Recently, I noticed while driving through the neighboring towns of South Bay, Lake Placid, Lake Wales and Avon Park, that they have expanded their landscaping. The addition of sabal palms sets off the feeling of Florida and our native flora and trees. This is of great value to those coming south during the ice and snow from their summer homes in the north. It has also been researched and found that landscaping improves the attitude of drivers and reduces road rage. Having done some slight research, it didn't take long to discover that the town of Lake Placid has been working with federal money, private donations and various grants to give such a pleasing view of their landscaping along U.S. 27 and Interlake Boulevard. ...more

December 22, 2009

The organization that helped free James Bain from prison for a crime he didn't commit did not exist when he was sentenced to life 35 years ago, nor did the science that eventually freed him. ...more

December 18, 2009

Archbold Biological Station announced plans recently to build a $4.3 million visitor's center, an interpretive center and a 14-room lodge. ...more

November 30, 2009

Area food banks say they have never seen the local economy so bad and the need for emergency donations of food so great. ...more

November 14, 2009

Locals who wax nostalgic about a department store that stood on State Road 60 for close to 50 years will be charmed by a new holiday ornament that depicts in 24-karat gold-plated a longtime landmark that closed in 2000. ...more

November 4, 2009

Each month, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 139 sends 25 CARE boxes to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The American Legion, SAL and Auxiliary Post 139 pack and prepare the boxes and pay the postage. All supplies are donated by members of American Legion, Auxiliary, senior ladies groups and through private donations. ...more

September 2, 2009

Days before Gov. Sarah Palin is scheduled to leave office, the former vice presidential candidate is facing yet another legal distraction: An independent investigator found evidence she may have violated ethics laws by trading on her position as she sought money for lawyer fees. ...more

July 22, 2009

As of 7:30 a.m. today, Hillsborough County's jails housed 3,479 inmates, up to 70 percent of them arrested for drug or drug-related crimes, said sheriff's Col. Gary Terry. ...more

March 24, 2009

Nature's Classroom was rededicated the other day to mark the completion of a $4 million renovation of the environmental education center on the banks of the Hillsborough River. ...more

March 16, 2009

President Barack Obama said today he is allowing federal taxpayer dollars to fund significantly broader research on embryonic stem cells because "medical miracles do not happen simply by accident," and promised his administration would make up for the ground lost under his predecessor. ...more

March 9, 2009