More local Ford dealerships have given back to the community in a big way! As part of Ford Motor Company’s global “Fill a Ford — Help Impact Lives” campaign, employees across Highlands and Hardee Counties rolled up their sleeves to help fight hunger. Alan Jay Ford of Sebring collected 720 pounds of nonperishable food, and Alan Jay Ford of Wauchula added another 649 pounds — all to support local families right here at home. The effort is part of a worldwide initiative led by Elena Ford, great-great-granddaughter of Henry Ford, with a goal of gathering one million pounds of food.
South Florida State College is helping open more doors for higher education in rural communities. Through a new partnership between the Rural Community College Alliance and Western Governors University, graduates and employees of SFSC and other member colleges will now have easier access to WGU’s accredited online degree and certificate programs. The agreement creates seamless transfer pathways, waives application fees, and offers scholarships worth up to $3,500 — making it easier for rural students to continue their education close to home.
A man is facing charges after a search for drugs turned up something unexpected. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shared details yesterday of the arrest of Walter Frymire. He was recently taken in for trespassing and went through a scanner to make sure he didn’t have any drugs or weapons inside his body. He didn’t, but what he did have inside him was a thermos. Judd says Frymire got it in there the day before by putting it up the exit ramp. Frymire was taken to the hospital to get the thermos removed, and Judd says on Facebook it was quite the ordeal.
The state’s largest grocery store chain is going along with a new gun law. Publix announced yesterday it’ll allow shoppers to openly carry firearms in its stores. The company has over 9-hundred locations in Florida. Winn-Dixie, Walmart and Sam’s Club have said they will not allow open carry.