The Latest Local News

Officials at the Avon Park Air Force Range say there will be increased activity in the skies here – both day and night. Apparently, the range will be hosting what is described as a “large force exercise” for the next couple weeks. There were some tense moments on Highway 27 last night when a driver Continue reading

Today is Old Fashioned Dollar Day at the Highlands County Fair. It’s also Highlands Radio Group Day, with a number of radio personalities at the fairgrounds beginning at 4:00 this afternoon. It’ll be a dollar admission, there also will be a dollar menu on the midway and some dollar rides as well. The commercial Heifer Continue reading

Brian Hass of the State Attorney’s office this afternoon revealed that a Highlands County Grand Jury has returned five counts of first degree murder against Zephan Xaver. He is the man charged in connection with a shooting incident at the Lake Jackson branch of the SunTrust Bank that claimed five lives. Haas also revealed that Continue reading

The latest edition of the Highlands County Fair will debut this evening at Firemen’s Field in Sebring. In addition to a field-full of rides from Reithoffer Shows, there will be a miniature version of the annual Ag-Venture program set up at the Livestock Pavilion – which now has been re-branded as the Ag-tivity Building. “Scott’s Continue reading

It looks like the city of Avon Park’s Community Redevelopment Agency may be going through another iteration. Currently there are three advisory boards to help eliminate the slum and blight in the City of Charm. Now, councilwoman Maria Sutherland says she would like to combine elements of the Main Street, South Side and Airport CRA Continue reading

The Chateau Elan Hotel & Conference Center has a new name. IMSA Properties and the Shaner Hotel Group have announced the popular lodging facility now will be known simply as “Seven – Sebring Raceway Hotel.” The name reflects Turn Seven, also known as “The Hairpin” wher4e the hotel is located. In addition to the 123 Continue reading

Tomorrow will mark two weeks since a shooting incident at the SunTrust Bank building on Lake Jackson that claimed five lives. Citizens plan to mark the occasion with a gathering in the parking lot there at 12:30. Since the incident, hundreds of flowers and other tributes have been left at the property. A Go Fund Continue reading

Highlands County firefighters began Burn Awareness Week working. Units from Sun ‘N Lake South, Venus and Lake Placid were called out to quell the flames at a brush fire. No word on what may have started the blaze off County Road 731 near Castle Rock Road. There have been no injuries reported nor damage to Continue reading

That “Sebring Strong Survivors Fund” Gofundme page we’ve been telling you about is going strong – as of this morning, the tally was just shy of $71,000 for the families of the SunTrust shooting victims. Go Fund Me is pretty well established, and that drive is backed by the SunTrust Foundation, but there ARE people Continue reading

Highlands County’s professionally-centered fire service system took another step forward this month. Public Safety Director Marc Bashoor told the County Commission last week that he’s got crews doing full shifts on duty at Sun N Lakes South and as of yesterday, fulltime staffing at DeSoto City. One 24 hour shift includes two firefighters and a Continue reading