The real question: Will a real mouse play the Mouse King? The Lakeland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals premiered the holiday classic "Nutcracker Suite" on Monday at the Lakeside Village Paws & Claus Adoption Center, with shelter animals playing the roles in the popular Tchaikovsky ballet composed 116 years ago. ...more

December 2, 2008

The Lakeland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals premiered the holiday classic "Nutcracker Suite" today at the Lakeside Village Paws & Claus Adoption Center, with shelter animals playing the roles in the popular Tchaikovsky ballet composed 116 years ago. ...more

December 1, 2008

MANATEE COUNTY – Authorities recently found two young girls in an apartment filled with drugs and loaded guns and two unconscious adults. ...more

November 6, 2008

LAKE PLACID — Don't confuse Meals on Wheels volunteers with typical pizza delivery drivers. Meals on Wheels drivers do more than drop off food and race off to the next customer; they deliver hot food to the homebound, and as regular visitors, they socialize while providing a safety net for older residents. If a client fails to answer the door without notice, phone calls are made to check on his or her health. For many who receive the home delivered hot meals, the person who brings the food and sticks around to chat might be the only outside contact for a day. ...more

February 19, 2008

LAKELAND - A police officer fired several shots at a van whose driver tried to mow him down today after the officer threw down stop sticks, Lakeland police spokesman Jack Gillen said. ...more

January 10, 2008

LAKE PLACID — Local builder Chuck Oakes is poised to capitalize on the steady graying of county residents. On Tuesday, Oakes threw open the doors during a grand opening of a $6.5 million, 50,000 square foot, assisted living facility, located just north of town on U.S. 27. Oakes said he expected to open immediately after gaining state approval within 15 to 30 days for the Southern Lifestyle Assisted Living Facility. Oakes is not alone in an effort to capitalize locally on demographics that point to a large senior population in the county. Statistics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau show that 35 percent of Highlands County's residents are 65 and older, with a state average of 16.8 percent. George Hougthon, Inc., broke ground this year on Windsor Lakeside Village, a 70,000 square foot retirement community, with 129 independent living suites and 26 townhomes. Windsor Lakeside Village is located on County Road 621, on the shores of Lake Huntley. Sandy Foster, executive director of NU-HOPE, cited a large number of area seniors who should keep the new centers busy. ...more

December 2, 2007

The following businesses had ribbon cuttings recently with the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. ...more

November 26, 2007

LAKE PLACID — More than 100 workers are tapping nails, hanging drywall, installing plumbing and finishing off electrical work in order to finish by January Lake Placid's $14 million newest retirement community. The 70,000-square-foot facility will allow seniors to choose from four levels of health care. Plans call for 26 townhomes and 129 independent living suites, assisted living suites, and Alzheimer's care suites or dementia units. Windsor Lakeside Village is owned by George Houghton of George Houghton, Inc. This is the United Kingdom builder's first American project. ...more

September 3, 2007