AVON PARK — Authorities suspect arson destroyed a detached garage and car, which also was found with racial slurs spray-painted over them early Sunday morning. The state fire marshal is still investigating the fire near Avon Park Middle School and no suspects were listed, but Avon Park Fire Department Capt. Robert Border said the anti-Hispanic slurs and a Folk Nation gang sign spray-painted on the garage made it "highly suspicious." He couldn't recall the last time Avon Park had a racially motivated arson. "It's been a while since we had something this bad," he said. ...more

October 1, 2007

AVON PARK — A sour note Wednesday in the Avon Park Middle School Band Room had nothing to do with the student musicians who were moved out when dead rats were found in the ceiling. "There was a smell in the band room," Principal Dan Johnson said Wednesday. "We did move the kids out today [Wednesday] because we went up and found the nest or the rats and it was a pretty bad smell." No other students have been moved, he said. ...more

September 28, 2007