SEBRING — How many unexcused absences are too many? School Board Member Andy Tuck is alarmed at the nearly 7,700 unexcused absences district-wide in the first nine weeks of school. It's hard to hold teachers accountable when kids don't come to school, he said. Several students have already missed more than 10 days of school. Highlands County School District data shows 43 middle school students (1.5 percent) were absent 10 or more days during the first nine weeks of the school year. At the elementary level, 57 students (1 percent) were absent 10 or more days during the same time period, Aug. 20 through Oct. 24. At the high school level, only five students (one-tenth of 1 percent) were absent 10 or more days. ...more

November 9, 2007

If Gov. Charlie Crist signs the bill, college tuition would rise by 5 percent in January. The increase, passed Friday by the Legislature, is part of an effort to make state spending comply with a revenue shortfall, which has been blamed partly on the housing market downturn. ...more

October 13, 2007

Plenty of eyes are watching a new project in Highlands County. Some are impressed and interested in seeing if the project is a success. Others want nothing more than to shut it down, and are possibly going to ask state lawmakers to do something about it. The county's new asphalt plant is drawing a lot of reaction. We hope the project is successful and saves taxpayers as much money as possible. Ken Wheeler, the county's solid waste director, pitched the idea to county commissioners some time ago. He said the county could produce its own asphalt for road repairs much cheaper than commercial companies. That means more roads are repaired for the same amount of money. Counties around Florida took great interest in Highlands County's newest venture. Some will buy the less expensive asphalt, while others might begin a similar project in their own county. ...more

October 12, 2007

SEBRING — The state Legislature's new plan for property tax relief — doubling the homestead exemption — would cost Highlands County government more in lost revenue than the lawmakers' original super exemption plan. ...more

October 10, 2007

The Florida Legislature was called to special session this past week to deal with several pressing issues. Of immediate concern is the necessity to revisit the language of the proposed Tax Reform Amendment, originally slated to be on the ballot for the Jan. 29, 2008 presidential primary election. A circuit court judge has ruled that the amendment's language is "unconstitutionally vague and confusing." Most voters now concede that the proposed amendment's wording and intention is at best difficult to understand. ...more

October 10, 2007

Bill Fanning of Hudson says spineless Republicans should be replaced in 2008 with Democrats or Republicans with spines. ...more

October 10, 2007

SEBRING –– Old State Road 8 is too narrow, too bumpy and, in some places, sometimes under water. For Highlands County's plan to reconstruct this road over the next year, the state giveth $2.3 million. County officials are hoping the state, facing a billion-dollar revenue shortfall, won't taketh away. The fate of this project rides on the special 10-day session of the Florida Legislature starting tomorrow. Legislators and Gov. Charlie Christ need to chop $1.1 billion in spending to balance the budget. Highlands County Engineer Ramon Gavarrete said the reconstruction of Old State Road 8 isn't expected to get the "ax." But, he said, nothing will be certain until the Legislature finishes its budget cutting. ...more

October 2, 2007

The Tribune, on Aug. 27, published an 'other view' written by Peter Pitts, entitled 'One Size Medicine Does Not Fit All.' What Pitts said just wasn't right, at least as far as I was concerned. In essence, he was condemning those who believe in the concept of 'evidence-based medicine.' I believe in it. ...more

September 20, 2007