Local News 10-25-24

Highlands County evidently likes early voting – nearly five percent of the County’s eligible voters showed up to cast votes for the November 5th General Election yesterday on the first day of the County’s ten-day early voting window. Three locations will be available until November 2 for voters who want to avoid the crowds on the Day itself. Day One Republican voter turnout exceeded Democratic turnout by almost 4:1, and almost 16% of the County has already cast ballots in the election, including mail-ins.

Highlands County is turning Halloween into a nearly full-week event, with the day itself falling next Thursday. Trick or Treaters in Sebring and Avon Park will be out and about Saturday night from 6-9pm, but Lake Placid’s keeping with tradition and encouraging Thursday night goblery. Downtown Lake Placid’s annual Halloween Block Party also happens from 6-9 Thursday evening. Downtown Sebring hosts its annual Fall-O-Ween on the Circle tonight from 5:30 till 9pm, The Spring Lake District’s Fall Festival is tomorrow beginning at 10am, Tony’s II Pizzeria has a free concert at the store, caddycorner from Sebring High School Saturday evening, Avon Park Lakes has a Trunk Or Treat even tonight starting at 6pm and the Humane Society’s Terror Trail Haunted Forest has its climax tonight and tomorrow near the race track.

Florida’s Department of Children and Families says that Florida’s application for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – the D-SNAP program – has been approved.

D-SNAP provides food assistance for those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton who are not receiving food assistance through the regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). D-SNAP will be implemented in phases beginning Monday – pre-registration is required at MyFLFamilies.com/DSNAP. Locations and times for in-person D-SNAP events are coming, but registration online is your first step.

Tomorrow is National Drug Takeback Day – local Police and Sheriff’s offices will safely dispose of any expired or unused drugs from around the house – please, don’t flush ‘em. Bring ‘em to the Lake Placid Police Department, Sebring Police Department or the Sheriff’s Offices between 10am and 2pm.