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Today's Top Stories

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Friday, May 18, 2012

Town considers creating CRA district

What is slum and blight? Defining that for Lake Placid could be the next step as the Lake Placid Town Council voted to move forward with pursuing a Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) at Monday night’s meeting. Basic information about CRA’s as provided by the Florida Redevelopment Association was presented to … read more.

LATEST LOCAL NEWS

Sexual abuse suit filed against school board
Thu May 10 2012 08:01AM

A federal lawsuit has been filed against the School Board of Highlands County and Lake Country Elementary School employee Maria Gonzalez in the United States District Court for the Southern … read more.

Citizen group lobbies for canal maintenance
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

A group formed Saturday morning to provide a unified voice for residents concerned about the condition of a canal from Lake June-In-Winter to Lake Henry. The canal has accumulated sediment … read more.

One-day trip to New York City retraces grandfather’s footsteps
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

Dale and Joni Warner of Lake Placid took along a copy of The Journal when they made a pilgrimage to New York City on May 3 to commemorate the 100th … read more.

D.A.R.E. Day celebration a huge success
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

About 1,100 Highlands County fifth-grade students screamed, danced and laughed Thursday at an annual D.A.R.E. celebration in the auditorium at South Florida Community College. But there was a serious message … read more.

More Local News

Child molester to be sentenced
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

Convicted child molester Orestes Gonzalez will be sentenced June 18 for the sexual battery of children in an after-school care program at Lake Country Elementary School in Lake Placid. Circuit Court Judge Angela Cowden said in a Wednesday, May 9 … read more.

Thu May 10 2012 08:01AM

Gonzalez due back in court today A status hearing is set for today (Wednesday) for Orestes Gonzalez, the man who has admitted sexually abusing children at Lake Country Elementary School in Lake Placid. The 79-year-old could be sentenced at the … read more.

What’s the true story about the Tower?
Thu May 10 2012 08:01AM

Good news, Lake Placid...it’s not haunted. It’s also not leaning, or filled with mold and it has an elevator that works perfectly. The Tower in Lake Placid has long been a source of misinformation, says Charles Erwin, general counsel for … read more.

Engagement announced
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

Bobby and Laura Mielke of Lake Placid announce the engagement of their daughter, Emily Marie, to Joshua Zahller. Miss Mielke is a 2005 graduate of Lake Placid High School. She earned a cosmetology license from the Aveda Institute in Orlando … read more.

STR8UP Youth House to open June 1
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

Lake Placid youngsters will have more to occupy weekends starting June 1 when STR8UP Youth House officially opens on Friday and Saturday nights, according to youth minister Sammy Telesco. Telesco, with his wife Dana and a small army of supporters, … read more.

Exhibit celebrates Lake Placid’s 85th birthday
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

A ribbon cutting Tuesday officially opened an exhibit celebrating the 85th birthday of the Town of Lake Placid. The exhibit is on display in the lobby of the Highlands County Government Building at 600 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring. County Commissioners … read more.

Cheryl K. Humphrey is Teacher of the Month
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

Cheryl K. Humphrey from Lake Placid Middle School has been chosen Teacher of the Month for May. The honor is presented jointly by the Lake Placid Noon Rotary Club and the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce. Humphrey was presented a … read more.

State leaders attend local UDC chapter meeting
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

State President Gail Crosby and state Second Vice President Deana Byther were special guests when the Capt. John Wesley Whidden chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, met this week at Peppercorn’s restaurant in Lake Placid. There were 23 members and … read more.

Today’s ‘Ride of Silence’ a memorial to 7-year-old crash victim
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

Cyclists from around the county will take to their bicycles today (Wednesday) for a solemn hour-long ride around Lake Jackson in Sebring as a memorial tribute to a 7-year-old Avon Park boy who died recently. Ride of Silence is a … read more.

Lake Placid girl crowned Queen of Cinco de Mayo
Thu May 10 2012 08:01AM

Gabriela Valdovinos of Lake Placid was crowned queen of the annual Cinco de Mayo festival in Arcadia in ceremonies Saturday evening. Following tradition, DeSoto County Sheriff William Wise placed the tiara on Gabriela’s head just moments before she was grand … read more.

