The Latest Local News

It’s that time of year again, things have dried out and the chance of wildfires has increased significantly. State Road 62 was closed between Polk Rd and US HWY 17 in Hardee County yesterday as units there had to extinguish a large, smokey brush fire. Local officials warn motorists to be cautious driving through or Continue reading

A joint meeting with Avon park city officials and the Florida Department of Transportation set for today has been postponed. Reportedly there were problems with notifications so it has been put off until later this month. The meeting was scheduled to take public input on a plan to change the parking and traffic patterns on Continue reading

Highlands County commissioners this morning voted to spend $1.3 million dollars for a new landfill compactor and hydraulic cover spray unit for the solid waste department. Although the action comes in the wake of the latest fire at the Highlands County Landfill, officials reported the item had been on the agenda for several months. The Continue reading

Highlands County firefighters are back out at the Highlands County landfill battling another blaze there. At last report, it was estimated at 5-acres. Units from Desoto City and West Sebring are back out again trying to contain the stinky blaze. There’s been no progress update, but units say they plan to be out there "all Continue reading

Highlands County firefighters are back out at the Highlands County landfill battling another blaze there. At last report, it was estimated at 5-acres. Units from Desoto City and West Sebring are back out again trying to contain the stinky blaze. There’s been no progress update, but units say they plan to be out there "all Continue reading

When it comes to affordable housing – a new survey shows that the Avon Park/Sebring metro area is in line with national averages. The new report by Construction Coverage – looking at the US locations investing the most in affordable housing, shows Highlands County construction comes in at an average of $230,000 per home. That’s Continue reading

There was quite a discussion at the Avon Park city council meeting about the installation of a couple of lights on Fred Connor Street. The action comes at the request of neighbors, who said there have been seven shootings at the basketball courts there – four of them have been fatal. There was a dust-up Continue reading

NEWS 3/2/23 BF LOCAL CONSTRUCTION When it comes to affordable housing – a new survey shows that the Avon Park/Sebring area is in line with national averages. The new report by Construction Coverage – looking at the US Locations investing the most in affordable housing, shows Highlands County construction comes in at an average of Continue reading

It appears Avon Park City Manager Mark Schrader will stay on for at least another three years. After a very public, and sometimes tense negotiation session at last night’s Avon Park city council meeting, the two sides hammered out the details of the city manager’s contract. It will bring Schrader to an average $130,000 a Continue reading

Cars were on track last weekend for the Sports Car Vintage Racing Association’s SpeedTour, but already fans are lining up for this year’s Mobil One 12 Hours of Sebring. Officials at the Sebring International Raceway say that vans and motorhomes already have started to line up in the parking area across from Gate 4 in Continue reading