Self-described Highlands County government watchdog Preston Colby has passed away. He reportedly died early yesterday morning at the Good Shepard Hospice in Sebring after a long illness. He was 78.
In the 1990s, Colby had been involved in a series of lawsuits involving Highlands County, the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and the Highlands County clerk of the courts among others.
He had a checkered career, inducing being a police officer, a convicted marijuana smuggler and a SCUBA diving expert. No9 arrangements have been announced.
After looking like it would die in the Florida Senate, a bill that would mandate boys and girls in sports compete against their biological peers – reportedly is on it’s way to the desk of Florida Governor Ron Desantis. The measure initially was introduced by Florida House Representative Kaylee Tuck out of Lake Placid.
Reportedly, it had been shelved in the Senate, but was tacked on as an amendment to another education bill. It passed after two hours of debate.
Desantis has said he will sign the measure.
Sebring police are investigating a shooting incident. It happened about 8:30 last night on Martin Luther King Blvd near the Bountiful Blessings Church.
Officers found a man bleeding and had him airlifted out to a trauma center in Tampa. He currently is listed in “stable condition. They have not released his name or any other details.
Detectives currently are in search of suspects in the incident.
Arbuckle Creek Road east of Sebring was closed for about an hour yesterday following a traffic crash. Reportedly, one of the vehicles caught fire and was fully involved in flames when units arrived at the scene.
There were no injuries. Apparently the nearby brush did not catch fire.
It took a while, but Hardee County sheriff’s deputies captured then ejected a gator from a Zolfo Springs Elementary School. After taking a few selfies with the 2-foot baby reptile, officers released him back into the wild.
There were no serious injuries in the incident.