A lightning storm hit central Florida this morning. Here in Highlands County there were no reports of any severe damage. Reportedly, there was one car that ran off the road and some sparking power lines during the storm.
Highlands schools’ bus routes also were suspended this morning for a time due to the weather.
Despite some media reports – Hardee County Sheriff’s officials say they have received NO reports of any tornado damage there.
The system brought flooding to Frostproof this morning. Oak Avenue shut down due to excessive water.
It may be raining today, but we still are in the dry season. Yesterday, units from Desoto City and Leisure Lakes were assisted by Florida Forest Service crews in containing a four acre brush fire. That was in the area of Shankhill Road in Orange Blossom Estates south of Sebring.
No injuries were reported and apparently there were no structures damaged. Cause of the fire has not been released.
Frostproof will get a couple of new council members and possibly a new mayor and vice mayor at their meeting tonight. First, Leslie Brewer and Tashana True will be given the oath of office and take their council seats for their upcoming terms.
Then, Mayor John Albert will open the floor for nominations of mayor and Vice mayor.
A Bowling Green child was killed in an accident at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Fishing Pier over the weekend. Florida Highway Patrol officials say the 3-year-old boy was walking around parked cars when he was hit by a compact pickup.
The toddler was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation. No names or other details have been released.
A Winter Haven police officer fatally shot a 52-year-old man who said “I’m going to die tonight” when the officer arrived to investigate a sexual harassment call.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says a woman called 911 late Saturday to report that Larry Jenkins had fired a gun at the ground. The woman and her husband went to his Winter Haven home to pick up her 14-year-old sister.
Judd says Jenkins had made unwanted sexual advances toward the teen. Judd says Jenkins told police they’d have to shoot him. He says an officer fired several times when Jenkins appeared to go for his gun. He died at a hospital.