The Latest Local News

A couple of grand openings are planned for this weekend. First, will be the Champion for Children’s Theater on the Circle in Downtown Sebring. Longtime resident and musician Harry Havery has taken over management of the facility, and has planned an ongoing series of entertainment in both free and ticketed events. The first will be Continue reading

Here are the upcoming road projects as reported by the Florida Department of Transportation; HIGHLANDS COUNTY US 27 from Glades County line to Polk County line: Maintenance contract project: Crews will be mowing and picking up litter along US 27 northbound and southbound from the Glades County line to the Polk County line. Please watch Continue reading

The last of the trio of WaWa stores in Highlands County opened this morning. The location, on Highway 27 across from AdVent Health of Sebring has the same kinds of offers as the first two – including free coffee and free T-shirts for the first visitors. The doors will opened at 8:00 with grand opening Continue reading

It appears a lot of stuff is going down the drain in Avon Park. Utilities Director Rick Reed told city council members that people have been flushing baby wipes, rags and other such things down the commode and gumming up the system. He said installing a new headworks at the municipal wastewater treatment plant would Continue reading

A new report by Smartest Dollar shows that when it comes to pay, local first responders are making below the national average. The survey indicates the average here for police officers, firefighters, EMT’s, paramedics and the like is just short of $50,000 annually – when adjusted for the local cost of living – which is Continue reading

The firm SmartAsset has released their latest study of the places receiving the most incoming investment. In Florida, Highlands County ranked 53rd of the state’s 67 counties. The business growth here was set at 2.4-percent with a Gross Domestic Product of about $103 million dollars. Highlands ranked below Desoto, Hardeee and Okechobee counties. Polk County Continue reading

Highlands County firefighters had their hands full last night with a brush fire. The flames charred about an acre of land off Blue Skies Drive in the Sun ‘N Lakes south community. Units from Sun ‘N Lakes and the Division of Forestry were able to get the fire under control in the largely wooded area. Continue reading

A new study by the firm Construction Coverage shows that carpenters in the Sebring area earn an average of $36,600 a year. Even with the figure adjusted to $42,000 annually based on the local cost of living, it pales in comparison to the national average of $49,500 a year – which is an unadjusted number. Continue reading

The Avon Park city council sawed through quite a bit of business at their meeting last night. They first approved their budget and millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year. Property tax evaluation will jump to 2.24 mils to support the city’s $38.6 million dollar budget. In other action, the council approved a couple of Continue reading

Avon Park city council members will have quite a bit of housekeeping to take care of when they meet tonight in regular session. They first will hold public hearings on the budget. At their last meeting, the council voted to set the millage at 2.24 mils to help underwrite the city’s $38.6 million dollar spending Continue reading