I would like to thank Alan Jay and his staff for making the Christmas seasons a memorable experience for all the students, staff members and administrators at Fred Wild Elementary School. ...more

February 6, 2008

SEBRING — As the fair approaches, excitement is mounting in the Bickman house. "We look forward to the fair all year," said Samantha Bickman, leader of Country Clovers 4-H Group. "The fairgrounds are our home away from home." Hundreds of families throughout the county are in the same position as the Bickmans, preparing for the festivities of the Highlands County Fair, which starts Friday. Brothers Michael and Justin Bickman wake up at 6 every morning to feed and water their animals. They each have swine, chickens and rabbits to show at the fair. ...more

February 6, 2008

SEBRING – Before last weekend, it had been four years since Lynn Topel had taken a bike ride. Topel also loves gardening but there has been no time for that either. However, that will soon change for the executive director of Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative (FHREDI). Topel will be leaving her position after four years in leading the organization that covers six counties – Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry, DeSoto and Hardee – as well as communities in Palm Beach and Collier counties. In the first two years on the job, 80-hour weeks were the norm for Topel because of the devastating impact from the hurricanes – especially Charley – had on the region. "I can tell you that those weeks were long," she said. "Now it's gotten much better. This past year has been much more normal – 40 to 50-hour weeks. But it also took those two years to create those relationships all through the state that are important to the region." ...more

January 13, 2008

Tampa Bay's veterans have spent most of this week talking with younger teammates about the "real season" that is approaching. ...more

January 4, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Ralph Jacobi was confident his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout would be accomplished. ...more

January 3, 2008

Sitting here on this New Year's Eve morning it's early for me at 7 a.m., usually I have a cup of coffee and read the newspaper from my sitting area overlooking beautiful Lake Istokpoga and watching the birds and wildlife as the beautiful sunrise illuminates the woods. We who live on this lake do so because we choose to and are willing to deal with the bugs and the low water, high taxes and all the downsides that no one has control over. Last night I went to bed at 10:30 p.m. with the noise of airboats thumping and humming past the house until late into the night and waking me at 6:15 a.m. this morning. Having friends with airboats and enjoyed them myself years ago, I understand the fun and excitement they are to a lot of people, and feel that this being a big lake can be enjoyed by all the people if we all use it responsibly. ...more

January 3, 2008

Bucs players discuss Sunday's playoff game against the Giants and other topics: ...more

January 2, 2008

As children across the country fill out their holiday wish lists, one group of high school students remembered that Christmas is also a time for giving. ...more

December 15, 2007

A car struck a Bloomingdale High School student crossing a road to get to a school bus Friday morning, and, in the excitement, the pregnant bus driver thought she was going into labor and was taken to a hospital. ...more

December 8, 2007

BRANDON - A car struck a Bloomingdale High School student crossing a road to get to a school bus this morning, resulting in the teen being taken to a hospital and the bus driver – after calling in the accident – being checked to see whether she had gone into labor. ...more

December 7, 2007