News Update for 11/3/22

The search for a new Highlands County administrator came under fire at this week’s county comission meeting. Resident Ray Royce, who also is the executive director of the Highlands County Citrus Grower’s association and a Lake Placid Town Councilman, took Strategic Government Resources to task for a percieved lack of effort in the process.
Royce said he saw little recruitment from the Texas-based firm, saying they simply were application takers. He also noted many of the applications were from the same people who had sought similar jobs across the country.
Commissioners hired SGR this past July to find a replacement for Randy Vossburg – who left for an administrator job in Virginia.

A “What’s Up Downtown” meeting was held this morning in Sebring by local tourism officials. The idea was to inform business owners and other about upcoming events in the City on the Circle and to dispense information regarding business recruitment.
Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Administration say Highlands is the beneficiary of a number of accidental tourists. There still are victims of Hurricane Ian spending time in local hotel and motel rooms.

Hardee Junior High and Hilltop Elementary in Wauchula were locked down for a time this morning. Hardee County Sheriff’s officials say suspicious activity at a bus stop spawned an investigation, that caused the lockdown.
Deputies did make an arrest but said there were no weapons found. The incident remains under investigation.

Lake Wales police are pursuing a cold case murder, to the extent of moving a house. Reportedly, information has surfaced that the body of Debbie Wilson had been buried under a house near the Florida Natural factory.
A preliminary search found bones, believed to be that of an animal. However, police want to move the residence for a more thorough search.
Wilson went missing in 1990, and is believed to have been killed by a boyfriend, who also now has passed away.