SEBRING — There is nothing like celebrating your country's birthday by getting some beneficial exercise. The 14th annual Firecracker 5k run/walk attracted 208 participants, who managed to roll out of bed in time for the 7:30 a.m. start on Friday morning at beautiful Highlands Hammock State Park. "It was an excellent day to be outside and we had a record number of people participate in this year's event," said race director Chet Brojek. "I can't thank my sponsors and the community enough for their support for a worthy cause." ...more

July 5, 2008

Admission to all 161 Florida state parks is free Sunday, July 13. To celebrate July as Recreation and Parks Month, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Recreation & Parks is encouraging family-friendly, outdoor recreation with the launch of its "Family. Friends. Fun." campaign to reconnect children and families with nature. ...more

June 29, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County is still working on a plan for a north-south route from the Highlands Hammock State Park area to Thunderbird Road, Planner Don Hanna said Wednesday. "We don't have the model updated," Hanna said. "Tindale-Oliver is still working on it. It's supposed to be done in December." ...more

June 25, 2008

What makes a "Summer Fun Day" fun? A beautiful park, upbeat music, lots of food, kids and adults dedicated to guiding kids into productive lives. Everyone agreed on that at the Summer Fun Day, held on June 17. It was an alcohol free, drug free, and smoke free fun event, held at Highlands Hammock State Park. And the best part, because of the generosity of a few people, it was a free event. So thanks are in order for the following who contributed to the event: First, to Peter Anderson, for the use of the park, to the park rangers who assisted, especially Dorothy Harris who put on a fantastic and challenging scavenger hunt, to the Highlands County School Board who provided lunch, to DJ Mike Davis, to the School Resource Officers and the DARE program for providing their time, talents, snacks and energy to provide lots of extra fun, to Sheriff Benton, to Youth For Christ for providing the love and energy we all needed to keep going in the heat, to the parents who brought their kids, and to the many local businesses who provided free coupons for the kids to reinforce the message of a drug-free lifestyle. So, special thanks to MacDonald's, to Dairy Queen, to Big Al's Italian Ice, to Blockbuster and the grand prizes were pizza coupons donated by Pizza Hut and Pizzano's Pizza. A and W Rood Beer and Subway also made contributions to the day. ...more

June 21, 2008

SEBRING — From red-bellied turtles to green tree frogs to alligators big and small, students touring Highlands Hammock State Park on Thursday got a close up view of Florida wildlife and the effects of the drought. During the first week of the two-week Sebring Middle School summer science camp about 35 students have been taking part in day trips that included a canoe trip down the Peace River on Wednesday and Thursday's exploration of the state park. Park Specialist Dorothy Harris took the students on a tram-ride tour of the park stopping at various spots to point out wildlife, plant life and other features. ...more

June 19, 2008

SEBRING – Except when he's sleeping, 5-year-old Justin Burgess rarely stays inside his home. "He loves to be outside, just like me," said his mother, Corine Burgess, the natural resources specialist in the Highlands County Soil & Water Conservation District office. "He's a little nature lover and a tree-hugger, just like his mamma," Burgess said about the boy she and husband, Dan, adopted four years ago when Justin was one year old. They adopted the African-American boy when Corine was 45 and she and Dan were in their 26th year of marriage. High school sweethearts who have been together since their days at Coral Shores High School in the Florida Keys, they both love everything about the ocean. ...more

June 15, 2008

SEBRING — A small wildfire in the northeast part of Highlands Hammock State Park was extinguished Monday evening, causing no injuries or property damage. The rain helped firefighters and forestry officials put a quick end to the fire. Chief Scott Mann of the West Sebring Volunteer Fire Department said the fire affected about five acres before it was put out 7:30 p.m. ...more

June 3, 2008

AVON PARK — Bill Jarrett sat on the sidelines waiting for his turn to play in the first and probably only practice for the newly formed Highlands Hoppers at the South Florida Community College gym. "I keep thinking to myself that this is for a good cause," Jarrett laughed as he jogged onto the court and nearly came up with a block. The Highlands Hoppers are a menagerie of local hoopsters that have been assembled by local businesses to play the Harlem Ambassadors on Tuesday. The Ambassadors are much like their famous counterparts — the Harlem Globetrotters — with a bit of a twist. "They all must be either college graduates or working toward a college degree to be on the team," said Avon Park Noon Rotary Club president Alice Oldham. "They also have a very strong stay-in-school and anti-drug message for today's youth. That impressed me." ...more

February 21, 2008

SEBRING — 'Tis the season to spread a bit of the bounty of Highlands County to friends and family up North. There are several locally produced and unique products and goods available for shipping a piece from the Sunshine State or for gifts for friends closer to home. At Maxwell Groves, Highlands County grown citrus is shelved along with orange blossom honey, assorted jellies and even citrus bubble gum. Owner Steve Maxwell said his plant is the only commercial house for orange production in the county. He bought much of the machinery still used, and on display, in 1970 and said it was 30 years old then. Then, there are several outlets for local artists to display and sell their wares. The Caladium Arts and Crafts Co-Op in Lake Placid, and Sebring's LK Gallery and Village Gallery, and gift shop of the Highlands Art League specialize in locally produced and affordable art. Other locally produced food products include Everglades Seasoning, direct from the manufacturer, and wines, gift baskets and other assorted goodies from Henscratch Farms and Winery. ...more

December 11, 2007

SEBRING — Maybe it was because he was in great shape. Maybe it was Darrel Smith's helmet that made the difference and saved his life after a car struck his bike in August. Perhaps, Smith thought, it was the thousands of prayers given for him from other park rangers, his fellow bicyclists and the entire community. In a little more than three months, Smith came out of a month-long medically induced coma, regained 20 pounds of lost muscle and just last Thursday took a two-mile ride on his tricycle for the first time since the accident. "Yes, it hurt like hell... I got nine pieces of stainless steel (in me) right now. Two of them are cables," he said, showing his right hip. His smile and his beaming optimism goes against the grain of the aches he described. Smith's trainer, Keith A. Bowyer Jr., thinks it was Smith's drive that got him where he is now. Smith's hoping by Friday that he will get back on his job at Highlands Hammock State Park. By Christmas, Smith's hoping he can try out a bicycle. ...more

December 11, 2007