News Update for 8/4/20

The latest Coronavirus test numbers released by the Florida Department of Health show that there have been 19 additional positive tests returned and 160 new negatives conducted in Highlands County.
Of the 15,338 tests administered locally over the past five months – 14,028 tests have been negative with 1,296 positive cases recorded.
There have been 147 people hospitalized at some point during their illness and 30 deaths have been tied to the corona virus since numbers started being kept.

One person was killed yesterday when the pickup truck he was driving hit a semi-tractor trailer rig. Florida Highway Patrol officials say the driver, described only as a29-year-old man from Ormond Beach, was towing a utility trailer, and was attempting to turn onto Ben-Hill Griffin Road, when he struck the back of the semi-trailer.
The semi then overturned and caught fire. It sparked a subsequent brust fire that kept the roadway closed for more than 12 hours. Volunteer firfighters and the Florida Forest Service were called in to extinguish the blaze.

In case you missed last night’s seminar by the Sebring Chamber of Commerce on how to apply for funds from the CARES Act. They will hold another meeting tonight at 5:30 at the County Commission Chambers on Commerce Avenue in Sebring.
Highlands County has 4.8 million dollars to give out to residents, businesses and others who have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus situatioon. Sign-ups began yesterday.
Applications only are taken on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from nine until noon for the so-called Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act money.
Most of the work will be done online at HighlandsCares.com.

Polk County Sheriff’s officials are looking for a woman born 50-years ago on the floor of a home in Garden Grove. At the time, the birth was assisted by A 16-year-old ambulance attendant by the name of Grady Judd.
Judd, who now is the Sheriff of Polk County, revealed the story. Sheriff’s officials say they now are trying to solve the mystery of who that baby might be. They are asking anyone with clues to the identity of the girl or her mother, to call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Apparently, the woman had been staying with her parents in a new development in the Garden Grove area outside Winter Haven.