David Haas, the former chief executive of Crispers restaurants, was sentenced Friday to two years in federal prison for embezzling more than $400,000 from his company. ...more

September 27, 2008

David Haas, the former chief executive of Crispers restaurants, was sentenced this morning to two years in federal prison for embezzling more than $400,000 from his company. ...more

September 26, 2008

Former Crispers chief executive David Haas admitted in court on Thursday to stealing more than $400,000 from his company. ...more

June 27, 2008

City commissioners will not reinvent the wheel when it comes to hiring their next city manager. ...more

May 10, 2008

SEBRING — Leadership is changing hands as the men who have run Highlands County, Sebring and Avon Park for more than 10 years step down. C.B. Shirey, who served as Avon Park city manager for 11 years, moved to the role of manager of Avon Park Executive Airport in January. Carl Cool, county administrator, will retire May 31 after 17 years. Bob Hoffman, city administrator of Sebring, will retire June 30 after almost 18 years in the position. They swear they didn't plan it like that. "It's just happenstance," Cool said. "We might have joked about it, but it just turned out that way." ...more

February 10, 2008

SEBRING –– An executive search firm based in Palm Beach County will assist Highlands County commissioners in picking a new county administrator. After interviewing three firms on Tuesday, the commissioners hired Colin Baenziger & Associates for the job. Naming a citizens advisory committee will be the next step in the process of replacing county Administrator Carl Cool, who announced in early summer that he will retire on June 30, 2008. Cool, 57, has been the county's chief executive officer for more than 16 years, since June 1991. Edgar Stokes, chairman of the county commissioners, said he expects that a citizens advisory committee will be appointed by mid-January. Stokes also said between 10 to 15 people will probably be appointed to the committee. Colin Baenziger said a citizens advisory committee should be involved in picking the county's top administrator. Over the next several weeks, he will talk with commissioners about the precise roles of the committee. ...more

November 28, 2007

CLEARWATER - The land deal between Pinellas County and Property Appraiser Jim Smith has cost taxpayers far more than the $225,000 the county paid to buy Smith's vacant lot. ...more

September 21, 2007