Warrick named Administrative Professional of the Year
Thu May 3 2012 08:00AM

Cindy Warrick of First Presbyterian Church in Lake Placid was named this year’s Administrative Professional during a sold out luncheon Wednesday, March 25. Sponsored by Home & Office Essentials, Miller’s Central Air and Wauchula State Bank, this is the ninth … read more.

Public school lunch prices to increase
Thu May 17 2012 08:00AM

Lunch prices in Highlands County public schools will increase 10 cents for elementary and secondary students next school year to meet a requirement of the National School Lunch Program. The School Board of Highlands County approved the increase this week. … read more.

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State, National and World News

Autopsy: Evidence of marijuana in Martin’s blood
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

ORLANDO (AP) — Medical examiners found evidence of marijuana in Trayvon Martin’s system after he was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer, an autopsy report released Thursday shows. The report was included in a large amount of evidence released … read more.

Rural homeless shelters in Fla. to get $2 million
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Homeless shelters across the state will receive more than $2 million dollars in federal grants. The Department of Children and Families says the money will go to 25 emergency homeless shelters in rural areas. The money will … read more.

Woman foils would-be robbery by chasing suspects
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

HOBE SOUND (AP) — A Hobe Sound woman chased after four would-be robbers when she returned home from taking her husband to work and saw them climbing out of her window. Renee Granlund told Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers she saw … read more.

Central Fla. woman gives birth at gas station
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

LONGWOOD (AP) — A Florida woman has made what can certainly be called a speedy delivery: She gave birth at a gas station. Orlando’s WKMG reports Shelly Tester gave birth with the help of her husband early Wednesday at a … read more.

Man pleads guilty to pointing laser at planes
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

ORLANDO (AP) — The U.S. Attorney’s Office says a 49-year-old man faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to aiming a laser pointer at a plane departing from Orlando International Airport. Prosecutors say Glenn Stephen Hansen pointed … read more.

Fla. tourism numbers show slight gain in 2012
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Florida tourism officials say numbers for the first quarter of the year are up slightly over the same period a year ago. Visit Florida, the state’s marketing division, released numbers Wednesday showing a 2.4 percent boost for … read more.

Polk Co. confirms 6th positive rabies case
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

FORT MEADE (AP) — Polk County has confirmed its sixth positive rabies case this year. A Fort Meade resident found his two dogs with a dead raccoon. The raccoon was tested for rabies, and it was confirmed positive for rabies … read more.

Agency for disabled people rates Fla. providers
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — The state has updated its Medicaid provider ratings for Floridians with developmental disabilities. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities posted the new rankings on its website Wednesday. They are part of an effort by all state agencies … read more.

Workshops set for gopher tortoise conservation
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

MIAMI (AP) — Wildlife officials will be conducting regional workshops for gopher tortoise conservation. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made the announcement Wednesday. The workshops will present information on the management plan and permitting guidelines for gopher tortoises. … read more.

Prosecutor: Plea deals set in Fla. A&M hazing case %reldate(2012-05-17T14:09:43
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

BC-FL--FAMU Arrests,129 Prosecutor: Plea deals set in Fla. A&M hazing case %reldate(2012-05-17T14:09:43 Eds: APNewsNow. Will be updated. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A prosecutor says two defendants accused of hazing a Florida A&M University band member are expected to plead guilty … read more.

Student to plead guilty to Obama threat
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

MIAMI (AP) — Court records show a Miami college student intends to plead guilty to making threatening posts against President Barack Obama on Facebook. A change of plea hearing is set for Wednesday for 20-year-old Joaquin Amador Serrapio Jr. He … read more.

Maas named executive editor of Tampa Tribune
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TAMPA (AP) — A longtime news manager at The Tampa Tribune has been chosen as the new executive editor. The newspaper reported the appointment of Richard “Duke” Maas on Thursday. The 59-year-old Maas has been managing editor of the Tribune … read more.

Ed secretary questions Fla. law on tutoring
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

MIAMI (AP) — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan questioned Thursday why the Florida Legislature passed a law requiring districts to continue tutoring services that have not proven effective. Florida was one of nearly a dozen states that received a waiver … read more.

