A 29-year-old Frostproof man faces theft and DUI charges after surveillance video allegedly linked him to a shoplifting incident at a local Family Dollar. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says Samuel Hamilton the Sixth was identified after allegedly taking cans of air-conditioning refrigerant. Deputies later found Hamilton showing signs of impairment, and investigators say he refused to cooperate with a DUI investigation. He also had an outstanding Highlands County warrant and faces additional charges.
Get into the Halloween spirit while supporting United Way at the annual carved pumpkin display Thursday in Sebring. The Highlands County Board of County Commissioners will host the event from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Government Center lobby on South Commerce Avenue. Community members are invited to stop by, check out the creative pumpkin displays and support United Way of Central Florida.
South Sebring’s new Aldi supermarket will celebrate its grand opening November 12th at the former Winn-Dixie location in DeSoto Square, on U.S. 27 South. The first 200 customers will receive a free eco-friendly shopping bag filled with Aldi products, plus a Golden Ticket that could be worth up to 100 dollars. No purchase is necessary to participate. The store will be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A DeSoto County detention deputy has been fired and arrested after investigators found screenshots of partially nude female inmates on an agency computer. Authorities say Douglas Chirinos also accessed coworkers’ accounts and bypassed security systems. He faces a felony computer-access charge. Chirinos had worked for the sheriff’s office since 2025. Investigators are identifying and notifying victims.