Discussions are underway for the addition of a new ladder truck for the Avon Park Fire Department. On Monday, Fire Chief Andrew Marcy presented a few options to the Avon Park City Council at the budget workshop. The current equipment, at 23 years old, is well past the recommendation of the National Fire Protection Agency which states that anything over 15 years old should not be a frontline truck and after 20 years old it should be put in reserve. Three purchase options were proposed with the understanding that it would still be 4-5 years to acquire the truck. The City Council, while in favor of a purchase now with reserve funds, will continue to discuss at future sessions.
A woman is accused of driving drunk with her child in the car in Lake County. Clermont Police arrested Josefina Lopez yesterday after a crash. Officers arriving at the scene say they found the 21-year-old outside her Jeep while her child was still trapped in the backseat. Officers removed the child from the Jeep. The child was taken to the hospital and is now in DCF custody. Lopez has been charged with DUI, child abuse and neglect.
Today starts a new phase of a high-profile murder case in Manatee County. Former ballerina Ashley Benefield is on trial for killing her estranged husband, Doug, four years ago in Lakewood Ranch. Benefield is charged with second-degree murder in a case 48 Hours called the Black Swan murder. The prosecution rested yesterday, and today, the defense will start making its case. Prosecutors spent three days trying to convince jurors Ashley shot Doug to get custody of their daughter. Her lawyers say the shooting was in self-defense.
A global aviation company is planning to create hundreds of jobs in the Sunshine State. France-based AURA AERO says it will invest more than 170-million dollars to build a manufacturing plant in Florida. The project is expected to create more than one-thousand high paying positions. The goal is for the plant to begin creating hybrid electric regional aircrafts in about four years. Yesterday’s announcement came as the company held the grand opening of its first U.S. facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach.
The 33rd Annual Caladium Festival kicks off in Stuart Park in Downtown Lake Placid today. Today and tomorrow the event will be from 9am to 4PM. On Sunday it will be from 10AM-3:00pm. This afternoon at three, the Caladium Festival pageant will take place and The Annual Car and Bike Show will be in Devane Park on Saturday morning, with an awards presentation following at 1:30pm. Attendees can enjoy a variety of vendors,competitions, florida friendly landscape and ornamental plants, bus tours, train rides and more.
Highlands County is seeking entries for the Florida Association of Counties calendar contest. This year’s theme is Stormy Skies, a tribute that focuses on the complex dynamic of natural weather conditions. Photographers interested in capturing a shot of Highlands County’s diverse weather landscape can submit their work to the County by August 9th. Final submissions to the contest will be made by Highlands County on August 16th. Winning selections will be featured in this upcoming year’s issue of the FAC calendar. Please submit entries in JPEG format to kclogston@highlandsfl.gov.
The Starliner test flight to the International Space Station continues as engineers troubleshoot thruster and helium leak issues. NASA’s Steve Stitch said during Thursday’s status briefing that there’s no date yet for when Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return to earth. The astronauts lifted off in the Boeing spacecraft from Cape Canaveral June 5th on what was supposed to be a one week stay at the ISS. Stitch says the plan is still for Wilmore and Williams to return in the Starliner spacecraft but he says there are contingency plans if that’s not possible.
An attraction in Osceola County is sharing what it calls the coolest news of the year. Gaylord Palms Resort and Water Park in Kissimmee announced yesterday ICE! will return this holiday season with a brand-new theme based on the Will Ferrell movie, Elf. It’ll start November 15th and will feature a walk-through exhibit of hand-carved ice sculptures of Buddy the Elf and other characters from the 2003 film. Gaylord Palms’ GM says the attraction provides a one-of-a-kind experience for friends and family to enjoy together.