News Update for 9/25/20

A man is dead and a woman is in jail following an overnight
incident in Sebring. According to reports, Highlands County Sheriff’s deputies were serving a warrant on Kelly Townsend at a Markland Lane residence,
At that time, deputies saw Matthew Nocerino. Noting that he also had warrants, they ordered him to stop. He didn’t and a chase ensued. According to reports, Nocerino took a shot at deputies – hitting one of them in the bulletproof vest.
Deputies returned fire – killing Nocerino. Townsend subsequently has been booked into the Highlands County jail on her warrants.

The latest Coronavirus test numbers released by the Florida Department of Health show there have been 5 additional positive, and 97 negative tests added to Highlands County’s ongoing count.
Of the 20,929 tests administered locally – 18,792 have been negative with 2127 positive cases recorded.
There have been 226 people hospitalized at some point during their illness and 82 deaths have been tied to the corona virus here since numbers started being kept.

It appears the Nancessowee hotel in Sebring will be coming down sooner than later. Crews reportedly were in the place yesterday doing preliminary work in getting the place ready for demolition.
The Nancessowee has been vacant for years. There have been several efforts to rehabilitate the building. However, none have been successful.
Recent videos have shown the building suffered what was termed “catastrophic roof collapse.”

One person was injured yesterday in an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle. The mishap occurred on Sheppard Road in Venus. The rider was taken to the hospital after the vehicle overturned.
So far no names or other details in the accident have been released.

Polk County Sheriff’s officials have arrested a Frostproof woman, charging she set up a fake charity, but instead, spent the money on herself.
According to reports, Amanda Lynn Brown set up a GoFundMe account, supposedly to help the families of a Frostproof triple homicide case.
There was nearly $12,000 in the account when it was closed. However, none of the money apparently made it to the victims. Brown was charged with several counts and booked into the Polk County Jail.