The Sebring City Council is considering approval of a moratorium on new mobile home and RV parks although any proposed or current zonings will not be affected. The moratorium ordinance up for consideration states that while the current City’s Code of Ordinances has various regulations related to mobile and manufactured home standards, mobile home parks and residential subdivisions which allow for mobile and manufactured homes, the regulations have not been reviewed or updated for some time. This calls into question whether or not the existing ordinances are still relevant and provide clear guidlines. The temporary moratorium will give the City time to review and discuss any appropriate changes that may need to be made to City regulations. Public hearings are set for January 7th and January 21st.
A Highlands County man Deloach has entered a plea agreement for three cases that involved multiple felonies from 2022 and 2023. Shavartae Makel Deloach entered his plea Thursday morning in the Highlands County Courthouse after initially refusing the State’s offer. Two of Deloach’s charges carried a possible life sentence. After several discussions with council, Deloach ultimately took the plea deal which included a dismissal of the third case against him. He pled no contest in his first case for felony fleeing and attempt to elude with high speed and the other charges were dropped. In the second case against him, Deloach pled no contest to manslaughter and aggravated assault and a burglary charge was dropped. Deloach received 15 years for the first case, and in his second case received 15 years for the manslaughter charge and five years for the assault charge. All sentences will run concurrent and he will receive credit for time served.
A former Central Florida circuit court judge is no longer facing conduct charges. A state commission decided Thursday to dismiss the case against Jeff Ashton since he left office last month. He was accused of shouting at attorneys and appearing to show bias during cases he handled in Orange and Osceola counties. Ashton is a former prosecutor well-known for trying the Casey Anthony murder case in 2011. He lost his reelection bid back in November and agreed to never hold another judicial office position again.
The Florida Highway Patrol is joining with other state agencies to educate the public about the state’s "Move Over Law." During January, troopers will be reminding drivers of the law that requires motorists to allow space for emergency and service vehicles stopped on the side of the road. Last year, the law was expanded to include all stopped vehicles with their hazard lights on.
Resources for disaster preparedness are being made available for Highlands County residents. County Emergency Management Officials will be holding classes teaching residents how to plan and prepare starting January 23rd and will run once a month through May. Highlands County’s 2025 Citizen’s Preparedness Academy is a 5 class course that covers several topics ranging from emergency management, establishing plans, reliable information gathering, home preparation, storm shelters and county reponse efforts. Classes will run from 4:30pm-6:00pm and will include homework assignments.
A another Central Florida city won’t be adding fluoride to its water. The Palm Bay City Council voted unanimously yesterday to keep fluoride out of its drinking water. One council member tells WESH 2 we shouldn’t be force medicating our population, and if people want fluoride, they can purchase topical treatments over the counter. The city used to add fluoride to its water but stopped in 2016.
A Manatee County man born when Warren Harding was president has some advice for living a long life. Jules Hagen celebrated his 104th birthday yesterday in Bradenton. The World War Two vet says he never imagined he’d live this long. He credits his longevity to a work ethic his dad instilled in him as a kid. Hagen says he was brought up to think the way to live is to work. He tells 10 Tampa Bay you got to work and plan.
One of Florida’s former governors is dead. Family members say Kenneth ‘Buddy’ MacKay passed away yesterday at his home in Ocala in Marion County. He was 91. MacKay served as governor for less than a month from December 1998 to January 1999. He was lieutenant governor under Governor Lawton Chiles, and when Chiles died , MacKay became governor until Jeb Bush was sworn in. MacKay is the last Democrat to be governor in Florida. He also served as a congressman and a state rep and state senator. Governor Ron DeSantis writes on X that McKay was a lifelong public servant dedicated to our country and our state.