Highlands County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating a shooting incident. It happened shortly before 10:00 last night at the Veranda Breeze apartment complex off Youth Care Lane and Wightman south of Sebring.
The victim was air-flighted out – no word as to their condition. No other details yet are being released as it is an ongoing investigation.
Yesterday, Highlands County commissioners held a workshop to consider requested budgets for outside agencies and constitutional officers. Tonight, a couple of municipalities will look at their spending plans for the upcoming fiscal year.
The city of Sebring will hold the first of two planned budget workshops at City Hall tonight at 5:30.
The Town of Lake Placid also will have a session to discuss their proposed $6 million dollar outlay for the 2021-2022 budget cycle, that will be at 5:30 at the Lake Placid Government Center.
Highlands County commissioners yesterday voted to continue that hearing on the “Habitual Violater” status for Waste Connections – at least until next month. The county’s trash hauler has been cited for repeated violations of the contract with the county.
County Engineer Gator Howerton told commissioners that he is comfortable with the amount of progress that’s been made with the service over the past several months.
The commission is slated to look at a settlement agreement at their August 17th meeting.
In other action, commissioners voted to retain the millage rate for property taxes at the current level of 8.55 – or $8.55 for each $1,000 of property valuation. Those taxes still may go up as property values increase.
As if their job isn’t hard enough. Highlands County Sheriff’s officials say so far this year, 18 guns have been taken in burglaries involving unlocked cars.
Sheriff’s officials say they’re all about the Second Amendment, however, the right to keep and bear arms comes with the responsibility to make sure those weapons don’t end up in the wrong hands.
They urge residents not to leave guns in cars, and to follow the “9-PM Routine,” making sure all doors and windows are locked up tight – including vehicles.
An area medical facility has found itself on the bad side of new Hospital Compliance statutes. Advent Health Wauchulla was listed among the nearly four dozen Florida hospitals found not to be in compliance with the new Executive Order from the Whitehouse.
Other area facilities found wanting were Lakeland Regional Medical Center and Winter Haven Hospital.