Highlands County’s 2025 Tourism Awards are now open for nominations. Visit Sebring and Highlands County Tourist Development Council will be hosting the 6th Annual Winner’s Circle Tourism Awards later this year in May. The awards highlight exceptional individuals that have had a great impact on the county’s hospitality and tourism industries and that have fostered positive visitor experiences. Nominations can be made across eight award categories which include Attraction Service Champion, Hotel Service Champion, Restaurant Service Champion, Rising Star Champion, Volunteer Champion, Innovation Champion, Sports Tourism Champion, and Humanitarian Champion. Nominations are due by March 10th and can be made online at visitsebring.com.
A shoe print and fingerprints have linked a Lake Wales man to a boat and trailer theft earlier this month. On January 5th, Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives responded to a report of an alleged burglary and theft at a Lake Wales property. Witness testimony provided a possible suspect, William Ormand the third, who was known to drive a matching vehicle to the one seen towing the trailer. The boat and trailer were eventually recovered at the Lake Easy boat ramp in Babson Park by an FWC officer. Detectives were able to link Ormand’s boot to footprints at the scene of the crime and positively confirm that his fingerprints were the ones lifted off of the stolen boat. Ormand was arrested January 18th and charged with burglary and grand theft.
An effort is underway to help an Orange County family facing tragedy. A six-year-old boy named Emiliano died Saturday after he was hit by a car while riding his bike in Apopka. He was in kindergarten at Lovell Elementary School, and Orange County Public Schools started a Memorial Fund yesterday for his family. Part of the money raised will be used to transport his remains back to Guatemala. Investigators say the driver who hit Emiliano was drunk. He’s facing charges that include vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.
Some NASCAR fans are helping kids in need. Daytona International Speedway hosted its Track Laps event yesterday. Drivers donated money to get two laps around the track in their own car. Money raised went to the NASCAR Foundation’s children’s health programs. At last count, organizers raised over 11-thousand dollars. The cars weren’t what you would typically see on a NASCAR track. A NASCAR Foundation official tells Fox 35 she wonders how some of the cars even made it all the way around.
The History of Black Americans serving in the Armed Forces of the United States will be featured locally in a special exhibit in the Flag room of the Military Sea Services Museum during the month of February. The exhibit will open Thursday, February 1st and will run through Saturday, February 22nd. The Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon until 4:00pm and is located at 1402 Roseland Avenue in Sebring. Admission to the museum is free.
Two people, including a Polk County deputy, are hurt following a house fire over the weekend. Authorities say firefighters were called out to a home off Knollwood Drive in northwest Davenport Sunday evening. A victim was airlifted to a nearby hospital, while the deputy was taken to a medical center for a minor hand injury. The moments leading up to the fire are under investigation.
A pair of Central Florida billboards are drawing attention to a rise in anti-Semitism. The signs are posted along the Beachline Expressway, not far from the Orlando International Airport and will remain up through April. The New York City-based foundation Jew Belong is responsible for the displays. The organization has set up more than 600 billboards across more than two dozen states as part of an awareness campaign. The Anti-Defamation League reports that Jewish hate incidents have nearly tripled in the United State in one year with nearly four-thousand recorded in 2023.
Marco Rubio begins his first full day in his new job. The former senator was sworn in yesterday as secretary of state. He’s the first member of President Trump’s cabinet. Trump congratulated Rubio on his unanimous confirmation. Trump adds "America is back and entering a Golden Age." Senator Rick Scott says Rubio was a great senator who fought daily to improve Florida families’ lives. He adds he’ll miss Rubio in the senate, but Rubio will do a fantastic job leading the state department.