SEBRING — Highlands County commissioners didn't pull the plug on adding four new top administrators at a cost of over $600,000 per year. But they did turn the process for choosing the new division directors upside down. Or, as Commissioner Don Bates put it, they flipped that process right side up. Bottom line: the commissioners will interview the top three candidates themselves and decide who to hire as directors of public safety and public works, the two highest-profile divisions. ...more

February 7, 2008

The United States Postal Service in Tampa is holding a fair from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at its Falkenburg branch, 10121 Adamo Drive, where people can renew or apply for a passport. ...more

February 6, 2008

The Cory Lake Isles Community Development District's governing board extended the application period for its vacant seat to be more inclusive to residents interested in serving. ...more

January 23, 2008

CORY LAKE ISLES - The Cory Lake Isles Community Development District's governing board extended the application period for its vacant seat to be more inclusive to residents interested in serving. But when the developer-controlled board convened last week1/16, it refused to discuss making the appointment. District manager John Daugirda said he was told not to put the item on the board's January agenda. ...more

January 22, 2008

Dog's Peaceful Goodbye Normally in this space, letters appear to voice a complaint, take a stand on a matter or respond to an article. This letter is written for a totally different reason: to publicly thank some very special people for the caring, understanding and compassion shown us through a very difficult time. ...more

January 21, 2008

Within our relatively small Lake Placid area, we have literally exploded with an overabundance of seniors who require help from the relatively small number of physicians, that for whatever reason, have not left the area for the more populated area of the state where they could likely make even more money than they can ever expect to make here. ...more

January 18, 2008

The Wikimedia Foundation, which oversees operations of the popular Web encyclopedia Wikipedia.com, said today it has appointed Erik Moeller as deputy director. He will assume the position Jan. 10. ...more

January 9, 2008

Hillsborough County is looking for a volunteer to serve on the University Area Enterprise Zone Development Agency Board. ...more

December 22, 2007

Mike Fencel, chief executive officer at Brandon Regional Hospital, is the new chairman at the Greater Brandon Community Foundation. ...more

December 19, 2007

Children at Twin Lakes Elementary should find out Dec. 11 who will become their new principal. The Hillsborough County School Board is scheduled to vote at its meeting on the principal appointment to replace Holly Saia. Saia transferred to Shaw Elementary last month for the retiring Gloria Kolka. Saia had served as Twin Lakes' principal since 2005. The school board meeting starts at 3 p.m. Dec. 11 at 901 E. Kennedy Boulevard. It will also be broadcast live on the Internet at www.sdhc.k12.fl.us and shown on the Education Channel, which is channel 614 on Bright House Networks and channel 32 on Verizon. ...more

December 10, 2007