The Latest Local News

Officials of Highlands County Emergency Management are warning residents to brace themselves. The county is under a wind advisory until 5:00 this evening as a cold front moves through the area. Both wind and thunderstorms have been predicted for later this afternoon. There will be two new faces on the Lake Placid Town Council. Voters Continue reading

It may seem like there’s a lot of new housing here, but a new survey by Construction Coverage shows Highlands County is lagging behind the national average. The survey says that in the past decade, Highlands’ housing inventory has grown by 6.1 percent, while the population has grown by 7.6 percent. The national growth in Continue reading

There was a shooting overnight in the Highway Park community, south of Lake Placid. Highlands County Sheriff’s officials say they still are unraveling exactly what happened. It apparently occured about 2:30 this morning on E.A. Smith Avenue. Reportedly two people suffered what were described as non-life threatening injuries. Authorities say the investigation is continuing. Those Continue reading

NEWS 3/29/24 BF HCSO BODY CAM After a successful month long pilot program, Highlands County Sheriff’s officials say they now have started body cam use for deputies and corrections officers across the department. Beginning in February, a number of patrol and detention deputies as well as a number of school resource officers. tested the Axon Continue reading

Avon Park city council members have said "thanks but no thanks" to a Duke Energy proposal to install a couple of chargers for electric vehicles in The City of Charm. Both Avon Park City Manager Mark Schrader and city attorney Gerald Buhr referred to the offer as a "one-sided agreement," noting it already had been Continue reading

It’s going to be a while longer for developer Emilio Garabladi. He’s pushing Avon Park city council members to put in a "parkette" where the Wilde Building once stood. Council agreed to let the current request for proposal – which calls for the construction of a new building at the Main Street site – to Continue reading

It was announced last night at the Avon Park city council meeting that a conflict of interest complaint has been filed against Mayor Garrett Anderson with the Florida Ethics Commission. Anderson said he had been notified that Steven Madre, of "Fitness 4 You" had filed the action, in connection with a complex purchase of the Continue reading

It will be double duty for the Avon Park city council tonight. At 5:00 they will sit as the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency Board. Among other things, they will learn about the progress of municipal pickleball courts, the development of a splash pad at Donaldson Park, and the leasing of an office for CRA Cordinator Continue reading

The weekend after Race Week in Highlands County is often rather quiet. Not so this Saturday in Avon Park – the second annual “Springapalooza” Festival runs from 8am till 5pm along the Mile Long Mall, raising funds for Heartland Helping Hands … the organization this year is earmarking funds to supporting Viet Nam Veteran Curt Continue reading

The Highlands County Commission wants to know what it can do help bolster the County’s retail business – and what it can do to recruit new businesses. The Commission voted this week to accept a $40,000 grant from Competitive Florida to study the topic. In other actions, the Board also approved a waiver for tipping Continue reading