Over the weekend, City Pier Beach was struck by thieves who made off with 14 signs, warning beach-goers that swimming was not allowed. ...more

October 28, 2008

Unless another tropical storm visits Highlands County, City Pier Beach may remain closed for the rest of the summer. ...more

September 13, 2008

SEBRING — They didn't vote on whether to fill the dredge hole in Lake Jackson, and they didn't table the matter. Instead, the council simply didn't act. Bobby Clark, 23, drowned June 11 in the hole, which was probably created in the 1960s to fill a park area behind the Civic Center park, then-City Manager Bob Hoffman told the council. Fire Chief Brad Batz said Clark crossed the football field sized hole just a few yards off Pier Beach several times that day, but got a cramp during his last swim. After Clark died, the city councilors asked what they should do. ...more

July 2, 2008

SEBRING — When Bobby Clark, 23, drowned at 3 p.m. Saturday, he stepped from shallow water into a 12-foot deep dredge hole, diver Preston Colby told city, county and state officials in a meeting Tuesday morning at city hall. Fire Chief Brad Batz, who was asked to investigate the Lake Jackson incident, said the hole used to be in a no-swim zone several hundred feet from City Pier Beach. The lake has lost so much water from two years of drought, however, the hole is now a few dozen feet from the beach. The hole was probably dredged in the 1960s to fill a park area behind the Civic Center park, City Manager Bob Hoffman said. "I think it's a man-made hole." Batz said Clark knew the hole existed. ...more

June 10, 2008