News Update 1/11/23

It appears the City of Charm has an invasion of the homeless. The issue came up at the Avon Park city council meeting with City Manager Mark Schrader revealing the issue. Code enforcement officer Randy Labelle said enforcing ordinances on the matter with property owners has been a long and cumbersome process – with people living in cars, tents, and even camping out at the famous Gazebo on the mall.
After repeated requests, Mayor Garrett Anderson assigned City Councilwoman Bernice Taylor with the task of compiling a list of public and private sector organizations who could provide assistance to the people.

Highlands County Superintendent of Schools Brenda Longshore is coming under fire after last night’s school board meeting. Some parents reportedly are unhappy on her stance which reportedly called for the elimination of corporal punishment from the student code of conduct for this year.
Longshore also was criticized for her apparent lack of knowledge over the number of teacher vacancies in the Highlands school system. Some estimates range in excess of 70 openings for educators locally.
It also remains unclear if or when a superintendent-appointed citizens committee might be re-convened to talk about a sex education curriculum in the schools.

You may see cars on trailers headed out to the Sebring International Raceway. Registration, tech inspection and open practice in all divisions begins tomorrow for the Hoosier Racing Tire/SCCA Super Tour Winter Vacation event at SIR.
It’s the first of 15 scheduled spectator events at the track, which range from historic cars to the world famous 12 Hours of Sebring coming this March.

If you want to learn more about the Highlands Art League, they will host a “Coffee and Donuts” event at The Clovelly House this morning starting at 9 – that’s the blue house with the red trim on Lakeview Drive near the library in downtown Sebring.
The event will feature the The Clovally House and tours of The Weigle House Museum next door.