TAMPA - A fisherman struck by lightning last week in Sarasota County was released from the hospital Tuesday after coming out of a medically induced coma. Today, Eric Troyer's family issued a statement thanking a witness who tried to revive him after he was struck. ...more

July 2, 2008

SARASOTA - A man hit by lightning this week has emerged from a medically induced coma and is expected to make a full recovery. ...more

June 27, 2008

SEBRING — Nearly every week, the board of directors at the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce finds a new problem. ...more

June 6, 2008

The changing of the guard was more like a return to the past. For the 33 SPCA members who attended Wednesday night's public meeting, that was perfectly fine. ...more

May 2, 2008

Wesley Snipes should have learned from reality television star Richard Hatch, who spent four-plus years in prison for failing to pay taxes on the $1 million he won on the debut season of "Survivor." ...more

January 15, 2008

LAKE PLACID — John Komasa likes to scuba dive, ride a bike, read and just get out and take walks. Although an accountant by trade, he seems like a natural for a recreation director, and that's what he became a year and a half ago when he headed Lake Placid's parks and recreation department. "I'm not in as good as shape as I used to be, and I took this job to get from behind the desk," he said. ...more

January 14, 2008

One of the Tribune's new teen columnists, John Silvera, told us his goal is to make lots of money. One of our new adult community columnists happens to be Frank Morsani, an affluent businessman and major philanthropist. We invited the 18-year-old graduate of Chamberlain High School to sit down with the millionaire and discuss wealth and success. ...more

December 16, 2007

SEBRING — An old approach to avoiding foreclosure is finding new life in Florida's depressed real estate market. When a homeowner can't repay the loan, banks will sometimes accept a "short sale." That is, the mortgage holder will allow a real estate agent to sell the property for less than the balance of the note, and the remainder is forgiven by the bank. "This is becoming more and more popular due to the rate of foreclosure," said Jenifer McMullian, a real estate sales agent with C.S. Edwards Realty Inc. Grace Bloodwell, who writes for HowToDoThings.com, suggested asking a real estate agent to confirm the value of the property with a comparative market analysis. Then total the cost of selling the property, which may include mortgage payments, legal fees and closing costs. Subtract that against the expected sale price. If it doesn't equal the total of all loans against the property, consider a short sale. ...more

October 27, 2007

Elwood 'Bunky' Bartlett says a New Age bookstore made it possible for him to become an overnight multimillionaire. ...more

September 3, 2007