The Latest Local News

Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman appeared at the Avon Park city council meeting last night in response to reports of citizen concerns about law enforcement in the City of Charm. Although no residents stepped forward to speak, the Sheriff had a lot to say. He told the council that although Avon Park makes up about Continue reading

It will be a busy night for the Avon Park city council. They first will gather at 5:30 to sit as the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency. There, they will hear a marketing proposal from the Avon Park Chamber of Commerce. At their regular meeting, the council will get a status update on proposed revisions to Continue reading

Two Avon Park Middle School students have been arrested on Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping counts. A teacher reportdly found a folder containing what appeared to be plans to kill as many as nine identified individuals. Some apparently were to be transported – resulting in the kidnapping counts. Arrest reports indicate Continue reading

A three-vehicle accident this morning south of Lake Placid reportedly has sent four people to the hospital. According to reports, the two vehicles collided at the crossover in front of the Winn Dixie shopping plaza. Multiple ambulances and helicopters were dispatched to the scene with some victims having to be extricated from their car. Florida Continue reading

Highlands County commissioners apparently are looking at provisions that could allow them to impose a new tax on residents here. Attorney for the board, Joy Carmichael reported to the commission yesterday that a so-called “Municipal Services Taxing Unit” or a “Municipal Services Benefit Unit,” could be a tool that commissioners could use to pay for Continue reading

Highlands County commissioners got some good news today from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Nearly $7 million dollars is a step closer to arriving. The $6.945,000 is re-imbursement for monies spent in recovery from Hurricane Irma. Signing the so-called “sub-grant agreements” means the cash could be in hand in as few as four week. Commissioners Continue reading

Today is April 15th – income tax day. To mark the occaision, members of the Highlands County Tea Party will be holding a flag and sign wave. The group is slated to gather at the intersection of Highway 27 & Sparta Road and stand at the sidewalk there. Many people do not know that “TEA” Continue reading

Daniel Luis Galarza has been returned to the Highlands County. Galarza, a fugitive, was captured earlier this month by police in Wilson, North Carolina in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Galarza faces counts of robbery and attempted murder in connection with an incident in Avon Park last December. A second suspect, 16-year-old Sebastian Continue reading

The Avon Park Chamber of Commerce may have to wait until the next budget year before the city can help them out. Chamber officials had been looking for a $14,000 donation to help them hire some staff to answer phones and augment volunteers who also help out at the office. Avon Park City Manager David Continue reading

Sebring police believe that a couple of bomb threats at Wal-Mart last month may have been an inside job. Detectives there reportedly have arrested a 29-year-old Wal-Mart employee in connection with the false alarms that emptied the Sebring location for several hours and brought in the State Fire Marshal’s Office and bomb-sniffing dogs from Polk Continue reading