Banner News Service

09/18/2026

Avon Park Main Street held their inaugural awards gala and celebration of the 100th birthday of The City of Charm Thursday evening.
Opening ceremonies included an invocation by Avon Park City Councilwoman Brittany McGuire, a welcome by Vice Mayor Jim Barnard, and Avon Park Mayor Garrett Anderson led the crowd of more than a hundred in the Pledge of allegiance.
Main Street Executive Director Jane Benham served as master of ceremonies, by first giving a history of the local Main Street organization. She noted that in this latest inception of the organiation they had staged some 45 different events in the course of their first year in existence.
That included the Movies on Main series, the Hometown Hangouts, The Golden Girls Centennial Pageant, The High School Senior Walk on Main Street, and help with holiday decor and the purchase of the permanent Avon Park Christmas tree among other things. Main Street also staged a fundraiser to help a local business that had been burgled and vandalized, put banners on the lightposts down Main Street, sponsored a mural on the main thoroughfare, led several downtown walks - including the most recent Garden Stroll down the center of the Main Street Mall.
They also held a regional Main Street conference at the historic Jacaranda Hotel, and spearheaded an effort to put bicycle racks along the sidewalk to encourage two-wheeled traffic.
"We even rescued a couple of kittens and got them adopted out to a good home," she said.
Main Street also staged a Pickelball Tournament fundraiser at the new Twin Lakes at Avon Park community, which in turn, led to the Awards Gala being held at their spacious new clubhouse facility.
The evening was filled with awards. Picking up the Long's Legacy Award for Lasting Impact to the Community was former Avon Park City Councilwoman Justine Devlin. She served as the very first Avon Park Main Street executive director when the program first was instituted in August of 1988.
She received the first of the night's standing ovations.
"It's all about community spirit," she said.
Other winners were Avon Park High School educator Cynthia Barrett who took home the Sevigny Vision Award, Avon Park Baseball, Inc. grabbed the Haynes Hometown Service Award, Friends of the Avon Park Library took the Supporter of the Year Award while Michael Batterbee was tapped as "Committee Member of the Year."
Investor of the Year for 2026 was Daniel Sauls. He is the realtor who purchased the Brickell Building from the city of Avon Park and began developing it. The two story structure had sat vacant for decades, and survived an unsuccessful attempt by the city to renovate an rent it. The current development now has the building with a full compliment of tenants and is credited by many for the economic renaissance now under way in The City of Charm.
"When we took it over in 2022 there was nothing, no traffic, nothing. Now look at the downtown area," he said.
Ironically, one of his tenants, The Avon Park Pour House, was selected as "Preservation Project of the Year." The modern pub featuring beers, wines and ciders selected and dispensed by through 43 taps - guided by an advanced computer system, has spent no small amount of time and effort preserving and matching the Brickel's historic tiles and structure.
Owner Jeremy Carter credited his wife for the major part of the work. He also encouraged the crowd to come by his business and sample his wares.
"We have more than just alcohol, and the food's pretty good too," he said.
Picking up the inaugural "Resiliency Award" was Avon Park Mayor Garrett Anderson. A fourth generation resident of the city, Anderson noted that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had worked before him to help build the city and "leave it better than they found it."
Thanking God, and his wife Katie, he noted that the city had given him an opportunity to build a business from the ground up. He has taken it from a small operation to a company that now has national and international dealings.
Anderson turned his attention to the Main Street, calling it the "civic heart of the City of Charm." He said Main Street was designed as a place where people can meet, shop, and belong. When Avon Park Main Street was restored, this community did not wait for permission or instruction. People organized, hosted, and invited neighbors back downtown.
Recognition followed work - not the other way around.
He ended his remarks by saying, "If we the people come together - not in bitterness, not in factions, but in a common purpose - Avon Park can become greater than it has ever been. Greater in dignity, greater in opportunity, and greater in the kind of pride that does not shout - but shows.
The evening began with entertainment poolside behind the Twin Lakes at Avon Park clubhouse, with performers from The Circus Arts Place. The aerial acrobatics using a hoop and silks was rather a tribute to the Avon Park High School Circus. During the mid-1950s, Avon Park High offered courses in aerial acrobatics and other circus arts.
Attendees dined on fare provided by Avon Park's Juniper which provides casual dining services alongside private catering options for local events, gatherings and community functions. Sheila's Pub handled the bar services.
Rounding out the evening was a fundraising raffle, where hundreds of dollars of prizes were handed out to lucky ticket holders.
After receiving a special plaque noting her tireless service and ingenuity, plus a bouquet of roses from the Avon Park Main Street Board, Executive Director Jane Benham noted that the first 100 years of Avon Park had been very notable, and the next century will be even more productive.

