A fatal traffic accident reportedly has tied up traffic on Highway 70, near the Desoto County line. Westbound traffic is detoured at Placid Lakes Blvd. Eastbound traffic, detoured in DeSoto County.
Authorities note that such homicide investigations usually take several hours to complete. Motorists may want to try another route.
If you like lawn work, the city of Avon Park is looking for you. City council members last night rejected a bid from the Fort Meade-based Fancy Plants to do maintenence on the Mile-Long Mall.
Instead they opted to hire two new Public Works employees and buy some new equipment to do the job in-house. They hope to use the new staff on parks and other projects as well.
In the meantime, city staff members are working with the Avon Park Correctional Institution to again get inmate crews to do maintenence and mowing in the medians on Highway 27.
Lake Placid firefighters were busy last night. Units were called to an address on Palmetto Street to extinguish a fire in a pop-up camper that was parked behind a home there.
Officials say there were no injuries, and nobody was inside the camper. Cause of the fire remains under investigation. There was no dollar damage extimate released.
Sun ‘N Lake Improvement District officials are warning about a scam. Authorities say there reportedly have been fraudulent calls made to residents by a person posing as the Utility Billing Supervisors at the District.
The scammer states his name as “Peter Morris” and works with the District’s “sister company, Omega.” The scammer states that he will charge residents a flat rate for utility service, then asks for credit card information in order to make a payment.
Officials say this is not from the impropvement district and have notified Highlands County Sheriff’s officials. Authorities remind residents, NEVER give out personal information over the phone.
It was back to class today for thousands of Highlands County school students after a long Christmas break. Things apparently are pretty much back to normal with no incidents to report. However, construction on Heron Road west of Sebring has disrupted bus stops and times for students in that area.
Hardee County sheriff’s officials say there’s been a rise in theft of outboard boat motors there. Apparently, the thieves steal the boat, then take the motor and abandon the hull.
The focus seems to be on Yamaha 200 four-stroke engines. Highlands County officials say there have been no such incidents here – so far. Authorities urge boat owners to take precautions when they store their watercraft to protect them from criminals.