C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN IVING NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 L ,1B At a lacrosse roads Robbery not real Deadly drive Former baseball star False robbery report lands Woman dies when Courtes y photo Weber- has new sport to play Callah delivery driver in jail car plunges into lake an SPORTS,1B PAGE 2A PAGE 2A Wednesday-Thursday, December 26-27, 2012 www.newssun.com Volume 93/Number 158 | 50 cents Forecast City OKs funding A couple of showers and a T-storm for wall High Low 80 49 demolition Complete Forecast PAGE 12A Wall at Center and Orange has been Online point of controversy By SAMANTHA GHOLAR [email protected] SEBRING — City council mem- bers unanimously passed a consent Question: Do you feel agenda item Tuesday evening that children are safer appropriated the funds for the demo- with military or law lition of the retaining wall that sur- enforcement on rounds Gingerlee Mitchelllindo’s property at 503 E. Center Ave. school campuses? After a very lengthy dispute, the city has been granted permission by the courts to demolish the wall. Yes News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS Agriculture is the focus of the newest exhibit at the Children’s Museum of the Highlands, which will be In late November, Mitchelllindo unveiled today as part of the museum’s 22nd anniversary celebration. filed for a temporary injunction 73.5% against the City of Sebring, Civil Surv Engineering and Highlands County. Mitchelllindo hoped that Cracker Crops and Cows once granted, the injunction would allow her time to No file her many civil Children’s Museum of the Highlands cases against the % city, engineering 26.5 firm, the county unveils new exhibit on 22nd anniversary and other individ- uals involved with Total votes: 68 By SAMANTHA GHOLAR the initial survey- [email protected] ing of her wall. Mitchelllindo Next question: SEBRING — A new attraction Assistant City Did worries about the will be the talk of the town, or at Administrator Bob Hoffman spoke fiscal cliff affect your least for the kids in town, once to the News-Sun last week, describ- holiday spending? they visit the Children’s Museum ing the next steps in the City’s plan of the Highlands. The museum is regarding the wall. Make your voice heard at gearing up for an exciting new “The council approved the appro- www.newssun.com year with the unveiling of it’ priation of funds from the city’s con- newest exhibit in conjunction with tingency fund at Tuesday night’s celebrating it’s 22nd year anniver- meeting,” Hoffman said. Obituaries sary today. After bids were sent in and looked Theodore Bjork Founder of the museum Linda over by city staff, Excavation Point Age 89, of Crowder has been working dili- was hired to do the project last Etowah, Tenn. gently over the past month to keep week. the newest addition to the museum “The court order allows them to Obituaries, Page 5A under wraps. After weeks of prep- go in and slope the land to get it at ping and fine tuning, Crowder is the right level after the wall is taken Index now ready to show it off; the down,” Hoffman said. “The engi- Celebrations 10B Cracker Crops and Cows exhibit is neering company out of Polk Classifieds 7A ready for guests to enjoy. County, Civil Surv, will supervise Clubs & Organizations 7B The Cracker Crops and Cows the project. They will stabilize the exhibit has been a project Crowder wall that remains so that they can Community Briefs 2A News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS has wanted to do for many years. Kids will be able to have a hands-on experience of milking a mechanical slope it to keep any land out of city Crossword Puzzle 11B cow at the new Cracker Crops and Cows exhibit in the Children’s Dear Abby 11B See MUSEUM, page 3A Museum. See WALL, page 5A Dinner Diva 11B Editorial & Opinion 4A Entertainment 9B Friends & Neighbors 10B Live Sports on TV 2B Army specialist gets Living 1B Lottery Numbers 2A surprise welcome home Movie Times 11B Sports 1B By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY a specialist in the U.S. [email protected] Large crowd Army, but know about him Follow the SEBRING — John and through John and April. News-Sun on April Hill planned their son greets Tray Those who know him are old Tray’s homecoming from family friends. Afghanistan with military Hill in Sebring John Ash, for example, precision. They briefed their has been April’s client for www.twitter.com/thenewssun troops, delegated essential John and Elenor about 14 years. “I’m meeting and tasks