The evidence of Jesse Sumner's presence in Pasco County is everywhere, from the names of streets to the names of numerous people descended from the Sumners. ...more

February 25, 2009

The evidence of Jesse Sumner's presence in Pasco County is everywhere, from the names of streets to the names of thousands of people descended from him. ...more

February 21, 2009

As one-time president of the Garden Gate Circle of the Zephyrhills Garden Club, Raybelle Surratt decided that the club should plant a few trees around town. Twenty years later, the circle - under Surratt's guidance and with the cooperation of the city of Zephyrhills - has planted more than 700 trees in the city. And every one of them has a story. ...more

January 16, 2009

For 13 years, the annual Dade City Arbor Day Memorial Tree Dedication Program has given residents a chance to plant a memory - to establish a long-lasting tribute in honor of a loved one or a special occasion. ...more

January 15, 2009

Sebring City Council heard a request from Darin MacNeill, funeral director at the Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home and Crematory, to consider an amendment to the city's cemetery ordinance allowing them to store about 50 cremains (cremated remains) in one vault at the city cemetery. ...more

December 18, 2008

Rules that govern what items of remembrance can adorn gravesites - particularly graves of veterans - may be amended, thanks to an argument over flags around the burial plot of a native son killed in Iraq. ...more

November 15, 2008

Nearly 11 years ago, a few minutes before sunrise on a March morning in a Haines City cemetery, Christopher Gamble and four friends took part in the slaying of a Haines City police officer. Gamble pleaded guilty for his role and testified against the others. Now a federal prosecutor wants a judge to reduce Gamble's sentence to 24 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge James S. Moody Jr. is scheduled to consider a motion Friday from Assistant U.S. Attorney James Muench. ...more

November 11, 2008

SEBRING — A jury deliberated less than two hours Thursday before convicting Oral Williams, 21, of nine counts of rape, kidnapping, robbery and burglary. The jury acquitted Williams, of Sebring, on two counts of forcing the victim's boyfriend of engaging in sexual activity with the female. "I would be just guessing why," said Asst. State's Attorney John Kromholz, who rested his case at 2:45 p.m. Thursday. Williams's attorney, Bruce Nants of Bartow, also rested his defense without calling Williams or other witnesses to testify in his defense. ...more

June 20, 2008

SEBRING — Both the prosecution and the defense rested Thursday afternoon in the case of Oral Williams, 21, who was accused of taking a Lake Placid woman and her Avon Park boyfriend to the DeSoto City cemetery on May 5, 2005, holding a knife to her throat, and sexually assaulting her for hours. The victim and her boyfriend were then 18. According to a May 5, 2005 sheriff's report by Det. John Barcinas, both victims were sitting in her vehicle on Orange Blossom Blvd. when two masked men approached. One was armed with what appeared to be a machine gun. ...more

June 19, 2008

SEBRING — In May 2007, after explicit trial testimony, an all-white, all-female jury of six found Julius Jamall "Gussy" Nixon, 21, of Sebring, guilty in the 2005 kidnapping and sexual assault of a teenaged couple. ...more

June 14, 2008