Here's a great idea: Let's give a business owner a "blanket" conditional use permit to erect a tent in the parking lot of a strip mall to sell whatever kind of junk comes rolling down the highway. ...more

May 29, 2008

A little more than a year after the notorious intersection of interstates 4 and 275 in downtown Tampa was upgraded, traffic is again slowing down and sometimes grinding to a halt, and not just during rush hours. ...more

February 24, 2008

Maybe there is something to this speed thing. Leading up to Monday's BCS Championship Game, LSU and Ohio State downplayed the perceived notion that Southeastern Conference teams have more speed than Big Ten teams. ...more

January 8, 2008

Coming soon on new presidential dollar coins - Old Hickory, Old Kinderhook, Old Man Eloquent and the Last of the Cocked Hats. ...more

December 28, 2007

SEBRING — David Poteat is proud of his family's Southern heritage, and he and other local people have formed a group to research and tell stories of their Confederate roots. He also understands that some people have preconceived notions about his group that are far from the truth. Poteat is quick to point out that a new Highlands County chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is "in no way a hate organization." In fact, the group has fought alleged hate groups in court who have used Confederate themes to spread their agenda, he adds. ...more

December 13, 2007

SEBRING — Basketball isn't all glitz and glamour. After all, somebody has to take out the garbage. Sebring backcourt mates Javier Medina and junior Chris Grubb have done just that for the Streaks this season, with Grubb earning the nickname "Garbage Man" by head coach Princeton Harris for his ability to do the dirty things to help his team. Grubb is a natural baller and consummate team player, who can be an explosive offensive threat one minute and diving on the floor for a loose ball the next. His nickname is a moniker he's proud to wear. "I'm the type of player that'll do anything my team needs," Grubb said. "I play hard at both ends and am always working hard to improve." ...more

December 7, 2007

AVON PARK –– The last words Avon Park girls basketball head coach Paulette Daley said before she walked off the court during the Class 4A-District 10 championship game against Sebring last season have built the foundation and set the tone for the Red Devils this year. "We'll be back," said a confident Daley. Those words are the rallying cry for the more focused and discipline squad that is devoid of senior leadership, but has the tools to push the defending-district-champion Blue Streaks to the limit. "It was a very challenging year," said Daley, who led Avon park to a 14-5 overall record last season. "The second year should be smoother, since the girls know my system and they know full well that the district title slipped out of their hands." The "oh-so-close" moniker was placed on the Red Devils last season after holding the undefeated Blue Streaks to 16 points in the first half of the district championship game, but couldn't capitalize on Sebring's off night, as the score was tied at intermission. ...more

November 13, 2007

SEBRING — In honor of the county's veterans, the School Board of Highlands County unanimously approved naming its new elementary school "Memorial Elementary." The school is under construction on the west side of Memorial Drive, just north of Lakeview Memorial Gardens. The school district has a preference for naming schools with a geographic element in the name, Superintendent Wally Cox said at Tuesday's school board meeting. ...more

October 25, 2007

SEBRING — The district's newest elementary school is being built on Memorial Drive a short distance north and across the road from a memorial garden, so "Memorial Elementary" would be an obvious name choice. Superintendent Wally Cox has another reason for the "Memorial" moniker for the district's 17th school, which is currently designated as Elementary "A." "I would like to dedicate Memorial Elementary in honor of our veterans," Cox stated in a memo to the school board members. "I believe it would be a great honor to the many veterans who live in Highlands County and to all veterans who have sacrificed much to give us the freedoms that we enjoy each and every day. ...more

October 19, 2007

A motorized cart drove off the field carrying yet another Buccaneer regular Sunday. That image may come to symbolize the Bucs' 2007 season. ...more

October 15, 2007