For the first time in recent memory, officials shut down the Highlands County Fair last night – the cold weather an rain were cited as reasons for the action. Nevertheless, the Market Steer Show went on as planned – reportedly with a pretty good crowd.
Grace Lynn Miller showed the Grand Champion steer, she also picked up Junior Showmanship honors. Reserve Grand Champ went to the entry shown by Emma Rapp. Hanna Sheffield received the Senior Showmanship ribbon.
The fair will be open again this evening. on tap will be the second Pee Wee Show for small animals and the Meat Goat Show. Both of those will be held in the Livestock Arena.
Officials at the Sebring International Raceway have introduced another reason to get a pre-paid ticket. Those with tickets and parking passes won’t have to wait until the traditional Wednesday morning gate-opening. They’ll be able to get in the Tuesday afternoon of Race Week.
Be aware, tickets and parking passes will not be on sale at the gate on that Tuesday. Fans still will be allowed to start lining up the first of March in the staging area off Caroll Shelby Road, and will be admitted in the order of arrival.
The Highlands County School Board met in regular session last night. Parent Alexandra Kling addressed them, calling for cameras to be installed in special education classrooms to protect both teachers and students. Kling said there appears to be a problem with her child, who is autistic and non-communicative.
Others in the community have called for cameras to be installed in classrooms to see if critical race theory or other such curriculum is being taught.
The board let the request pass without comment.
A third member of a purported shoplifting ring that allegedly had been working Highlands, Polk and Manatee counties now has been booked into the Highlands County Jail to face local charges.
Dylan Jonathan Ferri was brought to Highlands after answering to similar charges in Polk County. He faces local counts of grand theft, petit theft and fraud.
He’s being held on $29,000 bond.
Ferri joins Joshua Reese Jones Jr, also believed to be part of the group, who is in jail here as well. A third alleged ring member – Russell Grover – has been sentenced for his involvement in the string of thefts.