Local veterans and their families are getting extra support in Highlands County. The Veterans Service Office and Highlands County Library System are hosting a free tutorial to help with the My HealtheVet website. The session takes place Monday, October 13th, at 9 a.m. at the Sebring Public Library. VSO staff will guide veterans step-by-step through the site, with library staff assisting on the tech side. Registration is required by calling 863-402-6716. Veterans must bring a photo I.D., a cell phone, and their email login information. Light refreshments will be served.
The Avon Park City Council narrowly approved a partnership with Avon Park Main Street Inc. in a 3-2 vote, funding the nonprofit with $30,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The city will pay in quarterly installments, though approval is contingent on Main Street providing proof of insurance. Board President Nancy Fisk assured council members that safeguards are in place, requiring budgets and spending reports before future payments. Councilwoman Shelly Mercure raised concerns over protections for the city, but the agreement moves forward starting October 1st.
A Lakeland teen is accused of swiping two cars in just one morning. Deputies say a Kia Forte and a Toyota Tacoma were stolen on September 14. The Tacoma’s owner tracked his truck with a mobile app, leading deputies to a hidden field where both vehicles had been abandoned. Forensics recovered fingerprints that tied the crimes to a 14-year-old already on probation for theft. Detectives say he confessed to stealing both cars. He’s now facing charges of grand theft auto, burglary, and probation violation.
The governor wants to make Florida a beacon of hope in cancer research. Governor Ron DeSantis was in Tampa yesterday to announce 60-million dollars in funding for cancer research. The money from the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund will focus on how nutrition can prevent or treat cancer. DeSantis made the announcement at USF to mark the Department of Health’s World Cancer Research Day. He says investing in innovation today means saving lives tomorrow.