In January 2008, the Sebring City Council denied the county engineer's proposal to close Eucalyptus Street to through traffic once the Sebring Parkway Phase II is finished for pedestrian safety. ...more

February 4, 2009

The citizens and taxpayers of Highlands County deserve to be fully informed about the proposed new Highlands County Sheriff's Office complex. Recent attempts to justify the building have been less than forthcoming about both the cost and justification. ...more

September 11, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Even a tornado can't keep a good jail down. Just 45 days after an EF-1 tornado tore through the central jail complex off Land O' Lakes Boulevard, the final touches were being made Thursday on the newly erected structure, replacing the one destroyed in the early morning hours of Dec. 16. ...more

February 2, 2008

Recent newspaper articles have referenced plans to expand the Highlands County Jail in downtown Sebring and build a new sheriff headquarters facility on George Boulevard behind the Agri-Civic Center south of Sebring. These are extraordinarily important and costly budget items. While these issues have been discussed in the newspaper, jail expansion is not in the 10-year capital improvement budget plan, according to county Engineer Ramon Gavarrete. ...more

January 31, 2008

We don't blame Sebring City Council members for being upset that they are having no say in plans for jail expansion. Considering that the county jail is located in Sebring, and any growth directly impacts the city and its residents, it's a legitimate issue. That said, there isn't a good answer on how best to proceed. ...more

January 23, 2008

SEBRING — Although funding will not be available for expansion of the Highlands County Jail in the next 10 years, a block of downtown Sebring could eventually by usurped by a detention facility. City Council members had their first look at the jail's plans for expansion at the Jan. 15 meeting during a discussion about the Sebring Parkway, but they had a hard time focusing on that topic and instead discussed the jail. The Board of County Commissioners has been handling the jail expansion process because administration of the sheriff's office is part of the county's responsibilities. City Council members said because the jail is in the heart of the downtown, they want to be involved in the process as well. "I think the city needs to be part of these discussions about the location and the expansion of the jail," said City Council member Jeff Carlson, who added that the jail is in the middle of the community redevelopment zone. ...more

January 22, 2008