When faced with a major decision, learning how others decided is valuable input that can often save a lot of time and effort. For example, I believe I read that over 5,000 communities wrestled with whether its school superintendent should continue as an elected position and only 30 (.04 percent) determined that it should. To me, that means that absent some unusual circumstances unique to this community, Highlands County will not be number 31. ...more

November 29, 2007

A Cuban farmer would get sole custody of his 5-year-old daughter under a settlement reached Wednesday after a lengthy court battle involving the girl's U.S. foster parents and state officials, according to a person familiar with the deal. ...more

November 29, 2007

Pakistan's government Sunday executed a nationwide crackdown on the political opposition, the news media and the courts, one day after President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule and suspended the constitution in a bid to save his job. ...more

November 5, 2007

SEBRING –– The Highlands County Tourist Development Council favors retaining the operation of the tourism program as it is and asking the county to advertise for a director to replace Jim Brantley. The council spent about two hours Thursday discussing options and receiving input from the public concerning the future of the county's tourism program. Since the council is an advisory board to the Highlands County Commission, it can only make recommendations. The county commission will make the final decision. The recommendation is expected to come before the board in December. County Administrator Carl Cool, who attended the workshop, said the tourist council wants to review a proposed job description for the director at its next meeting, which is scheduled for Dec. 6. If the council approves the description, the item could be on the Dec. 11 commission agenda. ...more

November 2, 2007

SEBRING – The Highlands County Tourist Development Council will consider three options in deciding how to replace former Tourism Director Jim Brantley during a workshop on Nov. 1. The workshop will begin at 8:15 a.m. in Room 3 at the Highlands County Agri-Civic Center, located at the corner of U.S. 27 and George Boulevard, in Sebring. Brantley left the position in September, but is continuing to work as a consultant for the county. The council will make a recommendation to the Highlands County Commission. The commission will make the final decision on how the council will be run. Before he departed, Brantley and Highlands County Administrator Carl Cool talked about the situation and came up with a suggestion. However, it was not presented as a recommendation from either Brantley or Cool. ...more

October 28, 2007

Some Bay area people who lack medical insurance and don't know how they'll be able to afford health care can cross that bridge when they come to it. ...more

October 4, 2007

A zoning hearing officer has ruled that a proposed real estate office along North Dale Mabry Highway would be out of character with the surrounding residential neighborhood. ...more

October 3, 2007

There are absolutely no guarantees that top prospect Evan Longoria will be the Devil Rays' third baseman coming out of spring training next year, but the team is preparing for that possibility. ...more

September 26, 2007

James Shields' breakout season came to an abrupt and unexpected end Tuesday. ...more

September 19, 2007

County utility bills could take a bigger bite out of wallets of Pasco residents starting as soon as next month. ...more

September 11, 2007