Friends of an 18-year-old woman who investigators say was brutally raped and beaten at Bloomingdale Regional Library in April once again are turning to the community for help. ...more

October 22, 2008

SEBRING -- Penne Manar says she still gets goose bumps when she recalls how, seven years ago, she came to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Highlands County. She balked at a friend's invitation to join this non-profit, Christian faith-based organization that helps hard working people work and save their way into a new home that otherwise would be unreachable. Nearing the end of two years as volunteer president of the Florida Hospital Auxiliary, Manar worried that joining another service organization would stretch her time and energy too thin. But she accepted an invitation to attend a Habitat home dedication. Manar watched as a single mother with three young children, having saved the down payment and completed her 400 hours of "sweat equity" work, was given a Bible and house keys and became a first-time homeowner. ...more

October 19, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Larry Wainwright is finding that a good sunscreen comes in handy as part of his latest strategy for finding a job. ...more

October 15, 2008

My wife and I are residents of Highlands County five months every year. I spent 40 years in law enforcement and public service and worked at every level from patrolman to chief of police, and finally a town manager. I currently teach Spanish for law enforcement in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. ...more

October 9, 2008

Watching her daughter's excitement mount as last Dec. 25 drew closer, Angela Vera of Brandon wished she could simply flip the page of the calendar over to January so she wouldn't have to deal with Christmas. ...more

October 1, 2008

John Hammerberg drives past a house on a dark street off Nebraska Avenue. He notices the house lights are on. ...more

September 23, 2008

John Hammerberg drives past a house on a dark street off Nebraska Avenue. He notices that the house lights are on. Hammerberg, the chief theft investigator for Tampa Electric Co. suspects a crime is under way and returns a few minutes later with two Tampa police officers. Hammerberg is pretty sure the property owner is stealing electricity. Power to the home was cut off in May. ...more

September 22, 2008

Ailing bank Washington Mutual Inc. appeared headed toward a sale Wednesday after a major investor removed a potential stumbling block and nervous banking regulators began approaching the most logical buyers. ...more

September 18, 2008

Neoregelia concentric hybrid ...more

September 18, 2008

He sounds more like a doctor than the owner of a lawn maintenance company as he recounts the past five months of his daughter's life. ...more

September 17, 2008