Highlands County Emergency Management and the Public Information Office will host the county’s first Caregivers Preparedness Workshop on Thursday, July 30th from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center in Sebring. The free workshop will help caregivers prepare for emergencies, learn about local resources including Alert Highlands and the Special Needs Shelter Program, and receive preparedness supplies to take home. Lunch, coffee, and water will be provided. To register please call 863-402-6860.
Highlands County farmers and producers are being reminded of upcoming USDA deadlines for crop assistance and disaster relief programs. Deadlines include the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program on August 7th, the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program on August 12th, the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program on August 24th, and ARC and PLC base acre allocations by August 31st. Producers should contact their local Farm Service Agency office for eligibility details and application information.
The Historical Society Players will present Murder on the Highlands Express at the Avon Park Depot Museum on August 1 and 2. The interactive 1940s-themed murder mystery dinner is written and directed by Sharon Seymour and features a three-course meal as guests work to solve the crime. The August 1 performance is sold out, but tickets are still available for the August 2 show at 1 p.m. Tickets are $40. For reservations, call 863-453-3525 or 863-235-1187.
A former cast member of the reality series Love After Lockup is back behind bars after being arrested in Polk County. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Christopher Chipps, who was serving a 32-year sentence before being paroled after 10 years, was stopped while driving on a suspended license. Sheriff Grady Judd summed it up this way: "He needs to be in prison. He is obviously a slow learner." Chipps was originally convicted of burglary and identity theft.