NewsTalk 730

The City of Avon Park is currently seeking volunteers to fill four vacancies on local boards and committees. One seat is available on the Avon Park Housing Authority, while alternate positions are open on the Planning & Zoning Board, Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board, and the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee. Alternates play a vital…

A Sebring man accused of illegal dumping is now in custody. Highlands County deputies arrested 44-year-old Howard L. Shackleford after he abandoned his ATV in an orange grove and fled from law enforcement. Deputy Kyler Hodge attempted to pull Shackleford over on County Road 17 South, but the suspect sped off into the grove, clipped…

An Avon Park man was arrested Monday morning after allegedly fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run crash in Lake Wales. Authorities say 25-year-old Abraham Garcia Rosario rear-ended a vehicle on Highway 27, then drove off without exchanging information or contacting law enforcement. A witness followed him until deputies stopped him near Hwy 60 and Hunt…

Highlands County now has another way to honor the men and women that help keep our community safe. The Highlands County Board of County Commissioners has officially proclaimed April 13–19 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Dispatchers, often called the “first, first responders,” are vital in coordinating emergency response and keeping our law enforcement, fire, and…

Sebring police have arrested a fugitive wanted for first-degree murder in the Florida Keys. 40-year-old Michael Patrick Stevens was taken into custody after failing to appear for his January trial in Monroe County. Stevens is accused of selling fentanyl-laced Percocet pills that led to the 2024 overdose death of 41-year-old Adam Halenza. After being released…

A 29-year-old Lake Placid man’s crime spree has finally come to an end. Akinkawon Hawthorne, who had been wanted since New Year’s Eve, was arrested Monday night after leading deputies on a high-speed chase and stealing a work truck. Hawthorne had already racked up nine felony charges, including aggravated battery, child abuse, and kidnapping. His…

Police responded to a bomb threat at the North Sebring Winn-Dixie just after 10 a.m. Sunday. Authorities say a man called the store, claiming he had placed an explosive inside and demanded money, threatening to detonate it if his demands weren’t met. Sebring Police and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office quickly secured the area, evacuating…

The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office has dismantled a major drug trafficking operation after a six-month undercover investigation. Authorities arrested 18 suspects and seized nearly 8 pounds of methamphetamine. The operation, dubbed “Lil Bit,” was named after the alleged ringleader, 37-year-old Dalia Elaine Gonzalez, who now faces multiple drug trafficking charges. Sheriff Paul Blackman praised the…

Where is 17-year-old Kaliee Durkin? That’s the question that concerned family and friends have after the Sebring teen vanished early Monday morning, just hours after chatting with her mother at home. Security footage shows her getting into a dark SUV around 3:50 a.m. with packed bags, but she left behind her car, keys, and phones.…

A man was found injured and wearing only his underwear on Cedora Terrace in Sebring Saturday morning, after surviving a violent attack. Authorities say 29-year-old Joshua Yamir Torres allegedly assaulted the victim after being offered a ride, then forced him to drive to a secluded area near Basket Lake where he attempted to shoot him—twice.…