On Thursday evening, the Highlands County commissioners will hold the first of two required evening public hearings on the proposed county budget for fiscal year 2008-09, which starts Oct. 1. ...more

August 13, 2008

It is not certain which environmental organization came up "Pave it or Save it," but I am beholden to them as it stirred my recollection of words to that effect, thrown as a challenge; "If you want to save that piece of wild land, buy it!" How many times have I heard that from local and other bureaucrats, and even a newspaper whose editorial staff must have been influenced by developers or big agriculture? ...more

August 13, 2008

After doing weeks of research on the state law, legal issues and complaints of residents at Sun 'n Lake of Sebring, Highlands County Assistant Administrator Ricky Helms recommended Tuesday that the board of county commissioners do nothing about the battle there between homeowners and the large, absentee landowners. ...more

August 13, 2008

County bosses to mull alternatives. ...more

August 12, 2008

Efforts to place on the 2008 ballot a property tax to help the county conserve environmentally sensitive lands appeared to be dead late Wednesday afternoon after its backers conceded to a county advisory commission that the worsening economy would dampen its support. ...more

August 1, 2008

Why don't opponents to an elected county mayor with veto power want to fix an archaic governmental system? Why are they afraid to let the voters decide whether to change the structure of county government? ...more

August 1, 2008

SEBRING - Efforts to place on the 2008 ballot a property tax to help the county conserve environmentally sensitive lands appear to be dead after its backers conceded to a county advisory commission that the worsening economy would damper its support. The Natural Resources Advisory Commission agreed, as it voted against drafting the revised ballot language for the proposal before the Aug. 26 deadline for it to appear on November's general election ballot. ...more

July 31, 2008

I guess the ink is dry on the "talking points" generated by the Spring Hill Fire Board. Now the barrage of information can begin. ...more

July 31, 2008

CHIEF SUBMITTED ROUGH DRAFT TO FIRE BOARD LAST WEEK ...more

July 27, 2008

Whether a new $11.1 million law enforcement building is constructed may be an election year issue for Sheriff Susan Benton, but a county committee is proceeding with their plans anyway. ...more

July 24, 2008