TAMPA - Police charged a husband and wife with felony aggravated assault after each pointed a handgun at the other, affidavits state. ...more

June 3, 2008

SEBRING — Ramon Gavarrete, the Highlands County engineer, and Ken Wheeler, the county's director of solid waste, are the two finalists for the new position of director of the division of public works. County Administrator Carol and two citizens panels picked the five finalists for the public works and public safety division director jobs on Thursday, after interviewing more than two dozen candidates. Cool said he could not officially announce the names of the five finalists — three for public safety division director and only two for public works division director — until background checks for all five had been completed satisfactorily. ...more

February 17, 2008

TAMPA - Residents might soon pay more for trash collection as part of a plan to help balance the city's budget. ...more

February 13, 2008

SEBRING — It appears Highlands County will be taking in about $300,000 less than last year, according to calculations provided by Highlands County Budget Manager Tim Mechling. Voters decided Tuesday to cut their own property taxes, which will cost Highlands County an additional $4.7 million. At the school board office, Mike Averyt, director of business and operations, is estimating shortfalls of as high as $4 million. ...more

February 3, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County is likely to snag nearly one-third of the $10.5 million that Gov. Charlie Crist convinced the Legislature to award in local-government grants for innovative recycling projects this fiscal year. One hundred and forty cities and counties applied for these grants, officially called the "Fiscal Year 2008-09 Innovative Recycling/Waste Reduction Grants." After reviewing all 140 applications, the state Department of Environmental Protection picked the top 33 projects based on merit. The Legislature has appropriated $10.56 million for this grant program for fiscal 2008-09, a reduction from the $12.4 million allocated for this program the year before. ...more

February 2, 2008

Henry Wilson Jr. of New Port Richey says County Commission must make tough decision on recycling. ...more

January 29, 2008

Councilman John Dingfelder has proposed a plan to entice developers - and require the city - to meet certain environmental standards on new buildings. ...more

January 10, 2008

Christmas is over. The presents are unwrapped. The decorations are starting to look a little old. Thoughts are turning to New Year's Eve celebrations. ...more

December 28, 2007

Homeowners can haul away the mulch. ...more

December 27, 2007

SEBRING — Christmas decorations are going back into boxes, but what happens to that live tree that brought holiday cheer? Residents just have to cart the tree, with the ornaments and tree stand removed, to the curb and solid waste officials will take care of the rest. Richard Gorman, landfill operation manager for Highlands County, said the county residents' Christmas trees are picked up with the yard waste and mixed with dirt and sand to make a ground cover at the Highlands County Landfill. The ground cover, which is spread over the landfill daily, is used for odor control and as a barrier from intrusion by birds and animals. ...more

December 27, 2007