09/16/2026

Sebring’s First Flite Released

Mario Andretti headlines a list of 75 drivers selected to the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring all-time greatest driver list, which will be released in groups of 15 drivers now through January.

The list of the most successful drivers in the history of the grueling Sebring race was debated and voted on by a 10-person panel of sports car racing experts, and the number of drivers selected coincides with the 75th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 20, 2027. The first 12-hour race at Sebring International Raceway was March 15, 1952. Since then, only once has the race not been held – in 1974 due to the worldwide energy crisis.

The 75 selected drivers have been divided evenly into randomly drawn lists of 15. The first 15 drivers announced from the list of 75 are:

Bob Akin
Mario Andretti
Joao Barbosa
Geoff Brabham
Derek Daly
Phil Hill
Bruce Jennings
Sascha Maassen
John Morton
Jim Pace
Hans Stuck
Nick Tandy
Richard Thompson
Fermin Velez
Andy Wallace

Bob Akin – Bob Akin made 10 starts in the 12 Hours of Sebring between 1978 and 1987. The native New Yorker started all 10 of those Sebring events in a Porsche, twice winning overall – his first in 1979 with co-drivers Rob McFarlin and Roy Woods, and the second in 1986 alongside Hans Stuck and Jo Gartner. It was during this second win that Akin, Stuck and Gartner set a record winning average speed at Sebring that stood for 23 years.

Mario Andretti – Mario Andretti made the most of his six starts in the 12 Hours of Sebring by winning three overall titles and scoring a class victory in a fourth start. His overall wins came in 1967, 1970 and 1972, with his 1970 title in the famed No. 21 Ferrari 512S, considered by many to be the most famous Sebring race in history. Though he started the race from pole in the No. 19 team car, late in the race Andretti retired the car with gearbox issues. Later, the Ferrari team made the difficult decision to replace Ignazio Giunti with Andretti for the final sprint to the finish, and while many dramatics followed, essentially Andretti passed and edged Peter Revson by 23.8 seconds for victory, which at the time the closest margin of victory in the history of the race.

Joao Barbosa – Portuguese driver Joao Barbosa ran his first of 14 races at Sebring in 2000, scoring his first class victory in the 2012 combined race with the World Endurance Championship (WEC) where he was in the first P2 car with Scott Tucker and Christophe Bouchut to cross the finish line in an ALMS entered car – fourth overall. He won the overall 12-Hour title in 2015 in the No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP with Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien Bourdais, where the team finished as the only car on the lead lap and led 248 of the 340 laps of the race. It was seven years later in 2022 that Barbosa would again find the top step on the podium by winning an LMP3 title with Sean Creech Motorsport in a tight battle with two LMP3 entries finishing on the lead lap after nearly 1,238 miles of competition.

Geoff Brabham – In a span of four years – 1989-1992 – Australian Geoff Brabham made four starts in a Nissan GTP car and took overall victories twice – 1989 and 1991. In 1989 he was paired with Chip Robinson and Arie Luyendyk, and it was Brabham who put the Nissan on pole and led the first 69 laps of the race. His victory in 1991 was with Derek Daly and his brother Gary Brabham. Although he is synonymous with the No. 83 car, his second-place overall finish in 1990 came in the No. 84 Nissan with co-drivers Chip Robinson and Derek Daly, while the No. 83 Nissan took overall honors. His only other Sebring start also resulted in a second-place finish in 1992.

