The signs have been up for a while but the elections season kicks up a notch today as qualifying gets underway for candidates. Three seats on the Highlands County School Board and two seats on the Highlands County Commission will be up for grabs.
So far, there’s only one contested election in each.
Challenger Isaac Durrance will go against incumbent Charlene Edwards for school board, while Arlene Tuck will go against Jack Richie for county commission.
Qualifying opens at noon today and will run until noon Friday.
Volunteers from the West Sebring and Highlands Lakes fire departments were called out to battle a blaze at an apartment complex dur9ing the pre-dawn hours. The flames reportedly broke out shortly after 3:30 at the Braylock Villas on Thurnderbird Road.
One apartment reportedly was destroyed totally, with waiter & smoke damage to the adjacent unit. No injuries were reported. Cause of the fire said to have been a candle in a bedroom.
Polk County Sheriff’s officials have revealed the victims of that train vs. vehicle accident in Frostproof Friday were from Highlands County.
A Dodge Caravan driven by 23-year-old Emily Moncrief of Avon Park reportedly struck the crossing bar before hitting the the CSX freight. The impact caused the Caravan to roll, and the train to derail.
Both Moncrief and her passenger – 23-year-old Lyndsay Serey of Sebring were pronounced dead at the scene.
reports say the two were wearing seatbelts. Investigators say that impairment may have been a factor in the crash.
Florida Highway Patrol officials continue to search for a gray, Ford F-150 crew cab. It was a truck of that description that reportedly grazed the front of a tractor-trailer rig south of Sebring Friday morning.
Troopers say the 18-wheeler was trying to make a turn from State Road 66 onto highway 27, when the pickup hit the left front of the semi’s cab and did not stop.
They say the F-159 has damage to the front and rear view mirror on the passenger’s side. Those with information should call the FHP.