The Latest Local News

A hurricane watch as well as tornado and flood warnings have been issued for Highlands County as Hurricane Ian draws down here. Highlands County officials say there currently are about 60 people in the two shelters that have been opened – the Special Needs shelter at the Highlands Agri-Civic Center and the General Popluation Shelter Continue reading

Hurricane Ian is on the way. Yesterday, the Highlands County Commission, the Highlands School Board and the Avon Park city council have declared states of local emergency in preparation for the big storm. Forecasters now say Ian could come ashore near Ft. Myers – in the same manner as Hurricane Charlie. In his briefing yesterday, Continue reading

Highlands County commissioners this morning issued a "State of Local Emergency," in connection with the development of Hurrican Ian. The big storm currently is projected to pass by the central portion of the state in the Gulf of Mexico, but the effects are expected to be felt here with both wind and rain. Highlands County Continue reading

Authorities are keeping a weather eye on a system currently known as "Tropical Depresion Number Nine." The storm still is in the southern Caribbean, but some storm tracks are showing it moving over the Florida peninsula sometime next week. It’s still too early to make any firm predictions, but officials are asking Florida residents to Continue reading

It appears that Highlands County School Board members are looking at changing language of some of their rules and regulations to be more politically correct. In discussing some new rule changes for advertisement, they voted to depart from using the identifier "he or she," to the more generic "they." School board member Donna Howerton questioned Continue reading

A bicyclist reportedly was killed this morning here in Highlands County. The accident occurred shortly after 6:AM on Kenilworth Blvd near the intersection of Snyder, east of Sebring. The cyclist, described only as a 37-year-old male, was killed when he collided with a Sport Utility Vehicle. Florida Highway Patrol officials have released no other details Continue reading

A new report by the internet location RoadSnacks has ranked two Highlands County communities in the top five poorest cities in Florida. Avon Park was ranked at number four, with Sebring set at number five. Those doing the survey reported they looked at Poverty Level, Median Household Income and Unemployment Rate among other things. The Continue reading

Weekend rains brought chaos to the area, causing power outages and washing out roads in Highlands and Hardee County. A number of throughfares are going to require significant work. Among those are Placid View Drive from Eagles Nest Drive to State Road 70, Golfview Drive is closed at West Lake Drive Blvd. and Lakeview Drive Continue reading

There will be a bit of a traffic snarl in downtown Lake Placid today- it’s time for the LPHS Homecoming parade. The processional kicks off around 9am. The route will go from Green Dragon Way east along Interlake Blvd. Motorists should make adjustments by leaving a bit early or taking an alternate route to prevent Continue reading

Reportedly there was a collision between a motor vehicle and a Highlands County School bus this morning. The shunt occurred at the intersection of Highway 27 & State Road 70 near the so-called "Bear’s Den." There were NO STUDENTS on board bus #109 at the time of the mishap. No injuries have been reported. Florida Continue reading