The Avon Park city council sawed through quite a bit of business at their meeting last night. They first approved their budget and millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year. Property tax evaluation will jump to 2.24 mils to support the city’s $38.6 million dollar budget.
In other action, the council approved a couple of new housing projects for the City of Charm. One will be a series of more than a dozen duplexes off Lott Street. The other will be a 47-acre development of single family residential homes off Gaster Road on the north end.
Highlands County and the Florida Department of Health are hosting a Free Community Vaccination Day today. It runs from 8 – 4 at the Florida Department of Health on George Boulevard south of Sebring. Residents will have their choice of the Moderna or Pfizer shots.
Those who get the jab will be eligible for a $10 food gift card. Appointments are available however, they say walk-ins also are welcome.
Highlands County Sheriff’s K-9s will be a bit better protected after a donation of bullet-proof and stab-proof vests. K-9s Gentry, Kilo-Ren, Hooch, Benji and Lady will be custom-fitted for the gear, which are sponsored by a “Survival Armor” incentive program.
The body armor was donated by a charitable organization called “Vested Interest for K-9s.” Fittings and formal presentation is expected in the next couple months.
A Polk County man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend after he confessed to his mother and she called police.
Polk County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 37-year-old Jason Robinson outside his RV.
Robinson reportedly grabbed a deputy’s stun gun and radio and tried to choke him. Two witnesses then jumped in and helped to detain him.
Deputies who arrived as backup found the girlfriend’s body buried under a pallet next to the RV’s door. Robinson is being held in the Polk County Jail.