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County officials say online permitting and code services will continue to be temporarily unavailable as the county upgrades to a new digital platform. The switch to the new Community Development eTRAKiT system means online permit processing is paused through today, May 1st. Officials say staff will still be available for general assistance during the transition. Continue reading

After years of setbacks local citrus leaders say orange juice production is making a comeback. Ray Royce told county commissioners growers are planting hundreds of thousands of new trees, with millions more going in across Florida. He says production is expected to increase this year, with more fruit being harvested both locally and statewide. Despite Continue reading

The second suspect in a deadly Placid Lakes shooting is now in custody. Investigators say 38-year-old Leon Jarrell Simms turned himself in and faces second-degree murder charges. Deputies say Simms was the gunman, while a second suspect, already jailed, drove the truck. The victim, 30-year-old Marvin Lekeith Sholtz Jr., called a friend for help, saying Continue reading

An extensive search for possible drowning victims on Lake Jackson has now ended with a surprising outcome. Police say after nearly 21 hours of searching with multiple agencies, no evidence of missing swimmers was found. Investigators later confirmed that a person seen in the water came forward, stating they had been swimming alone and safely Continue reading

Last night in Sebring, emergency crews responded to reports of missing divers in Lake Jackson near City Pier Beach. Authorities say multiple agencies are involved in the search, including police, fire, wildlife, and sheriff’s units. As of 11:53 p.m., search efforts were still ongoing and the public was urged to avoid the area while first Continue reading

>>> HCSO Investigating Several Vehicle Burglaries The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office is investigating several vehicle burglaries in the Sun N Lake Area that took place on Tuesday, April 21. They’re looking at specific streets, including Tangier St., Urbino St., Cadagua St., Perugia Ave, and Mercado Dr. Anyone in the area is asked to check their Continue reading

>>> Driver Arrested in Crash that Injured Several Passengers A Port St. Lucy teen was arrested in Highlands County Saturday after a single vehicle crash along South West Rucks Dairy Road injured several passengers. Officials say the driver, identified as Robert Oyd Lee Venegas, lost control of his ford escape while traveling North on Rucks Continue reading

>>> Second Draft of District Staffing Plan sees more cuts Superintendent Brenda Longshore has drafted the latest version of the district’s staffing plan for the upcoming school year, and the latest version sees 62 positions being cut. Nearly 43 school level positions would be eliminated, including 31 instructional positions and about 12 support positions. According Continue reading

>>> How to avoid property fraud The Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit court and Comptrollers Office can help you stay alert and prevent property fraud. They offer a free service to alert property owners when a deed or other land related records are filed under their name using official parameters. Residents can register using Continue reading

A hearing was held this week to determine whether convicted drunk driver Zasha Colon can file a late appeal of her 25-year prison sentence. Colon claims she was not aware of the 30-day deadline to appeal after her 2024 sentencing. Both she and her attorney testified they were emotional at the time and may have Continue reading