The numbers of votes locally continues to soar as residents continue to mail in ballots and show up at early polling places in Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid.
In fact, at last count, nearly half the electorate already have cast their ballots here – more than 48.5-percent. Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Penny Ogg says there have been 17,642 mail-in and 14,510 in-person ballots cast so far. That’s a total of 32,181 votes.
Early polling closes Saturday, election day itself is this coming Tuesday.
By the way, some people apparently have had second thoughts and want to retrieve their mail-in ballots and change them. Ogg says the short answer is….NO, you cannot.
Highlands County has recorded another traffic fatality. According to reports a bicyclist was struck and killed as he pedaled across Highway 27 at the Keiber Road intersection west of Sebring.
Florida Highway Patrol Troopers say the victim, described only as a 50-year-old Sebring man, was taken to Advent Medical Center where he later expired. There’s no indication if charges will be filed.
Another accident with injuries caused a victim to be flown out to an area hospital yesterday afternoon. That one occurred at State Road 64 and Arbuckle Road. There’s no further details on that one.
Shortly before 10:00 last night, two people were taken to the hospital when a couple of cars collided on the Sebring Parkway near West Boulevard. The rod was closed for a time while crews cleaned up the scene.
Highlands County Sheriff’s officials say a shoplifting arrest has led to a drug bust. Deputies were called to the Avon Park Wal-Mart on a retail theft complaint.
There they found Justin Allen Daughdrill who has been accused of taking merchandise without paying for it. Reportedly, the 27-year-old man had tried to purchase ammunition – but is not permitted to have a firearm.
During a search of Daughdrill’s car, deputies found methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and other controlled substances.
He has been charged with counts of armed trafficking, drug possession, resisting arrest and petit theft – among other things.