The Latest Local News

It rained on their parade last night in Avon Park. Officials of the Avon Park Chamber of Commerce say the processional was about half-way started when the skies opened up. Although the parade officially was called due to rain and lightning conditions, the weather later eased and the last part of the parade was allowed Continue reading

The City of Charm will officially kick off the Christmas season tonight with the annual Avon Park Christmas Parade. It’s the first processional of the year, and officials say it will be bigger and better than last year. Some 70 units, including marching bands, dance troupes, antique cars, floats and more are expected to wend Continue reading

Black Friday is here – and that’s a red-letter day for retailers, signalling the beginning of the seasonal retail rush and the transition to black INK on store ledgers for the year. The big box stores started early again this year, with Wally World door busters laid out for sale as early as 6pm, and Continue reading

Many people are aware of the proposed roundabout to be installed at the end of the Sebring Parkway Phase III just south of Avon Park, Others may know about another traffic circle to be installed at the other end by Highlands Regional Medical Center at the start of Phase II. Now officials say, they are Continue reading

The Highlands County School Board held an unusual morning session today. They swore in Isaac Durrence as the newest school board member. They also tapped Bill Brantley as the new chair of the board with Donna Howerton to serve as vice chair. In other action, the board accepted the resignation of four teachers and reviewed Continue reading

The Avon Park city council will meet in special session this evening as newly-elected council members chart a new course for the City of Charm. Among other things, they will consider an interim legal council for the board and look at the city manager hiring process. Both of those positions were vacated last week. A Continue reading

A tragic accident last night as a jet dragster driver was killed in an accident at the Sebring International Raceway. Track officials say 24-year-old Katrina Moller of Sarasota was making a run at the Thursday night drag races when the incident occurred. Witnesses say it appeared she may have hit the wall. The accident is Continue reading

It’s been a long week for Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Penny Ogg. The Highlands County Canvassing Board completed a machine re-count of 40,000 votes yesterday in senatorial, gubernatorial and Secretary of Agriculture races as mandated by the Florida Division of Elections. It’s not over yet. The board will reconvene at 1:00 today to do Continue reading

The recount is underway here again in Highlands County. The canvassing board is conducting a machine re-count for the offices of senate, governor and secretary of agriculture as mandated, It was a long day yesterday, as the board did not suspend their operations until 10:30 last night, then began again this morning by 8:30. State Continue reading

Reportedly, the first part of a statewide voter recount went smoothly yesterday here in Highlands County. Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Penny Ogg said only a handful of residents showed up to watch the canvassing board go back over some 40,000 cast ballots in the race for Senate, Governor and Secretary of Agriculture. Saying it Continue reading