The Latest Local News

A civil lawsuit has been filed in Polk County that accuses an owner of a law firm that recently closed its three offices, of embezzling nearly $1.8 million dollars from a client’s trust fund to support his self-proclaimed "raging" addiction. The suit alleges that Jason Penrod funneled the funds into his personal account to gamble Continue reading

The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating a fatal crash in Highlands County that occurred early Sunday morning. According to officials an ATV driven by a 26-Year-Old Lake Placid man was traveling south on the southbound lane of Highlands Boulevard, approaching the intersection of Cumberland Street. At that same time, a pickup truck was traveling Continue reading

A reminder that there are planned water outages in Lake Placid starting overnight, tonight. The town will be replacing the old water main along Interlake Blvd. The major outage is scheduled to be from 9:00pm tonight to 5:00am tomorrow morning. This outage will shut off water for everyone on the west side of US Hwy Continue reading

A Pretrial conference was held Thursday in the first-degree murder trial of Joseph Ables, who is being tried for the first-degree murder of Highlands County Deputy Sheriff William Gentry in May of 2018. Assistant State Attorney Bonde Johnson presented a motion on the Williams rule, which allows evidence of a defendant’s prior bad acts to Continue reading

There will be planned water outages in Lake Placid next week as the town replaces the old water main along Interlake Blvd. Aging valves will also be replaced. Most of the work is scheduled to be done at night to help minimize disruptions to businesses, schools, and residences. A major outage is planned for overnight Continue reading

A former Sebring High School Cross County Coach is behind bars. Jayson Allan Bass of Sebring was arrested Friday, August 23rd by deputies of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. He is charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious behavior, molesting a child under 12, and obstructing justice, tampering in felony life capitol proceeding. The Continue reading

The Sebring Police Department says they’re investigating two hit-and-run incidents – one involving a County ambulance – Monday afternoon. The Fire Rescue unit was transporting a patient with lights and sirens on Highway 27 about 4:30 – a red Dodge pickup truck crossed into the ambulance’s lane and sideswiped the vehicle, then turned on Bayview Continue reading

Closing statements were heard in the Virgil Lee West murder and attempted murder trial yesterday morning. West is charged with the murder of his former friend Shawn Zeigler and attempted first degree murder of Carrie Leaphart, tampering with evidence, and shooting into a conveyance. Jurors were read their instructions by presiding Judge Peter Estrada and Continue reading

A proposed housing project on Sparta Road will not come to fruition. The housing project was slated to have several facilities aiming to serve military veterans, aptly named Hero’s Village at Sebring. According to the City of Sebring, the Pensacola based Veteran’s Builder group that sought to complete the project never closed on the 365-acre Continue reading

The long-awaited trial for Virgil Lee West began Wednesday in Highlands County. West is charged with first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, shooting into a vehicle and tampering with evidence from an incident that occurred in Lorida on July 14th, 2015. Prosecutors say West was the shooter and his actions resulted in the death Continue reading