Local News 5-26-25
It was Graduation weekend for area High Schools, and almost 900 new graduates from Sebring, Lake Placid and Avon Park are heading into the world for more school, or the job market. Alan Jay gave away cars #108, #109 and #110 to graduates in the group’s “Wheels For A’s” promotion at the close of each ceremony at the Wildstein Center at SFSC.
Sebring Fire Department members had a busy start to the Holiday Weekend … starting with a structure fire at the Southgate Publix Friday afternoon where an electrical panel was reportedly showing visible smoke. The store went to emergency backup power and the firefighters stood by until power company crews came and disconnected power from the box. The store remained open and business as usual continued. The fun continued Friday afternoon as Fire Crews along with County Rescue personnel had to pull a passenger and vehicle out of an orange grove at the intersection of the Sebring and Panther Parkways. No injuries there.
Graduation weekend in Lake Placid had a pall over it when word came of a 16-year old Lake Placid High student killed Thursday afternoon on Highway 98 east of Spring Lake, when a pickup truck driven by a Lake Placid man allegedly left its lane and hit the victim’s Civic. The teen was declared dead at the scene – the pickup driver was transported to an area hospital.
It IS Memorial Day, and that means government offices are closed, your bank is off, and there’s no mail. Trash pickup out in the County IS scheduled to continue on its usual schedule, so if Monday’s your trash day, get your cans to the curb.
The day is, as it’s said, is meant to honor Veterans who never were able to take the uniform off and gave their “all” in our nation’s conflicts. There are lots of opportunities to say thanks today – Lakeview Memorial Gardens has their annual Memorial Day program starting at 9am, with music, speakers, a seven folds flag ceremony and a cookout following the program.
The afternoon is busy, too … the Lake Placid Elks Lodge has a memorial at 1 p.m. with a meal for $10, and veterans eat free. The Avon Park American Legion Post has a 1 p.m. public ceremony with guest speakers and food. Sun ‘N Lake of Sebring begins its ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Island View Restaurant, and The Military Sea Services Museum has a program at 2 p.m. featuring County Commissioner Kevin Roberts. Please – take a moment to observe why you may have the day off today.