News Update for 1/31/20

It’s been two weeks – and Highlands County Sheriff’s officials say they still are looking for assistance in their search for 81-year-old Margaret Helen Becker. She last was seen in her 2018 Blue Chevrolet Colorado on January 16.
Her last known appearance was at the Southgate Plaza at Sebring. She was wearing a blue checked shirt and knee length blue pants. Family members speculate she may have been the victim of a carjacking.
The Chevy Colorado has Ohio license tags. Anyone with information is asked to call the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.

An Avon Park trucker escaped serious injury last night in a Hardee County traffic crash. Florida Highway Patrol officials say Antwon Hilton was eastbound on State Road 64, when an SUV driven by a Zolfo Springs man went left of center, and hit him head-on.
50-year-old Gary Moore was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center in “critical” condition. Charges in the incident are pending.

State Road 17 was closed for a time yesterday, when a semi truck carrying fertilizer overturned. The incident happened near Red Beach Lake south of Sebring. The State Department of Environmental Protection was called in to help with the clean-up.
Traffic in the area was tied up for a time while the scene was cleared.

The Bo David’s night club was evacuated last night when fire broke out there. Apparently a hood above the grill caught fire and staff used a fire extinguisher to put it out.
Authorities say it was a small fire, but could have gotten worse. No injuries were reported in the incident.

The owners of the former Kegel Bowling Lanes dodged a bullet in front of the Avon Park city council. The place, which was destroyed by fire during the height of Hurricane Irma, was up for a $26,000 code enforcement fine.
Owner Jonathan Davis told the board that the original notice of the problem had been sent to the wrong address – causing fines to accrue. Council members were told the problems had been solved, and voted to reduce the fines to just two-percent of the total,
Davis agreed to pay the $584.54.