SEBRING — Expect twice as large an audience for Heartland Idol this year, and watch our downtown grow, Sebring CRA members suggested at their Monday night meeting. At Commissioner Jim Rimer's suggestion, the Community Redevelopment Agency will interview all five firms that applied for the job to market Sebring's downtown. "We don't have a clue as to the cost," complained Commissioner Lorrie Smith, who moved to add the cost of the campaign to the evaluation form for the five firms. ...more

June 24, 2008

Saturday's drowning of a 23-year-old man at the City Pier Beach should alert us to the potential dangers lurking in our lakes due to their present low lake levels. ...more

June 12, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County commissioners will consider seeking grant money to continue the neighborhood revitalization of the Washington Heights neighborhood from the city of Sebring into the abutting Lincoln Heights area, which lies in the unincorporated area. Commissioner Barbara Stewart raised that idea last week after the five commissioners voted unanimously to donate $1,000 for equipment rentals for the June 21 Juneteenth community festival in Washington Heights. Both Stewart and Edgar Stokes, chairman of the county commissioners, said they were impressed by the streetscape project, which is improving the appearance of Lemon Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the center of the Washington Heights neighborhood. Further improvements to the neighborhood will be discussed by neighborhood residents and city leaders at two "visioning" sessions, scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 18 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 19. ...more

May 25, 2008

SEBRING — A Sebring contractor has filed a construction claim of lien against the city of Sebring for its building in the Sebring Circle, currently occupied by the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce. Mark Stewart, owner and president of MCS Contracting, doing business as Stewart Construction, located at 2714 Kenilworth Blvd., swore out the claim of lien on May 15, stating that his firm provided labor, services and materials to remodel the old chamber building. According to the document filed with Highlands County Clerk of Courts L.E. "Luke" Brooker, Stewart claims his business did the remodeling for $43,429.46, starting on Nov. 29 and completing the job on March 13. ...more

May 19, 2008

The City of Sebring has chosen the right way to impose its proposed fire assessments. Make groups of property owners pay proportionally to the fire calls they make, and don't exempt anyone. After the City of Avon Park's harrowing experience to make groups –– initially exempted –– pay their share of the assessment, Sebring has decided that exempting anyone, and later asking for their money, is a bad idea. That's a good policy in making taxation as fair as possible. Fires do not discriminate, be it a church building, a government office or a home, or a vacant lot. And there's no reason why some property owners should be discriminated against when paying this proposed assessment. ...more

May 12, 2008

SEBRING — His official title is still assistant city administrator, but for all practical purposes Scott Noethlich has taken over operations of the City of Sebring. In preparation for Bob Hoffman's retirement at end of June after almost 18 years as city administrator, Noethlich has been transitioning slowly into the job. ...more

May 9, 2008

SEBRING — In about 60 days, Highlands County will have to take over operations of the long troubled Thunderbird Hills Wastewater Treatment Plant. This past week, David S. Plank, owner of Landmark Utilities, filed legal documents informing the county of his intent to abandon the plant. ...more

May 4, 2008

Highlands County is building the Sebring Parkway around the city of Sebring. If House Bill 683 passes this will bring the parkway to a screeching halt. Highlands County is building the parkway with our own employees and road equipment. We are also building an asphalt plant at our Highlands County Landfill to run off methane gas that is just burning off now into the air now at the cost of $3 million. We are committed Gov. Crist to the greening of Florida. If this bill passes it will put our road and bridge crews out of work. This will ruin Highlands and other counties that due their own work. The Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida wants to bid out the work to them there by costing Highlands County millions of tax dollars. ...more

January 27, 2008

SEBRING — Veteran's Beach has failed a water quality test, making it unsafe for swimming. Health Department officials have determined Veterans Beach has an unsatisfactory rating after two samples were taken because of high levels of fecal coliform. ...more

January 3, 2008

SEBRING — Thermal imaging cameras have changed the way firefighters fight fire, and now every fire truck in the city of Sebring is equipped with one. "We can now ensure for every call in the city we have this tool available," said Fire Chief Brad Batz. "Any entry firefighter will have this tool available for search and rescue." Firefighters actually have the camera in hand before they even pick up a hose. The screen generates thermal images of the fire scene, which are illuminated in various colors, even in the dark. Body heat can be detected, helping firefighters find victims, and fires can even be found through walls. ...more

December 15, 2007