AVON PARK — A 15-foot tall illegally built building, which was illegally used for citrus-related business in a residential neighborhood just north of this city, will probably have to be torn down or moved as the result of a ruling by the Highlands County Planning and Zoning Commission. Complaints from homeowners in the neighborhood just north of the city limits, off County Road 17-A, led to Highlands County Code Enforcement citing the owner for numerous violations. The most serious citations were building the building without a building permit, putting an industrial building in a residential neighborhood, and running a business operation in a residentially zoned tract of homes. ...more

June 13, 2008

RIVERVIEW - The gray, misty morning along with the winter-brown dog fennel that ringed the back pasture cast a gloom over Little Creek Ranch, the scene Thursday of a senseless horse slaying. ...more

January 18, 2008

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday declared that meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring is as safe as the natural version, clearing the way for the products to enter the food supply without special labeling. ...more

January 16, 2008

The county and state fairs don't begin until next month, but local students have been working for months to get their steers, hogs, heifers, goats and rabbits ready for competition. ...more

January 13, 2008

You can be reasonably assured this is one new law that will not have an elaborate signing ceremony by Charlie Crist surrounded by Cheshire cat-grinning glad-handers standing proudly behind the governor as he proclaims what a great day this is for Florida's goats. ...more

January 5, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County Animal Control is looking a bit like Old McDonald's Farm these days, due to the recent series of marijuana growhouse busts. Animal control recently picked up 15 sheep following a growhouse raid by the sheriff's office. The day after the sheep were impounded, workers at animal control discovered they had a 16th sheep in their care. "Overnight, one of the sheep gave birth, and we have a baby lamb here now, too," said Darryl Scott, animal control director. Pens and pasture areas at the county facility are also sheltering three horses, three large hogs, four rabbits, a chicken, two yearling cows, and an 8-foot-long Burmese python. Many, but far from all, of these animals came into the county's care from growhouse raids. ...more

December 7, 2007

CHIEFLAND - A man, a woman and dozens of goats, dogs and other animals were found dead on a farm in Levy County on Tuesday afternoon. ...more

September 12, 2007