Lake Placid held its Town Council and Mayoral elections yesterday. Up for grabs, the Mayor’s office and two Town Council seats. The town has a new Mayor … Colleen Charles defeated Incumbent John Holbrook for the position by a wide margin. For the two Town Council seats, Council member Nell Frewin-Hayes was re-elected to her seat, and Gregory Sapp returns to the Council after resigning his seat at the end of 2023 over what he and other elected officials considered overly intrusive state reporting requirements.
Another lockdown yesterday afternoon at the three public high schools in the County. Lake Placid, Sebring and Avon Park High Schools were placed on precautionary lockdowns after threatening phone calls were placed regarding the schools. School Board and Sherriff’s Department personnel emphasized that these calls – especially when spread across multiple schools – are almost always hoaxes, but abundance of caution rules, and after things were checked out schools got out a few minutes after scheduled dismissals.
Yes, we’ve gotten a few good rainfalls over the past few days. No, that doesn’t mean you can have a bonfire to celebrate. Highlands County’s burn ban has been extended through May 5. The County Commissioner voted to extend the ban, but it may be lifted sooner by the Fire Chief or extended again by the Board if needed. This ban applies to all areas of Highlands County, including unincorporated areas like Lorida and Venus, Sun ’n Lake and Spring Lake Improvement Districts, and areas within city/town limits, unless a municipality has its own ordinance or charter provisions.
A couple inches of welcome rain notwithstanding, Highlands County remains under extreme drought conditions, according to the National Weather Service.
Like they say in the movies – don’t drink the water – or swim in it, for the moment. The Florida Department of Health has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Istokpoga at the pier. Don’t drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom. And wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water. And no, don’t let pets or livestock drink from water where a bloom’s present, either.