Sebring Police are searching for a suspect after a vehicle was stolen outside Sebring City Hall Tuesday morning. Authorities say the owner briefly left the running vehicle unattended while going inside the building around 11:45 a.m., with a dog remaining inside. The vehicle was taken and later recovered at a residence on Devon Court. The dog was found safe a short time later on Lemon Avenue and reunited with its owner. The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search, including the deployment of a K-9 unit, but the suspect remains at large.
A Frostproof man is facing multiple charges after deputies say they found him trespassing on private agricultural property with a stolen handgun. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says 52-year-old Steven Brent Steedley, a convicted felon, was arrested Monday after deputies discovered ammunition in his pocket and a loaded 9-millimeter handgun nearby. Investigators later determined the firearm had been reported stolen during a 2022 burglary in Frostproof. Steedley was charged with armed trespassing, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and grand theft of a firearm.
Lake Placid Town Administrator Charlette Rodriguez has resigned after serving the town since 2024. Rodriguez offered to remain through July 10 to help with the transition, but Mayor Colleen Charles ended her employment Monday afternoon. Rodriguez oversaw major projects including the town’s new police station and wastewater treatment plant. Her tenure also included public disputes over transparency and town operations. The Town Council has appointed Police Chief Mark Schneider as interim town administrator while a search for a permanent replacement begins.
Highlands County families are reminded that free meals are available this summer for children and teens 18 and younger through Florida’s Summer BreakSpot program. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are being served weekdays at participating schools, churches, community centers, and other locations throughout the area. No registration or application is required. Officials say meals must be eaten on-site and cannot be taken home. Families can find the nearest participating location by visiting SummerBreakSpot.org.