After months of back-and-forth negotiations, the Sebring City Council has unanimously terminated its golf course lease agreement with the Blackmon family. Disagreements over the course’s deteriorating condition and pollution concerns involving Little Lake Jackson prevented the deal from moving forward. The city will now pursue a lease agreement with Fort Myers-based H&L Golf Group.
The Sebring City Council has unanimously selected former councilman Andrew Fells to fill the seat left vacant by David Leidel’s recent resignation. Fells previously served on the council from 2011 to 2014. He’ll serve until the March 2028 city election, when voters will determine who fills the seat for the remainder of the term.
Sebring Regional Airport has welcomed Blue Air Training, a military aviation training company that began operations in late September. The company is supporting close air support training at nearby Avon Park Air Force Range and plans to grow its fleet to six aircraft. Blue Air is also exploring the possibility of expanding into a second hangar at the airport.
A child is dead after what the Polk County sheriff calls a horrible tragedy. A three-year-old boy shot himself to death last night in Bartow on Van Fleet Drive in a car outside a Burger King. The sheriff’s office says he got his hands on his father’s gun while the man was distracted and shot himself in the face. The boy was taken to the hospital, where he passed away. No arrest has been announced and Sheriff Grady Judd says he has no appetite for one.