The Latest Local News

More than 200 people packed the Highlands County commission chambers last night for a 5-hour public hearing on a proposed fire assessment on residences, businesses, industry, churches and other institutions. There were dozens of speakers, who noted their payments could go up as much as 600 percent under the new policy. Public safety officials warned Continue reading

Highlands County commissioners will get together this evening for a special session. They will be holding a public hearing to discuss a planned fire assessment to be placed on homes, businesses, industries and even vacant lots. The hope is to raise as much as $6.5 million dollars a year, to crate a county-run blend between Continue reading

The signs have been up for a while but the elections season kicks up a notch today as qualifying gets underway for candidates. Three seats on the Highlands County School Board and two seats on the Highlands County Commission will be up for grabs. So far, there’s only one contested election in each. Challenger Isaac Continue reading

Two people reportedly were killed early this morning when their car was hit by a train in Frostproof. Polk County Sheriff’s officials say the incident happend shortly after 3:00 this morning at Highway 98 West near Western Avenue in The Friendly City. Neither details on the accident nor names of the victims have been released. Continue reading

Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies reportedly have arrested a couple of men wanted in connection with a stabbing in the Sun ‘N Lake community. 26-year-old James Gaston Hall and 28-year-old Ka Bao Yang were seen about 7:00 last night fleeing from the scene of a stabbing on Darnell Drive reportedly – they turned themselves in the Continue reading

It appears that Avon Park City Manager June Fisher will take over where her predecessor left off. By a 3-2 margin, the Avon Park city council voted to leave her salary at $125,000 a year. Mayor Garrett Anderson lobbied for a lower figure – saying that would leave room for raises. Vice Mayor Brenda Gray, Continue reading

Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies reportedly have arrested a couple of men wanted in connection with a stabbing in the Sun ‘N Lake community. 26-year-old James Gaston Hall and 28-year-old Ka Bao Yang were seen about 7:00 last night fleeing from the scene of a stabbing on Darnell Drive reportedly – they turned themselves in the Continue reading

Avon Park city council members last night heard about a failing recreation program at the Martin Luther King Complex. City Manager June Fisher presented several requests by the organization to clean up the facility and raise money. They would like portables on the property removed – saying the buildings were heavily damaged by Hurricane Irma. Continue reading

It appears that the financial impact of new construction will continue to fall on the shoulders of Highlands County taxpayers. County commissioners have voted to suspend impact fees at least for the next two years. The motion by Commissioner Jack Richie did allow for the re-evaluation of the fees. That was put off until next Continue reading

Sebring Mayor John Shoop has called for strategic planning workshop involving both the city council and the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency. Shoop said he has been talking with CRA Executive Director Kristi Vasquez about a number of programs involving housing, business and business retention, that could be used for incentives. Saying a lot of the Continue reading