Summer Camp is supposed to be fun – but it turned scary for a bunch of kids last week at a 4H Camp south of Lake Placid. 33 campers from 8 to 15 years old and three adults from Camp Cloverleaf headed for the hospital after a mysterious illness gave campers and staff headaches, vomiting and nausea. EMS, Sheriff’s Department investigators and State Department of Health personnel spent time at the camp Thursday. That happened to be the second to last day of the camp session for around 120 kids, most of whom didn’t experience symptoms.
A Friday afternoon accident on Highway 27 in Sebring meant an Aeromed flight to Lakeland for a Sebring man after his vehicle was hit and flipped a little after 4:30pm. 40 year old Jamie C. Curley of Sebring reportedly tried to turn his Jeep Cherokee onto Hammock Road, but collided with a Nissan pickup driven by 38-year-old Mark Lee of Sebring. Sebring city fire crews had to remove the roof to reach Curley.
The contestants for office in Highlands County’s local races have now been set – and some races have been cancelled after nobody filed to run against the incumbents. Friday was deadline day to enter races for local political offices. County Commissioner Don Elwell drew no competition for his seat. Neither did School Board members Bill Brantley and Jill Compton Twist, meaning they’re automatically re-elected for another term. Other races do go to a vote beginning with the July 30 primary – Jackie Ritchie will face Lake Placid Councilperson Arlene Tuck for his County Commission seat in a Republican primary open to general voting, and Charlene Edwards will need to defend her seat on the school board against Isaac Durrance.