The first big wildfire of the 2022 dry season ravaged some 165-acres in the south end of the county over the weekend. Units from all over Highlands County were joined by Florida Forest Service crews and air-drops in trying to corral the giant blaze off Palm Beach Street in Lake Placid.
It was so bad that at one point, Highway 27 was closed in both directions.
Apparently, no structures were endangered and there were no injuries. Cause of the fire has not been released.
This is the dry season, and authorities are cautioning residents to be careful with any kind of outside burning.
Florida Highway Patrol officials say an accident last week now has claimed a life. According to FHP reports, a 65-year-old Lake Placid woman has expired from injuries she received in an accident that occurred last Wednesday at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Star Fruit Avenue near Lake June.
Troopers say the woman failed to yield the right or way and collided with a pickup truck.
Lake Placid police are looking fir help in finding a motorist involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Caladium Capital. According to reports, it occurred around noon yesterday at the intersection of Highway 27 and Heartland Street.
A small gray SUV – possibly a Honda or Toyota, apparently clipped a bicyclist that was waiting at the stop sign to cross the busy highway.
The suspect is described as an older white female with gray hair. She reportedly stopped and yelled at the bicyclist uttering several profanities while the bicyclist laid on the ground then drove away.
Any information on the mishap should be sent to the Lake Placid Police Department.
Phone scammers continue to work Highlands County – and this one involves the sheriff’s office. Reportedly, residents are being rung up and told they’ve run afoul of the law and need to pay up to avoid jail.
Although they look and sound convincing, authorities say that’s not how it works. They don’t call, usually they show up in person to talk with you – and fines are taken care of in court proceedings.
If you get a call asking for cash in any way – just hang up.
The annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was held over the weekend, one of the country’s largest conventions of beautiful, classic and celebrity owned cars. It’s also the venue for the presentation of the "Spirit of Sebring" award – given to a car that celebrates the embodiment of America’s Oldest Sports Car Endurance Race.
This year, it went to a blue and white 1952 Cunningham C4-R from the Miles Collier Collection at the Rees institute. Several cars were on display honoring the Sebring 12 Hours’ 70th anniversary race – which is coming up this month,
A bit of nostalgia is available for former Frostproof Senior High School students. Officials at the Frostproof museum say they have salvaged pieces of the old Frostproof gym floor.
The souvenirs are available at the museum on Saturday afternoons from 1-4.