www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 Streaks top Avon Park loses a ‘great Taylor was the Haines City asset’ with White’s death ultimate celebrity PAGE 1B PAGE 2A PAGE 12B Friday-Saturday, March 25-26, 2011 www.newssun.com Volume 92/Number 35 | 50 cents Forecast Scott signs teacher pay, Partly sunny and nice tenure bill High Low By BILL KACZOR Associated Press 83 56 TALLAHASSEE — Far-reaching Complete Forecast but divisive legislation that creates a PAGE 12A merit pay plan tied to student test scores for Florida teachers while end- Online ing tenure for new hires became law Thursday with Gov. Rick Scott’s signature. The new Republican governor went to a publicly funded but Question: Should a privately operated Scott recall vote for the city charter school in council be held in Jacksonville to sign his first bill (SB 736). Avon Park? Former Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a similar but more rigid bill last year Yes News-Sun photo by ED BALDRIDGE See SCOTT, page 7A Protesters rally outside Avon Park’s City Hall on Wednesday to raise awareness about recent city council 83.2% actions. No ‘It is time for a change’ 16.8% Protesters rally outside Avon Park City Hall By ED BALDRIDGE years now. It did not start yester- “I am out here to stand up for all [email protected] day or when city manager Bruce the city employees too scared to Total votes: 89 News-Sun file photo AVON PARK – More than 40 Behrens was fired come out,” said Tammy Macklin, a All kinds of arts and crafts will be on people gathered on the sidewalk in “If the people of Avon Park secretary at the fire department. sale at the Springtime on the Mall Next question: front of Avon Park’s City Hall on could speak, they would fire the “There needs to be change. It is Festival in Avon Park today and Will the teacher Wednesday afternoon for a protest city council for all they’ve done,” time for change.” Saturday. tenure and merit pay rally called “Operation Save Avon Austin added. “Communication is “I am encouraged by the turnout, plan improve the Park.” a big problem There is no open and the folks who turned out have Mall Festival “Why do we have to get mad to door policy for the people, certain- education system? a good grasp of the situation,” said get changes?” rally organizer ly not for the employees. This is all former mayor Tom Macklin. “This Make your voice heard at Patricia Austin asked. “This has about control, they must be in con- opens today www.newssun.com been a build up of problems for trol.” See PROTEST, page 7A in Avon Park Obituaries Union tells AP to ‘cease and desist’ By ED BALDRIDGE Jack Farmer [email protected] Age 77, of Tampa By ED BALDRIDGE Opposed to personnel changes,” the letter from AFSCME AVON PARK – Great weather is [email protected] rules changes Council 79 staff representative expected for the 32nd Annual Joseph Francione Sr. AVON PARK — Controversy Michelle L. Rivera says. Springtime on the Mall Festival in Age 48, of Avon Park over employee relations continued Acting city manager Julian Avon Park starting today. Wednesday in Avon Park when the changes adopted by city council on Deleon forwarded letter to council The forecast is for partly cloudy Maria Koornneef employee union filed a cease a Sept. 13. along with some of the changes he skies with a high of 84 on Friday and Age 83, of Lake Placid desist letter over personnel poli- “AFSCME hereby demands that is implementing to stop grievances 86 on Saturday, according to cies. the City of Avon Park cease and from pouring out of city hall. Acuweather.com The American Federation of desist in the unilateral implemen- Llewellyn Leaphart “The AFSCME Employee’s “The vendor list is already bigger State, County and Municipal tation and enforcement of changes Age 89, of Sebring Union Local 79 even filed a ‘cease than it has been for the last couple of Employees (AFSCME) notified the to the Personnel Rules and and desist’ demand letter against years, and this year we have music Mary N. McCrite city on March 9 that about contract Regulations until the parties can Age 91, of Lake Placid violations in the personnel policy bargain over the impact of such See UNION, page 7A See MALL, page 7A Deborah Yeggy Age 59, of Avon Park Lorna Mae York ‘Wedding Singer’ brings ’80s alive on HLT stage tonight Age 85, of Avon Park By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Obituaries, Page 5A ‘The Wedding Singer’ [email protected] Index SEBRING — Music, dancing and Dates: March 25-April 10. Shows: Wednesday, Friday and Classifieds 8A the 1980s will take over the