Your Sheriff’s Department could use a hand this morning. The Highlands County Sheriff is looking for 35-year-old Innocent Sed Destino Jr. – he’s wanted on for charges of aggravated child abuse and kidnapping. He is considered armed and dangerous. If you have any information, please call 863-402-7200 – punch “1” at the automated system. Anonymous tips can be left via the department’s smartphone app or at Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-80-226-TIPS. Crime Stoppers tips could be eligible for a cash reward. They want you to know this is NOT an active kidnapping.
Highlands County has recorded another death from the Covid-19 virus – state reports as of 11am now record 11 deaths in the County. Our infection count also continues to grow, with 279 total cases since the outbreak began, out of 114,018 statewide. That’s 115 new cases here in the last two weeks. Polk County is up to 2,571 confirmed cases, DeSoto County reporting 521, Hardee 340 and Glades County with 151 cases on the latest report. The state’s positive tests now represent 6.6% of those tested. No update in a couple days how many active Covid-19 cases are in our local hospitals – at last report it was at a pandemic high of 20 locals under care.
A reminder – Highlands County’s Health Department is offering FREE Covid-19 testing tomorrow from 8:30 to 11:30am at the offices on George Boulevard South of Sebring. This is an every Monday and Friday thing – they do require registration ahead – call 382-7260 to let them know you’re coming.
The IMSA Weathertech series adds a new event to the schedule at the Sebring Raceway this year – in addition to the rescheduled Twelve Hours race this fall, the Cadillac Grand Prix of Sebring makes its debut Saturday, July 18. The 2:40 race will be the second of the season in this year’s shortened IMSA schedule.
The Highlands County School Board’s third “Town Hall” meeting on re-opening the schools this fall is tonight at Sebring Middle School. There’s a fifty-person cap on in-person attendance, but they’re webcasting and interacting on Zoom – phone numbers and web links are on the School Board’s website and Facebook page.
If you need computer access, our library system is gradually reopening. County libraries will offer computer usage from 9:30am till 5:15 today – they’ll shut down automatically at 5:15 so allow for what you need to get done. Sessions will be limited to 45 minutes – questions? The main Sebring library is at 402-6716.