Today is election day in Highlands County and across the land. Locally voters in Avon Park will have a chance to cast their ballots in a city council election. Four candidates are in the running for three council seats.
On the ballot will be newcomers Thelma Foster, Brittany McGuire, Michelle “Shelly” Mercure and Berniece Taylor. All three sitting incumbents in the City of Charm decided not to run again.
Just short of ten percent of the voters already have turned out for early voting. The bulk of those were mail-in or drop off ballots.
The polls will be open in precincts one and two until 7:00 tonight.
Highlands County commissioners kicked off their meeting this morning by swearing in new Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Karen Healy. She was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis this past weekend to fill the seat left vacant with the death of Penny Ogg. Ogg died suddenly in September following a brief hospital stay.
Judge Angela Cowden administered the oath of office.
A Lake Wales man was killed in a three vehicle pile-up on Highway 60. According to reports, a car driven by 42-year-old Michael Franks went left of center near the Grape Hammock intersection, hitting an oncoming car and a pick-up truck.
The truck was pulling a trailer hauling pigs. It became detached but the livestock was not injured.
Polk County sheriff’s deputies say the incident remains under investigation.
A Frostproof man has been charged in connection with an attempted murder incident in Lake Wales. Jaheim Romulus has been charged in the June 4th incident. Detectives in the Crown Jewel of the Ridge say he wasn’t hard to find, the 19-year-old Romuls already was incarcerated in the Polk County jail on unrelated counts.
Apparently, the victim was shot numerous times but did not die – he re portly is continuing to recover from his injuries.
Detectives say the incident remains under investigation and more arrests are expected.