It appears that the safest place to have been in Highlands County this past weekend was the Sebring International Raceway. Highlands County Sheriff’s officials report there were five arrests at the track, but 63 in the rest of the county – despite the fact there was at least half again the population of the county at the raceway.
One sad note to report, Sheriff’s officials say a fan appears to have died following the action. Deputies were clearing the field Sunday, when they found the body of Geoffrey Clark Shepard in his trailer.
It appears the 64-year-old Port Charlotte man died of natural causes. His remains have been sent to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
Highlands County commissioners got an update from new Congressman Greg Steube on the legislative session in Washington at their session this morning.
In other action, commissioners again discussed funding for one of the three traffic circles planned for the Sebring Parkway and looked at obtaining a grant to help build a taxpayer-funded dog park in Spring Lake.
A private sector dog park now exists west of Sebring.
It appears that the city of Avon Park is having a bit of a problem with law enforcement in the City of Charm. City Manager David Flowers says getting Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies to enforce municipal code has been a task.
The sheriff’s office is under contract to provide law enforcement for Avon Park.
For instance, Flowers said he was informed that deputies could not enforce the city’s ban on truck traffic through the downtown area. Council instructed city attorney Gerald Buhr to get with sheriff’s officials to work things out.
There were no serious injuries when two vehicles collided south of Sebring yesterday. Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate 56-year-old Sylvester Lantz pulled his Pontiac Vibe from Lake Josephine Road onto Highway 27, and into the path of an oncoming car.
The Ford Taurus, driven by 30-year-old Justin Price, hit the Vibe on the right front. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and neither suffered serious injuries.
Lantz was charged with failure to yield the right of way.