A dedication ceremony for the many service personnel that have made the ultimate sacrifice is planned for December 12th at the recently-completed Florida Medal of Honor Memorial in Sebring. The ceremony will feature keynote speaker Mr. Robert Ingram, Florida’s sole living Medal of Honor recipient. The community is invited to help honor these heroes starting at 10:00AM. The Memorial is located at 442 South Eucalyptus Street, next to the Highlands County Government Building in downtown Sebring. Parking will be at Fireman’s Field, with shuttles starting at 8:30am. More information can be found online at FLMOHM.ORG or by calling 863-451-5862.
A road rage incident has landed a Bowling Green Man in Highlands County Jail. On the morning of November 30th, the suspect, Glenn Daryl Kelley III, was driving erractically, ran a red light nearly hitting his victim, and driving in an unsafe way. The victim reported that Kelley then allegedly pulled up next to him, fired a shot through his passenger side window and through the drivers side. Kelley narrowly missed the driver, allowing the victim to give deputies a description of the driver, his car and a partial license plate. The victim was able to later positively identify him at the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office after he was detained. Kelley is being charged with attempted murder not premeditated during another felony and firing a missile into a vehicle. He is being held without bond.
A mother is dead and a toddler is fighting for her life following a Polk County crash. The sheriff’s office says a 33-year-old woman was driving near the Eagle Lake intersection of Cooley Road and State Road 540 when she drove into the path of a utility truck Monday afternoon. The mother was found dead inside the car, while her two-year-old daughter was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The other driver was not hurt. Authorities are looking into the moments leading up to the incident.
Florida’s attorney general is offering tips for residents to avoid charity scams during the holidays. Ashley Moody is trying to make sure all monetary donations go to the intended cause today and through the holiday season. She says it’s important to research an organization before sending them money. People should also watch out for scammers using similar names of well-known nonprofits, avoid sharing personal information to unknown contacts, and don’t trust phone calls or texts from unknown numbers.
A threat is responsible for locking down three schools in Central Florida. St. Cloud Police say the threat was phoned in yesterday morning to St. Cloud High School. The school went on lockdown, and lockdowns were also ordered at St. Cloud Middle School and Michigan Ave Elementary School as a precaution. Police say multiple sweeps were made at the high school, but no credible threat was found.
Polk County is getting millions for storm debris pickup. FEMA announced yesterday it has approved 114 million dollars to reimburse Florida communities affected by hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby. Polk County is getting almost 11 million dollars. Most of the money in this round of funding is going to Hillsborough County, almost 81 million dollars.
A former Manatee County ballerina will spend two decades behind bars for the death of her husband. A judge sentenced Ashley Benefield to 20-years in prison to be followed by ten years of probation. Benefield was found guilty of manslaughter in the 2020 shooting death of her husband Doug in what was dubbed the "Black Swan" trial. She claimed self-defense based on domestic abuse. Benefield was originally charged with second-degree murder.
Hillsborough County’s sheriff won’t be heading to Washington, DC after all. Chad Chronister said yesterday he no longer wants to head the Drug Enforcement Administration. President-Elect Trump announced Saturday he selected Chronister to lead the agency. Chronister, though, says since then, the gravity of this very important responsibility set in. He adds there’s more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County, and he looks forward to continuing to serve as sheriff. Trump has not announced a new pick for the DEA job.