I read recently about local government's decisions to allow several large tracts in Hardee County to be developed in major fashion. This brought sadness to my heart. Pastoral views from my truck window may soon be replaced with construction cranes and vegetation destruction. ...more

July 9, 2008

A shooting Tuesday at Lakeland Square mall - which left one man wounded, another arrested and patrons scrambling for cover from .25-caliber bullets - was the result of a gang battle between the Crips and the Bloods, police said. ...more

June 19, 2008

TAMPA - Tuesday's shooting at Lakeland Square Mall – that left one man wounded, another arrested and patrons scrambling for cover from .25-caliber bullets – was the result of a gang battle between the Crips and the Bloods, police said. ...more

June 18, 2008

LAKE PLACID — His head coach calls him the best player he's had, and an opposing coach says he'd take him if he could cherry-pick any of Highlands County's standout baseball players. Still, Carlos Sosa said he was surprised on Tuesday when told he'd been named the 2008 Highlands Today All-Heartland Baseball Player of the Year. ...more

May 30, 2008

SEBRING — In order to avoid a physical confrontation with a burglary suspect with blood on his hands, a sheriff's deputy Tasered him after he repeatedly told the suspect to get on the ground, but instead continued to walk toward him. ...more

May 29, 2008

SEBRING — Half pipes, hubbas and pole jams will replace double faults and lobs at Camp Sparta. And Josh "Oreo" Jones, 14, of Sebring won't miss the tennis court. He lives within walking distance of the camp. Jones has been working and skateboarding evenings after school and on weekends for two months to convert the 6,000-square-foot tennis court into a skate park. The Camp Sparta skate park is just one of many. The area is packed with professional quality skate ramps and rails made by amateurs. Many are professional quality. Frank Branca III owns Gatorboard Skate Shop in Sebring and said local skaters are building off-street places to skate, rather than riding curbs and railings on public property. ...more

May 23, 2008

LAKE PLACID — A constant state of rebuilding has been the blueprint for the Lake Placid softball team over the past few years, and head coach Marilyn Jones knows all too well the reasons why. ...more

February 20, 2008

MULBERRY — Mulberry's talented duo of forward Michael Poole and center Travon Sampson combined for 37 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Panther boys basketball team past Lake Placid 55-43 in the Class 3A-District 10 semifinals on Friday night. The Green Dragons used a balanced offense, paced by Marcus Waugh's team-high eight points, and an aggressive defense to stay in the game in the first half. But Mulberry's physical full-court press forced numerous turnovers, which were converted into easy points as the No. 1- seeded Panthers cruised to the easy win to move into the finals against second-seeded Frostproof, which eliminated McKeel Academy 66-25 in Friday's other semifinal. ...more

February 10, 2008

Pasco Rolls Past Sebring AVON PARK — The Streaks played well on Friday against a tough Pasco squad, but in the end the Bulldogs put up the big inning needed to beat the Sebring baseball team 6-0 during the AP First Pitch Classic at Head Field. "We just couldn't generate any offense tonight," said SHS head coach Hoppy Rewis. "We gave a lot better effort and had a much better presence on the field." ...more

February 9, 2008

LAKE PLACID — Lee Tolar shook his head in awe of his girls' performance, and summed up his Sebring softball team in a nutshell. "We're only going to get better," the Blue Streak skipper said. Sebring, who methodically dismantled a gutsy Lake Placid squad in a 15-1 mercy-rule victory on Thursday, is already playing at a tournament level, and they're doing it without three key members of the team (Priscilla Adams, Chelsea Davis and Hannah Shoop). "It's nice to see that we're not getting off to a slow start," Tolar said. "These girls were just ready to play tonight. They're tired of practice and wanted to play. "We're hitting well, playing solid defense. Everything is on course, but we've got a good test in Frostproof coming up. We're just ready to go." ...more

February 9, 2008