NewsTalk 730

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory today for a dozen Florida counties including Highlands, Hardee, Polk and Desoto. Temperatures are forecast to go into the middle 90s with heat index numbers as high as 109. For those who have to be outside, experts recommend wearing light, loose fitting clothing, take frequent breaks…

Avon Park city council members, sitting as the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency board, have called for a special meeting with their advisory board to discuss how to disperse Tax Increment Financing money in the wake of the Florida Legislature’s action restricting how that money can be spent. Because the state has cracked down on financing…

Avon Park city council members will set their truth in milage rates when they meet in regular session this evening. That will show residents in the City of Charm the actual amount of property taxes they are paying compared to last year’s levy. In other action, the council will look at their lease with the…

Highlands County School Board members voted in favor of parental consent when they met in regular session. They moved to mandate parental notification if students were issed so-called “well being questionnaires.” Under current state law, parents would only be informed of such surveys if their kids are in kindergarten through third grade. School board members…

New Avon Park Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kamela Long came before the city council to give an update on their activities. Reportedly, the Chamber has sunk some $80,000 into improvements at their Main Street location. Among the repairs were patching roof leaks, a complete rewiring of the building, the replacement of drywall where mold…

A May 15 accident that cost the life of an Avon Park Middle School student is spawning changes in railroad crossings in the City of Charm. 13-year-old Malik Pearson was struck by an Amtrak passenger train as he walked home from school. Avon Park City Manager Mark Schrader has since met with officials of the…

Avon Park city council members got an update on state legislation that will affect the city when they met in regular session last night. Attorney Gerald Buhr gave the board an overview, ranging from council members’ financial disclosure forms to a new statute that says any municipal legislation now will need to have a “business…

Friends have identified a Sebring man who reportedly died yesterday in a Hardee County traffic accident as Dennis Mallen. Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate the 53-year-old motorist was westbound on State Road 64 near Bennett Road, when his car crossed the center line and ran head-on into an oncoming pickup. The driver of the truck,…

It’s official – there will not be a Super Sebring this year. The world Endurance Championship series has released their schedule for the 2024 racing season and Sebring is not on it. Instead, they will host round one in Quatar. There’s no indication as to what races will support next year’s Mobil One 12 Hours…

You may be hearing some increased air traffic in the area today. Officials at the Avon Air Force range say they will host training exercises until very late tonight. They did not indicate what entity is using the facility, or what kind of aircraft might be involved. Tomorrow, crews are scheduled to detonate old ordnance…