Newsw Update for 8/24/23

For decades, the Salvation Army has been handling probation and social services for Highlands County. That all will come to a close this November, when those duties will be handed back to the county.
By state statute, counties are required to provide those functions. Apparently, Highlands county officials say they no longer will contract it out, and will bring those duties under an existing department. Commissioners have allocated a quarter million dollars to take care of the start-up.
Staff members now are studying the program budget, number of cases, staffing and other resources needed – as well as where to house it.

The scam artists are at it again – this time in The Friendly City. Polk County Sheriff’s Officials – who provide law enforcement for the city of Frostproof – say they have received reports that people are out requesting donations for Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Elementary school.
They say that that neither of the Frostproof schools are soliciting funds at this time.

Officers of the Wauchula Police Department yesterday successfully relocated a gator from a bus stop at the Valencia Gardens Apartments.
The 3-to-4 foot gator reportedly was spotted and removed during a time that no children were present. He was returned to the wild without incident.

Lightning is blamed for killing three horses in Polk County. It happened near Lakeland at a ranch owned by District Five County Commissioner Neil Combee.
He says three of the horses were instantly killed, with a fourth suffering serious injury. Combee says people need to be aware just how dangerous lightning can be.