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Signs, Signs, Everywhere The Signs
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Published: November 4, 2008
SEBRING - April Hartseil was busy cleaning up along U.S. 27 Monday morning.
The interim lead code enforcement officer for Highlands County was removing signs placed on the highway's right of ways over the weekend. By the time her work was done, Hartseil said she personally removed 38. They ranged from garage sale advertisements to campaign signs.
"Anything that's on the right of way, we remove," Hartseil said.
This election season, both locally and nationally, has contained the usual debates, meet-and-greets, canvassing, registration, endorsements and early voting.
Another less glamorous issue has also reappeared, and that is the treatment and placement of campaign signs.
Cindy Clemmons-Adente, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation's Bartow office, which includes Highlands County, said it has been "business as usual" when it comes to removing improperly placed signs.
The DOT was busy along with Hartseil Monday, helping to remove signs along U.S. 27 that were placed inappropriately. She did not know their exact count, but said they had a "truckload."
Jan Grove, with the Highlands County Republican Headquarters, said the biggest problem she has seen is the illegal signage on the medians.
"It was a major problem this morning," Grove said Monday, referencing the signs on U.S. 27.
She added that the signs started "sprouting" Saturday morning and continued overnight on Sunday.
"You always have some people that are going to break the law," Grove said.
Clemmons-Adante said signs - campaign or otherwise - are prohibited on medians and right of ways because of safety concerns.
"You don't want to have sight restrictions," she said.
Some signs are placed at inappropriate places, and other signs are inappropriately taken from front yards or damaged.
Jerry Tressa, with the Highlands County Democratic Headquarters, said often those who don't even go out and vote will be the ones who vandalize other people's yard signs.
He added that both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of this election-season infraction.
"You're going to have that all the time," he said.
Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com
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