The Latest Local News

Local elections have been thrown for a loop as one of the candidates has died. Democrat April Freeman, who was slated to challenge Republican Greg Steube for the District 17 Congressional seat, reportedly passed away Sunday night. The cause of death is not known. Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Penny Ogg says, chairmen of Democrat Continue reading

It’s an old scam, but this time it involves the Highlands County Sheriffs office. Officials there say someone is calling local residents claiming to represent the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. They claim the citizen has missed jury duty – then of course, they want money. Sheriff’s officials say if you get such a call – Continue reading

Sebring city council members are slated to take a field trip to their municipal golf course. Bob Funk, who lives off the 13th fairway, is complaining that his home has been peppered with golf balls – especially since Hurricane Irma took out some protective trees last year. Funk says he has buckets of balls from Continue reading

A couple of Highlands County residents have been caught up in out-of county traffic accidents. Florida Highway Patrol troopers say 39-year-old Dallas Gross of Lake Placid was eastbound on State Road 64 in Manatee County, when a Honda Accord turned in front of him. His Dodge Ram pickup hit the car broadside. His passenger, 12-year-old Continue reading

Highlands County Sheriff’s detectives are seeking information about shots being fired in Avon Park early yesterday morning. They say that sometime between 3 and 3:30, several shots were fired outside a residence on W. Hal McRae Blvd. Seven of those shots struck the house, and four of them entered the structure. Luckily, none of the Continue reading

Florida apparently keeps setting records on the number of tourists headed to the Sunshine State – what remains in question is – how many of them show up in Highlands County? Governor Rick Scott yesterday announced that an estimated 65.5 million tourists came to Florida during the first six month of the year – nearly Continue reading

Is the city of Avon Park transparent enough when it comes to public records? After city attorney Glinda Pruitt told council they met minimum state standards, council members Terry Heston, Dora Smith and Vice Mayor Brenda Gray voted not to have the city develop their own rules for how public records should be kept. Council Continue reading

As Hurricane Florence bears down on the Carolinas, many Florida residents are remembering a year ago when her sister, Hurricane Irma, devastated Highlands County and the rest of the Sunshine State. Locally, there was tens of millions of dollars of property damage done, trees were downed, a number of homes and buildings were destroyed and Continue reading

Those wanting to have tent sales for cars in Highlands County will have more hoops to jump through. Highlands County commissioners yesterday took action to beef up their ordinance on such events, with new regulations on insurance, security bonds, clean-up compliance and signage provisions. They also limited the number of times any company could stage Continue reading

Highlands County commissioners this morning spent some time talking about recycling, trash collection, contract compliance and the shortcoming of Waste Connections – who have been doing the work. There has been what was described as “an undercurrent” of residents who want to see things done about the pick-ups – or lack thereof. The idea of Continue reading