The sound of screeching brakes, the crunch of metal on metal and breaking glass is heard all too often along the U.S. 27 corridor as it cuts through the center of Highlands County. ...more

July 22, 2008

Of the four Highlands County employees appealing their firings, one's appeal was denied, one is awaiting a decision early next week, and two will have their appeals heard on Aug. 14. ...more

July 19, 2008

TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES ATTRACT 20 BIDDERS ...more

July 17, 2008

When Assistant County Engineer Gregg Sutton put out a call for excavation contracting firms interested in hauling away contaminated soil at the old public works site in downtown Brooksville, he wasn't quite prepared for the flood of responses. ...more

July 17, 2008

Local municipalities and the county are scrambling to comply with a 2002 state mandate that might cost thousands of county public water customers at least $300 each. ...more

July 16, 2008

When Highlands County had an opening for a clerical assistant at Emergency Medical Services recently, at $9.29 per hour, on the low end of the pay range, 63 people applied. ...more

July 10, 2008

SEBRING - When Highlands County had an opening for a clerical assistant at Emergency Medical Services recently, at $9.29 per hour, on the low end of the pay range, 63 people applied. Seventy-five people applied for one opening in the county road and bridge department for a laborer's job. The pay scale for this job starts at $8.88 per hour and runs up to a maximum of $14.38 per hour. "We have had, it seems, a big increase in the number of job applicants since I've been here," said Don Kesterson, a county human resources specialist who took his job 18 months ago following a 20-year career in the Air Force. ...more

July 9, 2008

SEBRING – The land acquisition manager for the Highlands County Engineer's office was fired for what county officials described as inappropriate use of her county e-mail account. Kathy Avirett, 32, a county employee since November 2003, was fired June 30 by her boss, county Engineer Ramon Gavarrete. ...more

July 7, 2008

A coalition of residents who oppose the site the county has selected to store material dredged from the bottom of the channel here wants more time to file for a hearing with the state. ...more

July 3, 2008

THEY SEEK 60 DAYS ...more

July 2, 2008