News Update for 11/2/22

Contract haulers have been working their way through Highlands County, picking up debris from Hurrican Ian. To date, the trucks have taken in nearly 216,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris.
Some 19,000 cubic yards have come out of Avon Park, with nearly 17,000 out of Sebring and 10,000 out of Lake Placid. The bulk has come from the unincorporated area where trucks have taken in almost 169,000 cubic yards.
Haulers say they’ve had problems with piles co-mingled with household and other debris. They also have had issues with bagged debris, and piles placed too close to mailboxes, powerlines and other obstructions.
They plan to have the first pass done in the next couple weeks, with one more pass to come.

The Sebring Regional Airport is in line for a $1.8 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Economic Development Administration money is going for stormwater drainage improvements at the airport’s Logistic Center.
The project is designed to increase and grow new business. Proponents say it will retain 345 current jobs, create more than 200 new jobs and generate as much as $36 million dollars in private investment.
The EDA grant is slated to be matched with nearly a half million dollars in local money.

A motorcyclist was injured last night in an accident on the south end of the county. The collision reportedly happened around 5:30 on County Road 621 near Lake Placid.
Florida Highway Patrol officials have released no names or other details on the incident.

Hardee County Sheriff’s Office reportedly are investigating Hardee Junior High School student, after he allegedly made verbal threats to “shoot up the school.”
Detectives say the youngster admitted to making the threats during a bus ride, because he and his brother have continually been bullied.
The student denied having access to firearms, and the parents confirmed there were no firearms in their home.
Hardee Sheriff Vent Crawford reminds students and parents to always take threats of violence seriously and report them to law enforcement.