The Latest Local News

A tragic accident in Sebring Sunday morning has left a 77-year-old man dead. Police say it happened just before eleven in the parking lot of the north Sebring Publix. Investigators say an 89-year-old driver, backing his Ford pickup, became confused and made a full circle in reverse — hitting the man and a store mobility Continue reading

Highlands County Fire Rescue responded Thursday morning to a serious bee swarm incident in south Avon Park. A person trimming trees was stung multiple times and became stranded mid-air as the swarm intensified. Special Operations crews and Avon Park Fire’s Ladder 5 worked together to safely reach the victim and transport them to a local Continue reading

Highlands County celebrated the winners of its pond-naming contest with a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Sun ’n Lake Preserve on July 28. Natural Resources staff guided the Kinsey and Richbow families through the 1,350-acre site, showcasing wildfire management tools like prescribed burns, firebreaks, and drone monitoring. The Kinsey family named the newly dedicated Elowishes Continue reading

Two women have been sentenced to 15 years’ probation each after stealing over $100,000 from the Avon Park Community Child Development Center. 56-year-old Tikia Melissa Robertson and her daughter Wilneisha Gammage, pleaded no contest to grand theft and credit card fraud. A judge ordered them to repay the full $112,556.81 they stole and write an Continue reading

The Highlands County School District is moving forward with plans to open a new employee-only medical clinic in 2026, contracting with CareATC for a $1.2 million annual cost—$400,000 more than the current provider. While officials say the clinic will offer major benefits, like zero out-of-pocket costs for most surgeries, some board members have concerns. One Continue reading

The 34th Annual Caladium Festival kicks off today at Stuart Park in downtown Lake Placid, giving Highlands County residents a chance to support local growers and community traditions. After last year’s shortened event, the full three-day festival is back through Sunday, July 27th — open Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from Continue reading

The Avon Park City Council is holding a special workshop tonight to discuss possibly reviving its own police department. The city has used the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement since shutting down its department in 2012, but rising costs have sparked new talks. City leaders say it could take up to three years Continue reading

Highlands County 911 dispatchers now have a new tool to help save lives faster — Texty, a text-to-911 service that instantly translates messages from 108 languages into English. Before, dispatchers had to copy and paste foreign-language texts into Google Translate. Now, help can be sent quicker, especially for residents who speak Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Continue reading

The Humane Society of Highlands County is asking for urgent help after 31 dogs, many of them pregnant, were rescued from a severe hoarding situation — more than double the number first expected. Already at capacity, the Sebring shelter took them all in and now needs the community to step up. They’re asking for volunteers, Continue reading

Highlands County is strengthening its disaster cleanup plans ahead of hurricane season. County Commissioners have renewed a contract with Tetra Tech — the same company that helped clear debris after California’s massive 2017 Thomas Fire — to monitor local storm debris removal through the end of 2025. Tetra Tech will ensure cleanup work meets strict Continue reading