News Update for 8/20/20

The latest Coronavirus test numbers released by the Florida Department of Health show that there have been 19 additional positive tests and 113 negatives added to Highlands County’s ongoing count.
Of the 17,376 tests administered locally – 15,686 tests have been negative with 1,679 positive cases recorded.
There have been 185 people hospitalized at some point during their illness and 50 deaths have been tied to the corona virus since numbers started being kept.

It appears that local students will not only be getting back to school but they also will be getting back to sports. At a special meeting last night, members of the Highlands County School Board approved the recommendations of the Highlands County Athletic Task Force regarding the start of fall sports.
Practice will begin on August 31st. Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Swimming, Volleyball, Varsity Football and Junior Varsity Football will start in September.
Apparently, the board did not address concerns about band and cheerleading performances.

Boaters who want to use the Veteran’s Beach boat ramp on Lake Jackson may want to use it this weekend. It’ll be their last chance for a while.
Sebring city officials say it will be closed next Monday for better than a month. Plans are to demolish the current structure and put in a new floating dock.
Owners who want to get a boat out of Lake Jackson or put one in, will have until Sunday afternoon to get the job done.

Those wanting to get their share of CARES cash will have their last chance to apply for some of the $4.6 million dollars in the first round of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act money tomorrow. The payments will go to small businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals.
Highlands county officials have to expend all that money by September 30 to be elligible for a second round of payouts – That’s slated to be more than $13 million dollars.
More information may be obtained at HighlandsCares.com