The Latest Local News

Three Avon Park men are in custody following an overnight car chase. Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol saw a suspect wanted on warrants, driving a sport utility vehicle through Avon Park. However, when they tried to effect a traffic stop, the suspect took off. The chase ran from Lake Avenue inside the City of Continue reading

Today is election day in Highlands County and across the land. Locally voters in Avon Park will have a chance to cast their ballots in a city council election. Four candidates are in the running for three council seats. On the ballot will be newcomers Thelma Foster, Brittany McGuire, Michelle “Shelly” Mercure and Berniece Taylor. Continue reading

Karen Healy officially is the Highlands County Supervisor of Elections. Governor Ron Desantis made the appointment this past weekend to fill the seat left vacant with the death of Penny Ogg. She passed away in September following a brief hospital stay. Healy had served as Highlands’ Chief Deputy Supervisor under Penny Ogg. She has worked Continue reading

In case you hadn’t noticed, a cold front swept through here last night with a little weather to along with it. Highlands County was under a tornado watch a good part of the afternoon and evening, but nothing heavy was reported beyond a stiff breeze and some good downpours around the area. There WERE a Continue reading

In-person balloting for the Avon Park municipal election continues to be palid, with the bulk of the ballots cast continuing to be mail-ins. So far fewer than 100 people have turned out at the Avon Park city council chambers, with 296 mail-ins received so far. Elections officials say, due to Florida Senate Bill 90 – Continue reading

Officials at the Highlands County Supervisor of Elections say balloting in Avon Park has been light – but the mail-ins have been quite stout. So far, 295 mail-ins have been received – there were only 300 in all of the 2019 election. Only about 30 people showed up Monday to cast their votes in person Continue reading

Early voting started today for the Avon Park municipal election. Four candidates are seeking the three seats that were left open when none of the incumbents filed to run for office. All of the candidates are new commers. On the ballot are Ann Foster, Michelle Mercure, Brittany McGuire and Bernice Taylor. The polls have been Continue reading

An accident just before 8pm last night had Highway 70 tied up near the intersection with Highlands Boulevard just east of Highway 27. Fire crews and first responders responded and took two victims to area hospitals. Traffic was flowing again by 9pm. Up in Tampa they know we exist, but it’s sometimes surprising how many Continue reading

There was quite a bit of activity in the “fish streets” west of Sebring yesterday as Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies pursued and caught a man wanted on multiple felony warrants. What started as a traffic pursuit soon led to a foot chase with Highlands County deputies and K-9s assisted by the Polk County Sheriff’s helicopter. Continue reading

When it comes to construction managers – those working that job in Highlands County are doing pretty well. A new survey by Construction Coverage shows the average wage here is an adjusted $1,575 a week. That works out to an adjusted wage of just over $97,300 a year. That is slightly above the national average Continue reading