The Latest Local News

It was back to school today for Highlands County students for the first time in nearly a week. It remains unclear how much damage may have been sustained by buildings in the system, but classes will go on as usual. South Florida State College reportedly had damage on its campus, they will be closed through Continue reading

The recovery efforts for Hurricane Ian continue today in Highlands County. Points of Distribution, or PODS are open at South Florida State College in Avon Park, at the Highlands County Health Department on George Blvd South of Sebring and the Save-A-Lot Plaza in Lake Placid. Water, ice and other necessities are being distributed there. They’ll Continue reading

Damage estimates are underway as the effects of Hurricane Ian now are being assessed. Trees and power lines are downed and some signs were blown out, officials now are saying there were 90-mph sustained winds measured in Sebring during the storm. However, the biggest problem is water. Many areas of the county, which already had Continue reading

Hurricane Ian has come and gone in Highlands County, now the damage assessment begins. Reports indicate that rainfall amounts were measured at 12-to 15 inches in some areas of the county. Authorities also determined there was at least one wind gust of as much as 86 miles per hour in Sebring. However, the extent of Continue reading

A hurricane watch as well as tornado and flood warnings have been issued for Highlands County as Hurricane Ian draws down here. Highlands County officials say there currently are about 60 people in the two shelters that have been opened – the Special Needs shelter at the Highlands Agri-Civic Center and the General Popluation Shelter Continue reading

Hurricane Ian is on the way. Yesterday, the Highlands County Commission, the Highlands School Board and the Avon Park city council have declared states of local emergency in preparation for the big storm. Forecasters now say Ian could come ashore near Ft. Myers – in the same manner as Hurricane Charlie. In his briefing yesterday, Continue reading

Highlands County commissioners this morning issued a "State of Local Emergency," in connection with the development of Hurrican Ian. The big storm currently is projected to pass by the central portion of the state in the Gulf of Mexico, but the effects are expected to be felt here with both wind and rain. Highlands County Continue reading

Authorities are keeping a weather eye on a system currently known as "Tropical Depresion Number Nine." The storm still is in the southern Caribbean, but some storm tracks are showing it moving over the Florida peninsula sometime next week. It’s still too early to make any firm predictions, but officials are asking Florida residents to Continue reading

It appears that Highlands County School Board members are looking at changing language of some of their rules and regulations to be more politically correct. In discussing some new rule changes for advertisement, they voted to depart from using the identifier "he or she," to the more generic "they." School board member Donna Howerton questioned Continue reading

A bicyclist reportedly was killed this morning here in Highlands County. The accident occurred shortly after 6:AM on Kenilworth Blvd near the intersection of Snyder, east of Sebring. The cyclist, described only as a 37-year-old male, was killed when he collided with a Sport Utility Vehicle. Florida Highway Patrol officials have released no other details Continue reading