Highlands County residents are reminded that residential trash and bulk waste collection will proceed as normally scheduled today, but no collection services will be provided tomorrow on Christmas Day. Customers normally scheduled for Thursday will receive service on Friday, while Friday customers will be collected on Saturday, resulting in a one-day shift for the remainder of the week. Residents can find collection calendars, report missed pickups, and access additional curbside service information through Highlands County Solid Waste online.
Two people are dead after a murder-suicide in Polk County. The sheriff’s office announced yesterday Jason Kenney shot his wife to death Monday at their home in Lakeland on Lemon Ave in Highland City. Deputies say he also shot his 13-year-old stepdaughter, drove to his deceased father’s home in Lake Wales and shot himself in the head. He was 47. The girl is in critical but stable condition. Two other children who live in the home were not hurt.
A county sidewalk drawing caused confusion in Placid Lakes after it appeared to show a sidewalk crossing Catfish Creek. County officials say that was an error. The sidewalk will actually run from Tuomey Court on the east side of the Catfish Creek Bridge to the intersection of Catfish Creek Road and West Interlake Boulevard. The narrow bridge has no current space for a sidewalk, though future plans may include widening it for a pedestrian or bike path. County leaders also approved waiving landfill fees for the Placid Lakes community cleanup on January 17.
Golfers, get ready—big money is on the line in Sebring. The SFSC Foundation is hosting its Million-Dollar Hole-In-One Shootout and $10,000 Putt Challenge January 15th through 17th at Sun ’N Lake Golf Club. Players will fire away at the driving range all weekend, with the top 12 closest-to-the-pin shooters returning Saturday night for a shot at a million bucks. One lucky finalist will also get the chance to sink a single putt worth $10,000. Bags of balls are just ten dollars, and all proceeds support SFSC Athletics.