The Latest Local News

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

As Tropical Storm Nichole wends its way toward Florida. Highlands County has declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm’s arrival. In a report to the commission, Interim Emergency Manager Mark Ellis told commissioners that Nichole will be basically a rain event, with most of the activity kept to the North of Highlands Continue reading

You know all that hurricane stuff you bought? Don’t put it away just yet. A system in the Atlantic is churning this way and early models show it coming up against the east central Floria coast. Once known as 98L it’s know as sub-tropical storm Nichole and could impact us here in Highlands county. the Continue reading