News Update for 1/4/24

Highlands County commissioners finally will be getting together for their first meeting of the new year today. Due to Monday’s celebration of the New Year, their regular Tuesday meeting was pushed back to Thursday morning.
Even so, there’s not much on the agenda, commissioners will look at extending certificates of operation for a couple local ambulance services and will be asked to approve grants for tens of thousands of dollars to Nu-Hope Elder Care and the Peace River Center.

The Ninth Annual Veterans Expo will begin its two-day run tomorrow at American Legion Post 69 in Avon Park. It will begin with the escort and placing of the Global War on Terrorism Wall. That will happen about noon. Those wanting to escort the wall need to be on site no later than 9am.
The Expo will run tomorrow and Saturday with veterans resources ranging from counselling and therapy to benefits and job opportunitites. Additionally there will be resources for spouses of veterans, children’s activities, live music and food vendors.

A traffic crash in Hardee County yesterday has had some unintended consequences. The afternoon crash tied up traffic on Highway 17 south of Zolfo Springs for several hours. But as vehicles used a detour on Fish Branch Road, a large truck became stuck on the bridge there.
Fish Branch now is closed until an inspection can be conducted on the wooden structure, and Hardee Road and Bridge confirms that it is safe for public transport.