News Update for 10/20/20

Highlands County commissioners met this morning in regular session. It’s the last couple before four incumbents step down and four newcomers are sworn in.
They got an update on Coronavirus. Commissioner Jim Brooks noted that overall deaths in the county don’t seem to have spiked since numbers started being kept. They also got an update on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act money. So far, the county has dispensed $3.4 of $4.6 million dollars allocated for the county and Phase II of the federal money is on the way.

The Highlands County School Board will meet tonight and once again the session will be going up on the web. After cajoling from the public, the board previously has broadcast sessions on the internet – but then ceased to broadcast them.
Authorities now say, since the spring Town Hall meetings, they are prepared to bring school board meetings to a wider audience once again. The sessions will be available through the board’s facebook and web pages.

Highway 27 was closed for a time this morning when a car and a semi truck collided. The incident happened near the intersection of 27 and the Scenic Highway near Frostproof. The motorist reportedly was trapped in the car, which caught fire. Bystanders were able to pull the driver out.
At least one person was airlifted out from the collision. So far, no names or other details have been released.

Lakeview Drive in Sebring was closed down for a time yesterday evening because of a situation involving a resident barricaded in their home. Officers from Sebring Police and Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies worked to resolve the situation peacefully.
So far, no details have been released on the incident.