The Latest Local News

A Highlands County judge has ruled in one of the ongoing lawsuits surrounding the historic Kenilworth Lodge, which has sat closed for a decade. Judge Peter Estrada granted a dismissal motion filed by Robert Mueller and Kenilworth Properties, while denying the remaining motions as no longer applicable. The case stems from a complaint by Mark Continue reading

South Florida State College is celebrating “100 Years at the 100 Building” this Saturday, October 18th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SFSC Lake Placid Center. The free, family-friendly event honors a century of learning at the historic 100 Building — once the original Lake Placid School. Visitors can enjoy tours, historical exhibits, Continue reading

Highlands County school officials are reassuring families after a hoax bomb threat email circulated to multiple school districts across Florida yesterday. The School Board of Highlands County says the message matched other non-credible threats sent statewide and was not specific to Highlands County. Officials immediately notified the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, which confirmed there was Continue reading

Two “super speeders” learned the hard way that Highlands County roads aren’t racetracks. Deputies say one woman was caught flying down U.S. 27 in a minivan at 102 miles per hour — with her teenage daughter in the passenger seat! She got a criminal citation and a date with the judge instead of a trip Continue reading

After months of investigation into the Brickell Building sale, the Avon Park City Council voted 3–0 to send a 73-page report to Governor Ron DeSantis — a move that could lead to the suspension of Mayor Garrett Anderson and his sister, Councilwoman Brittany McGuire, for alleged abuse of power. The report, which has already been Continue reading

More local Ford dealerships have given back to the community in a big way! As part of Ford Motor Company’s global “Fill a Ford — Help Impact Lives” campaign, employees across Highlands and Hardee Counties rolled up their sleeves to help fight hunger. Alan Jay Ford of Sebring collected 720 pounds of nonperishable food, and Continue reading

A tragic crash in Sebring Monday afternoon claimed the life of a 44-year-old local man. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the man was driving a truck westbound on State Road 66 around 1:48 p.m. when a car driven by a 62-year-old Sebring woman attempted a left turn onto Sparta Road, entering his path. The Continue reading

The American Legion Post 69 in Avon Park is inviting the community to come together for a Wreaths Across America fundraiser on Saturday, October 18th, from 1 to 3 p.m. For just $17, guests can enjoy a roast beef dinner while helping fund wreaths to honor local veterans at Lakeview Memorial Gardens. The event will Continue reading

Highlands County is stepping into the spotlight in an upcoming episode of “Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid” — a nationally aired Public Television program. The segment, filmed in September, showcases the county as the true heart of Florida, where modern living meets old-Florida charm. Viewers will see how the area blends business opportunity, natural beauty, and Continue reading

The Sebring Fire Department hosted Florida CFO and State Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia yesterday at Station 14, along with state legislators, fire chiefs, and firefighters from across Florida. During the visit, Sebring was awarded $1.5 million toward a new 2026 Pierce Tower Ladder and an additional $7,497 through the Cancer Decontamination Grant Program. That grant Continue reading