NewsTalk 730

The Highlands County School Board has voted 4-1 to enter a due diligence period for the potential purchase of a property at 710 W. Winthrop Street, directly across from Avon Elementary. The $199,900 property, which includes a house, has long been used for parent parking during school events. Board members cited the property’s continued utility…

Graduation week has already started in the County – 28 students graduated from Highlands Virtual School last night at Sebring High’s Smith Center. The big numbers come this weekend, when 887 more seniors from Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid High are expected to graduate in ceremonies at SFSC. Power got cut to around 400…

Aline McWhite Park in Avon Park will officially reopen at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 22nd, following four months of renovations. The park, located at 240 E. Hal McRae Blvd., received $50,000 in improvements funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency. Enhancements include a resurfaced basketball court with new poles, backboards, and rims. City officials regard…

Big news for Avon Park! A 2.5-acre property at U.S. 27 and County Road 17A has been sold for $1.7 million to a developer for Wawa, Inc., marking the fourth Wawa in Highlands County. The new location will break ground soon, replacing a former eye clinic and bringing jobs, tax revenue, and convenience to the…

The Lake Placid Town Council has approved design updates for the town’s future police station. The building will sit in front of the Government Center and share its parking lot, with public access routed through the government driveway — not directly from U.S. 27. To meet town access rules, the station’s rear will face the…

The City of Sebring has unanimously approved a one-year lease renewal for Highlands Lakeside Theatre’s Education Building—formerly the Museum of the Arts. Located next to the main theater, the building has become a vital hub for arts education and community programs. Theater Manager Vanessa Logsdon highlighted its use for workshops, rehearsals, and private lessons. Looking…

Updates were recently shared by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office regarding the March 8th murder of 21-year-old Elijah Daley at the Ramada Inn in Lake Placid. Five people have now been arrested in connection to the murder. Authorities say the suspects include the alleged shooter, getaway driver, and three individuals who helped orchestrate a robbery…

A homicide investigation is underway in Lake Placid after 21-year-old Elijah Daley was found dead early Thursday morning at the Ramada Inn on U.S. 27. Highlands County detectives were on scene, gathering evidence from Room 224. Daley’s mother suspects the murder may be linked to the armed theft of his dirt bike the day before.…

A Sebring man is behind bars after a dramatic standoff following a shooting at Dave T’s Burgers. Police say 41-year-old Gene Andrew Phillips fired shots at a man trying to leave the restaurant on May 2nd, then fled the scene in a friend’s SUV. Officers later found him hiding in a nearby home’s attic, where…

A tragic incident occurred late Friday night in Sebring when a southbound CSX train struck and killed 47-year-old Highlands County resident Manuel Antonio Marquez, who was sitting on the tracks. Sebring Police say the train’s conductor and engineer spotted Marquez just north of Helena Avenue and attempted to stop, sounding the horn, but were unable…