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Highlands County commissioners will look at the dispensation of nearly 20-million dollars in American Rescue Plan monies from the federal government when they meet tomorrow morning in regular session. More than 20 different cost centers have beeh identified for the cash – including a proposed $5-million dollar hurricane shelter project and $4.5-million dollars for the Continue reading

It’s official, there will be elections for all the seats coming up in this year’s local elections. That includes three school board and two county commission races. Resident Reece Martin yesterday filed to run for the District Four Highlands County School Board seat now held by longtime incumbent Bill Brantly. Martin, a 52-year-old Lake Placid Continue reading

It appears the Mosaic Company is looking to put a phosphate mining facility in Hardee County near the Highlands County line. Hardee officials have postponed a request to designate more than 4,000 acres of property for mining south of County Line Road between Old Town Creek Road and State Road 64 east in Hardee. That Continue reading

Officials at the Avon Park Air Force Range say you’ll be seeing – and hearing – more planes in the area today. Training exercises began in the mid-morning and will continue until very late tonight. Types of planes and who’s flying them was not revealed, but they say noise levels will be highly elevated. A Continue reading

Avon Park city council members took the first steps in changing – and limiting – their terms of office. By a 4-1 vote last night, the council instructed city attorney Gerald Buhr to draw up a ballot iniative that would change council’s terms of office to four years and limit them to just two terms Continue reading

Avon Park city council members will be talking about the city charter when they meet this evening in regular session. Mayor Garrett Anderson wants to talk about term lenghts and term limits for council members. Currently, board members serve three year terms, which puts them out of synch with the regular election cycle. They also Continue reading

Another wildfire popped up yesterday in the County – this time, a 10-acre burn near Vaughn Road and Highlands Hammock State Park. Florida Forest Service personnel say they’ve got the Equestrian fire at the Hammock down to 45 acres and 80% contained, they’re on duty knocking both fires down and say there’s no danger to Continue reading

Today has been designated the National Day of Prayer. If you’d like to join others of any faith in observance of the day, there’s a program scheduled for 11am this morning on the Courthouse lawn, at 430 South Commerce Street in Downtown Sebring. There’s guest speakers, music and a prayer service scheduled. Highlands County Sheriff’s Continue reading

Highway 70 was closed for a timeout by the Brighton Reservation this morning due to a traffic crash. The incident occurred about quarter to three this morning. Reportedly, two semi-trucks and a car are involved. Florida Highway Patrol officials have not released any details in the mishap. Highlands County Sheriff’s detectives are looking for the Continue reading

Following a dust-up between Highlands County commissioners Kevin Roberts and Scott Kirouac, commissioners this morning approved an agreement with Jones, Edmunds & Associates for consulting services at the county’s landfill. Kirouac questioned Roberts about questions he had been asking about fires, groundwater contamination and other issues – saying the conversation was going beyond the agenda Continue reading