News Update for 12/12/18

Today’s the final day for hopefuls for city manager for Avon Park to have their applications submitted. Council members set a deadline for today, and a special meeting for next Thursday to make a final selection.
Currently, they plan to pay their new C.M. no more than $90,000 a year with a six-month probationary period. One of the major criteria for the post is that it be a local person. At last report, 10-individuals had filed for the job, more than half of them from Highlands County.

Apparently, it’s getting more difficult to give something away. The owner of a house on Pine Street in Avon Park wants to donate the property to the City of Charm. However, city attorney Gerald Buhr has recommended the city first have an environmental study done on the land to make certain it’s not contaminated.
Buhr related stories where other cities had gotten more than they bargained for when they accepted donations of land. Council members agreed – and will do a study before moving to take the donation.

There may be a very happy person in Lake Placid today. Officials of the Florida Lottery report that there was a winning ticket sold in the Caladium Capital for last night’s Fantasy Five drawing.
The winning ticket is worth some $93,732.99 – before taxes. It was sold at the C-Store & Food Mart in Lake Placid. One other winner was sold – that was in Miami Beach.

Units from the Lake Placid and Placid Lakes fire departments were called to extinguish the flames yesterday at a kitchen fire in Placid Lakes.
According to reports the occupant of the home had been cooking and left the stove unattended and the oil boiled over causing the blaze. Officials say NEVER leave food unattended on the stove.
If a fire starts – Do not try to extinguish it with water or move the pot or pan outside. Instead – pour baking soda or salt on it to smother it – or cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet.