The Latest Local News

The Frostproof Centennial Celebration winds up today in what is the kickoff to an annual event in the Friendly City. On tap for today is a fishing competition, a cardboard boat race and the Miss Frostproof Pageant. Yesterday was the inaugural “Fire it up Frostproof” barbecue competition at Henderson Field. That was sanctioned by the Continue reading

Good news has hit the Caladium Capital. Officials of the Florida Lottery say somebody there hit all the numbers in the Fantasy Five drawing. It was one of three winning tickets and is worth a cool $60,864.05 – before taxes. The quick pick was sold at the Lake Placid Publix store. A 16-year-old boy in Continue reading

Officials at the Sebring International Raceway say it won’t be long until a new bridge will be going up there. Billed as “The Gateway to the Green Park,” the new span will replace a temporary bridge that stood in the area for better than a half century. Meanwhile, the Phillips Power Plant is coming down. Continue reading

Highlands County voters went to the polls yesterday and sent two new people to local boards. In a decisive victory, challenger Arlene Tuck unseated incumbent Highlands County Commissioner Jack Richie. In a nail-biter, newcomer Isaac Durance defeated incumbent Charlene Edwards in their race for school board. In the race for 10th Judicial Circuit Court Group Continue reading

Early voting for this year’s primaries has come to a close. At the end of the day yesterday, some 3,936 Highlands County residents had turned out to cast their ballots in a number of races. That is in addition to the 5,505 tallies received by mail. Tomorrow all 25 polling places across the county will Continue reading

A USA Today poll has ranked Sebring as one of the worst cities in the United States to raise children. The study by 24/7 Wall Street says Sebring appears to have one of the least effective education systems of any US metro area. The report says only an estimated 64-percent of area high school students Continue reading

Local law enforcement officials are on the lookout for a man wanted for questioning in connection with a stabbing incident in Sebring yesterday. 56-year-old Joseph Frances Hutton reportedly left the Sunshine Mini Storage facility before Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies could arrive at the scene. The stabbing apparently involved non-life threatening injuries. The victim was not Continue reading

It took them a while, but it appears Highlands County Commissioners yesterday were able to adjust next year’s budget so that the millage rate will remain unchanged. The commission used $3.6 million dollars from their reserve contingency fund to balance the books. Although the millage rate will stay at 8.55 – or $8.55 for each Continue reading

Better than 600 residents turned out for early voting in the August Primary elections over the weekend here in Highlands County. Locations are open at the Avon Park city council chambers, the Supervisor of Elections Operations Center on Kenilworth Blvd. in Sebring and the Lake Placid Town Hall. Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Penny Ogg Continue reading

Volunteers from the Lake Placid, Desoto City, Placid Lakes and Sun N Lake fire departments – as well as the Highlands County EMS and Fire Services turned out yesterday to extinguish a blaze at the Tower Plaza in Lake Placid. Despite a heat index of better than 105-degrees there were no injuries reported. Authorities say Continue reading