Highlands County voters went to the polls yesterday and sent two new people to local boards. In a decisive victory, challenger Arlene Tuck unseated incumbent Highlands County Commissioner Jack Richie. In a nail-biter, newcomer Isaac Durance defeated incumbent Charlene Edwards in their race for school board.
In the race for 10th Judicial Circuit Court Group 10, Melissa Gravitt won with 44-percent of the vote and in Group 11, Dana Moore outdistanced Stephen Pincket.
In other District Races, Democrat Audrey Asciutto will challenge incumbent Cary Pigman for the State House District 55 seat, while Democrat April Freeman will go against Republican Greg Stube for the District 17 US Congressional seat.
Statewide, Republicans and Democrats nominated their standard bearers for a number of different offices. Republican Rick Desantis will go against Democrat Andrew Gillum in the Governor’s race. Republican Ashley Moody will face off against Democrat Sean Shaw for Florida Attorney General and Republican Matt Caldwell will meet Democrat Nikki Fried for the Secretary of Agriculture post in the November general election.
A car and a Highlands County school bus collided yesterday south of Sebring. According to reports, the incident occurred yesterday afternoon on Farm Road off Highway 98.
There were 33 students and two adults onboard the bus at the time – officials say nobody was injured in the mishap.
A man wanted in connection with a fatal Highlands County traffic accident reportedly has been arrested – in County Cork, Ireland. Officials say Samuel Joseph Tucker was at the wheel of a Masarati that slammed into a power pole, flipping several times.
Killed in the accident was his passenger, 22-year Alyssia Kay Vice.
Now, reports are that Tucker was arrested in Cork and is up on extradition charges to the United States.
It’s not even September yet, but some folks already are looking toward Halloween. Officials of the Friends of Highlands Hammock State Park have announced that there will be no Haunted Hammock this year. A lack of volunteers was cited as the reason.
Instead, they say, they will center on their Christmas-themed “Hammock North Pole” event in December.
Meanwhile, Avon Park has set their night for Tricker Treat – it will be Saturday evening October 27th.