A 28-year-old Lake Placid woman remains in an induced coma following a horseback riding accident. Reportedly Chelsea McGuire was riding in the Highlands Park area when her horse was “spooked.” McGuire apparently lost her balance, fell and hit her head – fracturing her skull.
She was taken to Florida Hospital Lake Placid – then airlifted to Tampa General. A Chelsea McGuire GoFundMe page has been established to help defray expenses.
It was a long workshop for Highlands County Commissioners last night, as they tried to whittle down their nearly $147 million dollar budget, to get back to the 8.55 mils that property owners currently pay to help run the county.
They apparently were able to cut the deficit down from $1.3 million to just under $400,000 in the red. About two dozen residents showed up for the session.
If commissioners are able to get back to this year’s 8.55 millage rate – it still would be an increase, as most property values have gone up.
Highlands County School Board members will host their budget hearing this evening. The 5:00 session will come just before their regular school board meeting. This year’s $157.2 million budget includes the new half-cent sales tax, which is bringing in millions annually to the board.
The proposed school millage rate of 6.322 is down two-tenths of a mil, or about 20-cents for each $1,000 of property valuation.
The regular school board meeting is set to begin at 5:30 tonight.
Lake Placid police have reported a couple of arrests for DUI.
First, 30-year-old Kade M. Kelly was picked up on counts of DUI and leaving the scene of a crash.
Kelly allegedly struck a vehicle in the parking lot of Big D’s then reportedly got into a vehicle with someone else in an attempt to elude law enforcement.
He did not – and was apprehended.
Then, 28-year-old Bo David Ferguson was charged with DUI after being stopped for reckless exhibition of a vehicle and driving at dangerously high speeds.
Ferguson, allegedly launched a verbal tirade against the arresting officer and reportedly attempted to provoke the lawman into fighting.
He allegedly told the officer he would sic the Mongols Motorcycle gang on him and apparently tried to bribe the officer.
Both men were taken to the Highlands County Jail.