It was a sad ending to a standoff in Venus yesterday when Sonny Ray Holland Sr. was shot and killed. It happend after he exchanged gunfire with a sheriff’s SWAT Team. Highlands and Polk County sheriff’s deputies apparently had tried to talk the 43-year-old Venus man out of the mobile home but they were unsuccessful.
After trading shots with Holland, the man ran back into the burning home where he died.
The original call had been for a domestic violence dispute. The victim was able to escape the Oliver Road residence. Two young children subsequently were released without incident after 16 hours of captivity.
The 10th judicial Circuit court now is investigating.
Avon Park city council members turned back a request from a Miami developer to increase zoning on a local property from low to medium density. The two acres off Cornell Street is designated for single family residential, however, developer Fidel Chooey indicated he wanted to put in duplexes.
After hearing from a potential neighbor – the council, by a 3-2 vote, went along with the city’s planning & zoning board and deny the application.
Ag venture continues today at the Highlands County fairgrounds. That’s where local third graders are invited to learn about the agricultural actvities across the county. There are 14 stations, ranging from farm animals, to forestry, poultry, strawberries and grapes – among other crops.
All schools including government, private and home schoolers are included in the program. Last night a steak dinner and adult preview was held for the educational event.
Do you live in Hardee County? Do you have cattle? The Hardee County Sheriff’s office says they have located and impounded a small herd. Among them are four black cows, a red cow with horns and a light brown cow.
They were found wandering near West Main Street in Wauchula.