published: Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Highway Park residents, HCSO in culture clash over Easter event

By SAMANTHA GHOLAR

sgholar@newssun.com

LAKE PLACID - Highway Park residents have voiced major concerns over the ongoing dispute between the Easter celebration organizers and the Highlands County Sheriff's Office over the past several weeks.

Described as a "culture clash" by former resident Thida Black, many other residents have become concerned with the true nature of the HCSO's motives to disrupt a traditional event in a primarily black community.

Black is just one of the few individuals who has voiced their concerns regarding the ongoing dispute.

"Last year the Sheriff's Office declared martial law on our community, which was uncalled for. (Sheriff Susan) Benton's argument was that we followed no rules. Highlands County doesn't have a special events ordinance for us to follow when the county promised to have something in place for 2013.

"The citizens of Highway Park formed a committee and have been meeting every week regarding Easter. We are committed to organizing the event to make it more family friendly and more safe, but I personally feel that Ms. Benton, along with other county officials, will place lots of hurdles in front of us to prevent us from having the event," Highway Park resident and co-organizer Onterial Clark wrote in an email.

The event, which was held consecutively for 10 years in the Highway Park area with little to no issues, had become a beloved tradition for residents and the many visitors it has drawn.

The tensions began last March when Benton issued a postponement of the Easter event/Block Party due to concerns over safety and costly overtime.

Benton told county commissioners last March that the event caused a traffic issue.

According to Benton, the vehicles and people in the street blocked the flow of traffic in the area and would not allow for emergency vehicles to pass through in the event they were needed in the area.

Other concerns including large attendance, profane music, illegal drug use and sanitation were brought up to commissioners.

Since then, meetings have been held between the sheriff's office and county commission to discuss updating or creating new guidelines and ordinances for special events, HCSO Public Information Officer Nell Hays said Tuesday morning.

Benton has said numerous times that the safety of residents and law enforcement members are top priority for this and all events in the county.

Neither Benton nor Chief Deputy Mark Schrader were available for comment Tuesday and phone calls and emails to Clark were also not returned at press time.

"People will come regardless of what we work out with the county, so I just hope county officials sincerely try to help us and not purposely place obstacles in front of us," Clark's email read.

The Highway Park Big Wheels 'n High Heels Easter Sunday Car and Bike Show has been slated to begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 31.