C M Y K www.newssun.com EWS UN NHighlands County’s Hometown-S Newspaper Since 1927 Tourney win Tea Party Lent Dragons make Hats steal the show at Healthy recipes to needed adjustments Caladium Co-op event serve for lunch SPORTS, 1B CLUBS, 10B LIVING, 12B Wednesday-Thursday, February 6-7, 2013 www.newssun.com Volume 94/Number 16 | 50 cents Forecast Fair season in full swing, kicks off Friday By SAMANTHA GHOLAR houses await fair attendees looking stage for the Junior Miss Highlands the Shannon Reed Band, and more. [email protected] for a night, or two, of fun. County Beauty Pageant. The older Performances by local dance teams, More sunshine than SEBRING – It’s that time again. A The fair begins Friday and runs girls event follows on Saturday as the Dance Unlimited and Edge Cheer are clouds time for thrills, fun and entertainment through Saturday, Feb. 16 giving vis- competitors face off for the Miss scheduled as well as acts by the during the 2013 Highlands County itors a full week to enjoy a number of Highlands County crown. The Miss famous Mark Yuzuik, the Master High Low Fair and Livestock Show. The annual events, entertainment and tasty fair Highlands County Beauty Pageant Hypnotist Show. event draws thousands each year for foods. will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday. The fair also features a number of 80 57 fun and friendly competition. Each year during opening week- Several entertainers will take the livestock displays by local students. Complete Forecast Reithoffer Shows has been putting end, the fair brings together dozens of stage throughout the week including Pig, calf, chicken and rabbit are just a PAGE 12A together the fair at the Midway for the county’s young ladies to compete Lotela Gold, The California Toe Jam few of the shows scheduled for the more than 20 years adding new rides for the titles of Jr. Miss and Miss Band, the Avon Park High School full run of the fair. The livestock Online and activities with each passing year. Highlands County. Choir, Sebring High School Choir, Everything from giant slides to fun Friday at 7 p.m., girls will take the The Florida Bluegrass Express band, See FAIR, page 3A Alleged Question: What do you enjoy most about Tear down the wall the Super Bowl? shooter turns self in By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY [email protected] SEBRING — Dwayne Collins, 18, wanted by law enforcement for Game allegedly shooting Jonny T. Thomas dead on Feb. 1, is in custody after turn- ing himself in to the Highlands County 35.4% Sheriff’s Office the next day. According to the arrest report, the shooting occurred about 1 a.m. Friday on the sidewalk next to 755 Lemon Ave. Thomas had what appeared to be a gun wound to the face, and died while on the way to the hospital. When the police Commercials arrived, the victim lay in a pool of his own 53.9% blood, the arresting report said. Collins Witnesses told law enforcement, “that Collins approached Thomas on the sidewalk and confront- ed him about money Thomas owed him. Before Thomas could respond, Collins allegedly shot Thomas in the face before he could speak about the Halftime Show money issue.” The report recommends a charge of % pre-meditated murder because Collins 1.5 News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS is said to have shot Thomas without A crew from Excavation Point works to remove the concrete wall at Gingerlee Michellindo’s home in giving him a chance to respond. Sebring. Instead, the court charged Collins with homicide murder not premeditated dur- No confrontations, but Internet postings promised ing another felony. Collins also is charged with posses- By SAMANTHA GHOLAR the morning, overseeing See TEEN, page 6A [email protected] and giving directions for Party SEBRING – Gingerlee the project. Rancourt was Mitchelllindo sat calmly careful not to speak to in her yard Tuesday Mitchelllindo Tuesday, 9.2% morning speaking mostly only directing questions to herself. Unlike the through Tolar when nec- 1 killed in Total votes: 65 countless other mornings essary. when the 503 E. Center The fencing was the Ave. property owner first to go. Workers cut car crash Next question: would directly confront the chain link fence away News-Sun staff Is a code of conduct city officials and con- from the concrete wall SEBRING – Lewis Beck, a former a good idea for struction workers, this and steel piping with a sales associate of the News-Sun,was morning Mitchelllindo saw. The piping was also elected officials? killed Monday afternoon at County could not do much of News-Sun photo by KATARA SIMMONS cut and pulled out. A Sitting in her yard with camera in hand, Gingerlee Road 17 and Tranquility Lane. Make your voice heard at anything. backhoe was used to Michelllindo records while a demolition