Local News 11-19-24

It’s happening again – calls are being made around Highlands County from ne’r-do-wells posing as Highlands County Sheriff’s personnel demanding money to get you out of some terrible “spotr” you’re supposedly in. The cops want you to know – the police and sheriff’s departments around here do NOT call asking for money, and if you’re IN trouble, they figure giving you warning just gives you a head start so they don’t call ahead.

That recount in the Avon Park City Council election is over – no change in outcome after the November 5 election showed a photo-finish between third-place finisher Michelle Mercure and fourth-place Maria Sutherland. One ballot that had been counted for Sutherland was changed to an “undervote” after the Canvassing Board decided a stray mark has been machine counted in error. So, the election-night results stand with Brittney McGuire, Incumbent Berniece Taylor and Mercure the successful three candidates.

A reminder – In-person registration for D-SNAP food assistance runs through Wednesday at the Fairgrounds. Watch for traffic in the area for the next few days. The program provides assistance for those not already on the SNAP nutrition aid programs.

And FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center in Highlands County IS open today, 9am-7pm at the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center, south of Sebring on Highway 27.

Want to help keep the County on track, but don’t want to run for election? Highlands County has a bunch of openings on several advisory boards and committees, including on the Heartland Library Cooperative Governing Board and the Historic Preservation Commission. If you’d like to volunteer, visit highlandsfl.gov/citizen_committees to see a list of vacancies.

And lest you’d wondered, Sebring’s Christmas Carousel of Lights is back this year. Work began a week of so ago, and is on schedule to light the Circle Park up again beginning November 30th. Snow’s coming back Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays this year, and so’s Santa.