NewsTalk 730

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…

Two women have been sentenced to 15 years’ probation each after stealing over $100,000 from the Avon Park Community Child Development Center. 56-year-old Tikia Melissa Robertson and her daughter Wilneisha Gammage, pleaded no contest to grand theft and credit card fraud. A judge ordered them to repay the full $112,556.81 they stole and write an…

The Highlands County School District is moving forward with plans to open a new employee-only medical clinic in 2026, contracting with CareATC for a $1.2 million annual cost—$400,000 more than the current provider. While officials say the clinic will offer major benefits, like zero out-of-pocket costs for most surgeries, some board members have concerns. One…

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…

The Avon Park City Council is holding a special workshop tonight to discuss possibly reviving its own police department. The city has used the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement since shutting down its department in 2012, but rising costs have sparked new talks. City leaders say it could take up to three years…

Highlands County 911 dispatchers now have a new tool to help save lives faster — Texty, a text-to-911 service that instantly translates messages from 108 languages into English. Before, dispatchers had to copy and paste foreign-language texts into Google Translate. Now, help can be sent quicker, especially for residents who speak Spanish, Haitian Creole, or…

The Humane Society of Highlands County is asking for urgent help after 31 dogs, many of them pregnant, were rescued from a severe hoarding situation — more than double the number first expected. Already at capacity, the Sebring shelter took them all in and now needs the community to step up. They’re asking for volunteers,…

Highlands County is strengthening its disaster cleanup plans ahead of hurricane season. County Commissioners have renewed a contract with Tetra Tech — the same company that helped clear debris after California’s massive 2017 Thomas Fire — to monitor local storm debris removal through the end of 2025. Tetra Tech will ensure cleanup work meets strict…

A Highlands County woman accused of killing an elderly Sebring man is set to stand trial this week. Britney Lee Andrus will face a jury for allegedly murdering 88-year-old James Little in his home on Ramona Avenue in October 2020. Investigators say Andrus, who lived in Little’s mother-in-law suite, called 911 claiming she found him…

After more than a decade of “C” grades, the Highlands County School District has earned its first “B” since 2011 for the 2024-25 school year. Five elementary schools — including Lake Placid and Park Elementary — scored top “A” marks, up from just one last year. Neighboring districts Hendry and Hardee also improved to “B”…