Derek Daly – Ireland’s Derek Daly may own the strongest winning percentage of any driver with multiple starts in the history of the 12 Hours of Sebring. Having won two of three starts in the race and claiming an overall second-place finish in the third, Daly’s average finish at Sebring of 1.33 will be hard to surpass. His first win came in his first attempt in 1990, driving with Bob Earl in the No. 83 Nissan GTP. That same year he spent time in the No. 84 team car and was also credited with a runner up finish. He won again the following year with Geoff Brabham and Gary Brabham again in the No. 83 Nissan NPT-90 and in 1992 finished second overall to the No. 99 Toyota Eagle Mk III driver by Juan Fangio II and Andy Wallace.

Phil Hill – The great Phil Hill, born in nearby Miami, Florida and raised in California, experienced the early years of the 12 Hours of Sebring, racing 13 times from 1953 through 1966. He captured overall titles in 1958, 1959 and 1961, and class victories in 1955, 1962 and 1963. All those accomplishments came in Ferraris except in 1963 when he joined Lew Spencer and Ken Miles in a Shelby Cobra to win the GTO class. While Hill’s place on this list is due to his accomplishments at Sebring alone, he also was the first driver in history to complete the Triple Crown of Endurance Racing by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Bruce Jennings – Bruce Jennings was an 18-time competitor in the 12 Hours of Sebring, winning one time in class – 1962. What he lacked in overall wins, he made up for in determination, being arguably one of the most competitive and successful privateer racers for much of his career. Jennings’ first-ever race at Sebring in 1962 resulted in a class victory and third-place overall finish. Although he would not win overall or take a class victory again in 18 total starts, he was no stranger to victory lane, claiming five additional podium finishes at Sebring. His last race at Sebring was 1981.

Sascha Maassen – Sascha Maassen won five times in the 12 Hours of Sebring, including an incredible four consecutive years from 2001-2004 while driving for Alex Job Racing. His final Sebring victory came in 2010. While still in a Porsche, this victory came in the LMP2 driving for Muscle Milk Team Cytosport.

Along the way, he also won pole twice at Sebring during his streak of victories for Alex Job Racing. Each of his 13 races at Sebring were in Porsches, including three with Penske, two with Paul Miller and his final start with Competition Motorsports.

John Morton – What John Morton lacked in total wins at Sebring he made of for in tenacity. His loan overall victory at the legendary circuit came 30 years after his debut as a teammate to none other than Ken Miles. In 1964 Miles vouched for the unlicensed Morton as a co-driver in the No. 1 Shelby American Corp. Cobra (the duo failed to finish the race and retired after 81 laps), and in 1994 he partnered with the world-class team of Johnny O’Connell and Steve Millen to take the overall victory in the No. 75 Nissan 300 ZX. The three drivers partnered together multiple times at Sebring and won class victories in 1993 and 1995.

Jim Pace – Jim Pace was a regular visitor to victory lane throughout the 1990s at Sebring International Raceway. His first trip came with a class victory – and seventh place overall finish – in the 1991 12 Hours of Sebring driving the Miller Genuine Draft Buick Kudzu with Charles Morgan. Three additional podium finishes came in 1994, 1995 and 1997. But the highlight of his Sebring career was undoubtedly his 1996 pairing with Wayne Taylor and Eric Van de Poele in the No. 4 Riley & Scott Oldsmobile Mk III for Doyle Racing that the trio carried to an overall victory.

Hans Stuck – Hans Stuck is a three-time winner at the legendary Sebring circuit, with his first win coming in 1975 driving for the factory BMW team, the first win in the United States for the celebrated German manufacturer. His second Sebring win came in 1986, driving the famed Coke Porsche 962 with Bob Akin and Jo Gartner, and his third and final overall win came in 1988 in the Bayside Porsche 962 with Klaus Ludwig. Often referred to as the “Rainmaster” for his ability to race on wet tracks, he put that skill to the test in the 1993 Sebring 12 Hours recording a class win driving a Porsche in a heavy rain. His second class victory came in 1996 – giving him a total of five total Sebring victories (three overall and two class) – at America’s oldest endurance race.

