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 don’t know where we ARE here in Highlands County. A few more will know after this morning when Tampa’s ABC affiliate, WFTS, is scheduled to bring their morning news show hosts to the Sebring Circle for a remote broadcast of their morning news program from Circle Park.
The Champion for Children Theatre continues its series of concerts this weekend with a Country Music concert and hymn sing – Religious performers Robbie A. and Adam Martin are on stage tonight – tomorrow night husband and wife team Jordan and Josie lead a hymn sing – and yeah, you’re invited to bring your hymnal and sing along.
The weekend’s going to be a busy one. While the County passed its hundredth birthday this year, the Spring Lake Community hits 50, and the Property Owners’ Association has a party to celebrate the milestone tomorrow at the Pine Breeze Park Community Center from 10am till 4pm. Organizers say they have fifty vendors lined up, food trucks, kids’ games, entertainment and more.
And prepare for some sneakin’ around this weekend. The GFNY Marathon is coming to town with a field of runners and their sneakers from all over the country this weekend. There’s a Marathon, half-marathon and 5k Sunday, beginning and ending at Sebring International Raceway. That’s a new event in the group’s circuit. Next weekend, the GFNY Florida Cycling even returns with up to a thousand cyclists from all over.
Local firefighters have a union deal with the County. County staff and Highlands County Professional EMS & Firefighters Local 5147 completed negotiating their first contract as a unified system in time for approval by the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners at Tuesday’s board meeting.
Up Frostproof way, the Fire Chief has been told to pick one of his two jobs, but he can’t have both. Jerry Riner has been both the Chief of the Frostproof department and a member of the unified Polk County Fire Rescue staff. The County unit gave Riner the ultimatum ostensibly because of a state-funded cancer benefit policy, but the Frostproof City Fathers think it’s out of line and say they’re working with the County Commission to try to work it out.