Citizens board chair urges caution
Thu May 17 2012 08:08PM

TALLAHASSEE (AP) — Citizens Property Insurance Corp. could face dire consequences if it fails to involve Florida lawmakers before deciding whether to approve a dramatic rate increase for new policyholders, the state-backed firm’s board president warned Thursday. The corporation’s Board … read more.

US ready to strike Iran
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

JERUSALEM — The U.S. has plans in place to attack Iran if necessary to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons, Washington’s envoy to Israel said, days ahead of a crucial round of nuclear talks with Tehran. Dan Shapiro’s message resonated … read more.

Greek Cabinet, legislators sworn in
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece on Thursday swore in 300 legislators for just one day before it dissolves Parliament and calls new elections, among them 21 lawmakers from Golden Dawn — arguably the most far-right party to be involved in … read more.

Buffett buys 63 Media General papers
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

LOS ANGELES (LA Times) — Former paperboy and current Omaha, Neb., billionaire Warren Buffett is throwing the weight of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. behind the newspaper industry, buying the majority of Media General Inc.’s papers months after picking up his hometown … read more.

Stocks slump again
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

NEW YORK (AP) — Unable to shake their worries about Europe, investors drove stocks to a four-month low Thursday and piled into bonds, sending the yield on the 10-year Treasury note close to an all-time low. The Dow Jones industrial … read more.

Senators want to stop Saverin from dodging taxes
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

WASHINGTON (LA Times) — Two senators on Thursday denounced Facebook Inc. co-founder Eduardo Saverin as a tax dodger for renouncing his U.S. citizenship ahead of the company’s initial public offering and introduced legislation to punish him and others who leave … read more.

Fate of ‘uninsurables’ hinges on Supreme Court
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

WASHINGTON — Cancer patient Kathy Watson voted Republican in 2008 and believes the government has no right telling Americans to get health insurance. Nonetheless, she says she’d be dead if it weren’t for President Barack Obama’s health care law. Now … read more.

Cellphone disaster alert system to start soon
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

DAYTON, Ohio (Cox Newspapers) — Major U.S. wireless carriers will go live this month with an emergency disaster alert system broadcasting free text messages warning of tornadoes, flash floods, earthquakes and other emergencies. Major carriers AT&T, Cellcom, Cricket, Sprint Nextel, … read more.

US unemployment aid applications stay at 370,000
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, suggesting modest but steady gains in the job market. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly unemployment aid applications stayed at a seasonally adjusted 370,000, … read more.

Facebook IPO set at $38
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

NEW YORK — Facebook’s initial public offering of stock is shaping up to be one of the largest ever. The world’s definitive online social network is raising at least $16 billion, a big windfall for a company that began eight … read more.

Cuban president’s daughter gets US travel visa
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban first daughter Mariela Castro has been granted a U.S. visa to attend events in San Francisco and New York, one of her associates confirmed Thursday. The travel permission sparked a firestorm of criticism from Cuban-American politicians … read more.

Postal Service to begin closing plants this summer
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nearly bankrupt U.S. Postal Service is moving ahead with plans to close dozens of mail processing centers, saying on Thursday it can no longer wait as Congress remains deadlocked over how to help. At a news … read more.

Prisons to step up anti-rape efforts
Thu May 17 2012 08:37PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Thursday ordered federal, state and local prisons, jails and detention facilities to step up the fight against prison rape, issuing mandatory screening, enforcement and prevention regulations in hopes of reducing sexual victimization behind … read more.

Census Bureau: Minority births outnumbered whites for first time
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

LOS ANGELES (LA Times) — The United States has reached a historic tipping point — with Latino, Asian, mixed-race and African-American births constituting a majority of births for the first time, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday. Minorities made up … read more.

RFK Jr.’s estranged wife hanged herself
Thu May 17 2012 08:06PM

BEDFORD, N.Y. (AP) — The Kennedy family, so practiced at public mourning, is grieving again after the estranged wife of Robert Kennedy Jr. hanged herself at her home in suburban New York. Mary Richardson Kennedy, 52, an architect known for … read more.

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