The Latest Local News

Another successful kickoff for the local holiday season last night, as the Avon Park Christmas Parade went off without a hitch. Local officials first joined Heartland Helping Hands in lighting up the newly refurbished Gazebo on the Historic Mile Long Mall, with the parade following the traditional route down Main Street. The next processional will Continue reading

The local Christmas season gets underway officially this evening in Avon Park, with the annual Christmas parade. Staged by the Avon Park Chamber of Commerce, it is the first of the three holiday processionals here. More than 60 units, including floats, dancers, bands and antique cars. will head down Main Street beginning at 7pm. It Continue reading

There’s a lotta water in Lake Letta. In fact, there’s so much, Highlands County commissioners have closed the boat ramp and dock there, until water levels recede. Residents in the area have been complaining about the situation for several weeks, saying the rains from Hurricane Ian have continued to swell the lake, sending problems downstream Continue reading

When it comes to new business, it appears the Sebring-Avon Park metro area is doing better than the national average. A new study by Hire-A-Helper shows that 4.6-percent of the workforce in Highlands County is being employed by new business – that makes for over 900 employees. The local numbers beat the average of 3.9-percent Continue reading

Highlands County has a new administrator. Following some discussion yesterday, commissioners moved to drop the word "interim" from Laurie Hurner’s title, making her officially the new county administrator. The search for a new administrator had drawn better than 30 applicants – seven of which made a short list. In the end, commissioners agreed that Hurner Continue reading

A 77-year-old Sebring woman was killed yesterday in a chain-reaction accident on the Sebring Parkway. Florida Highway Patrol reports say the unnamed driver was westbound on the Parkway near the intersection of Spring Garden Road, when she lost control of her car and ran into oncoming traffic. The woman first sideswiped a car being driven Continue reading

Avon Park city council members will take care of a lot of business this evening when they meet in regular session. It will begin with the swearing-in of Mayor Garrett Anderson and Councilman Jim Barnard – both incumbents handily won re-election in balloting earlier this month. Council also will approve municipal budgets for the upcoming Continue reading

A Sebring man was killed to day when he was hit by a semi tractor-trailer rig during the early morning hours. Florida Highway Patrol officials say the 42-year-old man was bicycling on Highway 27 and crossed into the path of the southbound rig near the Skipper Road intersection. The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the Continue reading

Tropical Storm Nicole has come and gone, without any apparent damage here in Highlands County. The storm came ashore early this morning as a minimal Category One Hurricane but quickly downgraded. It ticked north, and passed through Polk County at its closest approach. There were some 571 customers without electric service during the storm, and Continue reading

Highlands County’s Emergency Management office now is at a Level 2, in anticipation of Tropical Storm Nichole. Latest models now show the center of the storm passing directly over Highlands County. The Special Needs Shelter opened at noon today at the Highlands County Health Department. The Public Shelter will open at 4:00 – that will Continue reading