C M Y K www.newssun.com Last-minute gift ideas for the food lover in NEWS-SUN your life Highlands County’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1927 LIVING, B12 Sunday, December 22, 2013 Volume 94/Number 152 | 75 cents Best of the county Think hard before giving pet as a gift Corley, Whittington lead Humane Society: Not like a sweater you can just return All-County volleyball By BARRY FOSTER don’t like it.” PORTS S , B1 News-Sun correspondent She said that, although it can be a SEBRING — If you’re thinking of good idea to get a pet as a Christmas getting or giving a puppy dog or a kitty gift, it needs to be a well-thought-out cat as a Christmas present this year- process. The celebrations surrounding officials of the Humane Society would the holiday can be a very busy time, Crystal Lake like to offer a bit of advice. which can be confusing and stressful “People need to remember that get- for a puppy or kitten. ting a pet is a 10-year obligation,” said “There’s so much commotion going garbage may Humane Society of Highlands County on with people opening presents, and all President Judy Spiegel. “This is not like be costly for a sweater you can just return if you See GIFT, A5 Avon Park By PHIL ATTINGER Nyhan [email protected] AVON PARK — If the city brings in Crystal Lake on Monday, it may have some garbage to handle — liter- leaving ally. Crystal Lake Golf Club is on the agenda for final public hearing and annexation vote on Monday. It’s the Chamber end result of an agreement with city had with the owner of the 55-and- older manufactured home park upon position buying the park’s water utility in 2010. However, the city will also have to Announced his work out how soon it can take over resignation Friday hauling garbage for residents. Currently, as an unincorporated By BARRY FOSTER News-Sun correspondent See CRYSTAL, A6 SEBRING – In a surprise move, Steve Nyhan announced his resignation as CEO and president of the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce Friday afternoon. Lake Jackson “As many people are aware, I had some health issues this past channel year,” Nyhan said. “This is a very demanding position, so I have Katara Simmons/News-Sun decided to take a project may Ten-month-old Bronson Rhodes-Stephenson isn’t sure what to think about his visit with Santa on Saturday at the Circle in Sebring. less demanding take a while one.” Nyhan took the reins of the organ- By BARRY FOSTER ization in August News-Sun correspondent Last-minute requests of last year, leav- SEBRING – Earlier this year it ing his post as Nyhan was revealed that officials of the director of market- Florida Department of Lunch with ing and public information officer Transportation would help to under- for Highlands Regional Medical write a project to dredge out the Santa a treat Center. channel under U.S. 27 linking Lake During his brief tenure, Nyhan Jackson and Little Lake Jackson. ... for most was particularly proud of his work However, the tentative five-year in re-opening the Sebring work program revealed to Highlands By SAMANTHA GHOLAR Chamber of Commerce location in County commissioners last week [email protected] downtown Sebring. shows it may be a while before any SEBRING — Saturday “Making sure the downtown actual work is done. brought the sun, smiles and office was viable again, that was Florida Department of Santa to Circle Park in Sebring really important,” he said. Transportation Governmental Affairs ... although not smiles for all. “Downtown is absolutely a beau- Officer Zachary Burch made the It was the final Lunch with tiful location – when you look announcement last month at the Santa before the big guy gets out, there is a park in front of recent Legislative Delegation meet- to work this Christmas, and Katara Simmons/News-Sun you. It’s on the Circle; it’s ing at the Highlands County while most of the kids were Jordan, 3, and Johnny Coston, 1, enjoy Lunch with Santa on absolutely fantastic.” Government Center. more than happy to see him, Saturday at Circle Park in Sebring. Additionally, Nyhan said due to Burch and a number of area resi- there were a few tears of fear the layout of the office there, he dents had a meeting at the bridge from the little ones who Saturday. The traditional Rhodes-Stephenson was a little had more opportunity to deal with and discussed a citizens’ request to weren’t too familiar with old PB&J sandwich was topped overwhelmed with all the stuff the people who came in at