AVON PARK — With both major precincts counted, an unofficial count had Mayor Sharon Schuler almost 100 votes ahead of the next-highest candidate for mayor, while Avon Park Middle School teacher Al Hinson held a sizable lead in the council election Tuesday night. Schuler, with 329 votes, will likely remain mayor for another three years as she holds an insurmountable lead over former Gordon Marshall in the mayoral race. Marshall, with 223 votes, is a distant second, while Ed Dickerson had 159 votes and Gonzalo Lezama 47. Schuler said she wasn't expecting it. Truly. "Everyone has an opportunity to win," she said as she came to the supervisor of election's office to see the vote counting. "I'm very happy." Hinson, meanwhile, has 250 votes, holding a solid lead over Paul Miller's 202 backers, Michael Shirey's 177 and James Rahenkamp's 140. Hinson, reached by phone Tuesday evening, was cautiously optimistic that he would hold on to the lead. "I thought it would be close," he said. "I feel good... I guess the people went out and voted. Hopefully it's official but I am happy." ...more

November 6, 2007

AVON PARK — If the size of a candidate's bank account is a clue in who's going to win the election, then Mayor Sharon Schuler is way ahead in the mayoral race, while James Rahenkamp has a comfortable lead in the race for Doug Eason's open council seat. According to campaign treasurer's reports submitted Oct. 19 to the city, Schuler didn't need to use a dime of her own money to raise $1,335 in her campaign. Rahenkamp, meanwhile, plunked $200 of his own money and collected more than $820 from a handful of big-dollar donators in his council bid. On the expenses, Schuler spent $1,119, almost double the amount spent by Gonzalo Lezama, the next-biggest spender for the mayoral race. Rahenkamp has held on to most of his contributions, spending a mere $428.81 as of Oct. 12. Notably, Schuler was the only candidate to use campaign mailers. Even though Paul Miller bought business cards, none of the other six candidates spent money on any other form of advertising, using their funds only for filing fees and campaign signs. Several of the other candidates bankrolled their campaigns using mostly their own money. Mayoral contestants Ed Dickerson and Gordon Marshall relied only on their own wallets to raise $641.87 and $300, respectively. ...more

October 30, 2007

BARTOW — The Bartow Yellow Jackets defense resembled a swarm of bees protecting their hive on Friday night, busting through to surround whoever had the ball. The Avon Park Red Devils found that out on their first play from scrimmage — a three-yard loss by Virgil Cooper, who was swamped by three Yellow Jacket defenders, and fell victim to punishment in the backfield all night long in Bartow's 36-0 victory. Sophomore tailback Tyre Brooks found the holes in the Red Devil defensive front, racking up 127 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown, while the Yellow Jackets totaled 272 yards on the ground. ...more

October 21, 2007

Gabriel Puente recovered from a weak first half and rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns to power LaBelle past Avon Park 28-12 at Joe Franza Stadium on Friday night. ...more

October 13, 2007

AVON PARK — It was a perfect night for football, but it was the cold chill of criticism that lingered after the lights went dim at Joe Franza Stadium on Friday night. ...more

October 12, 2007

AVON PARK — Homecoming is a time for celebration for students, players and alumni, but for the Avon Park Red Devils, it was filled with heartbreak. ...more

October 7, 2007

AVON PARK - Homecoming is a time for celebration for students, players and alumni, but for the Avon Park Red Devils, it was filled with heartbreak. In a Class 3A-Distrcit 12 match-up, Avon Park had four turnovers, including a pair of fumbles on the goal line, and failed to score for the fourth time in five games, losing 17-0 to the Braden River Pirates at Joe Franza Stadium on Friday night. ...more

October 6, 2007

The Florida Office of Financial Regulation says it is studying a complaint about a Pasco County telemarketing company that shut its doors Aug. 30, surprising employees and customers who had paid for help with their credit. ...more

October 2, 2007

Senior tailback Carlton Thomas of Frostproof put on a clinic at the expense of the Avon Park Red Devils, scoring four touchdowns and rushing for 219 yards, as the Bulldogs put on a show in front of an electric crowd at Faris Brannen Stadium on Friday. ...more

September 29, 2007