I want to applaud the Avon Park City Council members for looking at making the hard decisions. I think it's interesting that it has almost come full circle in the fact that people have forgotten that we live in a small city, but it looks like some people had visions of expanding greatly, which has caused some of our fiscal issues in addition to lower revenues coming in. Even though I might not always agree with George Hall, I applaud him for saying the hard facts at the council meeting. ...more

September 5, 2008

The guest of honor was an 8-foot-long yellow metal device that looks like a torpedo. ...more

August 29, 2008

From a challenge to the new sprinkler ordinance by a nationwide homebuilder to an investigation of payroll discrepancies in the police department, the cost of safeguarding this city from legal action has nearly doubled in the past year. ...more

August 28, 2008

Tampa City Council members congratulated themselves last week for fashioning a "compromise" in the salary dispute with the city's firefighters. ...more

August 27, 2008

It turned a ragged section of U.S. 19, flanked by pawnshops, strip malls and derelict properties, into a corridor of lantana, palm trees and other flora. ...more

August 23, 2008

Police Chief Russell Barnes resigned Tuesday, a day after an internal investigation concluded he had falsified payroll records. Barnes, 55, submitted his letter of resignation less than an hour before city council members were to consider firing him, as recommended by City Manager Steve Spina. ...more

August 20, 2008

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and five other public officials released an open letter to the community this morning asking for peace after the shooting death of 17-year-old Javon Dawson and urging any witnesses to come forward. ...more

August 11, 2008

AVON PARK - Four of the five city council members heard enough as it voted 4-1 Monday evening to increase the fines the police can issue for those making too much noise with their stereos. Although Al Joe Hinson complained that the ordinance should have also required officers to first issue written warnings for the first offense before giving the lone dissenting vote, George Hall countered after the vote that the police could give verbal warnings if they felt that would be appropriate. ...more

July 28, 2008

Hundreds of auto accidents happen here every year, and city officials say most of them are caused by motorists from somewhere else. ...more

July 26, 2008

To what extent should alcohol be available in city parks and community centers? ...more

July 25, 2008