SEBRING — Two suspects were cooperating with Sebring police investigators Friday in its investigation into 13 burglaries in the downtown Sebring area. The two suspects, Lamar F. Wilcher Jr., 19, of Sebring, and James L. Gardner, 21, of Sebring, were riding around town Friday morning with Sebring police detectives helping to recover some of the stolen merchandise, said Sebring Police Cmdr. Steve Carr. The detectives have obtained confessions from both suspects and were in the process of obtaining arrest warrants, Carr said. ...more

February 2, 2008

SEBRING — Two suspects are cooperating with Sebring police investigators in an investigation into 13 burglaries in the downtown Sebring area. ...more

February 1, 2008

AVON PARK — The Avon Park City Council hired an attorney that will begin acting as the city's code enforcement magistrate by March. Avon Park Fire Department Chief Terry Feickert said that the code enforcement office already has 10 cases lined up for C. Parke Sutherland, a Bartow-based attorney who became the special magistrate. The new magistrate could dole out daily fines to people with dilapidated homes and other major offenders, an action the city previously couldn't do by taking offending property owners to court. "It just gives us a little more teeth," Feickert said. ...more

January 30, 2008

AVON PARK — The Avon Park City Council decided to form a seven-member committee to recommend a new police chief from the 61 applications the city received. In creating the committee, the council decided to fill the police chief's position before they found a new city manager, using the committee's recommendations to help interim City Manager Sarah Adelt pick out Frank Mercurio's successor. The city has not begun advertising for the city manager's position. ...more

January 16, 2008

SEBRING — Police released the names Tuesday of a Jahna Concrete employee who died Monday afternoon and a coworker who was shocked trying to save him when a cement pumping boom struck some power lines. ...more

January 15, 2008

AVON PARK — Police are looking for anyone with information on four men Thursday in connection with the robbery of a 27-year-old Avon Park man Saturday night behind the Village Lounge at 205 W. Main St. The victim was not a customer at the bar, but was cutting through the property to take a shortcut home when four men approached him and threatened him with a short bat. ...more

December 27, 2007

AVON PARK — The city's search for a new police chief could be put on hold if City Manager C.B. Shirey becomes the Avon Park Executive Airport's manager next month. Shirey said that the council would instead try to find his replacement before they fill the vacant police chief position. He had no estimate on how long this could take, saying it depends on how quickly the city begins advertising the open position. The Avon Park Police Department has had its police chief position vacant since late September, when then-Police Chief Frank Mercurio was forced to resign. Since then, Shirey received 60 applications for the position. APPD Cmdr. Michael Rowan, who has assumed Mercurio's old duties while the city was searching for a new chief, said he did not expect this delay to have any further impact on the department. ...more

December 21, 2007

SEBRING — A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $66,000 bail Monday after Sebring police say he was arrested while walking down Roseland Avenue with a sword and a large knife. ...more

December 18, 2007

AVON PARK — Traffic was snarled Monday evening approaching the downtown area after the railroad crossing closed along Main Street near the Depot Museum. Pleasant Street saw several more cars while Bell Street and Museum Avenue were congested at times with traffic going around the crossing. Avon Park Police Cmdr. Michael Rowan said delays should be expected through those two detours during the time school lets out. And when a freight train comes through, save the gas and turn off the car for a bit. ...more

December 5, 2007

For the third year in a row, Don Pearson has donned an elf's hat to collect toys for low-income children. ...more

November 28, 2007