News Update for 12/6/24
Changes may be coming to the Sebring City Clerk Position. A proposed ordinance on amending the City Charter was presented by City Attorney Bob Swaine at Tuesday’s Council Meeting. The amendment proposed was to change the Sebring city clerk position from an elected to an appointed position. Under the current City Charter, the city clerk is an elected officer and must be a resident of the city and serve as the city‘s tax collector, chief elections officer and treasurer. The ordinance allows the city clerk to be an employee of the city and allows the City Council to establish duties. The City Council approved the second reading of the ordinance by unanimous vote and the issue will be brought before the electorate. If a majority of the electorate approves the amendment of the City Charter, the change to an appointed city clerk would become effective in 2026 when Current City Clerk, Kathy Haley’s term expires.
The Sebring Circle of Cans event is taking place today in downtown Sebring. Several collection locations will be set up around the circle where residents can bring canned goods or monetary donations for the Rotary Club of Sebring’s Annual Circle of Cans fundraiser. Collections are being taken from 7:00AM to 2:00pm. The annual project benefits the local Salvation Army and has helped serve people in Highlands County for over three decades. They are seeking donated items like non-perishable foods, canned, or dry food. Residents are urged to use caution in the area as temporary traffic delays may occur.
The family of a teenager who died on an amusement ride is getting hundreds of millions of dollars. A jury in Orange County yesterday awarded 310 million dollars to the parents of Tyre Sampson. The 14-year-old from Missouri died two years ago while on the FreeFall ride at ICON Park in Orlando. Sampson’s parents sued the Austrian company that manufactured the ride. Sampson was allowed to get on the ride even though he exceeded its weight limit. During the ride, Sampson slipped out from under the shoulder harness and fell 70 feet to the ground.
Sebring’s Annual Christmas Parade will be taking place tonight from 7:00pm-9:15pm. Several road closures, detours, and parking restrictions will be associated with the event, so please use caution in the area, plan travel accordingly, and expect extended delays. Starting at 5:30PM Northbound and Southbound lanes of Sebring Parkway will be closed from North Ridgewood Drive to Home Avenue. Starting at 6:45pm, road closures on North Ridgewood Drive, Circle Park Drive, North Commerce Avenue, West Center Avenue, East Center Avenue, South Ridgewood Drive, and South Commerce Avenue will occur as well. Road closures will be reopened by 9:30 p.m.
Remember our heroes this holiday season by taking part in The Annual Giving Tree program. The Giving Tree benefits local Veterans, by providing gifts for those in need through the Veteran Services of Highlands County. Take a tag, buy a gift, and return the tag and gift by December 14th. Tags with Veteran names can be obtained by stopping by Lake Placid Western Wear at 417 HWY 27 South in Lake Placid, from 9:00am-5:00pm Tuesday through Friday, or 9:00am-3:00pm on Saturday.
A doctor in Central Florida is accused of killing his wife. Dr. Thomas Wentzell was arrested yesterday morning at his home in Windermere. The 72-year-old allegedly shot his wife, Linda, to death Monday at their home. Police say yesterday’s arrest came after Dr. Wentzell called to confess to killing his wife, and he said he deserved to die. WPD officers went to Wentzell’s home and arrested him. They say during a police interview, he confessed again to killing his wife, and investigators say they also found a confession left on a voicemail to a loved one. Wentzell is charged with second-degree murder.
The layoffs at Boeing will include 141 workers from the aircraft company’s sites in Florida. Boeing notified the state of Florida about the layoffs that will take effect on January 17th of next year. The layoffs include 30 in Jacksonville. Other sites affected are along the Space Coast, Orlando, Miami, Pensacola, Panama City and St. Petersburg. The employees will receive severance pay and subsidized healthcare.