Highlands is one of a number of central Florida counties that remain under another freeze watch. National Weather Service forecast has predicted lows of 33 degrees, although most temperatures locally have been in the high 30’s there was a report of one as low as 31 in some areas. A complete weather forecast follows the news.
A reminder to motorists- there’s no school today due to the Martin Luther King government holiday. Drivers are urged to watch out for youngsters during the times they normally would be in class.
Today is the government observance of the birthday of Martin Luther King jr. That means city, county, state and federal offices will be closed – as well as banks and some other outlets.
The Highlands County Citizens with Voices will hiold a Martin Luther King Day Parade. That will kick off at noon, proceed from the Historic Circle, down Ridgewood Drive, to Pine, then to Lemon, ending up on MKL jr Boulevard.
The procession is expected to last about an hour.
Avon Park code enforcement officers are cleaning up the City of Charm – on an increasing basis. Director Randy LaBelle told council members there has been a 65-percent increase in enforcement over the past year. He says it’s due to the city’s pro-active approach.
There’s also been a commensurate drip in magistrate cases, meaning the city is getting compliance on code enforcement citations.
Labelle said, in addition, agents had pulled up more than 1400 snipe -or illegally placed- signs.
Units from Lake Placid, Sun ‘N’ Lake South and Placid Lakes were called out over the weekend to quell the flames at the Thornberry Apartments. Firefighters were able to contain the flames to a single unit of the multi-family residence.
No injuries were reported. Cause of the fire and dollar damage estimate has not been released.
Highlands County Sheriff’s officials say two local men have been arrested and charged with a string of car burglaries as well as stealing the car they used during the crimes.
25-year-old Joseph Isaac Ibanez of Sebring, and 20-year-old Tayler Eddie Pereira of Lake Placid are facing charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle, vehicle burglary, grand theft of a firearm and petit theft in connection with the incidents that took place this past December.
Authorites charge the pair used a stolen truck as part of their operation. Both were booked into the Highlands County jail.