News for 2/26/19

Florida Highway Patrol officials now have released details on an accident on State Road 66 last night that claimed a life and tied up traffic for several hours. They say the driver of a motor scooter made an improper U-turn in front of and oncoming semi, and was hit then runover.
The name of the scooter rider has not yet been released. The tractor-trailer rig reportedly was carrying a load of 6,000 gallons of orange juice. No charges have been filed in the incident.

The first fans already are in line awaiting the 2019 edition of the Mobil One 12 Hours of Sebring presented by Advance Auto Parts. Already, dozens of cars, vans, campers and trailers are lined up in the field across from gate four.
A cadre of fans arrived this past weekend, and after the field was striped to allow for an orderly line-up, they were allowed in. Officials at the Sebring International Raceway say they expect a bumper crop of fans this year, due to the addition of the World Endurance Challenge to this year’s schedule.
This weekend the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association brings their Sebring Vintage Classic to the track. That will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Work on Avon Park’s Brickell Building is proceeding nicely and Avon Park City Manager David Flowers said the facility could have the mold up and out of the place within the next two weeks. Prisoners working on the project already have taken out 120 yards of drywall and have started pulling out ceiling pieces.
In fact, reportedly some of the original tin plates have been uncovered.
Councilman Jim Barnard suggested when the clean-up is completed, it might be a good time to sell off the structure.

The Sebring Strong Go Fund Me Page has taken another giant leap, jumping to over $130,000. The fund was established to help the families of the five victims of the January shooting at the main branch of the SunTrust bank that claimed five lives.
An arraignment for the man charged with the shooting, Zephen Xaver, was held yesterday to formally read the murder charges. The next session will be a pre-trial conference set for March 28.