News Update for 2/19/20

The Cracker Trail Riders are headed for Highlands County today. About 100 riders on horseback and in wagons are expected to make their crossing of Highway 27 at US 98 and State Road 66 about noon. It marks the half way point in their ride.
They slept last night in Hardee County and should be making a stop at their namesake Cracker Trail Elementary School this morning before the half-way ceremony.
There will be a new detour this year. After stopping for lunch at Haywood Taylor Blvd., the ride will go through Spring Lake in order to stay of U.S. 98 for as long as possible. They will go down Madrid Drive wind through the area and rejoin U.S. 98 at Lakeview Blvd. at the Spring Lake Market.
The Cracker Trail Ride will wind up this weekend in Fort Pierce.

Preparations are underway for this year’s Mobil One 12 Hours of Sebring. Part of that apparently is the removal of bees. Track officials reportedly had to call in representatives of Bee Licious Apiaries to remove a hive that had taken up residence in a storm drain there.
Bee Licious officialss say they got 30,000 bees, the queen, some comb and a bit of honey to boot.

Highlands County sheriff’s officials are continuinally warining about scam calls and letters aimed at residents. Now, comes one aimed at Sebring Chamber of Commerce members. Chamber offials say that a number of their members have recieved correspondence from a man identified as Connor Murray. He tells the recipients they have won a “Best of Sebring Award.”
Chamber officials say they didn’t issue it, and are unaware of any legiticmacy associated with the awards.

A motorcyclist is in serious condition after an accident in South Lake Wales. The crash reportsly occurred last night around 5:20 on ABC Rd near Hwy 27.
Preliminary reports indicate the motorcyclist struck the back of a Jeep. The rider was transported via helicopter to a trauma center. Polk County Sheriff’s officials say the man was “in serious condition.”

George Zimmerman REPORTEDLY has filed a lawsuit in Polk County against Democrat presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg. He alleges they defamed him while paying tribute to Trayvon Martin on what would’ve been Martin’s 25th birthday.
The lawsuit claims the candidates “defamed Zimmerman for political gain in misguided and malicious attempts to bolster their standings amongst African-American voters, all at Zimmerman’s expense.”
Zimmerman is seeking $265 million, according to the lawsuit