The past several months have brought a new emotion into every home in America: fear. Fear that this economic meltdown will expose the core truth of a consumer society; a truth foretold in the old Southern expression, "Pigs get fed; hogs get slaughtered." ...more

January 25, 2009

The financial crisis has turned into a tryout of sorts for the next president, an unexpected chance for Barack Obama and John McCain to shine - or stumble - just as most voters are deciding whom to back. ...more

September 22, 2008

An Iowa sheriff said Wednesday that he has launched an investigation into a videotape showing abuse of pigs at a farm. ...more

September 18, 2008

On Wednesday, the sheriff's office will unveil its new livestock impound lot, on 11 acres at the Walter C. Heinrich Practical Training Center, 14063 S.R. 39 S. ...more

June 24, 2008

Tyler Metcalf plans to drum his way up and down the East Coast this summer as he makes the jump from high school senior to college freshman. ...more

May 28, 2008

A startling fact: About 70 percent of antibiotics used in the United States are put in livestock feed to promote growth and prevent disease in chickens, pigs and cattle. ...more

May 2, 2008

SEBRING — With a few exceptions, the white cards came up only once or twice for each steer and heifer that came through the midway Thursday night. On average, the 37 steer sold for about $2.46 per pound, with $2 being the starting bid. The auction's 22 heifers sold for and average of $1.73 a pound, while its 91 pigs cashed in an average of $2.69 per pound. Organizers said this is a drop from last year's prices, even though the data from last year was not available Thursday night. "It's the economy," said Brian Trimble, who has been the auctioneer for the fair's livestock sale the past five years. ...more

February 16, 2008

SEBRING — Blaine Albritton kept walking his steer around in circles near Firemen's Field's midway Thursday. Blaine's steer, Billy Bob, seemed a bit anxious that morning, mooing and occasionally bucking as Blaine held to his lead rope. But as Blaine got ready Thursday morning to show and auction Billy Bob at the Highlands County Fair, Blaine, 10, was also a bit uneasy parting with him. "It's going to be hard," he said of the coming auction. Blaine considered Billy Bob to be "like my best friend" during the 8 months he raised him. ...more

February 15, 2008

Traffic had no further disruptions Saturday on Interstate 75 in Marion County after pigs had taken over a portion of the highway Friday. ...more

January 6, 2008

School may be out for the holidays, but for some local students, the work is far from over. ...more

December 29, 2007