An extension of the burn ban is now in effect across all of Highlands County. Fire officials say the mandatory ban runs from January 6, 2025, through February 18, 2026, unless lifted earlier due to improved conditions. Campfires, bonfires, yard waste burning, fireworks, and outdoor fire pits are prohibited. Cooking is allowed only on contained gas or charcoal grills. Violations can result in fines, jail time, or both. Officials say dry conditions increase wildfire risk and urge residents to follow the ban to protect lives and property.
The trial of Michael Pack, a former Sebring softball coach accused of sexually abusing a minor, was pulled at the last minute. Jury selection, originally set for this week, has now been rescheduled for March 16. Pack, who has been jailed since his May 2023 arrest, faces seven first-degree felony counts of sexual battery involving a child under his authority. Prosecutors objected to the delay, noting the case has been pending nearly three years and that witnesses were ready for trial. Pack previously rejected a proposed plea deal and remains in the Highlands County Jail awaiting trial.
Construction on a new classroom wing at Lake Country Elementary School in Lake Placid is nearing the finish line. School officials say the project is now expected to be completed in late February. The $6.8 million, single-story building will add 12 new classrooms and mirrors a recently completed wing at Woodlawn Elementary in Sebring, which opened in November.
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating an airboat crash that injured multiple people south of Arcadia Tuesday afternoon. The collision happened around 4 p.m. on the Peace River, near the Deep Creek Park Public Boat Ramp, according to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office. A passenger says their airboat was struck by another vessel that did not slow down or change course. Several people were hurt. One woman suffered broken ribs, another was badly bruised, and a woman from the other boat was airlifted to a hospital. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers also responded to the scene.