Barry Foster

As Hurricane Florence bears down on the Carolinas, many Florida residents are remembering a year ago when her sister, Hurricane Irma, devastated Highlands County and the rest of the Sunshine State. Locally, there was tens of millions of dollars of property damage done, trees were downed, a number of homes and buildings were destroyed and Continue reading

Those wanting to have tent sales for cars in Highlands County will have more hoops to jump through. Highlands County commissioners yesterday took action to beef up their ordinance on such events, with new regulations on insurance, security bonds, clean-up compliance and signage provisions. They also limited the number of times any company could stage Continue reading

Highlands County commissioners this morning spent some time talking about recycling, trash collection, contract compliance and the shortcoming of Waste Connections – who have been doing the work. There has been what was described as “an undercurrent” of residents who want to see things done about the pick-ups – or lack thereof. The idea of Continue reading

The Frostproof Centennial Celebration winds up today in what is the kickoff to an annual event in the Friendly City. On tap for today is a fishing competition, a cardboard boat race and the Miss Frostproof Pageant. Yesterday was the inaugural “Fire it up Frostproof” barbecue competition at Henderson Field. That was sanctioned by the Continue reading

Good news has hit the Caladium Capital. Officials of the Florida Lottery say somebody there hit all the numbers in the Fantasy Five drawing. It was one of three winning tickets and is worth a cool $60,864.05 – before taxes. The quick pick was sold at the Lake Placid Publix store. A 16-year-old boy in Continue reading

Officials at the Sebring International Raceway say it won’t be long until a new bridge will be going up there. Billed as “The Gateway to the Green Park,” the new span will replace a temporary bridge that stood in the area for better than a half century. Meanwhile, the Phillips Power Plant is coming down. Continue reading

Highlands County voters went to the polls yesterday and sent two new people to local boards. In a decisive victory, challenger Arlene Tuck unseated incumbent Highlands County Commissioner Jack Richie. In a nail-biter, newcomer Isaac Durance defeated incumbent Charlene Edwards in their race for school board. In the race for 10th Judicial Circuit Court Group Continue reading

Early voting for this year’s primaries has come to a close. At the end of the day yesterday, some 3,936 Highlands County residents had turned out to cast their ballots in a number of races. That is in addition to the 5,505 tallies received by mail. Tomorrow all 25 polling places across the county will Continue reading

A USA Today poll has ranked Sebring as one of the worst cities in the United States to raise children. The study by 24/7 Wall Street says Sebring appears to have one of the least effective education systems of any US metro area. The report says only an estimated 64-percent of area high school students Continue reading

Local law enforcement officials are on the lookout for a man wanted for questioning in connection with a stabbing incident in Sebring yesterday. 56-year-old Joseph Frances Hutton reportedly left the Sunshine Mini Storage facility before Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies could arrive at the scene. The stabbing apparently involved non-life threatening injuries. The victim was not Continue reading