crew from According to Florida Highway Excavation Point Inc. Excavation Point tears down the wall surrounding knock down each pillar of www.newssun.com Patrol reports, Dakota S. Keys, 21, of arrived at Mitchelllindo’s her home at 503 E. Center Street in Sebring. the wall and the base, Sebring was driving a 2013 Kia Soul property early Tuesday which sat just on the side- south on County Road 17, just south of morning; before the walk. Mitchelllindo in the same Building and Zoning Tranquility Lane at about 1:17 p.m. Obituaries Sebring Middle School Both walls, on Orange manner she approaches Department arrived next. For unknown reasons, Keys failed to tardy bell had even rang. Street and Center Avenue, Alec Golden anyone who “trespasses” Tolar explained he was maintain a single lane and drove into The demolition team were demolished around Age 66, of Sebring on her property. sent by City the northbound lane and into the path composed of approxi- the property as well as “I told them what was Administrator Scott of the 1991 Mazda Miata being driven Rosemary Scruggs mately five Excavation the sidewalks. going on and that this Noethlich to document by Beck, 58. Age 88, of Avon Park Point workers waited --- may cause them more and take photos of the The front right of the Soul struck the calmly in the crisp, cool According to Tolar, harm than good down the demolition. No other city front of the Miata. After impact, both Obituaries, Page 5A morning until all the stu- Rancourt and Excavation road in the future ... They officials were present vehicles began to rotate before coming dents had crossed Center Point will add new side- just said they were here Tuesday. to a final rest. Avenue and were safely walks that will be ADA to do their jobs,” Tal Rancourt, owner of Beck worked at the News-Sun in on the school grounds. approved. The new side- Mitchelllindo said. Excavation Point Inc., 2011, servicing accounts in Lake The workers were Lee Tolar of Sebring’s was in and out throughout See WALL, page 6A Placid. 0790994 01001 approached by Phone ... 385-6155 Fax ... 385-2453 Online: www.newssun.com WAUCHULA STATE BANK/Cheryl Hen; 11.25"; 1.5"; Black plus three; process, low down front strip; 00027351 C M Y K Page 2A News-Sun ࡗ Wednesday, February 6, 2013 www.newssun.com COMMUNITY Faith, Family & Country concert City council asks for BRIEFS code of conduct draft LP Camp hosts chamber lunch By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY ples before I said yes or no,” [email protected] Councilor Terry Heston said. LAKE PLACID — The AVON PARK — During “It could be something you Greater Lake Placid the Jan. 28 regular city coun- hand out to people as they Chamber of Commerce cil meeting, City Councilor come on council,” Councilor Membership Luncheon will Parke Sutherland suggested it Garrett Anderson said. be held at noon Wednesday, was a good time for the coun- Palm Beach County is Feb. 13 at the Lake Placid cil to develop a standardized looking for an ethics com- Camp & Conference Center. procedure. missioner, Buhr told the The lunch is sponsored by “(We should develop) a council. Some cities had Florida Hospital Heartland code of conduct act guide to codes of conduct in place, but Lake Placid and a presenta- us as a council as to how we many did not. tion will be made by Dr. conduct ourselves,” he said. “How about I do a draft,” Richard Daum on Heart “I think this is an opportunity Buhr said. Health. to create a process. “Yes,” Heston replied, RSVP the chamber on or “I’d like for us to consider “just don’t make it real before Friday by email at it; have (City Attorney thick.” [email protected] or call Gerald) Buhr draft some- “I charge by the page,” 465-4331. Cost is $10 per thing.” said Buhr, to general laugh- person. Menu selection will “I’d like to see some sam- ter. be salad bar and sandwich bar. Rising Gala is News-Sun photo by ROMONA WASHINGTON The Wacaster Family perform a number with Jayc Harold and his sons during the Saturday Faith, Family & Country concert Saturday night at Under the Oaks Opry. Also enter- Public can review state’s taining the crowd of nearly 500 were Tommy Brandt and Kendall Onheiser. The SEBRING — The crowd was larger than expected, flowing over to the outside, but the cold tempera- plans for 23 Florida species Highway Park Neighborhood tures didn’t dwindle the numbers. Associated Press reviewed. Once all draft Preservation Council is host- TALLAHASSEE — The action plans are revised, ing its annual Highway Park public has been invited to wildlife officials will tie Rising Gala on Saturday at review the state’s conserva- them together in one Chateau Élan Hotel & tion plans for roughly two Imperiled Species Conference Center’s grand Time to get involved dozen species of native Management Plan.