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State’s attorneys are batting .500 after two trials ended a bit – differently – this week. Jimmy Lamar Ford Jr. was convicted this week on second-degree homicide counts in connection with the 2020 murder of 29-year-old Alexander Antonio Nowell. The altercation was at The Joint in Avon Park, on South Delaney Avenue. Ford will be Continue reading

Memorial Elementary School was evacuated briefly yesterday after the report of something that smelled like gas in the kitchen area. As a precautionary method, the students were evacuated from the building. An assessment by experts from TECO Energy and Avon Park fire department officials determined it was hydraulic fluid from a faulty cylinder. School officials Continue reading

It appears the City of Charm has an invasion of the homeless. The issue came up at the Avon Park city council meeting with City Manager Mark Schrader revealing the issue. Code enforcement officer Randy Labelle said enforcing ordinances on the matter with property owners has been a long and cumbersome process – with people Continue reading

Well, it appears Christmas is over, gas prices have made a jump across Highlands County. The hike ranges from 10 to 20-cents depending on the staring point. The operative price for a gallon of unleaded petrol apparently has landed at $3.09 at most stations here. As people begin to strike their holiday decorations, officials from Continue reading

A new survey has found that when it comes to mortgage rates, the Sebring-Avon Park metro area falls significantly short of national averages. The analysis found that nearly 30-percent of the mortgages here had an interest rate lower than three percent. That was well below the national average of 42-percent. In fact, Highlands was outpaced Continue reading

Highlands County joined the rest of the Sunshine State this weekend in blast of freezing temperatures. Local officials took the opportunity to open up a cold weather shelter. The facility was opened in the Ag-Center Friday and Saturday night. There was one person each evening. There was no shelter opened last night. Like hurricane shelter Continue reading

You may think the area is growing quickly – but apparently, not by national averages. A new study by the Inspection Support Network, looking at the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, found that the Sebring-Avon Park area grew by 1.2-percent over the study period. That’s about half the national average of 2.8-percent during Continue reading

Main Street in Avon Park may be losing a couple of lanes. City Manager Mark Schrader told Avon Park city council members that the artery could go from four lanes to two lanes. Florida Department of Transportation officials reportedly started the discussion, asking about converting one of the current traffic lanes to a bicycle lane. Continue reading

Fire Rescue members responded to a hard landing at the Sebring Regional Airport last night. Two passengers were on board the single-engine aircraft when it went off the runway then went nose-in to the dirt. No injuries were reported. Highlands County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the investigation. Harder Hall developers have released an update on Continue reading

Highlands County residents will be hearing the sound of freedom today, as officials at the Avon Park Air Force Range have announced they are hosting another training session. The increased air traffic will run from mid-morning until late tonight. Noise levels are predicted to be high. No word on what kind of aircraft will be Continue reading