Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Frostproof man following an incident in the Highlands Homes area, north of Sebring. According to reports, 31-year-old Eleno Suarez jr was spotted driving a car that had a license tag that actually belonged on another vehicle.
However, when deputies tried a traffic stop, Suarez didn’t – but got stuck in a vacant lot. He ran, but K-9s Hooch and Drax were able to sniff him out, hiding in a nearby shed. Suarez was treated by Emergency Medical Services then booked on traffic and firearms charges.
Highlands County commissioners will get together this morning for their first meeting of March. Among other things, the board will be asked to hire a consultant to conduct a retail marketing study of the area – including a psycographic profile of the county’s trade area and an update on the county’s demographics.
In other action, commissioners will look at bumping the Capital Projects Manager up to a supervisor and approve a job description for a fire inspector post for the county.
The second of three special district meetings will be held this evening. Highlands County staff will hold the sessions to allow residents to come and speak with county officials and express concerns and shared ideas.
Tonight they will be at Highlands Park Estates. that session will commence at the clubhouse at 5:30. Tomorow they will wind up the sessions in Lake Placid.
There could be a legal fight over the future of a Lake Wales landmark. A judge last week ruled that developer Raymond Brown lied to the city about his plans to turn the Dixie Walesbilt Hotel into residential units. The city could re-take control of the 97-year-old building, but Brown plans to appeal. His lawyer tells News Channel 8 his client has a heart for the project and wants to do everything he can to make it what it should be. The city council will discuss the city’s options at today’s meeting.