News Update for 6/8/21

It will be a while yet before the city of Avon Park and representatives of Florida Airport Management come to terms over running the airport in the City of Charm.
The council, their consultants and F-A-M representatives met last night for two hours in a fast-paced back and forth over terms and conditions.
Consultants say they need a few more weeks to prepare such things as capital restructure, fair market value, insurance and how much control council will have – or not have – over the facility and its development.

Highlands County commissioners will have fire services on their mind when they hold a workshop this evening. They first will take time to honor volunteer firefighters – outgoing Public Safety Director Marc Bashoor will do the presentation.
They then will look at the county’s fire assessment for the upcoming year. Apparently, the plan is to raise another half million dollars by increasing the fees charged to those who own bigger homes. That will come as commissioners look at dropping a current $115 cap on the assessment with a “range of charges.”
That session will commence at 5:30

There was no 9-1-1 service overnight for Verizon customers here in Highlands County. Sheriff’s officials say users across the county could not access the emergency line.
Phone users still were able to call the sheriff’s office regular number. The outrage came about midnight, with service down for about three and a half hours.
Everything’s been fixed – situation’s now normal.

Polk County sheriff’s officials now say two people injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon were from the Sebring area. According to reports, 59-year-old Joseph Schwab was riding his Harley-Davidson trike northbound on Highway 27 near Lake Wales, when it went off the road and hit a culvert.
Both he and a rider, Debra Lewis were thrown off. They were critically injured and transported to Osecola Regional Medical Center. Deputies say both WERE wearing their helmets.