Two local legislative appropriations on budget ‘turkey’ list
Saturday, May 18, 2013
- A $2 million hybrid wetland treatment system for Fisheating Creek, which would use floating aquatic vegetation to remove phosphorus and nitrogen from the water, is one of two area projects that have ended up on an annual le...
Road fatalities go up compared to last year
Thursday, May 9, 2013
- Almost all of this year’s fatal road accidents in Highlands County have happened during two months.
6,000 pieces later, Sebring woman gets puzzle done
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
- Thelma Chapman has done puzzles all her life, but a 6,000-piece puzzle of a mountain scenery from Italy literally took a mountain of an effort to finish.
New LP town clerk to be sworn in next week
Monday, May 6, 2013
- One thing you learn right away about Lake Placid’s new town clerk is that she goes by her middle name –McQueen – and doesn’t like to reveal her first name.
U.S. 27 widening on schedule, barring weather delays
Thursday, May 2, 2013
- Weather permitting, a project to widen 2.9 miles of U.S. 27 from Lake Isis Avenue to the Highlands/Polk County line is scheduled to be finished by the end of August.
Group affirms power of prayer
Thursday, May 2, 2013
- About 200 people gathered Thursday to affirm the power of prayer, not just one day but every day, as part of an annual tradition former Highlands County Clerk of Courts L.E. “Luke” Brooker started 19 years ago.
Sebring downtown’s Circle Theatre gets ready to open
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
- On June 2, 1923, a local plumbing contractor and real-estate developer unveiled downtown Sebring’s Circle Theatre, which had small shops in the front, a movie theater in the back and professional offices on the second floor.
Late resident to receive honorary degree from SFSC
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
- Monday evening, Lisa Beatty will don a cap and gown for her older brother, who if he were still alive, would probably wonder what the fuss was about.
‘Kids That Kare’
Monday, Apr 29, 2013
- Jennifer Sapp smiled and slightly nodded her head as a group of kids belted out “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” the alphabet song and other children’s ditties.
Changes to G.E.D. coming Jan. 1
Saturday, Apr 27, 2013
- Zachary Blatt said he just passed his General Education Development test last week and his advice to those pursuing their G.E.D. diploma is to “take it while you can.”
Archbold may get state money for roof restoration
Thursday, Apr 25, 2013
- Florida legislators are considering whether to fund a $348,724 project that would restore to its pristine condition the roofs of two of Archbold Biological Station’s five National Historic Register buildings.
Texting while driving ban accelerates in Legislature
Thursday, Apr 25, 2013
- John Griffin hopes Florida finally bans texting while driving and saves lives.
Middle schoolers get a head start on high school credits
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013
- Brooke Turner may be a sixth-grader but she’s already got an “A” for her first high school course.
Preparing for the Common Core Standards
Friday, Apr 19, 2013
- Don’t be surprised if next school year you find your child reading more complex, non-fiction passages in school and harder-than-usual math homework that focuses more on critical thinking than rote-memorization.
Habitat focuses on rehabbing donated properties
Thursday, Apr 18, 2013
- Highlands County Habitat for Humanity has accepted donations of homes and lots for many years.
Local churches sought for foster care, adoption program
Thursday, Apr 18, 2013
- Pastor Darin Canary only needs 130 Christian families, and when you do the math, he said, it shouldn’t be that hard.
Program to help autistic kids, families in the works
Wednesday, Apr 17, 2013
- The Children’s Services Council has endorsed the creation of a program to help autistic children and their families, and a local foundation will soon decide whether to administer and fund it.
From dogs to cats, it’s chicken time at animal control
Tuesday, Apr 16, 2013
- These days it’s hard to tell which are louder at the Highlands County Animal Control shelter: the dogs or the roosters.
Biggest Loser winner gains good health, confidence
Monday, Apr 15, 2013
- When Eric Marshall had a birthday party for his daughter recently, family and friends were asking about him even though he was standing in front of them.
Mission accomplished
Thursday, Apr 11, 2013
- Most people have a bucket list of some sort, but Esther Soehner doesn’t have to worry about that anymore.
Vets group thanks kids for welcome home cards
Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013
- SEBRING Luegenger Moses’ first-grade class at the Sebring Boys & Girls Club spent one hour one afternoon drawing cards for Vietnam War veterans who never received a proper welcome back home more than 40 years ago.
Growing knowledge
Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013
- Isabela Potter and Sophia Hicks dug their hands into the mud, pulling out bok choy plants with a lot of gusto.
Sequestration cancels SFSC show
Tuesday, Apr 9, 2013
- A free concert the U.S. Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors were hosting Friday for Highlands County residents has been canceled due to cutbacks from the federal budget sequestration.
The sneezing season is longer, earlier this year
Monday, Apr 8, 2013
- When George Menendez suffers from watery eyes and a runny nose every day he knows he is experiencing bad allergies, like this year.
School community ‘cash mobs’ deli as a thank you
Thursday, Apr 4, 2013
- It was a particularly busy Wednesday at Mae Lee’s Deli and Catering, thanks to what could be the first-ever local cash mob.
Many civic clubs stub out cigarette smoke
Wednesday, Apr 3, 2013
- When Doug Deierlein suggested that the American Legion Post 69 in Avon Park become non-smoking inside, even his own commander at that time was a little upset with the idea at first.
Child advocates ask for more community involvement
Tuesday, Apr 2, 2013
- While Highlands County has a close-knit community that is like family, more people need to step up and help children who have been placed in the “system,” exhorted several local child advocates Tuesday.
Film student headed to India to document conversion stories
Monday, Apr 1, 2013
- Local resident and film major Samantha Berry is headed to an assignment that’s both challenging and exciting.
Turning a loss into salvation
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2013
- Gene Pollard grew up in Lake Placid with four siblings in the frame house his dad built.
Authorities comb through video footage to get leads on weekend vandals
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2013
- The vandalism count from a weekend shooting spree that damaged storefronts countywide continues to climb, as authorities from three jurisdictions comb through security footage to get leads and then plan to gather to compare...
Three cruisers damaged after getaway, sheriff’s office says
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2013
- A routine call authorities made to investigate a disturbance complaint at a Lorida mudhole ended up with three damaged cruisers and two deputies who had to avoid getting run over, an arrest report states.
Vandals hit county businesses
Monday, Mar 25, 2013
- Windows at J.C. Penny’s and Belk at Lakeshore Mall were two of the 50-odd businesses whose windows were shot at with a BB-type gun in a countywide shooting spree that has damaged several storefronts from Lake Placid to Avon...