Keep a weather eye out today – the National Weather Service has posted advisories for a risk of severe weather that’ll most likely be in our neck of the woods between five and ten p.m. … we’re on the southern end of a region where a frontal boundary will push gulf air through with conditions conducive for some storms to bubble up into the severe range. So we’re all on the same page, the County Landfill closes when there’s lightning in the area, so trash pickups might also be affected.
In case you thought the Holiday Parade season ended in Lake Placid last week, think again – the lights and floats now float, tomorrow night on Lake Jackson off Downtown Sebring. The Annual Sebring Christmas Boat Parade launches from near Don Jose’s Mexican restaurant at 7pm and circles the lake. Proceeds from registrations for the parade will go to “Sebring Angels.”
Sebring Blue Streak football teams could be playing on Astroturf soon, if the Sebring Firemen have their way. Monday’s School Board meeting featured a presentation by Mayor John Shoop, representing the Firemen, who told the board that an Astroturf field was the Firemens’ top priority – the artificial turf field would cost a lot less in maintenance across an 11-13 year lifespan, and – with backup from Shoop’s son J.C. Shoop, said the field would be safer and easier to play on. Shoop proposed that the lease payment from the District to the Firemen remain at $95,000 per year for the athletic complex. The Astroturf conversation brought Avon Park High School Athletic Director Mort Jackson to the podium who suggested that the grass and soil condition at Avon Park’s facility deserved the same treatment on property the district owns, rather than leases. The Board finessed the issue, but took all under advisement until after meeting with principals at all schools involved.
The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has a new inductee – and another Highlands County producer. Tim Hurner of Sebring will be honored in March. Last year, Marvin Kahn was inducted into the Hall of Fame, honoring producers and boosters of Florida Citrus agriculture. Aside from being a fourth generation grower, Hurner helped form the Highlands County Citrus Growers organization back in 1990, as well as serving for years as an IFAS Extension citrus agent and 4H youth agent for Highlands County.