C M Y K Two up, CONVICTED two down ARSONIST Lake Placid and Sebring fall in state JAILED FOR playoff openers MORE FIRES SPORTS, B1 Cop spotted him using cell phone to video blaze set in bar parking lot By SCOTT DRESSEL [email protected] SEBRING — A man with a history of arson has confessed to start- ing two fires and try- ing to start another, according to the Sebring Police Breezy. Department. Low 59 Jason Brandon Jason Brandon High 82 Wagner, 32, told inves- Wagner faces one EWS UN tigators he set fire to count of attempted N -S Details, A14 first-degree arson, Highlands County’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1927 two vehicles in the parking lot of Yogi Bar two counts of sec- ond-degree arson — the second one Sunday, May 5, 2013 www.newssun.com Volume 94/Number 54 | 75 cents and three counts of Wednesday night — burglary. and also broke into a neighbor’s house and tried to start a fire in the oven last year, SPD reports said. He was booked into the Highlands County Horse See ARSONIST, A9 Haven Mosher saves horses from abuse and neglect By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY [email protected] SEBRING — To reach Hidden Creek Farms Animal Rescue, a visitor drives down a long, rutted track between walls of green overgrowth. The drive opens suddenly on acres of open pasture land. A metal skeleton of a long abandoned nursery shed stands out against the sky to the right – only one or two plastic panels are left of the roof. There is a wonderful surprise within that skele- Towering tires ton, however — resting within neatly raked, metal-rail stalls are 22 horses of varying size, First Heartland Tailgate color and breed. The horses are friendly and calm. There is a deep peace, quiet enough to hear small Extravaganza brings horse noises — the soft snort, the swish of a tail, the big trucks, big fun to clop of a hoof. A true horse whisperer created this oasis — veteran horse trainer Pamela downtown A4 Mosher. See MOSHER, A7 Sweet, cold treats A lesson in horse sense News-Sun photo by KATARA New By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY treated horses in the past. She SIMMONS Pamela [email protected] frozen believes in the Native American Mosher of SEBRING — Pam Mosher, the ways that emphasize respect, consis- Hidden Creek yogurt heart and soul of Hidden Creek tency and compassion. Farms shop Farms Animal Rescue, has been “Horses are like little kids — they Animal breaking, training and caring for have a selective attention span,” Rescue points opens in to the Sebring horses all of her life. Mosher said. “In training, change cataracts Over the years she has learned a tasks every 15 minutes. Notice a Thursday that great deal through experience and by horse getting crabby? Give him a are causing BUSINESS, listening to older trainers talking Bullseye to go A8 about how they solved problems or See HORSE, A7 blind. Index Business A8 Classifieds A11 A club for past, present Community Briefs A2 Crossword B13 Dear Abby B13 and future champions Editorial & Opinion A3 Horoscope B13 By ROMONA WASHINGTON watching some of his child- Lottery Numbers A2 [email protected] hood heroes like Greg AVON PARK – When Jackson, Duane Council, Outdoors B11 Charles Devlin was a high Duane Young, Geno Taylor Pause & Consider B13 school freshman he quickly and his brother Tim go on to Places to Worship B8 learned more about hard work win the 1984 state champi- Religion 86 and teamwork than he ever onship under the watchful dreamed. He was one in a eye of Coach Ronnie Shopping B12 News-Sun photo by ROMONA WASHINGTON group of freshman junior Jackson. Sudoku Puzzle B13 Some board members of the Avon Park Champions Club look over the new grill that will be used to help varsity baseball players who “Coach Jackson knew what raise funds for youth athletic programs in the city. were moved up to the varsity from the bench rather than he was doing, not only coach- From left is treasurer Ronnie Jackson, board members team. Not so much as players, from behind the fence and saw ing that team to a champi- Amy Jackson, Monica Germaine and Penny Jahna, vice but as observers. what it took to be a champi- president Seth Lambert and president Charles Devlin. The young boys watched onship team. Devlin recalls See CHAMPIONS, A9 0990994 01007 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 2 9 6 9 1 C M Y K Page A2 News-Sun ࡗ Sunday, May 5, 2013 www.newssun.com Community Briefs Today’s veterans: Where do they go from here? Final in a series from overseas or from dev- not without complications. SFSC celebrates By CAROL KLINE astating injuries received Bureaucratic oversight, fund- Commencement News-Sun correspondent during service time here at ing and construction snafus In 2009, women made up home. make deadlines