Highlands Today 040610 front page

1. Page: LA 1 PubDate: 04-06-2010 Time: 04-05-2010 18:32 Product: Highlands Edition: 1 User: bherbert Color: Y
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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2010 % HIGHLANDSTODAY.COM % INFORMING TODAY. SHAPING TOMORROW
AN EDITION OF
Space Staunch Water main
record defender extension
The Sebring City
A record was set Sebring sweeper Council will consider a
Monday involving the Derek Drummond resolution to adopt a
space shuttle heads our plan for a water main
Discovery. All-Heartland Boys extension project
DETAILS, Page 7
Soccer Team. along State Road 17.
SPORTS, Page 1 DETAILS, Page 2
Murder
suspect
Itching for relief
accepts
plea deal
2008 shooting in Lake Placid
By BRAD DICKERSON
Highlands Today
SEBRING » One of the men charged in connection
with a fatal June 2008 shooting accepted a plea
agreement Monday, exactly one week before his
co-defendant is scheduled to stand trial for murder.
Shane Ryan Fannin, 23, pleaded no contest to
accessory after the fact to a capital
felony. He was originally charged with
first-degree murder and attempted
first-degree murder.
The agreement called for him to
serve six years in prison, followed by
three years of probation.
FANNIN In a summary of the events, Assis-
tant State Attorney Steve Houchin said the co- Highlands Today photo by JASMINA MEYER
defendant, Andrew Kalinowski, shot and killed Walter From left: Melissa Keiber holds her son Benjamin Keiber, 10 months old, as Dr. Navin Deshpande examines him on Mon-
Vilchez, as well as shot and critically injured Jose day at Heartland Pediatrics in Avon Park. Keiber showed symptoms including wheezing and was diagnosed with nasal
allergies.
Escalante in the late evening hours of June 6, 2008.
’Tis the dreaded springtime allergy season
“The defendant before the court (Fannin) drove
Mr. Kalinowski away from that crime scene and in
other ways provided assistance to Mr. Kalinowski in
the commission of that crime,” Houchin said. By MARC VALERO lowed by a dry cough and stuffy
Vilchez and Escalante were both found on the front Highlands Today nose.
porch of a home at 242 E. Phoenix St., in Lake Placid, SEBRING » Kristy Harris’ eyes feel As she does every year, Rock first
each with a single gunshot wound to the face, like they have sandpaper in them, sought relief from several over-the-
according to court records. her sinuses are congested and she’s counter medications, including
The suspects reportedly got into a fight with the feeling a bit fatigued. non-prescription nose sprays,
victims at the Hideaway Lounge. The Sebring resident is one of which provide temporary relief.
Fannin drove Kalinowski toward the intersection of many seeking medical advice for But, then along came a chronic
Phoenix Street and Magnolia Avenue, where they their springtime flare up of seasonal dry cough.
See PLEA DEAL, Page 3 » allergy symptoms. “After five weeks I surrendered
Florida Hospital Heartland Care- and went to the doctor” Rock said.
Now nurse practitioner Dianna “It seems that she has seen me every
Chizmas checks Harris’ ears, nose year at the same time with the same
and throat and listens to her breath- symptoms for several years.”
Many Highlands ing with a stethoscope.
“Deep breath; nice deep breath;
Rock said now she has been
diagnosed with bronchitis and si-
residents have not deep, deep; that’s good” Chizmas
prompts. Courtesy photo
nusitis for which her doctor pre-
scribed an antibiotic, a steroid nose
Harris said she feel like a school spray and an inhaler.
received census forms
Apart from avoidance from, the al-
nerd carrying her inhaler. lergy sufferer should try to keep the “In past years I have also needed
Chizmas recommended, instead dust count low in their home. steroid pills,” she said. “Will try to
of taking Tylenol cold and sinus, to aggressively battle the symptoms
Some people have gotten more than 1 first try one of the over-the-counter couldn’t wear them after moving to next year with over-the-counter
allergy medicines, which provide an Florida three years ago. drugs, but even they can be expen-
By AIYANA BAIDA antihistamine effect to help with the “My eyes are so allergic to howev- sive.”
Highlands Today
itchiness and the nasal drip. er thick the air is in Florida, so I Dr. Navin Deshpande, of Heart-
SEBRING » Last week the local census office said all “If that doesn’t help you, defi- wear glasses every day ... because of land Pediatrics Associates, said in
census forms for Highlands County households were nitely come back and we will get the allergies,” she said. the spring, oak is the primary cause
mailed out, yet many have not received one. you the steroid spray for your nose,” The allergy symptoms from or- for seasonal allergies along with
This has some residents fuming because they don’t she said. ange blossoms started six weeks ago juniper and bayberry.
want taxpayer dollars spent on enumerators being Harris said she wore contact lens- for Marsha Rock of Lake Placid – Symptoms include itchy nose,
sent to their homes unnecessarily. es when she lived in Michigan, but watery, itchy eyes and sneezing fol- See ALLERGY SEASON, Page 3 »
“It is really frustrating because we are being
bombarded by these messages to mail them back,”
said Tanglewood resident Sandra Clark.
“When I called the office they said it must have
gotten lost in the mail…The fact is we should’ve
gotten something,” Clark added.
Clark said on her block at least eight other
year-round residents have not received their forms
A really long walk
either. Benny Collins walking rant in Sebring.
There are 1,100 home sites and 265 RV sites in around the state “People are interested
Tanglewood. in what we’re doing.
“That means a lot of people stay here year round
for his church
We’ve had a positive re-
and right now there are a lot of us who haven’t action,” Collins said.
received anything in the mail,” Clark said. By AIYANA BAIDA
Highlands Today Despite the physical
Darlene Bradley, manager of Tanglewood, received
three census forms. SEBRING » Benny Collins’ challenge and endurance
An advance letter letting her know that the census 90-day trek across Florida needed to complete the
form was on its way, the census form she received a to raise money for his 817-mile walk, Collins is
week later and two other census forms that were feeling good.
church has led him
delivered to the wrong address. “My energy is good. I
Sebring Mayor George Hensley received two notic- through Highlands Coun-
am leery as far as the
es and the form. But he hasn’t heard of any ty.
psychological aspect…It’s
complaints from residents not receiving their census Monday morning he been more a mental chal-
forms. took a break from his 12- Highlands Today photo by JASMINA MEYER
Census officials do not know to what degree lenge,” Collins said. Benny Collins walks down the northbound shoulder of U.S.
mile a day walk and Collins has walked 520 27 going toward Lake Placid on Monday in Sebring. Collins
households in Highlands County have not received
their forms or how many were delivered to the wrong reached out to people at miles of his 817-mile jour- is walking through Highlands County as part of his 90-day
See CENSUS FORMS, Page 3 » the Coffee Bean Restau- See LONG WALK, Page 2 » trek across Florida to raise money for his church.
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