A special section on hurricane preparedness is included in today's newspaper, as June 1 marks the official start of the Atlantic season. We hope the section is read and will not be tossed in the recycle bins — at least not right away. It contains a lot of useful information that will come in handy in preparing for a storm. Another way to prepare is to be informed, and the Highlands County Emergency Management staff is doing its part by sponsoring the annual Highlands County Hurricane Seminar this Tuesday. It will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Agri-Civic Center, located at the corner of George Boulevard and U.S. 27, in Sebring. As Bill Nichols, director of the Highlands County Emergency Operations Center, said, "I don't think you need to be afraid. The more you prepare, the less you're afraid. The more you know, the less you fear." ...more

May 31, 2008

SEBRING — It's just a refrigerated trailer, but for one Desoto City civic group, it's a brand spanking-new humanitarian effort they're trying out in Florida. The Fraternal Order of Eagles' Disaster Relief Trailer, parked in front of the club's hall, already has several pallets full of emergency ration bars and water. Joe Waters of the Eagles in Sebring said this was one of two stationed in Florida, with the other one in the Ocala area. The trailer would go wherever the county's Emergency Operations Center tells them to go. "If they were in need of it ... we would take it anywhere they want," Waters said. ...more

May 19, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County commissioners expect to have people filling all four of the new, top-level administrative positions that they created by March 15. Within two months, the county's top echelon of administrators will go from two to six. In addition to the current top two – the administrator and assistant administrator – Highlands County also will have four division directors, each reporting directly either to the administrator or assistant administrator. ...more

January 24, 2008