hard to hit. Monday 8 percent of the total veteran More newly developed Our daughter served as a AVON PARK — South population in this country. programs, such as that found pediatric intensive care unit Florida State College will Today the ratio of more than in the National Intrepid nurse at Wilford Hall celebrate the accomplish- 50,000 wounded soldiers is Center of Excellence Medical Center, Lackland ments of its graduates believed to be that one in 10 (NICoE) in Bethesda, Md. is Air Force Base, and was on during annual commence- are female. That being said, yet another example of her way home at the time of ment exercises at 6:45 the Veterans Administration immediate trauma care. It her car accident. p.m. Monday at the SFSC now has five regional offers cutting-edge treat- After more than a year in Theatre for the Polytrauma Rehabilitation ment, research and technolo- rehab facilities, she was Performing Arts, Centers (PRCs) across the gy for military men and scheduled to be admitted to Highlands Campus, Avon country. women suffering from trau- the new PRC in San Park. The new Polytrauma matic brain injuries and Antonio. Because of delays Courtesy photo Speakers will be Dr. Rehab Center adjacent to the other psychological health in its opening, she was sent Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristine Ratliff, RN, wearing her official Iraq War Veteran cap proudly. Norman L. Stephens Jr., Audie Murphy Memorial disorders. Still, long-term to a nursing facility and an SFSC president, and Tami Veterans Hospital in San care is the concern that must 8-month stay caused almost Cullens, chair, SFSC Antonio is part of that sys- be addressed. irreparable damage. When evaluation program, it did a nursing home setting. District Board of tem. It offers an immediate Here in America, we have she was finally admitted to wonders to bring her back, Continued care is the con- Trustees. Sebring City solution for care for our come a long way toward the San Antonio-based PRC but it has taken months for Councilman Andrew wounded veterans returning acute care for veterans, but for a six-week rehab and her to regain what she lost in See VETERANS, A9 Fells, an SFSC alumnus, will deliver the invoca- Online tion. The musical selec- tion, “Time for Us,” will SFSC Graduation: Monday, 6:45 p.m. This week’s question: be performed by Wayne Should the legislature Boda and Erin Sena. It pass a bill that would was composed for the Not your typical student streamline the death occasion by Doug penalty process? Andrews, SFSC’s dean of cultural programs, and David Hale, SFSC regis- tration specialist. Yes No More than 837 students will have met SFSC grad- % uation requirements by 86.6% 13.4 the May commencement. Of these 555 will receive Total votes: 194 associate in arts degrees, associate in science This week’s question: degrees, or associate in Should the county raise the tourism tax from applied science degrees, 2 percent to 3 percent? 166 will receive occupa- tional certificates, or col- Poll open through Friday. www.newssun.com lege credit certificates, Make your voice heard at and 116 will graduate from SFSC’s Adult Education program. Follow the News-Sun on Approximately 256 plan to walk across the stage during commencement. Also participating in Courtesy photo commencement will be Jacob ‘Jake’ Jordan, 36, will graduate summa cum laude from SFSC on Monday and plans www.twitter.com/thenewssun www.facebook.com/newssun to pursue a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering Lynn MacNeill, bearing the college mace, and marshals Elizabeth Jake Jordan, 36, is building Andrews, Robert KAYLOR & KAYLOR; 5.542"; 1.5"; Black; above lottery social security; Hampton, Dr. Theresa a new future for himself 0 0 0 2 9 5 9 8 James, Cheryl John, Tanna Markel, Ricardo Special to the News-Sun using my personal money Pantoja, Bob Sconyers, AVON PARK — Jacob upfront to purchase all build- and Walteria Tucker. “Jake” Jordan does not fit ing expenses and materials. A reception for gradu- the typical mold of an under- People stopped paying me in ates and their families graduate student. a timely manner when I fin- will be held in the Jordan has a complex life. ished a job. Times were bad. May 1 4 9 17 21 35 51 x:5 Catherine P. Cornelius He is 36 years old, works The difficulties progressed, Lottery Next jackpot $5 million Student Services and full-time running his busi- and I had to put a lien on Classroom Complex ness Jlj Construction and someone’s property.” April 27 10 12 17 28 38 44 x:5 Center April 24 (Building B) immediately Development Inc., is respon- Jordan said he primary 12 14 27 30 36 44 x:3 following the commence- sible for a family, and is a motivation to go back to col- May 3 2 4 12 14 28 May 3 (n) 3271 ment exercises.