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Sebring police believe that a couple of bomb threats at Wal-Mart last month may have been an inside job. Detectives there reportedly have arrested a 29-year-old Wal-Mart employee in connection with the false alarms that emptied the Sebring location for several hours and brought in the State Fire Marshal’s Office and bomb-sniffing dogs from Polk Continue reading

An off campus incident this morning caused a lock down at the Sebring High School. According to reports, Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies were assisting Sebring police in the Penny Avenue area, when an aggressive dog apparently attacked a Sherri’s K-9. The attacking dog subsequently was shot. An SHS resource officer heard the shots and enacted Continue reading

Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies last night arrested two people follwing the pursuit of a dozen All Terrain Vehicles and dirt bikes that had been speeding around Avon Park on public streets and through private property. According to reports, deputies first attempted a stop at North Lake Avenue in Jackson Street but the vehicles fled – Continue reading

Highlands County Sheriff’s officials are thanking the FBI and the Wilson Police Department in North Carolina for picking up a fugitive. Daniel Luis Galarza was charged with attempted first degree murder in connection with a December robbery and shooting in Avon Park. He is being held in the Wilson County jail awaiting extradition. During that Continue reading

Highlands County Commissioner Arlene Tuck continued to call for accountability from the Economic Development Department about the work they are doing to increase business in the county. At this week’s meeting, Tuck asked when the next economic development update was slated before the commission. At a meeting yesterday, local ED officials said they were reviewing Continue reading

Five people were injured, one of them seriously yesterday, when two vehicles came together on Highway 27 and Lakeview Drive just north of Lake Placid. Early reports indicate a sport utility vehicle was coming onto 27 when it collided with a pickup truck. Again, rescue workers had to cut open one of the vehicles to Continue reading

Last week Highlands County sheriff’s deputies busted up a drug trafficking operation with international ties. Now, officials say, they also will be hit with murder charges. The body of 22-year-old Jonathan Diaz was found last week in a shallow grave behind a home on Longview Drive near Sebring. Deputies say he apparently was killed in Continue reading

The search for a missing Highlands County woman has ended tragically, with the discovery of her body in Indian River County. 24-year-old Khadijah Anderson had last been seen a week ago and had been on her way to Lakeland. She never arrived. Sheriff’s officials have released no details, other than to say her car was Continue reading

It appears a solid waste problem in Highlands County may be solved. For a time, the Avon Park wastewater treatment facility had not been able to accept loads from independent contractors, who said they had noplace else to go. Reportedly, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has given The City of Charm the green light Continue reading

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released their annual county health rankings. In Florida, Highlands came in a bit below average. When it comes to Health Outcomes, Highlands trended down – 38th out of the 67 counties. That’s measured by how long people live and how they feel when they are alive. In Health Factors, Continue reading