One person has died in a crash that closed County Road 39 at State Road 674 for hours today, authorities said. ...more

December 26, 2007

One year ago, my family moved away from Miami to find a better environment to raise our family. On the night of Dec. 17, we discovered how right we were in choosing the Town of Lake Placid. We lost everything in the fire that consumed our house at 367 Carole Road NW, but we gained an overwhelming sense of community. The efforts made by both the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department and the Placid Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, was an act we thought deserved acknowledgment. They disregarded personal safety to retrieve the only item of any value to my family, my little brother's ashes, who had passed away only a year ago. However, they did not stop there. They continued going back into the house despite the fire's refusal to be put out, or the roof collapsing all around them. For hours they fought that Phoenix and the cold weather of that evening's frost, to help a family they did not know, and to try and maintain a home they no longer recognized. Even while we were all aware that all was lost, they did not quit until the last ember was out. They came to us later and handed us pictures they had managed to rescue while dowsing flames. My family and I could not believe that these fire personnel were all volunteers. ...more

December 23, 2007

There was an early Grinch who stole our church trailer and "Thanks-For-Giving Bags" being collected by members of our parish to be distributed to needy families through our Community Cupboard Food Pantry ("Church Bemoans Theft Of Trailer Full Of Holiday Fare," Metro, Nov. 14). ...more

December 15, 2007

Find Stella's Killer The evening of Nov. 9 was the worst of our lives. We came home to find our dog Stella shot to death on our property. She was not just a dog but a beloved family member full of life. ...more

December 14, 2007

The recent loss of our son Wayne Weed has really confirmed our feelings that Sebring is a wonderful and caring community. The outpouring of love and sympathy from many friends was overwhelming. When tragedy strikes a family, the support like we received does not make the sadness less, but knowing that there are so many people that really care, makes bearing the sadness a little easier. ...more

December 12, 2007

The city manager says he will call for an investigation and changes in parade rules after a child died Friday at the Plant City Christmas Parade. ...more

December 9, 2007

I read with great emotion the Nov. 29 letter of the day from John Berninger regarding the death of his brother. ...more

December 2, 2007

"Waiting to Surface," by Emily Listfield (Atria Books, $25) ...more

November 25, 2007

Morris "Sandy" Weinberg Jr. and Kevin Hayslett, attorneys for Nick Bollea, have released the following statement on their client's behalf: ...more

November 7, 2007

APOLLO BEACH - The father of the driver in a fatal Apollo Beach Boulevard car accident thinks a different type of mailbox could have prevented the death of the car's passenger. ...more

November 1, 2007