Many people have heard the news that Aldi is acquiring nearly 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys supermarkets across the Southeast. What that means locally remains unclear. There’s one Aldi location west of Sebring with Winn-Dixie locations in Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid.
Corporate officials say some of the Winn-Dixie locations will keep their red and white branding and store layout, while others will convert to the Aldi look.
Aldi locations also will be added across Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana.
A discussion of the homeless problem capped the Sebring city council meeting. It revolved around a new ordinance that will regulate camping and fires on public property.
The measure is designed to curb vagrancy in the city. It would limit the time people could sleep on public land to a half hour, and would disallow pitching tents without prior council approval.
Katy Beatty of the New Testament Church & Mission addressed the issue, saying homeless are being bussed in to Highlands County and that both her facility and the sheriff’s office already are overwhelmed.
Sebring Mayor John Shoop said the new generation of homeless are more aggressive and mean.
The Avon Park city council will hold a special workshop in the issue next Monday evening.
The problem of sewage disposal again is hitting Highlands County. Local hauler Jason Harris came before county commissioners saying his business has been limited, due to only one local facility that could accommodate his needs.
Harris said he was limited to only 8,000 gallons a week at the Avon Park dump site – when it’s open and that’s not nearly enough. He said other local septic services are having the same issue.
Highlands County Administrator Laurie Hurner said she would have the county’s critical infrastructure department get in touch with him, to see if the county might step in to help with the issue.
A couple of Frostproof businesses are candidates in a new effort by StoryRoad to find the best businesses in Florida. P&J Recreation and The Frostbite of the candidates are listed in the Bars and American Cuisine divisions respectively.
Those who want to vote may go to "guide to Florida dot com ‘ and cast their ballots.