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It’s the government observance of Labor Day today, that means municipal offices, banks and some other businesses will be closed. There also are no classes at the Highlands County schools. Motorists are urged to watch out for youngsers who may be out at play during normal school hours. Highlands County Sheriff’s detectives have released more Continue reading

Hurricane Idalia has rolled past most of the peninsula of Florida on its way to the Big Bend area, now classified as a Category 4. Highlands and surrounding counties still have seen some effects of the big storm with some tropical force winds and plenty of rain overnight. Still, law enforcement and safety service officials Continue reading

Preparations are stepping up today as Hurricane Idalia rumbles northward through the Caribbean. Forecasters still are predicting the storm will make landfall as a Category III in the big bend area of Florida. The Highlands County Emergency Operations Center has moved to a Level 2 activation they say rain chances will increase this afternoon as Continue reading

Residents in Highlands County and across the Sunshine State are preparing as Tropical Storm Idalia heads north through the Caribbean. As of this morning, the storm is expected to have hurricane strength by the time it makes landfall. The track has shifted farther toward the east closer to Tampa. Highlands County is expected to get Continue reading

As we head into the Hurricane Season in earnest, there seems to be some activity in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Currently, only one system could affect Florida. Simply labeled "Disturbance Number Three," weather experts say it could move up through the Caribbean and hit western Florida by next week. How much it could devlop Continue reading

For decades, the Salvation Army has been handling probation and social services for Highlands County. That all will come to a close this November, when those duties will be handed back to the county. By state statute, counties are required to provide those functions. Apparently, Highlands county officials say they no longer will contract it Continue reading

Avon Park city council members will gather this evening for a special workshop session to look at the problem of homelessness in the City of Charm. They called the meeting after repeated complaints about the issue, most notably people taking up residence in the historic gazebo on the mall. Representatives of local charities and the Continue reading

Many people have heard the news that Aldi is acquiring nearly 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys supermarkets across the Southeast. What that means locally remains unclear. There’s one Aldi location west of Sebring with Winn-Dixie locations in Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid. Corporate officials say some of the Winn-Dixie locations will keep their red and Continue reading

Highlands county parent Jesse Sapp came before the Highlands county school board last night to discuss the use of Chromebooks in the classrooms. He maintained that the computers are causing students to lose skills such as writing and spelling. He noted that Highlands County school accountability numbers appear to have suffered since the introduction of Continue reading

Sebring police are investigating a morning shooting incident. It occurres shortly after 8:30 this morning. According to early reports, someone was either shooting from or at a moving vehicle. There were no injuries reported, but at least one parked car was hit by a round. The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked Continue reading