After living 60 years in another state, I now make my home in Florida. Since arriving here, I took notice of the lack of commercial vehicle enforcement by Florida and local area law enforcement. What tripped my trigger was a semi that recently had his exhaust brake activated and was very loud. I heard this guy a mile before the intersection of Schumacher Road and U.S. 27. And I continued to hear him as he traveled south from Schumacher Road. Exhaust brakes are not loud if the vehicle is equipped with the proper equipment. But coupled with twin straight pipes and no mufflers (yes folks, no mufflers) it is loud, and that's what people complain about. But more concerning to me are the unsecured loads that are obvious. Large heavy equipment and building materials without load chains securing them to the beds of equipment trailers and trucks. ...more

March 13, 2009

Although going green might be the trend, the Tampa Bay Builders Association doesn't think many people understand what this really means. To remedy that, the group will host the first Green Building Expo from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, which is at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. ...more

March 12, 2009

While going green might be the trend, the Tampa Bay Builders Association doesn't believe many people understand what this really means. To remedy that, the group will play host to the first Green Building Expo March 14 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. ...more

March 4, 2009

China's president was signing dozens of trade and investment deals with communist ally Cuba on Tuesday, part of a Latin America trip on which Chinese businessmen have been snapping up all manner of raw materials. ...more

November 19, 2008

The Department of Transportation has accepted a bid of $32 million to rebuild the bridges carrying Interstate 75 over County Road 54 in the heart of this fast-growing community. ...more

October 4, 2008

The Department of Transportation has accepted a bid of $32 million to rebuild the bridges carrying Interstate 75 over County Road 54 in the heart of this fast-growing community. ...more

October 3, 2008

I was given a small, bentwood rocking chair. It has a stamped mark under the seat that I cannot make out. I had planned to clean it, but was advised not to. I would like to know who made it, its age and its value. ...more

September 4, 2008

Now under new management, the West Pasco Habitat for Humanity ReStore is offering a number of sales specials. ...more

July 26, 2008

SEBRING — Habitat for Humanity has a new way to help the environment — recycling houses. Instead of demolishing one of the houses on Magnolia Street slated to eventually become a parking lot for county offices, they moved the house to a new location a few blocks away. "We took a house that was donated to us by the county to a piece of property donated to us by the city," said Jane Breylinger, executive director of Highlands County Habitat for Humanity. "It's was a good way for us all to work together." ...more

May 31, 2008

SEBRING — With shoppers usually waiting outside for the doors to open, the Habitat for Humanity Home Supply store is easily the busiest place in downtown Sebring. Although many Habitat for Humanity affiliates have similar stores selling furniture and building materials, most are not as popular or profitable as the one on 137 S. Commerce Ave. "We have one of the most successful home supply stores in the nation," said Jane Breylinger, executive director of Highlands County Habitat for Humanity. Store Manager Chuck Ball said the store had more than $600,000 of sales last year. That's enough not only to cover the administration costs of the nonprofit organization but also to build two houses every year. ...more

February 23, 2008