The House voted late Tuesday to open waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to oil and gas drilling but only 50 or more miles out to sea and only if a state agrees to energy development off its shore. ...more

September 17, 2008

Bowing to residents' opposition, county planning commissioners on Wednesday voted against plans to develop Berry Hill Estates on land along Blanton Road west of town. ...more

September 11, 2008

As Russia said its military pullback from Georgia was completed - though it held several key areas - the Georgian government began Saturday to prepare cities and villages in conflict areas for the return of thousands of refugees. ...more

August 24, 2008

Editor's note: This is a corrected version of a story printed in the July 16 Highlands Today. By 2010, if Seth Ellis gets his way, Venus will become known as a live-fire training center for the military, homeland security, local police, even foreign governments. ...more

July 16, 2008

A sharply divided county panel handed the developers of a controversial Blanton Road subdivision a setback Thursday in the face of stiff opposition from neighboring residents. ...more

May 30, 2008

I'd like to ask the Highlands County planning and zoning board, "Why are you trying to ruin beautiful Lake Blue?" At a public hearing on Sept. 11, the county commissioners voted to change the zoning on two parcels of land on Lake Blue from R-1 and R-1A to B-2. The vote was tied 3-3. Then Chairman Lew Carter broke the tie by voting for the zoning change. This zoning change can only be good for the land planner out of Coral Springs, not for the voting homeowners on Lake Blue in Lake Placid. With all of the commercial property in Lake Placid, why destroy Lake Blue? ...more

September 22, 2007