The city has reached a tentative agreement with its largest union in a dispute over wages, while an impasse with another union may be headed for the city council. ...more

November 5, 2009

The city has reached a tentative agreement with its largest union in a dispute over wages, while an impasse with another union may be headed for the city council. ...more

November 4, 2009

Rafael Rokitta peered at the laptop Tampa police Officer Jimmy Owens opened on the trunk of a Ford Fusion in a city park Wednesday. ...more

March 7, 2009

Rafael Rokitta peered at the laptop Tampa police Officer Jimmy Owens opened on the trunk of a Ford Fusion in a city park Wednesday. With a few key clicks, Owens looked up possible suspects related to a recent burglary. "Do you have computers in your car in Germany?" Owens asked. Rokitta, a trainee for the Berlin police, shook his head. He has to run identity checks from a main police building; nothing portable. ...more

March 5, 2009

A former employee of the Brooksville Police Department made a case to get his job back Thursday, three months after he was fired for allegedly using his position to get out of a speeding ticket. ...more

December 5, 2008

"Exit Music," by Ian Rankin. (Little, Brown and Co., $24.99) ...more

October 5, 2008

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program is back in the city's two elementary schools after it was cut by the police department. ...more

September 12, 2008

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Two babies were killed when a river surging with rain from Tropical Storm Fay toppled their crowded bus, a U.N. official said Monday, raising the storm's Caribbean death toll to at least 14. ...more

August 19, 2008

In my opinion the city of Avon Park is looking at a good method to mount their Code Enforcement Officers. I have been using an electric GEM car for over a year now. It has required absolutely no maintenance. We drive to church and grocery shopping several times a week. We also drive to the bank, the post office and veterinary, but not to the gas station! I have probably not run it as many miles as the officers will, but it is practically costless with no pollution of any kind, because it uses no gasoline and it charges quickly and easily. The Alan Jay experts can fix any small problem as well as change the batteries and replace any worn parts. I see no reason the city could not put at least half of their police force in the GEM cars too. Install good radios and they can notify a conventional cruiser if a speeder is spotted. ...more

August 7, 2008

Imagine how crushed I was when my granddaughter told me recently that she isn't interested in "all the stuff that happened in the past." She's only 10. I still hope to win her over. ...more

July 13, 2008