SEBRING — The Florida Highway Patrol was investigating Friday the death of Francis Duplessie, 90, of Avon Park, who was injured in a U.S. 27 north motorcycle crash on April 24. ...more

May 9, 2008

SEBRING –– Whether it's flying his remote model airplane or cruising around the Heartland on his motorcycle, Frank Duplessie has a need for speed. The 90-year-old Duplessie, who seems to have boundless energy, celebrated his birthday recently with other members of the Highlands Radio Control Club off of Arbuckle Creek Road. Duplessie, who flew full scale single-engine airplanes in the past, has been flying remote controlled airplanes for 18 years. "I love flying planes," he said. "There is nothing like the feeling you get when you're flying. "It's total freedom from everything around you." The other members of the Highlands Radio Control Club, which was founded in the 1980s, gathered for their regular monthly meeting recently, and ended the affair by honoring Duplessie with a birthday cake. ...more

November 20, 2007