News Update for 7/31/25
Highlands County celebrated the winners of its pond-naming contest with a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Sun ’n Lake Preserve on July 28. Natural Resources staff guided the Kinsey and Richbow families through the 1,350-acre site, showcasing wildfire management tools like prescribed burns, firebreaks, and drone monitoring. The Kinsey family named the newly dedicated Elowishes Pond—a tribute to their pet lizard. Kids tried on firefighting gear, spotted animal tracks, installed a trail cam and official sign at the pond. Officials say the event highlighted the importance of conservation, stewardship, and hands-on learning.
A 23-year-old Lake Wales man, Rashad Mullings, was arrested this Wednesday following a Tuesday night shooting sparked by an online argument. Authorities say Mullings drove to the Lake Wales Gardens apartments around 11:30 p.m., retrieved a firearm, and fired three shots before fleeing. Thankfully, no one was injured. Mullings, who is already on probation for armed burglary, now faces several charges, including Attempted First-Degree Murder and Violation of Probation. He was taken into custody without incident and remains in jail as the investigation continues.
Two Central Florida law enforcement employees have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. The Osceola County sheriff’s office announced yesterday two employees were arrested. Deputy Kyle Henry and Digital Evidence Specialist Cassandra Wirthlin are accused of accessing computer systems and electronic databases without authorization. That’s a violation of state law. Interim Sheriff Chris Blackmon says Marcos Lopez knew about these actions before he was suspended as sheriff but didn’t do anything.
Governor Ron DeSantis thinks Florida could benefit from a change President Trump wants to make. Trump has proposed conducting a census before the 2026 midterms instead of waiting until 2030. DeSantis said yesterday the last census in 2020 cost Florida a congressional seat, and he’d love a redo for 2026. He’d especially love it if the census excluded illegal immigrants. DeSantis says California would lose a lot of seats because they’re a sanctuary state. He says Florida, though, could gain seats if the census only counted US citizens.