The Latest Local News

It’s not global warming – it’s August in Florida. Officials of the National Weather Service say there’s a heat wave and it’s going to be a scorcher in Highlands County and throughout the Sunshine State today. Weather service authorities have issued a Heat Advisory, which will be in effect until 7:00 this evening. Heat index Continue reading

A man wanted in connection with a fatal Highlands County shooting earlier this year has been nabbed in Gulfport, Mississippi. Highlands County Sheriff’s officials say Shavarte Makel Deloach was wanted for the February premeditated shooting death of 57-year-old Arthur Scurry jr. This past February 5th, Sheriff’s deputies were called to a Highway Park address south Continue reading

Another sports tournament is coming to Highlands County. Without comment, Highlands County commissioners approved a proposal from consultants Airstream Ventures to bring the United States Fastpitch Softball Association here. The USFA will host the Sebring Invitational & Pumpkin Smash Tournaments. The three year run would include up to $20,000 in tourist tax money to underwrite Continue reading

Today is the first day on the job for new South Florida State College President Fred Hawkins. Hawkins formerly was a Representative in the Florida House for Osceola and Orange County. During his term in office, Hawkins served as the Vice Chair of the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee as well as the whip of all Continue reading

The action continues again today at the Avon Park Air Force Range as jets will continue training today until very late tonight. Officials at the range say noise levels will be noticable. They again did not say what units are running sorties over the facility Highlands County commissioners this morning voted to set the tentative Continue reading

If you’re looking for an electrician locally, it may be a while. A new study by Construction Coverage shows that the Sebring/Avon Park metro area is in the bottom 10 when it comes to the concentration of the skilled construction workers. Highlands county has roughly one electrician for each 1,000 households here. That compares to Continue reading

The 32nd Annual Caladium Festival got underway today in Lake Placid. Over the past three decades, the event has grown into one of the largest in Highlands County. Some 150 booths, exhibits and displays from arts & crafts and other vendors are drawing tourists from all over. Today also marks the inaugural Little Miss Caladium Continue reading

Avon Park Mayor Garrett Anderson continues to work on sculpting the City of Charm. He has called for a joint session between the Community Redevelopment Agency and the CRA Advisory Board to create a "grand vision" for Donaldson Park. At issue will be objectives for the city-owned facility, with a special look at the shuffleboard Continue reading

While county health officials continue to warn residents about the plethora of mosquitos this year, Avon Park officials say they won’t be doing any spraying in the City of Charm. Avon Park City Manager Mark Schrader told the council that in order to apply the spray, staff members would have to go through a licensure Continue reading

A gruesome discovery this morning in Leisure Lakes. Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the circumstances around the head of a calf, left atop a set of mailboxes at the end of Country Lane. So far, there’s no indication as to who left the remains of the young beef cow, or where the rest of Continue reading