The response from the cants were interviewed by the CRA up in late summer, is a discount, community has been great. We board members before the final, pre-owned store where customers begins have a quick turn around rate; we unanimous decision was made at can purchase a number of donated get things in here and their gone Monday night’s meeting. Republicans items. The Emporium was created expansion quick,” Wright said. “I found out because I was at the as a way for the Boys and Girls The new layout for the meeting,” Hinote said with a laugh. Club to become self-sustaining and said. “We are combining spaces 45.9% Emporium will feature a much “I’m required to be at all the meet- supplement the organization’s with the store next door; we will larger space with all of the appli- ings so that’s how I knew I had the Total votes: 122 income. be tearing down the wall between ances and furniture being housed position.” Executive Director Woodraun us sometime next week.” in the new space. The smaller Hinote’s experience with the CRA Next question: Wright is excited about the addi- The contract for the new space items will stay in the old space. makes her a comfortable and logical Do you celebrate tion to the Emporium. was signed Wednesday and the Christmas as a “We are expanding,” Wright Emporium will soon get a little See EMPORIUM, page 7A See HINOTE, page 8A religious holiday? Make your voice heard at www.newssun.com Checkers returns to Sebring Obituaries Marion Ackerson Age 89, of Avon Park location after 17-year hiatus By SAMANTHA GHOLAR Southgate Plaza— closed up up and transported from Elyse Goggans [email protected] and moved away. Crystal River to Sebring on a Age 86, of Sebring SEBRING — “I think this “I started trying to locate a flat-bed truck, a unique sight Dennis Heston is going to be our crown spot for this Checkers in to the few who got a chance jewel,” said Russell Harms, Sebring about two years ago. to see it rolling down U.S. Age 52, of Sebring owner/operator of the newest It took a year to find the per- 27. Barbara Picklesimer fast food restaurant in town. fect location and we closed “They’re modular,” said Harms is referring to the the deal with the bank last Harms. “You just break the Age 78, of Sebring new Checkers location that December,” Harms said. foundation, dig them up. The opened its doors Thursday Construction began on the wings detach and then you William Roche News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS Age 76, of Sebring Checkers quietly opens for business Thursday in Sebring. morning in Sebring 17 years restaurant in early fall when just set it down in the new According to franchise owner Russell Harms, the first three after the first Checkers — Harms purchased and re- location.” William Stephens weeks will be a soft opening, while a larger grand opening which was in the same spot located a closed Checkers. is scheduled to take place sometime in mid-January. Age 87, of Lake Placid on U.S. 27 across from the The former building was dug See CHECKERS, page 7A Obituaries, Page 5A Index Classifieds 9A Cooking with an edge at APYA Community Briefs 2A News-Sun photo by Dear Abby 11B By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Youth Academy director, fresh ham baked off the bone. [email protected] presided over the event that And that was only the start. CHRISTOPHER Editorial & Opinion 4A TUFFLEY AVON PARK — What do a pits otherwise cordial team- There were 20 side dish and Don’t let his size Healthy Living 5B police chief, a tax collector, a mates in cut throat competi- appetizer entries alone: Corn and football Lottery Numbers 2A U.S. Air Force sergeant, a tion. and broccoli dishes; fancy background fool Movie Review 11B Polk County deputy sheriff The judges are, therefore, rice and spinach and humus you, Cleveland Nobles bakes a Religion 7B captain, a veteran’s advocate, to be envied and pitied. dips. mean cake. It Sports On TV 2B a reporter and four Avon Park How fortunate on the one Then think cheese — feta took second place at the Sudoku Puzzle 11B Youth Academy students hand: Savoring selections of cheese, cream cheese and have in common? delicious homemade food cheddar; folded into dips, APYA Cook-Off They were all judges in the from all over the world — layered into pinwheels, Wednesday, and won the special, 2012 G4S, Youth Services morsels like spicy meat balls; stuffed into peppers, wrapped best presenta- APYA Cook Off Contest. cabbage; flavorful South tion award. 0790994 01001 Pete Zeeger, Avon Park American stew; and tender See COOKS, page 5A Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com WAUCHULA STATE BANK/Cheryl Hen; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, front strip financial; 0 0 0 2 5 7 1 9 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Friday, December 14, 2012 www.newssun.com COMMUNITY BRIEFS Singing Christmas Tree marks 25th year SHS choirs to lights and music at 3414 Beck Ave. Sunday show is Special to the News-Sun in July 1984, she wanted to do some- Tree, under the direction of current perform at SFSC at 2 p.m. Donation is $5; SEBRING – First Baptist Church of thing for the church in his memory. The Minister of Music Jezimar “Nuno” Monday no alcohol. Sebring celebrated its 90th anniversary Polstons loved Christmas and music, so Norberto, will feature the 60-voice First AVON PARK — The Call 253-0771 or visit in February. The church, at the corner of White suggested a giant Christmas tree Baptist Church choir accompanied by a Sebring High School Under The Oaks Opry on Pine and East Center Streets in down- designed to hold an entire choir. Mrs. 12-piece orchestra performing tradition- Choral Department will Facebook. town Sebring, reaches another exciting Polston did not hesitate. And so, the al carols and contemporary anthems. present its winter concert milestone this weekend: the 25th First Baptist Church of Sebring Singing Norberto will debut a Christmas song at 7 p.m. on Monday at YMCA hosting anniversary of its Singing Christmas Christmas Tree debuted in 1988. he wrote to honor White. South Florida State Tree. Mrs. Polston was able to enjoy a few A technical crew works behind the Christmas at the Y College’s Auditorium. The Rev. Winfred White, long-time of the beautiful Singing Christmas Tree scenes to construct the tree and engineer public is invited to come SEBRING — The Minister of Music at First Baptist, was programs prior to her death in 1990. Her the sound and light show necessary to enjoy a variety of musical Highlands County Family dreaming of a musical Christmas cele- generosity and White’s vision have make the production a success. selections including holi- bration that would be for the entire com- brought Christmas joy to the citizens of The 25th Anniversary Singing YMCA will host its second day, classical, popular and munity. Enter Lucille Polston. She was Sebring for the past 24 years.