The Latest Local News

A traffic stop for illegal tint led to a high-speed chase in Zolfo Springs on Wednesday. The chase ended when Hardee County Deputies deployed spike strips to stop the vehicle as it travelled the wrong way down US 17. Nelson Tyrone Lee of Wauchula was arrested on multiple charges including possession of a large amount Continue reading

A couple has been arrested after being found with more than a kilo of cocaine. The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit made the arrests after a traffic stop on Hwy 27, near Stryker Road in Avon Park late Tuesday night. Detectives pulled over 45-year-old Noel Hernandez-Alvarez and his passenger, Luz Maria Carrasquillo-Figuero, both Continue reading

Fire rescue crews and Florida Forest Service were dispatched to a brush fire off Grace Lane in Sebring late yesterday afternoon. In a 9:00 PM update, Highlands County Fire Rescue has reported that the brush fire has been contained at 6.5 acres. No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged. The Florida Forest Service Continue reading

A search is still underway for a man accused of violently attacking a woman in Winter Haven. Police say the victim told officers that Randy Leon Gillis hit her in the face and strangled her until she lost consciousness last Friday. The woman was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. Gillis took the victim’s Continue reading

A cyclist was struck on US 27 Friday morning, when the rider tried crossing from a shoulder by a Schooner’s BBQ Shack driveway- toward a turn lane meant for southbound traffic. A woman driving a gray Dodge Charger was not successful in evading the rider and hit the cyclist. Several motorists were able to block Continue reading

A burn ban is now pretty well universal around our neck of the woods – yesterday, Glades County joined Highlands and Hardee County is banning any open fires without a state permit. It’s dry – the State Patrol is still issuing traffic advisories for that blaze near Bowling Green they got under control the other Continue reading

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