News Update for 8/25/23

As we head into the Hurricane Season in earnest, there seems to be some activity in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Currently, only one system could affect Florida. Simply labeled “Disturbance Number Three,” weather experts say it could move up through the Caribbean and hit western Florida by next week.
How much it could devlop and its effect on Highlands County has yet to be determined.
There’s an easy way to get prepared. Citizens can save on hurricane prep items starting tomorrow. The Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday will run for two weeks until September 8th.
Residents can stock up on items like portable generators, tarps, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, tax free.
A full list of eligible items is available at FloridaRevenue-dot-com.

Keglers can rejoice, for the first time in years, there will be a bowling alley in the area. Hardee County Chamber of Commerce officials will host a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for “Bowl of Fun Lanes” in Wauchula tomorrow.
The dozen lane center had been closed for about a year, but will reopen tomorrow as a full service facility, complete with snackbar.
A soft opening had to be put off, so this will be the first time bowlers will have an official chance to roll…

A temporary change that was a hit in Polk County during the pandemic now will become a way of life. The city of Winter Haven is making sidewalk cafes a permanent fixture downtown.
Twenty parking spots on Central Avenue will be replaced with tables and chairs. The project is expected to cost about a million dollars, and it should be done by Thanksgiving.
City officials say access to all businesses will be open for the entire project, and street closures will only be temporary during some phases of the project.