Barry Foster

Highlands County residents will have an opportunity to again look at the county budget when commissioners hold a community meeting tonight. That will commence at 6:00 in the commissioners’ board room at the Highlands County Government Center in Sebring. Residents got their first look at Commissioner Don Elwell’s semi-annual town hall meeting at South Florida Continue reading

Despite the fact that most property values are increasing here, Highlands County Commissioners yesterday voted to bump the property tax rate up nearly another half mil., setting it at 9.0. That’s nine dollars for each $1,000 of property valuation. That moves it up .45 mils from the current level and is designed to help make Continue reading

Despite the fact that most property values are increasing here, Highlands County Commissioners yesterday voted to bump the property tax rate up nearly another half mil., setting it at 9.0. That’s nine dollars for each $1,000 of property valuation. That moves it up .45 mils from the current level and is designed to help make Continue reading

It’s that time of year again, when Highlands County Commissioner Don Elwell holds one of his semi-annual town hall meetings. Elwell usually gives a state of the county address and has county staff on hand to help answer questions from citizens. Tonight, other county commissioners will be there as well, and will transform the session Continue reading

The election season is heating up and Highlands County residents will have an opportunity tonight to hear candidates for the District 17 Congressional seat being vacated by Tom Rooney. Bill Akins and and Julio Gonzales will be at American Legion Post 69 in Avon Park tonight to speak with the public on issues ranging from Continue reading

Sebring Police continue to search for a local man wanted in connection with a shooting incident. They now have identified the suspect as Marvin Owens Sr. Authorities believe it was Owens who shot Thurlow Wilkins Wednesday night in an incident near the intersection of Lemon Street and Martin Luther King Blvd. The 39-year-old Wilkins was Continue reading

Sebring police are looking for a suspect in connection with an overnight shooting incident in the Washington Heights neighborhood. According to reports, one man was hit by gunfire following an altercation with the suspect near the intersection of Lemon Street and Martin Luther King Blvd. about 8:30 last night. The victim said the two have Continue reading

It cost tens of thousands of dollars and was a year in the making. But in the end, Highlands County Commissioners last night went against the advice of their attorney and largely scrapped a Government Services Group plan for a fire assessment. Instead, commissioners made up their own payment schedule that roughly parallels percentages found Continue reading

It will be another night session for Highlands County Commissioners this evening, as they pick up a public hearing on a proposed fire assessment for the county. The monies would be used to begin a professional fire service here. At a session two weeks ago, commissioners heard a long line of people telling them such Continue reading

Avon Park may no longer have a recreation board following their meeting tonight. Council members will consider repealing codes calling for such a board and instead turn over the administration of recreation in the City of Charm to staff. Council members also will look at a proposed relocation of a war dog memorial to the Continue reading