Highlands Today - Highlands News

Gas prices climbing

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Prices at the gas pump keep climbing, about 4 cents overnight – so what does the future hold? It has quickly become a political hot potato.

Weather raises wildfire risk

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

This weekend, a cool dry front will pass through Highlands County, warns wildfire mitigation specialist Melissa Yunas of the Florida Forest Service.

Jim Brooks, Susie Bishop jump into races

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Two more candidates have filed for open county commission and election supervisor seats.

Ex-boyfriend charged with beating pregnant woman

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:17:13 -0500

An Avon Park man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $45,000 bond Thursday after being arrested by Sebring Police who charged him in connection to battery upon a pregnant Sebring resident.

Sebring woman reported missing

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:40:59 -0500

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is seeking assistance in locating Megan Oliver-Parker, 28, a missing endangered Sebring woman.

Veteran's Beach closed

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:20:45 -0500

SEBRING Veteran's Beach will be closed until further notice due to high bacteria levels, according to a Sebring city official.

Places to go

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:25:04 -0500

TODAY

Law enforcement gets ag-crime training

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:21:49 -0500

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office hosted a multi-agency heavy equipment identification training session by the Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit at the Liberty Star Substation recently.

Highlands Social Dance Club holding dance tonight

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:07:12 -0500

The Highlands Social Dance Club is hosting a dance tonight, Friday, from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Senior Center on Sebring Parkway.

Council approves Heartland Triathlon route

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:31:01 -0500

On your marks, get set, go!

Man faces felony pot charge

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The size of two baby marijuana plants reportedly found on the back porch of a Lake Placid home didn't matter. It was still a third-degree felony to grow them.

Highlands's ambassador Charlie Brown recounts FFA experiences

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Avon Park High graduate Charlie Brown returned to Highlands County this week to share his experiences as Florida FFA President, including a trip to China that expanded his world view.

Fall trial set for James Parker

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:40:00 -0500

The pretrial conference for Jennifer Short was continued to April, but jury selection for James Hilton Parker III will begin in September.

Dogfighting cases continued

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:48:06 -0500

The dogfighting cases against Corey Lee Love, Quandra Nicole Brown-Sims and Ernest Reed have been pushed back to next month.

Cracker Trail kids meet namesake cowboys

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:29:49 -0500

"How many of you are crackers?" Suzanne Park asked. More than 100 students were waiting for the riders coming to Cracker Trail Elementary.

DUI offender, victim's mother share story

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

His hands and feet shackled and wearing a black and white inmate uniform, Eric Smallridge told Lake Placid High School students, "This is something I will live with forever."

Official disputes lawsuit

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

City Administrative Services Director Maria Sutherland disputes former finance director Renee` Green's lawsuit that claims Sutherland was defrauding the county.

City rules Emma the potbellied pig can stay

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:08:39 -0500

After months of waiting, Emma the potbellied pig is now a pet after the Sebring City Council approved the matter by a 3-2 vote Tuesday night. It also set a limit of no more than two potbellied pigs per household.

Cracker Trail riders to be here today

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:28:51 -0500

Head'em up.

Scientific experience

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:15:37 -0500

The school district's return to the regional science fair competition netted an educational experience for all the students who participated, and an invitation for three to the state competition.

Taking a bear's journey

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

What is it like for a modern-day bear to trek 1,000 miles in 100 days through ranches, scrub land and swamps, past homes and busy highways?

Congress targets federal pay, benefits

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Federal workers were $15 billion losers as Congress looked for ways to pay for parts of the just-passed legislation to extend the payroll tax cut and federal unemployment benefits through the end of the year.

New liquor law may allow wine tastings

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Somebody call ABC, the county commissioners have changed the liquor laws.

Search continues for director

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The search for an executive director for the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency continued Tuesday after the search committee decided last Thursday to re-advertise the position.

Former finance director sues Avon Park

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:24:00 -0500

A lawsuit filed Tuesday against the City of Avon Park claims there was no "just cause" reason for City Manager Julian Deleon to terminate Renee Green after she served as the city's finance director for more than 10 years.

Brush fire near Pompino Drive

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:57:04 -0500

State and local firefighters were fighting a brush fire Tuesday morning in the neighborhood of Pompino Drive at Bream Avenue, which broke out the night before.

Deputy feted for timely help

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:13:27 -0500

A Highlands County sheriff's deputy who responded to rescue two people trapped in a Jan. 23 apartment fire in Sebring received a Valor Award from Sheriff Susan Benton.

FCAT testing security boosted

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

When students in three grade levels take the Writing Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test next week, school districts will be following new security measures required by the state.

Potbellied pig back on agenda

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The fate of Emma the potbellied pig is back in the hands of the Sebring City Council today, along with other animal and livestock issues, when it considers amendments to its existing ordinance regulating animals within city limits.

HMOs in June to manage Medicaid's dental program

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

For the many Medicaid dental patients the Highlands County Health Department sees in a year, this June will bring the first taste of HMOs.