Nick Tandy – For much of his career it seemed Nick Tandy was content with winning races and GT titles in a factory Porsche. In fact, the Englishman did just that somewhat regularly from his first race in 2014, winning class titles with the Porsche GT Team in a Porsche 911 RSR in 2018, 2019 and 2020. In 2023 he joined the Porsche Penske team in the brand new Porsche 963 prototype which gave him an opportunity to finally add an overall victory to his list of amazing driving accomplishments. That achievement was finally realized in 2025 as the long-time Porsche factory driver teamed with Felipe Nasr and Laurens Vanthoor to edge their Penske team car by just 2.2 seconds to take the overall win. Tandy now has one overall victory, three class wins and five podium finishes in 12 starts at Sebring.

Richard Thompson – Richard Thompson was nicknamed the “Flying Dentist,” given his profession as a dentist and his passion for auto racing. His first race was the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1952. What may have been a spur-of-the-moment decision, he drove his 1950 MG-TD from his Washington D.C. home to Sebring, finished eighth in the race, and then drove the car home. He entered the 12 Hours 14 times, driving in a wide variety of car manufacturers including Corvette, Maserati, Ferrari, MG, Shelby Cobra, Ford GT and others. He also drove for legendary car owners including Briggs Cunningham and Roger Penske. His best overall finish was in his first attempt – eighth – and he won his class twice – 1952 and 1957.

Fermin Velez – Spaniard Fermin Velez made only six appearances at Sebring, winning overall titles twice in a Ferrari 333SP, the first in 1995 teaming with Andy Evans and Eric Van de Poele, and the second time the following year, again driving for Team Scandia in the Ferrari 333SP with Andy Evans, but this time joined by Yannick Delmas and Stefan Johansson. His final start at Sebring was two years later with Team Scandia, driving with Van de Poele and Wayne Taylor, but the group could only manage a second-place finish in the top class, and a sixth-place finish overall.

Andy Wallace – Englishman Andy Wallace didn’t win every 12 Hours of Sebring he entered, but he normally wasn’t far down the running order in any of the 19 events in which he competed. In fact, almost more impressive than his two overall victories and two additional class wins was the fact he was only outside the top 10 finishing order in four of his starts. Teaming with Juan Fangio II, Wallace won overall in 1992 and 1993 driving the Toyota Eagle Mk III both years. His first class victory came in 1994, where the Chevrolet Spice SC89 team of Wallace, Derek Bell and James Weaver finished second overall. His other class win followed four years later, which was again a second-place overall finish, driving the Ford Panoz GTR-1 with David Brabham.

The Next 15

The second 15 drivers on the 75th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring “Class of 75” list will be released on October 13. The third 15 will be announced on November 10, the fourth 15 on December 15 and the final 15 on January 12.

Tickets

All tickets, hospitality, car corral parking and reserved RV parking locations are in a renewal period through September 16. You can add your name to waiting lists for fan hospitality locations, car corrals and trackside RV parking at www.SebringRaceway.com. All General Admission tickets and parking passes will be on sale beginning October 1, and at that time, car corral and reserved RV parking locations will be assigned to those on waiting lists in the order they were added. Beginning October 1, Highlands County Resident tickets will be on sale with proof of residency, and they must be purchased in person at the raceway ticket office. Student and Military tickets must be purchased at the ticket office during race week.

About Sebring International Raceway

Sebring International Raceway is North America’s oldest permanent road racing facility, established in 1950. The circuit originated from a WWII B-17 and B-24 bomber combat crew training base known as Hendricks Field. Nestled among the orange groves and cattle ranches of Central Florida, Sebring International Raceway has hosted the legendary 12-hour endurance classic since 1952 (Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring), part of the prestigious IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Sebring was the site of the first Formula 1 race in the United States (1959) and in 2012 hosted the inaugural race of the FIA WEC, which returned in 2019 to run the day before the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Sebring is also known as one of the most versatile testing facilities in the motorsports industry, offering a variety of circuit configurations for club and corporate events, private testing and racing schools.

