News Update for 7/25/25
The 34th Annual Caladium Festival kicks off today at Stuart Park in downtown Lake Placid, giving Highlands County residents a chance to support local growers and community traditions. After last year’s shortened event, the full three-day festival is back through Sunday, July 27th — open Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All local growers are back this year, along with 142 sold-out vendor booths, nonprofit food tents, live entertainment, and bus tours of the caladium fields. New features include a special Caladium Watermelon Kolsch beer and misting stations to help guests beat the heat.
A Sebring private school went on lockdown after a woman allegedly threatened staff and entered the property without permission. Deputies say 49-year-old Mary Ann Cranfield yelled at teachers at Christ Academy of Highlands County, shook the back fence, and threatened to harm them if they didn’t “pick the babies off the ground.” The school’s director locked down the campus after Cranfield reportedly walked inside and continued shouting. Deputies later arrested Cranfield at a nearby gas station. She now faces burglary and assault charges.
The Florida Department of Transportation is inviting the public to learn about planned design changes for the State Road 70 widening project in Highlands County. The project will expand SR 70 from County Road 29 to Lonesome Island Road to improve safety, operations, and support future growth. An in-person public meeting will be held Thursday, August 21st from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Placid Government Center. A self-guided virtual meeting will also run from August 21st through September 5th at swflroads.com/project/414506-5.
Pictures and video of Chuck E. Cheese being arrested in Florida are going viral on social media. Pictures show the pizza chain mascot in handcuffs while be led out by police as children in the background look on. Police are then seen in a video removing the head of the mascot outfit as the man stands next to police car. Tallahassee police said the man inside the costume was arrested on three felonies. Court records show he was charged with credit card theft and fraud and that he has been released on bond.