Sebring City Councilman David Leidel says he plans to resign from the council as he and his wife, Michelle, prepare to relocate to the Huntsville, Alabama area. Leidel was elected to the council in March. His wife recently accepted a dean position at Calhoun Community College. Leidel has not yet announced his resignation’s effective date.
A new Wawa is set to open next week in Avon Park, at U.S. 27 North and County Road 17-A. The company says the grand opening is scheduled for October 8th at 8 a.m. The store represents an investment of more than seven-and-a-half million dollars and is expected to employ about 35 people. The opening will include giveaways, free coffee and a Hoagies for Heroes fundraiser benefiting local charities.
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team is celebrating a big win after taking first place in Saturday’s Region Six SWAT Challenge. Thirteen teams competed in five grueling events, with Highlands and Collier County finishing tied at 55 points. Highlands won the tiebreaker by completing the events one minute and six seconds faster than Collier. And the honors continue locally — Sebring Police Sergeant Stephen Williams and Officer Todd Souther have been named this year’s HomeTown Heroes, recognized for their dedication and service to the community.
A 76-year-old Lake Wales man is facing another DUI charge after deputies say they found him driving erratically while drinking rum and using cocaine. Charles Ducking was pulled over on a suspended license and allegedly told deputies he had just snorted cocaine about ten minutes earlier. His breath tests came back at nearly point-one-zero. He’s also facing drug possession and paraphernalia charges.