Copyright 2026 Sebring International Raceway. All rights reserved.SebringRaceway.com is part of the NASCAR Digital Media Network.

09/16/2026

Lakeland Fatal

A hit-and-run crash in Lakeland left a 56-year-old bicyclist dead Sunday night, leading to the arrest of an Orlando man on multiple felony charges, authorities said.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit is currently investigating the incident, which occurred around 9:10 p.m. at the intersection of Sunshine Avenue and Reynolds Road.
According to investigators and witness accounts, a Ford F-150 driven by Mario Matias, 60, was traveling northbound on Reynolds Road. A 56-year-old man was also traveling northbound nearby on his bicycle, which was equipped with lights. For reasons currently unknown, the pickup truck struck the rear left wheel of the bicycle, ejecting the cyclist onto the shoulder of the road.
First responders performed lifesaving measures at the scene before transporting the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased upon arrival. The identity of the victim has not yet been released.
The driver fled the scene prior to the arrival of emergency personnel. A witness observed Matias pull over approximately one mile away, exit his truck to inspect the extensive front-end damage, and then get back inside to drive away.
Information provided by the witness enabled deputies to locate and stop the vehicle shortly after.
During a sworn interview with law enforcement, Matias admitted he knew he had hit something and fled the scene. He stated that had patrol deputies not intercepted him, he intended to drive home to Orlando without reporting the collision.
Investigators found no initial signs of impairment. However, deputies located a small baggie containing co***ne and fentanyl in Matias' pocket during his arrest. Authorities also noted that while Matias is a legal immigrant, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer has been placed on him due to the nature of the charges.
Matias was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, possession of co***ne, and possession of fentanyl.
“Leaving the scene after a crash that takes a life is a terrible decision," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "We’re proud of the witness who saw what happened and immediately told our deputies. Remember, if you see something, say something."
The crash remains under investigation.

09/15/2026

ATTENTION!

Hey neighbors. Do you spend time streaming military documentaries? Do you read books or magazines on World War II, the Cold War and our conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran?
If you do any of these things you will fit right in with the members and docents of the Military Sea Services Museum in Sebring.
Within their facility, you will find more than 3,000 books and visual media on all things military. The four thousand square foot air conditioned museum holds and displays literally thousands of artifacts, photographs and paintings depicting America's military history.
Guided museum tours are provided four days a week by volunteer docents sharing the experiences of individual veterans from our community who have served and sacrificed for America on far flung battlefields and oceans around the world.
If you might want to join the docent team, please contact the museum people at 863-385-0992 and leave a message or email them at [email protected], or even better yet, drop by the museum any Wednesday through Saturday between noon and 4 p.m. and speak with their knowledgeable staff at 1402 Roseland Avenue.
New members are welcome and in-depth training will be provided. You don't have to be a veteran, just someone who enjoys history and shares a love for our great country. After all, The Military Sea Services Museum is, “Where history comes alive!"

09/15/2026

Get your 2-A Tax Savings Now

Florida’s Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday is back for a second year, suspending sales taxes through Dec. 31 on eligible fi****ms, ammunition, and a range of hunting, fishing, and camping supplies.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted the details Monday during an appearance in Lakeland, where he also broke ground on a new state-funded archery center.
The tax exemption, officially titled the Hunting, Fishing, and Camping Sales Tax Holiday, began Sept. 1. The Governor’s Office estimates it will provide roughly $40 million in tax relief this year. Combined with the inaugural 2025 holiday—which state officials estimate generated around $45 million in savings—the program is projected to provide nearly $85 million in consumer savings over its first two years.
Tax-free purchases include ammunition, pistols, rifles, shotguns, and firearm accessories like holsters, grips, sights, stocks, and cleaning kits. Bows, crossbows, fishing rods, reels, and select camping supplies—including tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, and lanterns—are also tax-exempt.
The 2026 tax holiday doubles the eligible price threshold for fishing bait and tackle compared to last year. Individual items priced at $10 or less qualify, as do multiple items packaged together for $20 or less.
The Governor’s Office also noted that the sales tax exemption was expanded this year to cover additional firearm accessories, including magazines, range bags, barrels, triggers, slings, bipods, and suppressors.
“This year’s hunting, fishing and camping sales tax holiday—ongoing through December 31—will provide Floridians with even more tax relief,” DeSantis said. “We are proud to protect Floridians’ Second Amendment rights while helping hunters, anglers, and sportsmen keep more of their hard-earned money.”
George Warthen, chief conservation officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, added that the tax break gives residents a practical reason to gear up.
“Thanks to Governor DeSantis and the Legislature, this is an opportunity to invest in equipment that helps connect people with Florida’s great outdoors,” Warthen said.
DeSantis paired the tax announcement with a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Florida Archery Center at Tenoroc. Authorized in this year’s state budget, the project aims to expand the range offerings at the Tenoroc Public Use Area, which currently includes supervised rifle and handgun ranges, sporting clays, 5-stand, trap, air rifle, and archery facilities.
State officials expect the expanded complex to bolster regional shooting sports and host larger archery events. Specific construction costs and estimated completion dates were not disclosed during the announcement.

