The latest Coronavirus numbers released by the Florida Department of Health show that there have been 46 additional positive cases and 175 new negative results in Highlands County.
Of the 14,425 tests administered locally over the past five months – 13,310 have been negative with 1,103 positives. There have been 126 people hospitalized at some point during their illness and 24 deaths have been tied to the corona virus since numbers started being kept.
Many locals have been trying to find out how to get their portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act cash. Known as “CARES,” millions of dollars have been allocated to Highlands County.
A webpage has been set up to help local individuals and businesses who need additional information. HighlandsCares.com is where people need to go to begin the application process.
Highlands County government officials say it could go live as early as tomorrow.
NEWS 7/28/20 BF
AP CRACKDOWN
No more Mr. Nice Guy for the Avon Park city council. At their meeting last night council members agreed to begin cracking down on code enforcement and going after people who are behind in their utility bills.
The council had agreed not to shut off water to those who did not pay their bills due to the Coronavirus crisis. Now, they say, it’s time to pay the piper.
The council also agreed they no longer will forgive code enforcement violations and will go after the amount of fines accrued. Reportedly, there’s $35,000 currently on the books.
Highlands County Sheriff’s detectives are trying to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of 5-year-old Chance Peterkin and are asking for the public’s help. They are asking anybody who saw him and his mother, 29-year-old Philletta Moransit between noon and 7:30 last Thursday to step forward and share what they know.
The youngster’s body was found floating in Lake Leila early Friday morning. The cause of his death has not yet been released. Moransit has been uncooperative and is being held in the Highlands County jail – reportedly on child neglect counts.
Firefighters from Leisure Lakes and Desoto City were called out yesterday to quell a house fire. The flames errupted in the home off Payne Road when it was hit by a bolt of lightning.
Quick work by responders kept the damage to one cornder of the single-story dwelling. No injuries were reported in the incident. No dollar damage estimate was released.