A Sebring man and his mother are now facing charges for allegedly helping cover up a rideshare robbery in the Florida Keys. 21-year-old Jacob James True, was arrested in Sebring Thursday, while his mother, 46-year-old, Mary Elizabeth Houston, of Islamorada, turned herself in. Deputies say the pair helped True’s brother, Payton Riley Roth, get rid of a 9mm handgun and loaded magazine used to rob a rideshare driver on June 1st, stealing a $300 watch and other valuables. Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay says tampering with evidence “crosses the line.” Roth remains jailed on armed robbery and theft charges.
A reminder for highlands county residents that the Highlands County Habitat for Humanity will dedicate three new homes to local families today, starting at 8:00 AM. The dedications will take place at 1412 Inspiration Drive in Sebring. This event marks the next step in the Ridge affordable housing development, which will bring 60 single-family homes to the Washington Heights community. The public is welcome to attend the dedication ceremony. For more information on how to support, donate, or sponsor a home, visit www.HabitatHighlands.org.
The Avon Park City Council has unanimously approved new mulch for Donaldson Park, Aline McWhite Park, and Lake Tulane Park after a recent safety inspection flagged non-compliance issues. The inspection found missing or improper playground mulch and unsafe equipment — prompting the immediate removal of deteriorated swings and play structures. Human Resources Director Denise Koger reported that new engineered wood fiber mulch is now required at the parks to meet safety standards. While Donaldson Park still needs new playground equipment, council agreed to handle the mulch first — with future equipment costs estimated at over $52,000.
The Highlands County Amateur Radio Club is inviting the public to its Annual Field Day at the Placid Lakes Community Center, June 28th through 29th. This nationwide event is ham radio’s open house, giving visitors a chance to operate real ham radios and connect with people around the world. Setup begins Saturday at 9 a.m., with operations running from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday. Club members use this event to test equipment for emergencies like hurricanes — working off the grid with generators, just as they would during a disaster. Everyone is welcome. For more details, call 863-446-4588.
For the first time, Citrus Black Spot quarantines have been issued in Florida’s DeSoto and Highlands counties. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, along with Florida’s Department of Agriculture, announced the new quarantines after detecting the disease during this season’s surveys. Seventeen sections in DeSoto County and one in Highlands County are now under quarantine, along with additional sections added in Collier, Glades, and Hendry counties — areas where the disease has been found since first appearing in Florida back in 2010. Strict rules now limit how citrus fruit and plant parts can move out of these areas to stop the spread.
A Polk County sheriff’s deputy is no longer on the job after being arrested for stealing cash during a traffic stop near Fort Meade. Investigators say Justin Register resigned after he was charged with theft for taking money from a driver’s wallet. According to police, after the driver noticed the missing money, Register returned to his patrol car, pulled cash from a bag and then said, "Oh, here it is!" The sheriff’s office is now reviewing all of Register’s past arrests and traffic stops.