News Update for 12/16/21

NEWS 12/16/21 BF
EMPLOYMENT GAIN

Apparently, as predicted, there has been a “V-shaped” economic recovery from the coronavirus epidemic. A new report issued by “Self Financial” shows that unemployment in the Sebring-Avon Park metro area has mirrored the national average when it comes to year-over-year percentage increase in 2021.
During the recovery period, the Sebring-Avon Park metropolitan area has experienced a four percent increase in total employment, compared to the 4.1 percent hike for the country as a whole.
That means a thousand people were added back on to the emplyment rolls locally.

Avon Park is inching forward on expanding their municipal water and sewer service. Council members in the City of Charm gave the go-ahead to Kimly-Horne to begin developing a master plan to extend the service – especially in the area of Avon Park Lakes.
The process is expected to take 5-7 months to complete. Officials have not yet revealed a price tag for the project. Avon Park mayor Garett Anderson said such a plan would help with future development in the area.

Units from Sun ‘N Lake south were called out yesterday to extinguish the flames. When they arrived at the intersection of Concert Drive and Cartier Avenue they found an abandoned car that was ablaze.
The flames also sparked a brushfire in a nearby lot. Aided by Florida Forest Service crews, they quickly put it down without incident. Reportedly, no structures were endangered and no injuries were reported.
There’s no word as to who owns the vehicle.

A fight at Lake Wales Senior High School yesterday has resulted in the arrest of a half-dozen students. The brawl broke out during lunchtime, however, police have not revealed what the altercation was about.
Of the six arrested, four were juveniles and two were adults. One of them, 18-year-old Courtney Brown was found to have a handgun in his backpack – it was never brandished.
All the arrested were taken to the proper facilities.

Polk County sheriff’s officials say a Wauchula man died when his car hit a horse near Mullberry. According to Sheriff’s reports, 33-year-old Brad Bursler of Wauchula was driving westbound on Nichols Road at a high rate of speed.
Apparently the horse when he slammed into the horse – which was standing in the road.
The impact caused the car to go veer across the eastbound lane and into a tree. Both Bursler and the horse were killed
A passenger in the vehicle, 32-year-old Mark Garcia of Wauchula, was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.