Today is the government observance of the birthday of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King jr. That means banks, governmental offices and some businesses will be closed. There also are no classes in the Highlands County schools.
Observances are planned for today in Sebring and in Lake Placid. In Sebring, a parade is planned at noon. It will go up Center Avenue, around the Historic Circle then out to the Bountiful Blessings Church – where a picnic will be held.
A parade also is slated for the Highway Park community south of Lake Placid. That will run up Crestmore Street to the Martin Luther King Complex where there will also be ceremonies and a picnic lunch.
Officials in Avon Park say they will hold their observance at a later date.
An Avon Park man has been killed in an accident near Bartow. Polk County sheriff’s officials say it appears Kenneth Nelson apparently had been attempting to change a tire on his car, when it was hit by 86-year-old Herbert Rogers of Sebring. Rogers apparently thought he was being detoured around railroad repairs being made in the area.
Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. A railroad worker, 57-year-old Robert Burns of Sebring, also was hurt. He was taken to Lakeland Regional in stable condition.
A 14-year-old Winter Haven youth reportedly was injured in a weekend shooting incident in Polk County. According to reports, Winter Haven Police officers had been called to the area following complaints of loud music and crowds in the area of MLK Boulevard and 3rd Street NE.
Officers in the area reportedly heard gunshots fired and and saw the crowd quickly disperse. A 14-year-old boy ran up to one of the officers, stating that he had been shot in the arm.
He was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Several vehicles and a building also apparently were struck by bullets.