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Wonder why the cost of housing is going up in Highlands County? It could be rental units. A survey released by Stressa shows that 8.5-percent of home loans in the Sebring-Avon Park area have been for investment properties. The analysis that Highlands matches national numbers, however, the median property value here is about $150,000 – Continue reading

A call to establish a committee in Highlands County to help direct the spending of federal funds in the ESSER program has been pushed back. Better known as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, the federal relief monies have been distributed to schools to deal with problems created by last year’s Coronavirus situation. Continue reading

An Avon Park man reportedly was involved in a Hardee County traffic crash that claimed a life. Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate the 62-year-old driver failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Lake Branch Road and County Road 664A. His sport Utility vehicle collided with another SUV – driven by a Continue reading

Highlands County commissioners this morning approved the re-imposition of the fire assessment for all home, business and other property owners in the county. The action comes with a seven percent increase over the current fiscal year. That will bring and additional $700,000 in tax money for the operation of the fire services here. Commissioners also Continue reading

A committee to select a new sex education curriculum in the Highlands County Schools will convene again this evening. The two dozen committee members will now look at parameters on what they seek to have taught in the classroom, and what is not presented to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. The action comes in Continue reading

It’s the end of July and the start of the Caladium Festival in Lake Placid. This is the 31st anniversary for the celebration in the Caladium Capital. It all got underway this morning with the opening ceremonies at the gazebo, which now will host music, dancing and other entertainment for the next three days. Thousands Continue reading

Highlands County Commissioners have named Assistant County Administrator Laurie Hurner as Interim County Administrator. She’ll fill the void left with the pending departure of current Highlands County Administrator Randy Vossburg. His last day will be next Friday. It won’t be a big stretch for Hurner – a longtime employee of the county. She has taken Continue reading

Preparations are underway in Lake Placid for the start of the 2022 edition of the Caladium Festival. It all begins tomorrow morning at 10:00 with opening ceremonies at the Stuart Park Gazebo. That will kick off three days of entertainment, arts and crafts booths, exhibits and displays – plus tours of the colorful caladium fields Continue reading

Code Enforcement officers are cleaning up the city of Avon Park and it appears they are ahead of schedule. Code Enforcement Chief Randy Labelle told city council members his staff has issued 905 notices so far this year – with 130 of those coming this month alone. They’re up 30-percent in productivity in their efforts Continue reading

It appears that the city of Avon Park may be getting some help from Florida Airport Management in their bid to take over operation of the Avon Park Airport. Representatives from the group will be at tonight’s regular council meeting to discuss helping to pay for outside council, as the city negotiates its way through Continue reading