and made sure to syn- Delegarde are on duty early him for the first time,” Ash chronize all watches. at the house. April calls to said, “but I know the stories Operation Welcome Home warn them Tray’s plane is and seen his photos. She Tray — code named Surprise running late on account of talks about him all the time.” www.facebook.com/newssun Party — is to be a day their bad weather. He won’t land Myra Hanni has been a son will always remember. in Orlando until about 3:30 regular breakfast customer at The objective is to gather p.m. the Depot for years. a large, enthusiastic crowd By 2:30 p.m. most of the “We hear all about Tray,” and create a loud, heartfelt greeters have arrived at the Hanni said. “It’s like we’re News-Sun photo by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY greeting. Expected time of house. Myra Hanni, a dedicated Depot breakfast customer, is part of the large turnout welcoming Army Spec. Tray Hill home. 0790994 01001 arrival in Sebring: 2:30 p.m. Most had never met Tray, See SURPRISE, 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 low down; 0 0 0 2 5 6 0 9 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Wednesday, December 26, 2012 www.newssun.com COMMUNITY BRIEFS Woman dies Change in AP recycling pick up, not for garbage after driving AVON PARK – There will be a change in pick up of recycling materials car in lake for residents in the city of Avon Park. There will News-Sun staff Lelia. be no pick up of items on AVON PARK — A 48- The car went down the Wednesday. Due to the year-old woman died early boat ramp and approximate- holidays, recycle pick up Sunday morning when she ly 40 feet into the lake, the was moved to Thursday. drove her car into Lake report said. Harmon was There will be no Lelia. unable to exit the vehicle change in garbage serv- According to a Florida and died at the scene “from ice for the Christmas hol- Highway Patrol report, injuries sustained in the iday. Tonia C. Harmon of Avon crash” the report said. Contact Public Works- Park was driving a 1998 Harmon’s passenger, 52- Sanitation Department at Nissan Maxima east on W. year-old Charles L. Staton 452-4429 with questions. Martin Road approaching of Avon Park, received S. Saxon Lane at about minor injuries. YMCA offers 12:45 a.m. She failed to Both Harmon and Staton ‘Good Dog’ class make the curve and contin- were wearing their seat ued traveling east toward belts. A blood alcohol test SEBRING — the boat ramp for Lake was pending. Highlands County YMCA (100 YMCA Lane) will offer a winter Photo courtesy of the Heartland Cultural Alliance dog obedience and Christopher Tuffley, riding a major sugar high, tastes the last competitive entry at the HCA behavioral modification dessert cook-off Thursday. Note how eventual winner, Gail Leavitt keeps an eye on a oppo- Delivery driver nent’s plate. course, “Good Dog.” The course is being offered to all citizens and visitors charged with of Highlands County. Risking sugar overload You do not have to be a filing false report member of the YMCA to partake. Special to the News-Sun type gun” out the passenger This is a six-week to help local artists LAKE PLACID – A window and demanded cash course, which will begin Pepsi delivery driver was and his driver license. at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. Cooking contest organiz- cooks are Then there are the unusual arrested Saturday and Parker, 33, of Winter 5. The class meets each ers take note: This it. I am watching ethical issues. For example, charged with a misde- Haven, reported that he had Saturday for approxi- turning in my knife and fork your William Oliviveri entered meanor charge of falsely given the robbers cash and mately one hour. The and retiring as a cooking every amazing pastries looking reporting a crime after town his cell phone. classes are held under judge as of Jan. 1, 2013. move, like photos right out of “Bon police were called to inves- Officers noticed oddities cover and fully fenced to Choosing between favorite every Appetite.” Turns out he is a tigate a reported armed rob- in Parker’s demeanor. San keep the owner and dog family recipes is simply too expres- professional with a shop at bery. Miguel also noticed comfortable along with risky, too difficult, too fat- sion on 3029 U.S. 27 N. As the At 8 a.m. changes in Parker’s protection from nature’s tening for me to continue. your face. judge, it was my responsibil- Saturday, Lake description of elements. And I seem to be doing Tuffin’ There ity to disqualify him because Placid Police events.