C M Y K www.newssun.com Low score but high drama Avon Park Lady EWS UN Red Devils nip NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 arch rival Sebring Slow down The final frontier ... in defensive struggle Speeding a concern in Voyager space probes will Washington Heights leave solar system this year SPORTS, 1B PAGE 2A PAGE 12B Sunday, January 8, 2012 www.newssun.com Volume 93/Number 4 | 75 cents Forecast County to AA fighterfighter Partly sunny discuss and nice High Low new aid 78 54 fromfrom thethe Complete Forecast contract PAGE 12A Online Organizations veryvery wondering when money will arrive Question: Should the start By ED BALDRIDGE start [email protected] City of Sebring be SEBRING — County willing to finance the Commissioners will take a look at new sale of Harder Hall? contracts for the Grant-in-Aid Program News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS on Tuesday in an effort to get needed Cancer survivor Marlow Rivera, who turned 3 on Dec. 17, is the informal poster boy for the Avon Park money out to the right organizations. Yes Relay for Life team Century Link. The relay is April 21, at Joe Franza Stadium APHS The program is designed to help facilitate health care opportunities 45.5% He nearly died during within the county by providing funds to operations like the income-based birth and was born with health clinic Samaritan’s Touch and the South Florida Community College cancer, but Marlow Dental Program. No Rivera is going strong Commissioner Barbara Stewart asked during the Dec. 13 meeting why By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY grant payments had not 54.5% [email protected] been dispersed. AVON PARK — After a troubled, at-risk “For the past couple pregnancy, something went terribly wrong the of months, people have Total votes: 77 day Marlow Rivera was born on Dec. 17, been calling me and asking ‘Where’s the Next question: 2008. Still inside his mother’s womb, Marlow’s money?’” Stewart said. Do you think Mitt heart rate dropped to 7. Normal is 140 to 160. County Attorney Stewart Romney will win The doctor frantically told Callie Decker Ross Macbeth the Republican her baby had to be born immediately, that she explained during the Dec. 20 meeting nomination? should push hard because there was no time that he reworked the contracts, at the request of Bert J. Harris III, the attor- Make your voice heard at for a C-section. But her body wasn’t ready, she wasn’t dilated enough — only 8 centime- ney for the Highlands County Hospital www.newssun.com ters when she should have been 10. Even so, District, the entity which reviews the she pushed with all her might, and Marlow grant applications. Obituaries emerged on her second effort ... with his “Can we get a copy of that? Why are William Miller umbilical cord wound twice around his neck we changing the contract now?” asked Board Chairman Jack Richie. Age 88 and knotted. He was being strangled to death. Stewart took exception with several Eileen Sexton Immediately attended to, Marlow recovered points in the suggested contract, Age 93, of Sebring quickly. He and his mother rested with his including the expansion from a four- father, Raymond Rivera, always at their side. page agreement, including the signa- Edward H. Williams ture pages, to a much longer compre- “‘You should be thanking God that he’s Age 89, of Sebring hensive contract. here today’,” Decker said a nurse told her “Looking at the agreement we had in Obituaries, Page 5A when Marlow was brought to her. “‘He News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS the past, it was one sheet or two sheets. shouldn’t have made it.’” The youngest of three boys, Marlow Rivera is a Hot I am disturbed that the changes have Index “That totally freaked me out,” Decker said. Wheels fanatic who loves to dance and sing. Surving tes- Arts & Entertainment 9B ticular cancer at six weeks of age, his family think he is meant for special things. Business 8A See MARLOW, page 7A See COUNTY, page 3A Chalk Talk 7B Classifieds 9A Community Briefs 2A Crossword Puzzle 11B Sebring begins Program teaches Dear Abby 11B Editorial & Opinion 4A celebration of fishing, life lessons Horoscope 11B Lottery Numbers 2A 100th year By SUSAN COCKING Poinciana became the Movie Times 11B The Miami Herald launch pad for the Florida By SAMANTHA GHOLAR MIAMI — A back injury Fishing Academy — a non- Pause & Consider 11B [email protected] suffered by former Palm profit, after-school program Senior Scene 5B SEBRING — Perfect weather made for a Beach County building con- that teaches life skills and Sports On TV 2B larger than expected turnout at the kick off tractor Richard Brochu five ethical angling to at-risk