It was just a year ago that Highlands County Sheriff’s Deputy William Gentry was gunned down during a routine call. Today, he will be honored in Washington D.C. during the National Peace Officer’s Memorial Service. Family members and several Highlands County Sheriff’s Office representatives will be there.
A local observance was held here in Sebring yesterday.
Since his death, hundreds of people have donated money to establish a scholarship in his name, have signed up to become organ donors and pledged thousands of hours of volunteer service in his memory.
A student took some time to come and address the Highlands County School Board about the physical condition of buildings in the system. Freshman Miguel Acevedo told the board that it appears that infrastructure is not addressed in the board’s strategic plan.
He noted seeing cockroaches in the classroom, but said most students feel the board “does not care.” School Board Chairman Bill Brantly told Acevedo that Facilities Director Frank Brown was looking into the situation.
There’s no word in which of the schools the cockroach was spotted.
Sebring city council members last night got their first official look at a set of postcard murals set for the City on the Circle. In fact, all three Highlands County communities will have a public input session for the renderings. Avon Park will have theirs this morning at 10:00 at their city council chambers while Lake Placid will host theirs tomorrow morning at 10AM at their town council chambers.
Each of the murals features the name of theire respective communities with the letters highlighted by a local landmark. Joseph Starkweather has been contracted to do the work, and agreed to the public sessions as part of the deal.
Nobody was seriously injured but traffic was tied up for a time when a number of vehicles came together on Highway 70 in the south end of the county. Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a semi being driven by Laura Eloy of Immokalee hit the back of a van, starting a chain reaction accident.
In all, five vehicles were gathered up in the crash. Eloy was charged with careless driving.