stage when Highlands Little Theatre’s pro- Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. with a Community Briefs 2A duction of “The Wedding Singer” Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Dinner Community Calendar 10B opens tonight. is no longer served, but a full bar is open an hour before each perform- Dear Abby 11B Patty Young, directing her third production, said the play is based on ance. Editorial & Opinion 4A Tickets: $20 each. They are avail- the 1998 movie of the same name able online at highlandslittlethe- Healthy Living 5B starring Adam Sandler and Brew atre.org or at the playhouse box Local Golf 3B Barrymore. office alongside Lake Jackson. Lottery Numbers 2A It is set in Ridgefield, New Jersey Details: Call 385-2175. in 1985 where Robbie Hart has made Movie Times 11B a successful career as a wedding Then his girlfriend leaves him Religion 7B singer with a band. As played by standing at the alter, with only a note Sports On TV 2B Christopher Hayes, he is a nice-guy of goodbye — “the i is dotted with a and hopeless romantic. Sudoku Puzzle 11B broken heart,” Larissa Gonzalez sings For example, writing a song called as Linda. “Awesome” to his fiancé Linda, News-Sun photo by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Poor Robbie falls apart, singing Robbie sings, “She’s awesome. When His heart broken, Robbie Hart, played by Christopher Hayes (second from songs like “Somebody Kill Me.” right), tries to make everyone else miserable too. Here he and the chorus I brush my teeth she tells me to floss sing the painful ‘Casulty of Love’. 0790994 01001 them.” See HLT, page 7A Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Friday, March 25, 2011 www.newssun.com COMMUNITY BRIEFS DeVane Circle project moving along AP loses Orchid show is this Saturday. For more infor- weekend mation, call 452-9853. a ‘great LAKE PLACID SEBRING – The Orchid American Legion Placid Society of Highlands Post 25 will host music by asset’ in County will hold its fifth Uptown Country from annual orchid show, 6:30-9:30 p.m. today. “Orchids in the Heartland,” White Texas Hold-em at 1:30 on Saturday and Sunday at p.m. Saturday and karaoke By ED BALDRIDGE the Bert J. Harris Jr. with Phil from 5-8 p.m. [email protected] Agricultural Center, 4509 For details, call 465-7940. AVON PARK – “He George Blvd. The hours of The Veterans of Foreign always listened,” said the show will be from 10 Wars 3880 will have music Kelly Lister when remem- a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and with LT today. Bingo is at bering her father Patrick 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 2 p.m. Saturday, early bird A. “Sam” White. Admission is $3 per person at 1:30 p.m. Horse races White died early over the age of 12. Hourly are at 5:30 p.m. For more Monday morning at the door prizes of orchids and information, call 699-5444. age of 63 from complica- orchid-related items will be The Lake Placid Moose tions related to kidney given away during the 2374 will host Texas show. problems and congestive Hold’em at 2 p.m. today. More than 1,000 bloom- heart failure. Music with Larry ing orchids of various “He was there when Musgrave from 6-10 p.m. types will be on display for you needed him, he was Bingo bango is at 2 p.m. the public to see and enjoy. loved and will be sorely Saturday. Music with News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS For additional informa- Central Contractors electricians Doug Cool, left, and Dan Scaringe work on wiring the elec- missed,” an emotional Jimmy Black will be from tion contact Pete Otway at trical for the newly re-built gazebo at DeVane Circle in Lake Placid. Lister said on Tuesday. 6-10 p.m. For more infor- 699-1575 or e-mail at White served as presi- mation, call 465-0131. gatorgalanddoughboy@em dent of the Avon Park barqmail.com. Chamber of Commerce Democratic Women several times over last 10 Moose Riders ride meet Saturday years, according to David Greenslade, executive for Epilepsy News-Sun photo by KATARA SEBRING – The director. Awareness SIMMONS Democratic Women’s Club Highway Safety Devices “Sam was a real public of Highlands County will AVON PARK — The employees Ruben Green, servant. He always helped be having their monthly left, and Felipe Recinos Highlands County Moose out when needed. He was general meeting on work to install irrigation Lodge Riders 2494 - a great asset to the com- Saturday at Democratic lines Tuesday morning at District 23 will sponsor DeVane Circle in Lake munity, and to Highlands Headquarters, 4216 Hog Fest 2011 Epilepsy Placid.