Local News 8-28-24

The Sebring Police Department says they’re investigating two hit-and-run incidents – one involving a County ambulance – Monday afternoon. The Fire Rescue unit was transporting a patient with lights and sirens on Highway 27 about 4:30 – a red Dodge pickup truck crossed into the ambulance’s lane and sideswiped the vehicle, then turned on Bayview toward Lakeview where the truck hit ANOTHER vehicle pulling into a home driveway. The Dodge again fled that scene. Police found the truck near Cowboy Way and State Road 17 north of town and with help from the Sherriff’s Department, found Ryan Batson, the registered owner of the truck a bit later. Batson was taken to the hospital with minor injuries; the ambulance crew, patient inside, and the other truck’s passengers were not injured.

The verdict in Virgil Lee West’s murder trial was – NO verdict – Monday night, when Judge Peter Estrada declared a mistrial. West was charged with murder in the 2015 shooting deaths of Shawn Zieger and Carrie Leaphart. The jury couldn’t agree whether the incident was first or second degree murder. The process for a re-trial begins within a week or so. West will be sentenced for two lesser charges in October.

A little excitement to start the week Monday at Hill-Gustat Middle School in Sebring. Fire rescue crews responded to a fire alarm there around 11am. It turned out to be a faulty air conditioner, but students and staff were evacuated to safety. After isolating the unit and starting repairs, all went back to normal, almost in time for lunch.

Lake Placid’s off-again-on-again new firehouse is back a little closer to the front burner after County Commissioner Chris Campbell has asked to put money aside in the next year’s budget for a new firehouse in or near the town. There HAD been money available, but land issues and design flaws pushed things back far enough where the money had to be spent somewhere, and it was reallocated earlier this year. The Commission has until September 17 to finalize a budget.