More than two miles over the flat east Pasco landscape, a twin-turbo Otter airplane disgorges two dozen spores. At least that's what they look like from the ground. They fall separately, then, a mile from the ground, pop their nylon blooms that open into colorful petals drifting safely, hopefully, to the ground. It's Christmas Boogie time at Zephyrhills Skydive City, and as usual, the celebration of warm weather, gravity and clean air to fill parachutes is in full swing, with people from around the world coming to jump out of airplanes. ...more

December 29, 2008

SEBRING — Trotting through chutes in a cow pen, Hill-Gustat Middle School agriculture students got a close look Wednesday at the workings of a cattle ranch from the perspective of the cattle. Ranch Manager Bob Mayworth corralled teacher Rebekah Wills' students in the pens and separated the boys and girls for a weigh-in on a large livestock scale. Sliding the counter weights, Mayworth determined the boys weighed a total of 4,250 pounds. The lower number of girls, including two adults, weighed 2,870 pounds. Ranching has become a whole different business, he said. ...more

December 21, 2007