Independence day celebrations continue today with fireworks displays at Sun ‘N Lake in Highlands County and at Frostproof in Polk County.
Sun ‘N Lake’s festivities will begin at 7:00 this evening and will feature the grand opening of the community’s new playground. There also will be food trucks, a touch-a-truck contest with Highlands County Fire Rescue – as well as a number of booths, exhibits and displays.
Admission will be free beginning at 8:45 tonight.
Frostproof will have their "Lights on the Lake" celebration this evening from 6-10pm. They also will have food trucks and street vendors – with the pyrotechnics to be fired off from a barge over Lake Clinch.
Celebrations will continue tomorrow with fireworks in Lake Placid, Sebring and a Firecracker Festival in Avon Park.
Things got started Saturday in Hardee County, with their annual "Red, White and Boom" celebration.
Highlands County sheriff’s detectives are working this morning to unravel an overnight fatal shooting incident. Reportedly, it occurred sometime before 9:30 last night at a Snapper Drive address north of Sebring.
A 27-year-old Sebring man was shot and taken to the hospital, where he expired. Reportedly, sheriff’s officials have a suspect in the case.
No names or other details are yet available.
One Frostproof resident was killed and another injured yesterday afternoon in a single-car crash near the Sun Ray community.
Polk County sheriff’s officials say 46-year-old Robert Castillo was driving a Nissan southbound, when he lost control of his vehicle near Sun Ray. The car crossed both lanes of traffic, over an embankment and overturned several times – then caught fire.
A passenger in the car, 42-year-old Donnie Joe Lee of Frostproof was ejected. He was airlifted out. Castillo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Highway 27 was closed in the area for several hours.