A couple of traffic incidents on State Road 70 kept law enforcement officials busy overnight. Shortly before 9:00, four vehicles reportedly collided on Highway 70 East out toward Okeechobee. Authorities indicate five people were transported. One apparently was airlifted out, the rest were taken to a hospital with what were said to be minor injuries.
So far, the Florida Highway Patrol has not released an accident description or any other information.
About an hour later, two cars and a flatbed, came together at ’70 near bear hollow. One person was transported,. and the road was closed for an hour from that one.
It was a busy weekend for area firefighters. Units from the West Sebring Fire Department were called out yesterday to extinguish a boat fire. Reportedly both the runabout and the engine were destroyed – damage was set at $20,000.
Yesterday morning, Units from Highlands Lakes and the city of Avon Park were called to extricate a man stuck in the air in a bucket truck. Reportedly, they got the contraption working and the worker back on the ground without incident.
He’s only been on the job for a few months, but already, Avon Park city manager David Flowers is coming under fire. At tonight’s meeting, Avon Park City Councilman Stanley Spurlock will discuss the city manager’s performance. Spurlock has publicly complained about the inability for him to obtain rosters of city employees and their salaries.
In other action, the council will look at the fire assessment for the city, and what a hike in residential rates would do to business rates.
Qualifying begins today for a couple of Avon Park city council seats. Up will be the mayor’s seat as well as a city council post. Those are held by Garrett Anderson and Jim Barnard respectively. Both have said they plan to run again for another term.
If there is an election, council members have decided to put some charter changes before the voters. If nobody challenges the longtime incumbents – the charter changes will be held off until next year’s general election.