Let's face it: Eddie Murphy has his hands full. First he exchanged vows with producer Tracey Edmonds on New Year's Day on a private island off Bora Bora. Then the pair announced their split two weeks later, forgoing the chance to make their ceremonial union legal in the United States. ...more

February 9, 2008

SEBRING — Teachers seeking affordable housing have a new option with the School Board of Highlands County approving an agreement with a local developer. The school district will help get the word out about Las Villas Phase 2, an affordable housing development on Kenilworth Boulevard, east of Sebring High School. Project developer Caribbean Realestate Developers has qualified for a grant to provide workforce housing for personnel considered essential to the county. Teachers are considered essential personnel. "The bottom line is you have the opportunity to provide $50,000, maybe even $70,000 off the purchase of a villa for a teacher," school district teacher recruiter Sean Rego said at a recent school board meeting. The housing agreement requires no monetary responsibility of the school district. ...more

February 4, 2008

Five young men are dead after a car they were riding in crashed after traveling off an airport runway at the exclusive fly-in community of Jumbolair Aviation Estates early Saturday, the Florida Highway Patrol said. ...more

January 27, 2008

Re: "One Small Step For Homeowners," Hernando Today, Jan. 17, about impact of Amendment 1. ...more

January 18, 2008

CORY LAKE ISLES - Developer Gene Thomason and his company, Cory Lakes Limited, owe Hillsborough County $300,000 in back taxes for 2005 and 2006 for two dozen undeveloped lots he owns in the New Tampa gated community. In addition, he and his company, which received a no-bid contract for operations and maintenance of Cory Lake Isles, owe nearly $170,000 in 2007 property taxes. ...more

January 15, 2008

Developer Gene Thomason and his company, Cory Lakes Limited, owe Hillsborough County $300,000 in back taxes for 2005 and 2006 for two dozen undeveloped lots he owns in the New Tampa gated community. ...more

January 14, 2008

Dusty Travels I read with much interest your story regarding the dirt roads in Pasco County ("County To Address Road Fixes Again," Jan. 3). Since we live on a dirt road and have to breathe dust from four-wheelers, cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc., I have several questions: 1. I do not understand why the county would repair, pave, etc., any private road in a gated community. Would this not be the responsibility of the gated community? 2. If a road, such as ours, Bay Avenue in Zephyrhills, has to be paid by the residents to be paved, why, then, would the county pave private roads? I am sure our road is in Pasco County. It gets graded after it rains, maybe, and this only makes the dust problem worse. Plus, we have several older citizens breathing this polluted air, as well as several children and their parents. If an air quality test was ever taken in this area, it would not pass any clean air requirement. 3. Since our esteemed five members of our county commission cannot find a solution to the problem, isn't it time they go to another county to find out how they solved the problem? This is the first county we have lived in that does not tax all property owners land/home on their tax bill for road maintenance and paving. However, all subdivisions built must have paved roads and other amenities as required by the "permit to build." This is paid by the developer, and the cost is passed on to the buyer. Thank you for a very informative article on this subject. VIRGINIA FREELAND Zephyrhills Feeling Neglected I recently wrote a letter to the editor stating how Dade City has gone from being a charming, antique collector's dream town to one with an influx of trash, loud music and disregard for neighbors. The letter brought no response. Apparently, more important issues are at hand — i.e., water spots on an ice machine, a place to walk dogs, etc. Today, while outside enjoying the warm sunshine, I looked over to my neighbor's yard only to witness a man urinating in his yard. Oh yes, there is a house there, but this man appears to be residing in either a van or a makeshift lean-to shed. Two evenings ago, around 11 p.m., music was playing so loud that we could make out the words. Trust me — it is not something you would want your children to hear. Still in my nightgown, I donned a heavy jacket and began walking. The music came from one-half mile away! Should I not be able to give the deputy an address of the source of loud music, they don't feel a need to do anything about it. While on my way there, I was approached by two men on separate occasions. What a lovely place to live. Sure, I can move, but why should I have to? I would like to make Sheriff Bob White and his deputies aware of county ordinance 66-97 (7) (b). If you would like a copy, just let me know! It is about loud music. It has become obvious to me that Dade City/county officials don't seem to care much about anything when it comes to the subjects I've addressed. FRAN TOLL Dade City Give Babies Chance Regarding National Folic Acid Awareness Week (Jan. 7-13): Do it for yourself. Do it for the ones you love! When you hear of folic acid you mostly think "that's something for pregnant women." But here are a few things you may not know: The most recent data available shows that 12.2 percent of live births are preterm in Pasco County. Folic acid, when taken before pregnancy, can reduce the risk of spina bifida and other serious birth defects up to 70 percent. Although all grain products and enriched cereals in the United States are fortified with the B-vitamin folic acid, only one-third of childbearing-aged women consume the recommended amount. Taking the multivitamin with folic acid every day is a key way for women to get the recommended amount of 400 mcg. For more information on folic acid and National Folic Acid Awareness Week, visit: www.folicacidinfo.org. After having volunteered at the hospital and seeing premature babies, I wanted to help make a difference. Working with the March of Dimes, I can help educate every woman that it is possible to give every unborn child a chance at a healthy life. MARISSA COLLIER Land O' Lakes The writer is Miss Teen Kumquat and Miss Teen Largo. Last Auction I have been to a lot of public auctions, but Action Auctions on South U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills is the first one that I have attended that requires a bidder number to stay on their property. Also, they require a Social Security number to write a check. I called the state attorney's office. They informed me that a Social Security number is not necessary to collect on a bad check, and they said they wouldn't give them one, either. This is a good way to have your identity stolen. My neighbor refused to let them make a copy of his driver's license, and they ordered us off the property. If they had called a deputy, I wonder what the charge would have been. I won't be back! LYDEN GREEN Zephyrhills ...more

January 11, 2008

Dusty Travels I read with much interest your story regarding the dirt roads in Pasco County ("County To Address Road Fixes Again," Jan. 3). Since we live on a dirt road and have to breathe dust from four-wheelers, cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc., I have several questions: ...more

January 11, 2008

In reading Mr. Herbert's column, from his clues, I determined that I lived in the gated community he was describing. Even more amazing was to discover that Mr. Herbert and I had both moved into the community in 2002. If Mr. Herbert didn't receive a copy of the covenants (deed restrictions for the community) at the time of his move-in, he definitely became aware of them a year ago when the residents voted on the revised covenants which clarified, strengthened and put more restrictions in place in this deed-restricted community. ...more

December 27, 2007

For weeks, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Mike Skinner went back and forth atop the Truck Series standings, neither ever taking command of the title chase. ...more

November 17, 2007