The Latest Local News

They’ll open the 86th edition of the Highlands County Fair this afternoon. It’s Highlands Radio Group Day featuring the Nerveless Nocks Thrill Show, Scott’s Magic Show and the Piano Juggler. It’ll also be the first of four beauty pageants with the Jr. Miss Highlands County competition on stage at the Alan Jay arena. Over the Continue reading

You may have noticed increased air traffic over Highlands County the past few days. Officials at the Avon Park Bombing Range say they’re hosting training exercises – and we can expect more today. The sessions will run from mid-morning until very late tonight. Noise levels are expected to be high. Things are almost in readiness Continue reading

Highlands County school board members met last night in a four-hour workshop to discuss vendor proposals to present a "comprehensive health education program" to local middle and high school students. After hearing a pair of hour-long presentations, then a stream of comments from educators, citizens and members of a committee appointed by Highlands County Superintendent Continue reading

Highlands County School Board members will get together this afternoon for a workshop. They’ll be looking at the comprehensive health education program for middle and high school students – which may include the sex education portion of the cirriculum. It was sex education that drew sharp criticism last year both for the what was being Continue reading

If you’re looking for a mechanically-inclined person, you’re in the wrong place. A new report by Construction Coverage shows that fewer than 12-percent of workers in the Sebring-Avon Park metro area hold occupations that require a mechanical inclination as part of their reguler activities. The 11.7-percent figure places Highlands County third from the bottom in Continue reading

State Route 70 was closed at County Road 721 for a time this morning. Highlands County Sheriff’s officials say that was due to a traffic accident there. A couple of Highlands County municipalities have some downtown property for sale. Avon Park city council members are issuing a request for proposals for a Main Street lot Continue reading

Big news from the Sebring International Raceway. NASCAR Champ Richard Petty will be at the track next month for the Trans-Am series. Petty will serve as the grand marshal for the event and give the start engine command for the Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers feature race. Petty has experience in Trans-Am, racing in the Continue reading

A pair of weekend shootings are keeping law enforcement officials busy in Highlands County. The first one happened in Sebring. Reportedly, somebody opened fire on a house on Grand Avenue. At least one of the slugs hit somebody inside. The victim reportedly was taken to a hospital. Their condition has not been released. A man Continue reading

It appears Highlands local State Representative Kaylee Tuck again is at the edge of major Florida legislation. House Bill One, would establish Education Savings Accounts in the Sunshine State. Tuck, who serves as Chair of the Choice and Innovation Subcommittee introduced the bill. Florida House leaders are calling it "Landmark" school choice legislation. The bill Continue reading

For the second time this month, a government holiday observance has pushed the regular Highlands County Commission meeting to Thursday. So commissioners will meet this morning for their regular session. Among other things, the board will look at changing the zoning designation for about six acres of property in the Moss Hammock subdivision to allow Continue reading