County parks board to decide Thursday whether to budget $2.5 million for the Brandon Community Advantage Center. ...more

June 2, 2008

I am writing in reference to an article in the Highlands Today, May 30: "The first chop of Highlands County's budget-cutting axe fell Thursday. It fell on the proverbial neck of Highlands County Sports Complex, manger Rocky Ellingsworth." This is an outrage! The Highlands County Commission all but promised citizens that the sports complex would be proactively managed, and that a manager would be responsible for keeping the operational costs of the sports complex to a minimum. Let me remind you that about 50 percent of all operational costs were to be recovered from user fees and recreational concession stand profits. While as a taxpayer, I feel that the sports complex was built with little community support, and with little support from taxpayers, the "powers that be" decided that it was a worthy project and spent the money anyway. Yes, a large grant paid for a majority of the construction project. ...more

June 2, 2008

AVON PARK — Winning championships is never easy, and Bagwell Bomber Phillies coach Willie Perry didn't hold back when talking about what his boys had accomplished this year — a perfect season. ...more

May 30, 2008

AVON PARK — Trey Perry drove in six runs — including a three-run homer in the second inning — to lift the Bagwell Bomber Phillies to a 19-8 five-inning victory over the Laye's Tire Service Royals in the opening round of the Dixie Youth Majors (ages 11-12) city tournament at Durrah Martin Sports Complex on Tuesday. ...more

May 28, 2008

Clad in white, the man sprinted forward, a hard, leather-covered ball in his right hand. In a windmill motion, he hurled the ball toward a heavily-padded, bat-wielding opponent. ...more

May 25, 2008

AVON PARK – It may have been just three games, but for Tyrone Perry, they were the toughest three games of the season. ...more

May 21, 2008

SEBRING — Two changes to the Highlands County Sports Complex are in the works and a third is planned but as of yet unfunded. On Saturday, Gordon and Mary Delp, whose specialty was their Philly cheeseteak at their former restaurant on South Commerce Avenue, will open up Park Place Snackbar & Grill at the sports complex. The Delps signed a one-year lease, with an option to renew it for up to four years, with the county to prepare and sell food at the sports complex. ...more

May 21, 2008

AVON PARK — Austin Stadie's two-run double proved to be more than a well-timed hit, but the fuel that ignited a rally that ended in a 4-3 victory for the Laye's Tires, Inc. Royals over Long's Air Conditioning Reds in Monday's Dixie Youth Majors (ages 11-12) game at Durrah Martin Sports Complex. ...more

May 20, 2008

Once again I state my opposition to using tax monies for tennis courts at public schools. During a time of economic challenges, when teachers across the state are being laid off, and when many counties will face budget shortfalls paying for fuel for county vehicles and school district buses, it is not a time to consider spending money to build tennis courts on public school campus. Any such recreational public monies should be spent on projects that benefit all residents — not just school children. ...more

May 12, 2008

Construction is not expected to begin for months, but when the $3.7 million expansion of the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex is complete, it will usher in a new recreational era for Lutz kids. ...more

May 10, 2008