News Update for 1/5/23

Highlands County Commissioners met in regular session this morning. There, they had a robust discussion about county maintained and non-county maintained roads, and how conditions on some are so bad that safety and other services will not go down those thoroughfares to customers.
County Attorney Sherry Sutphon called for those who purchase properties to have an affidavit that indicates they know the status of the roads which front their properties.

A couple of teenagers were hurt in apparent gang violence near Lake Wales.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says his office is investigating the drive-by shootings that occurred about 15 minutes apart.
In the first, nearly 60 shots were fired, with about half of them hitting a house in Highland Park Manor. A 19-year-old woman was hit, but she’s expected to survive.
Judd says he believes gang members were targeting her boyfriend.
In the second shooting, 14-year-old and 12-year-old girls were hit by gunfire at a Lake Pierce Ranchettes residence. Judd believes the shooter there had the wrong house.
There’s no word on if the incidents are connected.