HUDSON -- Even in the Information Age, finding useful, specific information on demand can be a challenge. For seniors, it can be especially daunting to even locate services and agencies that aid older people, let alone make the most of them. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis and Community Aging and Retirement Services cut out a lot of the legwork Monday, as they teamed up to organize and host a Senior Health & Wellness Fair at the CARES Rao Musunuru, M.D., Enrichment Center. ...more

June 28, 2008

Technology has changed the way political campaigns are run, according to several local politicians, candidates and party officials. Chuck Oakes, state committeeman from the Highlands County Republican Party, said that the Internet made a major impact on political campaigning. "Instead of people coming out at night and listening to speeches, they rely on the Internet," said Oakes. "Instead of watching a debate on television, they're watching segments on the Internet." One real advantage is the number of computer savvy-younger voters who get their political information from the web. ...more

June 25, 2008

SEBRING — First-term Republican Highlands County Commissioner Barbara Stewart won a second-four-year term Friday afternoon when nobody filed to run against her for the commission seat from the Avon Park district. Meanwhile, state Rep. Denise Grimsley, R- Lake Placid, will have a potentially formidable opponent in her bid for re-election. At 3:30 p.m. Friday, three and a half hours after the noon deadline for certifying candidates, the Florida Division of Elections certfified a potentially formidable independent candidate who goes straight to the November general election. ...more

June 20, 2008

SEBRING – Zane Thomas, who works in the Highlands County planning department, has filed to run for county commissioner. As an independent, Thomas automatically goes into the November general election for the county commission seat held by Guy Maxcy. Maxcy, a Republican, is running for his fifth consecutive four-year term. Thomas unsuccessfully ran two years ago as a Democrat for the state representative's seat held by Denise Grimsley, R-Lake Placid. ...more

June 18, 2008

LAKE PLACID — State Representative Denise Grimsley's condo used more water than any other piece of residential property in Lake Placid through all of 2007 and the first three months of 2008, the town's water usage records indicate. The condo at 19 Sunset Lane had used more than 50,000 gallons a month from January 2007––the earliest records obtained in a countywide request of all municipal and county water usage records––to March 17, 2008. Her usage cut down to 11,000 gallons per month from March through May 16. Lake Placid utilities director Gary Freeman said the typical Lake Placid resident consumes 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water per month. ...more

June 9, 2008

SEBRING — A Lake Placid veterinarian's push for a new ballot initiative, which would create a new property tax to build a land acquisition fund, may reach the county commissioners next month. Dr. Elton Gissindanner and his supporters convinced the Natural Resources Advisory Commission Wednesday to draft a bill that would create a tax of 0.2 mils, or $10 for a property valued at $100,000 after the $50,000 homestead exemptions are considered. If the county commissioners approve it, it could appear on the ballot in November. Gissindanner said that 29 Florida counties had a conservation fund of some sort. Polk County's program bought more than 12,000 acres so far. ...more

May 29, 2008

Drew Zink saw a side of his football coach never witnessed before. Zink and his Tampa Catholic teammates were gathered on the Citrus Bowl sideline having just been introduced before their Class 2A state championship game against Madison County. Their focus turned to the tunnel where Crusaders head coach Bob Henriquez waited to hear his name. ...more

December 23, 2007

John McCaughey, senior district secretary to State Representative Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, died Monday at South Florida Baptist Hospital. He was 67. ...more

December 22, 2007

Always the coach, Bob Henriquez usually takes home his work. There are many late-night sessions with game film. ...more

December 8, 2007

Once again the residents of Erin Park have stepped up to the plate and took care of a problem that should have been resolved by the county or the state. ...more

September 30, 2007