An Okeechobee teen lost his life in a motorcycle crash in Sebring, police said Monday.
Chief Karl Hoglund said the crash occurred Oct 1 at the intersection of US 27 and Sparta Road.
The initial report showed a 77-year-old female was north bound on US 27 when she attempted to make a left turn in front of the south bound motorcycle.
The 18-year-old man died at the scene.
The investigation was ongoing.
The Okeechobee Tourist Development Council approved a payment of $100,000 over two years to provide a special Christmas lights show in downtown Okeechobee.
There will also be funds coming from the city of Okeechobee and from private donations.
The TDC predicts it will be a draw for visitors to Okeechobee during the holiday season.
Frank Irby said the group thinks it will have a huge impact on drawing people to Okeechobee.
“We will do a great deal of advertising to draw people from outside the county.”
Irby said it will be similar to what St. Augustine and some other communities do for Christmas.
“I’m sure you’ve seen ads for St. Augustine for their lighting of the downtown area which is a huge draw to St. Augustine for the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.”
There was some discussion on whether this will bring overnight guests to Okeechobee. Revenue from hotels and motels fund the tourist development council activities.
TDC Director Denise Whitehead was all for the investment.
“The lights that they are proposing are grand. They are Instagram worthy. They are something that will definitely draw people to the community.”
Okeechobee County agreed to support the effort to get more state funding for the transportation disadvantaged program from the state of Florida.
The state allocation determines how much the program receives in federal dollars as well.
Highlands County also has supported additional funding. They note they have a lot of elderly residents who don’t have transportation. The program helps get them to doctors appointments, pharmacy visits, and to grocery stores.
Osceola County lawmen put out some words of caution after the report of a man exposing himself to a child near a school bus stop in September.
Community Service Officer Lizette Burgos urged the community to report this type of activity immediately to law enforcement.
She said parents should take precautions if their child takes the school bus.
Glades County Commissioners approved a bid with Ajax Construction to resurface and improve sections of Lake Drive in Buckhead Ridge.
The contract totals $160,160.
A verbal argument between roommates over pets, utilities and paperwork resulted in an arrest on Friday.
Okeechobee County Sheriff Deputies said Eric Dimbath is accused of taking a handgun out of a bag, and putting it down on a small table with the gun barrel facing the victim.
Dimbath allegedly said if you threaten me, I will kill you.
He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman released a statement of concern about a growing number of verbal threats about bringing guns to schools and an increase in the number of threats of violence at school.
He noted a threat to a school is a felony charge in Florida and the sentences can range of up to 15 years behind bars.
Lt. Kim Gunn said these comments are never considered a joke.
“It is not okay, it is a crime. Do you want to one day graduate or do you want to be sitting in the Highlands County jail?”