The Latest Local News

Highlands County sheriff’s officials and first responders were kept busy overnight with traffic accidents. One man was injured when he flipped his car on County Road 627, north of Avon Park. He was transported to a local hospital. Another motorists had to be rescued when he lost control of his vehicle and ran off Kenilworth Continue reading

By a 4-1 vote, Highlands County commissioners this morning voted to overturn the recommendation of their planning and zoning board and change the county’s zoning and comprehensive plan, to allow for the construction of a Bernie Little Distribution facility just outside the Sebring city limits. The plant is slated to go in on a 20-acre Continue reading

It’s Columbus Day. Remember, there is no school for students in Highlands County today. Motorists are urged to watch out for kids walking, playing and riding their bicycles during school hours. Classes will resume tomorrow morning. Avon Park city council members tonight will continue work on developing a citizen’s committee, charged with helping to vette Continue reading

Acting on a tip from Highlands County Sheriff’s officials, Lakeland Police and Polk County sheriff’s deputies yesterday captured Doranda Jo Ussery. The 24-year-old Avon Park woman was found holed up in a Lakeland motel room. She has been wanted in connection with an incident at the Lake Wales Wal-Mart, where she allegedly sprayed mace at Continue reading

Residents have been asking about increased air traffic in the area. Thedy’re right. Officials at the Avon Park Air Force Range have confirmed that they are in the middle of a large training exercise. The activity is slated to run through the end of the month. You may be seeing cars on trailers today as Continue reading

It was a short meeting for the Highlands County School Board last night. After sitting through an afternoon workshop on insurance, they breezed through their regular session in less than an hour. Board members learned that new state mandates have ordered that they must have a policy on the administration of medical marijuana on campus. Continue reading

More than 100 people turned out last night at the Sebring Middle School to hear Florida Chancellor for K-12 Public Education Jacob Oliva about new provisions from Governor Ron Desantis that will do away with the Common Core instructional. Some came from Polk County and from as far away as Naples to participate. It was Continue reading

Florida Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and Chancellor Jacob Oliva are due in Highlands County tonight. It’s the kickoff of their state-wide tour to hear from the public about the Florida State Standards. The session will be held at Sebring Middle School commons. Doors will open at 5:00. In January, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Continue reading

It looks like Avon Park City Clerk Kimberly Gay will be running the City of Charm – at least for the foreseeable future. The city council last night promoted her to interim city manager after Mark Schrader turned down the post. Council had offered the former Highlands County undersheriff the interim position after they dismissed Continue reading

The agenda for Avon Park’s special city council meeting tonight just keeps growing. Originally, it had been set to waive the background check and hiring process for Mark Schader. The former Highlands County undersheriff has accepted an invitation to act as city manager in the City of Charm. Now, council members will look at approval Continue reading