Polk County Sheriff’s officials now say at least one person has died in a two car accident that had traffic snarled on southbound Highway 27 near Frostproof this morning.
According to reports. a northbound vehicle went across the median just south of Warner Southern University and hit a southbound vehicle. Traffic was stopped at the college and turned back north until law enforcement could investigate and the scene could be cleared.
Traffic on Highway 27 was tied up in both directions last night when a semi apparently hit a power pole just south of West County Line Road. The mishap caused a live wire to drop across the highway – stopping traffic in both directions in Highlands and Polk counties.
Cars, trucks, vans and other vehicles were backed up for miles until Duke Energy crews could clear the scene.
Officials at the Lakeshore Mall are trying to determine what caused a couple of potholes to open under the back wheels of a pickup parked there yesterday. The incident occrred near the entrance to Bealls – just off the access road.
Dubbed “potential sinkholes” by county officials, the truck has been removed and the area has been cordoned off.
In an effort to get more property back on the tax rolls, Highlands County Commissioners have voted to put more than 80 parcels of land up for sale. The lots are located in Avon Park, Avon Park Lakes – The Country Club Villas in Sebring, as well as properties in Leisure Lakes, Placid Lakes, Orange Blossom Estates, Spring Lake and Sun ‘N Lake South among other places.
Prices range from $1,400 to over $24,000. County officials say bids must be in by this afternoon at 3:00.
There’s quite a bit of activity at the Avon Park Airport today. The Old Farts Flying Club has returned to the City of Charm. 50 and as many as 75 planes were expected in for the group’s monthly gathering.
After landing, the pilots and passengers were shuttled downtown for lunch at the Jacaranda Hotel. Planes will be leaving this afternoon at 2:oo.
A utility service agreement between the City of Avon Park and NuCOR Steel Florida was pulled from the agenda Monday night. City council member took the action after a request by Tom Tworoger that the city purchase the Lake Byrd WasteWater system from him.
He claimed a complex agreement never had correctly been followed. Moreover, council raised questions as to whether NuCor might be using that lift station as part of the plan.
In other action, council members again discussed monument welcome signs at the north and south end of the City of Charm – noting that both “need attention.”
A Polk County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot an armed man several hours after a stolen pickup truck he was riding in ran over a police detective in another county.
Polk Sheriff Grady Judd says 31-year-old Aaron Phillips was killed yesterday while fighting with a deputy at a mobile home park near Mulberry. A woman who had been with Phillips, 36-year-old April Thompson, was hospitalized with two gunshot wounds.
In neighboring Hillsborough County, a Plant City detective was run over while trying to approach Phillips and Thompson’s truck. Judd says nearby law enforcement agencies were told about the pair after they carjacked another truck.