to the Sebring Centennial Celebration News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS years ago is indirectly youth ages 8 through early Follow the Friday evening. Cheryl Harmon and Jerry Dewind sit responsible for more than together and watch old home videos from 20s. News-Sun on Hundreds of people filled the Downtown Sebring’s early days Friday evening dur- 3,000 kids and teens learning “We want to raise the next Circle and its spoke streets to mix and min- ing the Centennial Celebration. ‘I fell in how to fish. generation of ethical anglers gle with their fellow residents. The Sebring love with Sebring and moved here two Out of work and bored, and captains,” Brochu said. years ago,’ Harmon said. Dewind, a High School marching band led the walk- Brochu — an avid angler — “I want people to realize that www.twitter.com/thenewssun ing parade of Sebring police and fire Sebring High School teacher, has been in asked his young daughter, a the area since 1978. there’s more to it than catch- and department members and city dignitaries student at Poinciana ing fish and throwing them both past and present. Elementary School in on the dock.” Sebring Mayor George Hensley wore a vided by the Sebring Firemen, which Boynton Beach, if there were Brochu, a licensed charter smile the entire evening after he read a everyone seemed to enjoy. a program where kids could captain, and colleague Bob proclamation to the audience declaring “We eventually had to start turning peo- learn how to become respon- www.facebook.com/newssun Cawood have created an Friday the official first day of the year-long ple away,” said City Clerk Kathy Haley. sible anglers. after-school and weekend Centennial celebration. “That is the only complaint we had. We had “She was like, ‘No, would program targeted to every Ridgewood Drive served as an open air you like to start one?’ “ 0990994 01007 restaurant serving up barbecue plates pro- See CENTENNIAL, page 3A Brochu said. See FISHING, page 7A 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 1 5 4 6 1 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Sunday, January 8, 2012 www.newssun.com COMMUNITY BRIEFS Scribe’s Night Out singing groups of the one year 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s, as anniversary seen through the eyes and ears of the Mantini Sisters. SEBRING — Scribe’s Doors and snack bar Night Out has been going opens at 6:15 p.m.; show at strong for the last year. 7 p.m. Cost is $10. Scribe’s Night Out is a Tanglewood is one-half gathering of local writers mile north of Walmart on at Brewster’s Coffee House U.S. 27. For more informa- in Sebring on the second tion, call 402-0763. and fourth Sundays of each month at 6:30 p.m.. Parkinson’s support Today, they will be cele- brating their one-year group meets anniversary, featuring read- Monday ers from 2011 as well as SEBRING — The open mike for anyone who Parkinson’s disease support wishes to share their origi- group for the Highlands nal work. Facilitators County area will meet at Sherry Carlson-Williams 10 a.m. on Monday at the and Chris Williams will be First Baptist Church of handing the reins over to Sebring (corner of Lemon Larry and Elaine Levey for and Pine Streets). 2012. The program this month Scribe’s Night Out is will be from Faye Kern, sponsored by the Heartland coordinator of the Cultural Alliance and American Parkinson’s News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS Bruce Rogers of Disease Association, with Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Lemon Street are two of many streets that law enforcement will be patrolling for Brewster’s. For more infor- speeding violations after complaints to the Sebring City Council about dangerous driving in the area. the latest updates on mation or to schedule a Parkinson’s treatments. date for reading as a fea- All persons with tured author call Larry Parkinson’s disease and Excessive speeding worries Levey at 385-8618. their families are welcome to attend. There is no Mantini Sisters at charge. Tanglewood For more information, Washington Heights resident call 453-6589 or 453-6419. SEBRING — The Highlands County Tanglewood Special Events Parkinson’s Support Group Police Department to do speed study in area will present The Mantini is part of the national net- Sisters Show today. Known work of support groups By SAMANTHA GHOLAR ‘I sit in my patio or sometimes under Rev. Walker is most con- for their harmonic blend affiliated with the [email protected] cerned about,” Dettman said. and versatility, the dynam- American Parkinson’s SEBRING — Concerned the pecan tree in my backyard and The speed studies will ic, award-winning Mantini Disease Association.