Highlands County has reaped a bit of good news out of the Coronavirus situation, Sebring reportedly had one of the lowest rises in unemployment after the pandemic was released. The survey, conducted by Filterbuy, shows the City on the Circle was in the bottom 20 when it came to the rise in joblessness.
The Sebring area went from 4.4-percent unemployment to a high of 7.7-percent – the 1.6-percent increase put them 18th lowest in the Sunshine State.
A number of area high school seniors have picked up some extra cash to further their higher education. Officials of the Mason G. Smoak Foundation say they have given out $4,000 scholarships to a handful of area seniors.
Hannah Loomis of Avon Park High will be attending University of Florida to major in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience. Kyria Wickham of Sebring is headed to Florida Gulf Coast University to major in Biochemistry/ Bioengineering. Lake Placid’s Brianna Pratts will use her money to go to the University of Central Florida to major in Health Sciences, while Owen Schraeder from Hardee High plans to attend Stetson University to major in Actuarial Science.
Officials at the Sebring International Raceway have confirmed that SRO America will be returning in October for the first time since 2009. It’s part of a three year agreement between the series and the track. The competitions will include a “Fanatec GT World Challenge,” a “GT America” race plus Pirelli “GT and TC America races.”
The event is slated to run October 1-3.
The Florida Department of Health in Hardee County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful Blue-Green Algae in the Peace River. They are cautioning residents – especially in Zolfo Springs – to exercise caution.
That means no swimming or even wading in the waters. In fact, they are advising against the use of watercraft where there’s a visible bloom. Authorities also caution people to keep their pets away and advise against eating shellfish from those waters.
People coming in contact with the water should wash thoroughly with soap & water.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting of a teenager, who was killed in a Bartow area park. 17-year-old Taigur Taguri apparently had gone there to “sell some marijuana” to someone.
Two 16-year-old Bartow youth reportedly have been picked up in connection with the incident. Jevon Berrian jr. and Margus Johnson have been charged with first degree murder and a number of other counts including attempted armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
During a search of the home, detectives found drugs and firearms. They also charged 47-year-old Jevon Berrian Sr. with drug possession and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.