News Update for 2/18/22

A new survey by Rehabs.com shows that Highlands County’s unemployed are statistically more likely to be heavy drinkers. In fact, Highlands has among the highest rates of both heavy drinkers – at 19-percent, and unemployed – at 4.5 percent in the Sunshine State.
Gulf county was the tops in Florida overall. Union County was listed with the lowest amount.

Two men have been arrested following a carjacking incident in Avon Park. The victim told Highlands County Sheriff’s investigators she was sitting in her Lincoln SUV during a lunch break, when she was accosted by two armed, masked men. They took her vehicle and drove off.
Later. Lee county sheriff’s deputies spotted the car when it drove by a license plate reader in North Fort Myers. After a high-speed chase, they apprehended 18-year-old Daniel Zamot and 20-year-old Artavis Spivey, They were booked into the Lee County jail.

Residents may see an increase of two wheelers on the road this weekend as Bike Sebring 12/24 returns to Highlands County. As the name suggests, there are both 12 and 24 hour races in the daylong event. It also serves as a qualifier for the Race Across America.
Cyclists start with a few laps around the Sebring International Raceway, then do a long loop that takes them north of Lake Reedy in Frostproof, then to a shorter course that brings the cyclists west of Red Beach Lake.
More than a hundred cyclists traditionally turn out for the event.

A commercial structure fire destroyed an East Lakeland warehouse yesterday. However, Polk County Fire Rescue authorities say firefighters were able to contain the blaze and protect surrounding businesses.
When firefighters arrived at the Greenstar Panels locaton on Combee Road, they found the building engulfed in flames. In all, more than 20 units, which also included units from the City of Auburndale, turned out to fight the fire.
There were no reported injuries. No dollar damage estimate has been released.