09/14/2026

Shirley Johnson voted in to fill the Avon Park city council seat vacated by Michelle “Shelly” Mercure…developing..

09/14/2026

Citrus taking huge hits

Polk and Highlands counties currently average around 36,100 acres of commercial citrus each, with Polk leading the state at 37,529 acres despite losing 10,944 acres in a single year, followed closely by Highlands at 34,671.
Twenty years ago, Polk alone boasted more than 86,000 acres—a stark reminder of how rapidly Florida's groves are vanishing.
Heading into the 2026–2027 growing season, a new federal inventory reveals Florida has just 165,359 acres of commercial citrus across 23 counties, marking a steep 21% drop in just one year. For context, growers worked 621,373 acres two decades ago and 480,121 as recently as 2016. Of the acreage remaining statewide, oranges account for 143,650 acres, grapefruit makes up nearly 11,500, and specialty fruit accounts for just over 10,000.
These staggering losses stem from a combination of hurricanes, winter freezes, citrus greening disease, shifting consumer habits, and rampant real estate development. In response, Florida's current state budget allocates $160 million for citrus research and field trials, $20 million for equipment grants, and $15 million for marketing.

09/09/2026

Highlands Fatal

A 64-year-old Sebring woman was killed Tuesday night in a head-on collision on U.S. 27 north of Tauchens Road.
Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate the crash occurred around 8:20 p.m. when a 19-year-old Lake Placid man driving a 2005 Dodge pickup truck southbound on U.S. 27 lost control of his vehicle.
State troopers say the pickup drifted off the right side of the road onto the west shoulder before swerving across both southbound lanes and the median, launching into the northbound travel lanes directly in front of an oncoming Toyota sedan.
The front of the pickup slammed head-on into the 2019 Toyota, which was traveling north in the outside lane.
The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene. The 19-year-old pickup driver suffered critical injuries and was rushed to a local hospital for emergency treatment.
The incident remains under investigation.

09/07/2026

Duke Energy Rates May Fall

Duke Energy Florida submitted a formal request to state regulators on Thursday to trim customer electric bills beginning January, citing falling fuel costs and a new tax strategy.
If approved by the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC), the plan will deliver immediate savings for both residential and business customers across the utility's service territory.

What Customers Would Save

Residential Accounts: A standard residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month will see a reduction of 71 cents per month.
Commercial & Industrial Accounts: Business electric bills will drop between 0.8% and 3.6%, depending on total energy consumption and rate class.

Key Drivers Behind the Rate Drop

1. Lower Fuel Costs: Reduced costs for natural gas and generation fuels passed directly along to consumers.
2. Tax Strategy Offset: A strategic tax maneuver allows Duke Energy to bypass a previously scheduled 2% base-rate increase.
3. Accelerated Savings: The proposal fast-tracks $50 million in savings directly to customers in the upcoming year.

Duke Energy Florida currently provides electric service to approximately 2 million customers across the state. The proposed rate adjustments remain pending approval by the Florida Public Service Commission.