The Highlands County School Board is preparing to end its long-standing role as fiscal agent for the Heartland Educational Consortium. The Okeechobee County School Board is expected to take over the financial responsibilities. Highlands officials will consider an agreement at their October 20th meeting, with the transition expected to wrap up by March 1st of next year.
After a slight recovery last season, Florida’s orange production is expected to take another hit. The USDA is forecasting 10 million boxes of oranges for the 2026-2027 season, down 23 percent from last year. Non-Valencia oranges are expected to see the biggest drop, with production falling 37 percent, while Valencia orange production is projected to decline 14 percent. Grapefruit production is also expected to dip slightly, while lemon production is forecast to increase.
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to register automated external defibrillators, or A-E-Ds, to help save lives during cardiac emergencies. Dispatchers can now use a free online registry to locate nearby devices during 911 calls. Churches, gyms, clubhouses and other facilities with A-E-Ds are encouraged to register them through the NEAR Registry app or at near.pulsepoint.org.
The Military Sea Services Museum in Sebring will celebrate the U.S. Navy’s 251st birthday this Saturday, October 17th. The celebration begins at 1 p.m., with free cake and ice cream for everyone. The museum is located at Kenilworth Boulevard and Roseland Avenue, about a mile east of Sebring High School. Admission is free, and donations are welcome.