The Reflection Park was dedicated this morning in honor of five women killed at the SunTrust Midton branch in Sebring. Today marks the one year anniversary when Debra Cook, Marisol Lopez, Jessica Monitgue, Ana Pinon-Williams and Cynthia Lee Watson were slain by a lone gunman.
Family members and friends were joined by community leaders, law enforcement, first responders and citizens for the dedication ceremonies. Sebring Mayor John Shoop, a banker who actually opened that branch, said the park will allow people to both move on and remember. Former SunTrust CEO Bill Rogers called the park ” a celebration,” noting that he, his organization and the community would be “forever changed” by the event.
The hardscape “Place of Remembrance” sits on the footprint of the original bank building and is open to the public.
Officials at the Sebring International Raceway say they are well on their way to another record year. Two months before this year’s race and already, all the trackside reserve spots have been sold out.
They say it’s the earliest that has happened since the race began. In fact, it’s only the third time that all trackside spots have been sold prior to the race.
However, they say there still are plenty of tickets still for sale for this year’s Super-Sebring 2020. Gates will open at this year’s event March 18th.
Highlands County Sheriff’s officials have made three arrests in connection with the October 2019 death of Joshua Dean Hickey. Charged in the case are 35-year-old George Leonard Woods, 32-year-old Christopher Laveon Bell and 25-year-old Mikevious Al Jawon Young.
All three face counts of Homicide and while Bell and Young also have been charged with robbery. A Clewiston man, Johan Wendon Holder already has been charged in connection with the incident.
Hickey was found shot ande killed in his vehicle outside of his parents’ home on Tam O’Shanter Boulevard in Orange Blossom Estates last October 30th.
Volunteers from the West Sebring and Desoto City fire departments had their hands full last night. Units first were called to an incident in Spring Hill to a small fire in a kitchen. Apparently that one began when a wooden spoon was left on a hot stove.
The second was on Rogers Street near the Highlands Hammock State Park. There was a heating system malfunction there that did an estimated $10,000 in damage to a mobile home.
No injuries were reported in either incident.