LAND O' LAKES - Sanders Memorial Elementary, which opened in 1948, celebrates its 60th birthday this year, so perhaps it's fitting that the school is set for a makeover. ...more

July 8, 2008

SEBRING – School District Transportation Director David Solomon plans to pamper the nine new school buses being readied to go into service in August because with a statewide education budget crisis he's slated to only get three new ones next year. The 77-passenger school buses, costing about $99,000 a piece, were purchased within the 2007-08 budget. ...more

July 2, 2008

Many of our Florida elders are unduly stressed and suffering today. As our governor proclaims his mandate for additional budgetary cuts, we are seeing a dramatic rise in the need for assistance. Many no longer drive as they can not afford the gas required and are unable to afford taxi fare or other public transportation. Faced with soaring prices for basic foods, they have already cut back to the point of experiencing substandard nutrition which aggravates conditions brought on by skimping on high-priced prescriptions. ...more

June 21, 2008

Mark Twain once quipped, "Everybody complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it." That's not entirely true. A lot of us move away from it. That's why Florida is about to crack along I-10 and become an independent island, which apparently wouldn't disturb the Democrats too much since Floridians have never seemed to be able to develop the knack of voting in the first place, not withstanding that most Floridians are not natives of this state in the first place. But one thing can be said for Florida and its weather: You seldom, if ever, hear of anyone moving out of the state when they retire. ...more

June 20, 2008

TAMPA - A switch feeding electricity to the Criminal Justice Center in Clearwater failed today, causing a power outage that lasted about six hours and interrupting court proceedings. ...more

June 16, 2008

Regarding "College Degrees A Waste Of Time, Money" (Commentary, May 11): As the principal of the Erwin Technical Center, I offer a comment about Marty Nemko's column. ...more

May 25, 2008

AVON PARK — Austin Stadie's two-run double proved to be more than a well-timed hit, but the fuel that ignited a rally that ended in a 4-3 victory for the Laye's Tires, Inc. Royals over Long's Air Conditioning Reds in Monday's Dixie Youth Majors (ages 11-12) game at Durrah Martin Sports Complex. ...more

May 20, 2008

AVON PARK – One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning recently awarded a franchise to Spencer Whitmire, who converted his business into a franchise with the company. "I am very excited to see how much I can accomplish with a national brand name backing me up," Whitmire said. "This is just the beginning, and I am confident that with this new partnership, I can grow my business beyond my previous expectations. It's great to know that I am with a company that wants to see me succeed." Franchised under Clockwork Home Services Inc., One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is a nationwide network of exceptional, time-conscious, courteous, highly competent HVAC professionals, Whitmire said. The businesses, like the one in Avon Park, are locally owned and operated and its technicians are experienced, trained and highly knowledgeable, Whitmire added. According to a press release from the company, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning ranks first as the nation's fastest-growing franchise according to Franchise Times magazine's "Fast 55" list (2007) and ranks fifth on Entrepreneur magazine's list of Top New Franchises (2008). ...more

May 10, 2008

The answers may lie within the black Converse shoes. A 62-year-old man told the Pasco County Sheriff's Office that someone broke in to his home early Sunday, and more than a dozen weapons, including a samurai sword and firearms, were stolen. ...more

February 19, 2008

Seated in a pew at First Thonotosassa Missionary Baptist Church, Florine Walden, 90, and Ernestine Pelham, 87, reminisce. ...more

November 5, 2007