The Latest Local News

Five people were killed at the south SunTrust Bank location in Sebring yesterday. Sebring police say the gunman apparently entered the building shortly after noon, opened fire, then called police. Sebring officers and Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies surrounded the bank, and after negotiations, the Sheriff’s SWAT team breached the building and took 21-year-old Zephan Xaver Continue reading

The 15th Annual US Sport Aviation Expo opens officially today at the Sebring Regional Airport. Vendors are in place, there is a wide array of aircraft on the flightline, including the return of the Batcopter that was featured in the Batman television show. But not everybody is here yet. Organizers say they expect an Airbus Continue reading

Celebrations are going on today in observance of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King jr. There were parades this morning in Sebring and Avon Park and Highway Park south of Lake Placid. In the City of Charm, there are activities throughout the afternoon at the Martin Luther King jr. complex. There will be music, Continue reading

A Venus man was seriously injured yesterday when the car he was driving was hit by a semi tractor-trailer rig south of Lake Placid. Florida Highway Patrol reports say 76-year old James Paul Berrett pulled from Leisure Lane onto Highway 27 and into the path of the oncoming semi. The truck hit him broadside. Berrett Continue reading

Highlands County firefighters spent the early morning hours out in the cold, battling a blaze. Units from Highlands Lakes, West Sebring, Desoto City the City of Avon Park and even Polk County were called to the single story home on Esplanade Road. The fire in the Avon Park Lakes neighborhood broke out about 2:00 this Continue reading

New Avon Park City Manager David Flowers has been on the job just a little over a week now. Among his many tasks, he has been working to fill positions left vacant under his predecessors. Flowers now has announced that he has reached an agreement to hire a new Financial Officer. Ricky Helms will take Continue reading

Lack of planning and documentation paid off last night for members of the group Avon Park Community Awareness who are planning the Martin Luther King birthday celebration in Avon Park. City council members voted to give the group $2,000 to stage the event – which will be held this coming Monday at the Martin Luther Continue reading

Sebring city officials, veterans and interested citizens turned out this morning at the Alan Jay Ford dealership to watch the largest American Flag in Highlands county be raised for the first time. Nelly Ford sang both The National Anthem and God Bless America. VFW Post 4300 members raised Old Glory as bugler Richard Woods played Continue reading

Nearly a half dozen units were called out early this morning to battle a blaze in Lake Placid involving three homes. The fire on Robinson Street destroyed one house and damaged two others. Volunteers from Lake Placid, Leisure Lakes, Sun ‘N Lakes South and the Placid Lakes departments battled both the cold and the flames. Continue reading

At the request of Highlands County Commissioner Arlene Tuck, County attorney Joy Carmichael has been researching as to whether or not commissioners could set term limits. The answer is, it may take a while before that is determined. Carmichael said whether that can be done after the recent passage of Amendment 10 to the Florida Continue reading