SEBRING, Fla. — The owner of Signs by Signtastic, Michelle Lott, is printing hundreds of decals a day and still can’t keep up with demand.
Her business located in downtown Sebring has already churned out nearly 3,000 “Sebring Strong” decals, and the printer will be making even more. People are stopping in for the decals and donating what they comfortably can.
Others are calling in and asking for the stickers to be mailed.
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“I had a lady call me, she lived here for 30 years, but she doesn’t live here now, so she wanted some,” Lott said. “Even though they moved away this is their home.”
Lott said she saw all of the police officers speeding past her building on Wednesday, Jan. 23.
She’s been in shock ever since. Five women were murdered in cold blood; a tight-knit community shaken by evil.
"It’s a lot to deal with, it is a lot to deal with, but we pull together, and we get through it,” Lott said.
Four employees and one customer lost their lives in the shooting.
Cynthia Watson, 65, was the only customer inside the bank. Tony Watson, her husband, said they were married just 23 days ago.
He said she was, "very hard working, she never stopped, and she took care of everyone."
Marisol Lopez, 55, was an employee at the bank, along with 38-year-old Ana Piñon-Williams and 31-year-old Jessica Montague. Authorities have not released a fifth victim's name.
In May of 2018, Lott printed decals for Highlands County Deputy William Gentry. Gentry was shot and killed in the line of duty. Lott said donations from those decals raised $45,000.
She hopes the new decals will have a positive impact on the families that lost so much on Jan. 23.
“I want to be able to help the families especially; there are five families in need,” Lott said. “They’ve got enough to deal with so we are hoping this will be a little bit of relief for them.”
Anyone who wants to donate can stop by Lott’s business at 199 US Hwy 27 South or give them a call. 863-402-1800.
