Highlands County Fire Rescue responded Thursday morning to a brush fire on Afton Road off U.S. 98 in Sebring. Crews were dispatched just after 11 a.m., with deputies evacuating three nearby homes as a precaution. By mid-afternoon, the fire had burned about 10 acres and was nearly fully contained. No injuries were reported and all structures are safe. During that response, firefighters were diverted to a second brush fire on Bluff Hammock Road in Lorida, which was quickly contained. Both fires are under investigation, and officials remind residents a countywide burn ban remains in effect.
Qualifying is now open for candidates in the City of Sebring’s March 10 municipal election. The qualifying period will run through 5 p.m. Friday, January 16th. Voters will elect a mayor, a city clerk-treasurer, and three city council members. All current officeholders say they plan to seek reelection. Candidates must be registered voters and permanent residents of Sebring, and qualifying is being conducted at Sebring City Hall.
Highlands County Citizens with Voices will honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a community parade in Sebring on January 19th. The march will travel through downtown Sebring, around the Circle, and end at the open field across from Bountiful Blessings Church on MLK Jr. Boulevard. Organizers say the parade will highlight Dr. King’s legacy, with trophies awarded for the best float and the largest group of marchers. The event is open to the public. For more information, contact organizer Ada McGowan.
Florida is getting a major boost for rural health care. Nearly 210-million dollars has been awarded through a federal program that focuses on underserved areas. The funding will help the state strengthen its rural health system by expanding the workforce, supporting innovation, and improving access to care. Plans include more training opportunities in rural communities, start-up funding for clinics, and investments in mobile health units and telehealth services.