The Latest Local News

Had enough of brushfire season yet? Yesterday afternoon, residents in the Blue Moon, Moon River Avenue and Jack Weissner Boulevard in Sun N Lakes Estates south of Lake Placid got evacuated from their homes for a while because of a flareup in the Sunflower Drive area … Highlands County Fire Rescue and the state Forestry Continue reading

The City of Avon Park released a notice of collective bargaining May 23rd in regards to the labor negotiations for the Avon Park Professional Firefighters Association, Local 3132 that began 2 years ago with former City Manager Mark Schrader. The process has been slow and was further impeded by Schrader’s removal earlier this month. Negotiations Continue reading

The was terror on the road for six Sebring adult chaperones and 30 graduating students on Saturday. Sebring parents had to spring into action when they suspected the bus driver transporting the teenagers on a graduation trip was impaired while driving. Keith Shifflett, 55, was taken into custody and charged with DUI, child abuse without Continue reading

Today is Memorial Day and here are a few events happening in Highlands County to pay tribute to our country’s fallen heroes. Lakeview Memorial Gardens will be hosting their 12th Annual Memorial Day Event, starting at 9:00am this morning. It is located at 854 Memorial Drive in Avon Park. The Highlands NAACP Veteran’s Affairs will Continue reading

Highlands County Fire Rescue and Florida Forest Service started mitigation efforts yesterday to help contain the Granada Brush Fire in Sun’ N’ Lake of Sebring. They started conducting back burns near Schumacher Road and Blueberry Road. The efforts were to help prevent the fire from spreading outside of the control lines that Foresty had already Continue reading

Yesterday, Highlands County officials issued an immediate burn ban for Highlands County. Under the burn ban, no burning, residential or otherwise of any kind, may take place without a state of Florida Forest Service permit. The burn ban applies to all unincorporated areas of Highlands County, including Lorida and Venus, Sun ‘n Lake Improvement District, Continue reading

A Sentencing trial has been set for Zephen Xaver, a 27-year-old former prison guard, who executed 5 women at the Sebring SunTrust Bank, back in 2019. 12 jurors will decide whether Xaver is sentenced to Life without parole or death. Jury selection begins today in the sentencing trials after experiencing numerous delays. Xaver pled guilty Continue reading

The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to an Avon Park home last night at approximately 8:30pm in regards to a suspicious incident. Upon arrival to the home on Joe Hilton street, deputies found two victims, a female and male, both 69 years old, with serious injuries. According to the male victim, the suspect, Lindsey Continue reading

Several Downtown Bowling Green residents and businesses are now the proud recipients of generous Facade Grants. In an initiative to enhance the exterior appearance of properties and to contribute to the beauty of downtown Bowling Green. Grants were awarded during the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Tuesday meeting, after an application deadline of May 6th. Initial proposed Continue reading

A large brush fire broke out late yesterday afternoon in the Leisure Lakes community in Lake Placid, on Bluebird Avenue and Henscratch Road. It affected close to 300 acres and caused mandatory evacuation orders for about 175 structures. Multiple outbuildings caught fire and were destroyed, as well as one vehicle and one utility trailer. Highlands Continue reading