the make the channel navigable. Burch St. Nick. with giant marshmallows, on the sandwich, but took sev- downtown location and get their indicated that the FDOT’s biggest Santa handed out the “ulti- green and red sprinkles, eral bites to please his mommy direct feedback. mate peanut butter and jelly gummy bears and more. See DREDGING, A5 sandwiches” to attendees Five-year-old Madden See LUNCH, A6 See NYHAN, A5 Index Help wanted Business B5 HAL’s Art Uncorked artist help give Bell ringers still Classifieds A9 needed for Crossword Puzzle B11 Salvation Army Palms residents a colorful Christmas Dear Abby B11 INSIDE ON A3 Editorial & Opinion A4 By SAMANTHA GHOLAR Art Uncorked classes. [email protected] Art Uncorked has become a Samantha Horoscope B11 SEBRING — Residents of Gholar/ huge hit in the community News Sun Obituaries A8 The Palms of Sebring have since its debut in 2012. Palms of Outdoors B6 something to smile about this Hundreds of participants have Sebring res- holiday season and days to idents look Sudoku Puzzle B11 created their very own master- over dozens come after a generous donation pieces, but the popularity of the Sports B1 Warm of paintings was distributed to several resi- classes and collection of per- donated by High 84 dents Friday morning. sonal artwork has left many HAL’s Art The Highlands Art League Uncorked Low 63 participants with little wall (HAL) donated approximately participants Friday. 0990994 01007 Details, A12 30 paintings from its popular See ART, A5 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 22, 2013 www.newssun.com School board against removing alcohol setbacks in LP By PHIL ATTINGER such businesses may not be located setbacks severely limit, if not elimi- municipality sets its own setback school board that he believed the [email protected] within 800 feet of a school or nate, the prospect of setting up a bar requirement. state requirement was a minimum SEBRING — Lake Placid wants church. in the town. Board member Donna Howerton of 500 feet, although he could not to remove all setback requirements Brantley said the town require- Board member Jan Shoop, stating said she had a problem with accept- confirm that at Tuesday’s meeting. on how far bars and liquor stores ment, at one time, was measured she could see the town council’s ing a zero boundary, without know- Brantley said if the town council need to be from schools and church- “as the crow flies” but now is meas- point, still seconded Brantley’s ing the setbacks for Sebring or accepted that distance, they would es inside the city limits. ured in walking distance, door to motion against removing setbacks. Avon Park. Calls to Sebring and have more luck permitting bars than The School Board of Highlands door, which would allow businesses In contrast, the county require- Avon Park city staff were not the 800-foot minimum. County thinks that’s a bad idea and to be closer than a direct 800-foot ment is 1,500 feet minimum, returned Friday afternoon. Andy Tuck said any action the voted Tuesday to say so to the Lake line. according to the Highlands County School Board Attorney John school board would take wouldn’t Placid Town Council. He said the town council is argu- Land Development Regulations. McClure said Sebring has allowed affect Lake Placid’s policy, but just Board member Bill Brantley, who ing that Lake Placid is such a small Florida Statute 562.45(2)a has a alcohol sales in the downtown area give the school board’s opinion. lives in Lake Placid, said the town’s municipality with so many schools 500-foot setback from a school with a special use/event permit, “Lake Placid (Town Council) will alcohol ordinance currently states and churches in the city limits that property, unless the county or despite setbacks. He also told the do what they want,” Tuck said. Another arrest made in convenience store robbery By PHIL ATTINGER reports, the and both a gold necklace [email protected] robbery and religious bead necklace SEBRING — Deputies took place from her neck — valued at have made a second arrest at 11:20 more than $2,500, reports in the M & H Convenience a.m. Dec. 9 said. Store robbery on Dec. 9. at the Deputies identified Heriberto Ernesto Torres M&H Huertes from surveillance de Jongh, 38, of 5119 Store, video at the Circle K at Granada Blvd. Apt. 2 in de Jongh 2532 3030 U.S. 27 S. in Sebring, Sebring has been charged County where a man tried to cash with robbery and false Road 17 S. in the stolen Lottery tickets.