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Highlands Today

Heartland Riders Association Seeks Funds For Run To The Heartland

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By Bill Rogers | Highlands Today

Published: July 5, 2008

SEBRING — The Heartland Riders Association will receive money to pay for advertising and brochures that will depend on the number of rooms that will be used for the fifth annual Run to the Heartland on Oct. 3-5.

The Highlands County Tourist Development Council approved a recommendation to give the association up to $15,500 based on the room nights generated by the event in Sebring.

A total of 1,150 room nights were generated from last year's event.

Lora Todd, marketing director for the association, and Jim Miggins, the association's treasurer, made the funding request during the council's meeting Thursday.

Todd said there was a "little snafu" with the weather last year. The attendance numbers were down slightly, she said, but revenues were up.

The Sebring Police Department estimated 34,000 people attended the weekend event last year.
"It's a great event for Highlands County," Todd said.

A motorcycle thrill show and blues singer Bill Wharton, who is known as the "Sauce Boss" and sings blues music while cooking gumbo, are scheduled this year. The Central Florida Drill Team will return.

John Scherlacher, the county's tourism director, was asked his opinion of the event during the meeting.

"It brings in a lot of people to the area," Scherlacher said. "It's a great group of people that come out there."

Bill Rogers can be reached at 386-5825 or wrogers@highlandstoday.com

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