Sebring police believe that a couple of bomb threats at Wal-Mart last month may have been an inside job. Detectives there reportedly have arrested a 29-year-old Wal-Mart employee in connection with the false alarms that emptied the Sebring location for several hours and brought in the State Fire Marshal’s Office and bomb-sniffing dogs from Polk County twice last month.
Jaleesa Janay Perry was arrested last night on counts of making a false report concerning a bomb.
It does not appear that the Highlands County School Board will be hiring a safety director anytime soon. Superintendent Brenda Longshore’s initiative – put on the board’s agenda late – was placed on hold last night, as school board members questioned both the level of administration and the funding for the position.
Board member Donna Howerton urged the board to wait and see if the state would fund the post – and for how long. She also questioned whether the proposed $75,000 a year director might come in as a manager at a lower pay scale.
The item was tabled until May, after state budget allocations are finalized.
A Sebring man was seriously hurt early this morning in a single vehicle rollover accident just west of the City on the Circle. Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate 26-year-old Earl Scriven was eastbound on Thunderbird Road when he lost control of his pickup.
The Toyota Tacoma hit a stop sign, then ran into a ditch and flipped upside down. Authorities say he was not buckled up. Scriven was airlifted to Lakeland Regional in “Critical” condition.
Highlands County Sheriff’s officials say they have identified the victim hit early yesterday morning by a train north of Sebring. They say 65-year-old Alphasin Dieuveus apparently was stumbling in the bedrocks as the northbound CSX freight approached.
Reports indicate he stumbled into the train as it passed him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.