The Sebring City Council has voted to reissue its request for proposals to lease the Sebring Municipal Golf Course after lease negotiations with the Blackmon family stalled. Council members approved reopening the bidding process with a 30-day proposal window and a preference for an operator ready to take over by October 1. City officials say the course has been operating at an annual loss of about $250,000 and hope to secure a lease before the start of the new fiscal year.
Three Sebring properties with longstanding code enforcement violations were sold at a public foreclosure auction at the Highlands County Courthouse. The properties on Howard Street, Steiner Avenue, and Edgemoor Avenue were the first sold as part of the city’s foreclosure effort. The City of Sebring successfully purchased the Edgemoor Avenue property after competitive bidding, while legal challenges filed before the auction were denied by the courts.
The Avon Park Senior Activities Center and Shuffleboard has reopened after months of repairs from damage caused during the 2024 hurricane season. The project included structural upgrades and roof repairs funded through a $9,000 grant from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. City officials say the center is once again ready to serve residents of all ages, providing a place for recreation, socializing, and community activities. The facility is located at 109 East Main Street, across from Donaldson Park.
A 39-year-old Lakeland man has been arrested following a violent road rage incident in Winter Haven. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect allegedly blocked another driver’s vehicle, assaulted him, then repeatedly struck him with a hammer while the victim’s children were inside the car. The victim suffered a broken nose, and the suspect is charged with burglary with battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and four counts of false imprisonment.