AVON PARK — The sounds of sneakers squeaking and basketballs being dribbled emanated from the Avon Park Recreation Department on Saturday. More than 170 youngsters, ages 3-13, were on hand for the second week of games in the Avon Park Recreation Youth Basketball League. The league, which is in its first year, is being run by Michelle Cuencas, who is the interim supervisor for the Avon Park Recreation Department. ...more

December 17, 2007

Fido and his four-legged friends were unleashed Thursday on the city's first-ever dog park located within Meadows Park, off Larch Lane. ...more

December 13, 2007

AVON PARK — City Manager C.B. Shirey applied to be the Avon Park Executive Airport's manager Tuesday, a move that could force him to resign as the city manager if he were hired. The city council could hire him as early as Jan. 2 when they have their next meeting. If he is hired, Shirey might continue acting as the city manager until a replacement is found. Shirey announced his intentions Monday. Some council members became aware of Shirey's plans only the morning before the meeting. They would have hired Shirey that day, but Shirey did not complete the application until Tuesday. ...more

December 12, 2007

SEBRING –– On March 1, public access should be restored, on a limited basis, to popular Lake Denton. The special seven-member Lake Denton Citizens Advisory Committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to send that recommendation to the Highlands County commissioners. Commissioners appointed the committee in mid-September after voting 3-2 to close public access to this lake –– widely considered one of the best scuba diving lakes in the state –– for up to a year. Problems cited by commissioners in closing the county boat ramp, the only public access to this exceptionally clear, 65-acre lake, included: Potentially dangerous overcrowding by scuba divers, swimmers and boaters; illegal parking that sometimes clogged or blocked road access to lakefront homes; and occasional crude, lewd, rude and rowdy behavior by some lake users. ...more

December 7, 2007

The Pasco County park ranger program apparently has ended abruptly today, according to the man in charge of the 4-month-old volunteer organization. ...more

November 29, 2007

A return to civility. That was the cry from county commissioners Tuesday after one resident took advantage of the citizen comment portion of the commission meeting to blast Parks and Recreation Director Pat Fagan and one of his staffers. ...more

November 28, 2007

In a scenario familiar to most of its users, a popular spot for seniors is beginning to show its age. ...more

November 28, 2007

It's 80 acres of old-growth Florida, less than a mile from downtown and in the middle of the most densely populated section of Pasco County. ...more

November 17, 2007

It's 80 acres of old-growth Florida, less than a mile from downtown and in the middle of the most densely populated section of Pasco County. ...more

November 10, 2007

The principals in a first-of-its-kind joint venture are committed to creating a top-notch product. They also accept that the planning and delivery process is no simple walk in the park. ...more

November 7, 2007