News for 1/10/23

It appears central Florida dodged the bullet as some heavy weather rumbled through the area last night. Law enforcement agencies in Highlands, Hardee and Polk counties have reported no incidents of wind or water damage.
There were several early closings yesterday including after school activities at the Highlands County schools and facilities in the city of Bartow. Everything should be up and running as usual today.
Meanwhile, Bay County is dealing with what the sheriff calls pretty catastrophic damage from the storm. Sheriff Tommy Ford assessed the damage across Bay County yesterday. He estimates about a hundred people are displaced. Governor Ron DeSantis says the Panhandle got hit with four tornadoes that touched down. The Department of Emergency Management estimates they may have been EF-Two tornadoes. No one was killed, but minor injuries were reported, and some homes had their roofs torn off. At one point, over 85-thousand people were without power.

New Florida disclosure laws for elected officials have claimed several city council members across the Sunshine State – and now it’s hit home. Lake Placid Town Councilman Gregg Sapp tendered his resignaton from that board, effective this past New Year’s Eve. Form 6 requires elected officials to reveal any and all assetts they have in excess of $1,000 – a mandate some have felt to be too intrusive.
Officials in Orange City, Daytona Beach Shores and North Palm Beach and Eagle Lake city councils have vacated their seats due to the measure.

The heartland American-Isralei Initiative will have a very special guest this morning as nationally known speaker Laurie Cardoza Moore comes to their first meeting of 2024. Moore is an expert on Israel and is expected to address the current situation in the middle east, as well as talking about what students are learning about world events and other topics.
That session will commence at 11:45 this morning at the Inn on the Lakes in Sebring.

The 2024 12 Hours of Sebring won’t be here until March, but officials say Fan of the year Nominations for this year now are open.
Every year the Sebring Fan of The Year Advisory Board chooses one person as the “Sebring Fan of the Year”. To nominate yourself or a friend, be sure to include:

• nominee’s full name
• hometown
• years of attendance
• pictures
• and why he or she should be nominated.
Deadline for nominations is Saturday, January 27, 2024. Nominations should be emailed to: 12hrFOTYAB@gmail.com