News Update for 12/11/24
A Monday night crash at Afton Road and US 98 has left one motorcyclist dead and another with serious injuries. Florida Highway Patrol preliminary reports state that at about 10:39PM a 73-year-old Sebring man driving a pick-up truck, was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Afton and US 98. He proceeded to pull out into the path of a 60-year-old Sebring man riding a motorcycle east on US 98, that was carrying a female passenger. The collision caused both passengers of the motorcycle to be thrown off the bike. The driver and passenger of the motorcycle sustained extensive injuries, despite both wearing helmets and were transported to a local hospital for care. The driver of the motorcycle was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Reports show that the pickup driver did not sustain any injuries.
State funding aimed at supporting critical infrastructure projects has recently been awarded to The Sebring Airport Authority. The Authority was awarded a total of $600,000 in two allocations in order to reconstruct two roads in its Logistics Park. The allocations were part of $20 million dollars of awards through a program supporting small county governments and rural municipalities through the Rural Infrastructure Fund. The goal?- to strengthen rural economies. One allocation will go towards improvements to Carroll Shelby Drive which is the primary road in the Logistics Park at Sebring Regional Airport. The other allocation will go towards drainage enhancements and the resurfacing of Webster Turn Road.
A Lakeland man is facing charges related to the sexual battery of a minor. Twenty-five-year-old Stephon Chad Fulse Junior was arrested Monday. On two separate occasions, between November 25th and December 1st and December 6th and 8th, Fulse and the victim were allegedly staying in the same home in Winter Haven. According to reports, Fulse admitted to the victim’s father that he had sex with the child and knew she was 14-years-old.
A fugitive from New Jersey is behind bars at the Polk County Jail. A trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol spotted the suspect’s truck yesterday after getting an alert from the Tampa Bay Regional Communications Center. He pulled the truck over and arrested the driver, Edwin G Facenda Suriel, who was wanted in New Jersey for homicide and attempted homicide.
The trials of three Jan. 6 defendants from Polk County have been pushed back to February. Siblings Jonathan Pollock and Olivia Pollock of North Lakeland and their friend, Joseph Hutchinson III, had been scheduled for trials to begin in late January. In an order issued Friday, Circuit Judge Carl J. Nichols of the District of Columbia set their trials to begin Feb. 17. All three face multiple felony charges related to their alleged participation in the U.S. Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021. All three became fugitives before FBI agents captured them all at a ranch in Lake County on Jan. 6 2024. They are being held in a jail in Washington, D.C., while awaiting their trials. Nichols directed the prosecution and defense to file any additional motions by Dec. 27. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Feb. 10.
Legoland is saying goodbye to its iconic water ski show. The world-class water skiers will perform for the last time at Legoland on December 30th. A spokesperson for Legoland tells ABC Action News that it wasn’t an easy decision to end the beloved water ski show; however, they’re looking forward to make way for a new Sea Life Aquarium in the spring.
A new report says recent hurricanes may have increased the spread of invasive wildlife. The U.S. Geological Survey made the statement earlier today, saying floodwaters from Helene and Milton may have moved intrusive animals and plants to new areas of Florida and Georgia. Officials believe the relocation of non-native species will likely impact agricultural production, harm the environment, or pose a risk to human health. The agency created a map showing more than two-hundred species could have relocated due to the storms.
A legal battle over a Florida law placing restrictions on social media platforms is going to last a little longer than expected. A federal judge says the trial to discuss the constitutionality of the 2021 legislation will take place in January of 2026, which is about two months later than originally planned. Several tech industry groups, including NetChoice, are challenging the measure, which prevents platforms from banning political candidates from their sites. The law was initially approved after President-elect Donald Trump was kicked off Facebook and X after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.