News Update for 11/14/24
A brand-new fiber network that will span across Highlands County for the entire school district, is now in progress. Groundbreaking was held Monday at Sebring High School, with District Administrators, members of the WANRack tech company, and several students in attendance. WANRack, the company building the network, expects it to boost bandwidth, improve connectivity across the district, and help to streamline business processes. The network will include 40.6 miles of newly constructed fiber connecting 19 sites to the central hub at the District Office, offering a significant savings. WANRack touts’ accessibility to unlimited bandwidth, meaning the consumer will not need to pay more as bandwidth needs increase as more technology is added into classrooms. The project is expected to wrap up by July 1, 2026.
Highlands County Habitat for Humanity is breaking ground on a new home in the Mason’s Ridge development next week. Habitat has partnered with sponsors Heartland National Bank and the Estate of Anna Belle Eddy for the home. Volunteers from Heartland National Bank will help support the construction of the home along with other volunteers from the local community. Groundbreaking will commence at 8:00AM on Thursday, November 21st at 1412 Inspiration Drive in Sebring. The home is slated to be complete in June of 2025.
The deadline for Floridians to apply for a free roof repair program is today. The Operation Blue Roof Program is managed by FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to install a temporary fiber-reinforced sheeting over homes damaged by Hurricane Milton. The initiative has helped more than seven-thousand residents across more than two dozen counties statewide. The deadline to apply through Blue-Roof-dot-gov is just before midnight today.
Panhandle Congressman Matt Gaetz is joining the Trump administration. The First District Republican resigned his seat yesterday to become attorney general. Gaetz’s resignation is effective immediately. Governor Ron DeSantis will have to call a special election to fill Gaetz’s seat. House Speaker Mike Johnson says the seat could be filled as early as January 3rd.
Youth homelessness is on the minds of many in Central Florida. Officials from several Central Florida counties are meeting in Orlando at the Florida Conference on Ending Homelessness. The goal is to spread awareness of the issue and come up with solutions. Aja Hunter works at the Homeless Services Network. She says there are at least 12-hundred unaccompanied homeless youth in Florida. Hunter also says that homeless kids tell her they’re too scared to go into adult shelters, and they need housing options that are immediate.
The recent hurricanes may make it hard to find a popular Christmas decoration. Hurricanes Helene and Milton have hurt the local poinsettia crop this holiday season. Orban’s Nursery in Manatee County is one of those dealing with a poinsettia shortage. Tyler Orban says the loss is devastating. He estimates about 200-thousand plants were destroyed. Orban tells 10 Tampa Bay it’ll hurt, but they’re going to do their best to be back next year. In the meantime, Tyler’s brother, Remy, has started a GoFundMe page to help him recover. So far, over 200 people have donated over 23-thousand dollars.
New rides will soon go up at two Central Florida theme parks. Fun Spot America says it will relocate four of its rides to its attractions in Orlando and Kissimmee. Each park will get two new rides after they are moved from the company’s South Carolina location. Fun Spot Orlando, which is near International Drive, will get to install the Mach Fun tower ride, which is the tallest flying jet ride in North America. Season passholders will be one of the first to learn about when the rides will open.
Marco Rubio is ready to take on what he calls a tremendous responsibility. Senator Rubio released a statement yesterday after Donald Trump nominated him to be secretary of state. Rubio says he’s honored by the trust Trump placed in him, and he’ll work every day to carry out Trump’s foreign policy agenda. Rubio adds under Trump’s leadership, we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else.