SEBRING — A total of 26 federal agencies annually offer more than 1,000 grant programs in various categories and maneuvering through the process may be difficult and confusing. Congressman Tim Mahoney's office wants to help people get through the maze. Mahoney's office and the Highlands County Economic Development Commission are co-hosting a workshop from 10 a.m. – noon Wednesday, July 9 at the Sebring Civic Center. The grant application process for federal grants and new grant opportunities will be reviewed during the workshop. Best practice strategies will be discussed. ...more

June 21, 2008

SEBRING — Wednesday's emergency preparedness drill at the Agri-Civic Center was only practice, but almost 200 volunteers and county employees acted like the mock exercise was real. Andrew Pease, a Sun 'n' Lake Elementary School student, gave up a day of summer break to volunteer and portray a "victim," along with his mother Mary and sister Becky. The 9-year-old took the drill to heart and said he was "a little scared." "My mom tells me to not talk to strangers, but I trust the police and others," said Andrew Pease. "This is like some kind of play, but it's real, too." ...more

June 19, 2008

County commissioners gave tentative endorsement of giving $2.5 million to the Brandon Community Advantage Center. ...more

June 17, 2008

SEBRING —Two of Highlands County's early agricultural pioneers in the citrus industry will have their names names written posthumously on the outside and inside of the Agri-Civic Center on George Boulevard. The old Highlands County Agri-Civic Center will be renamed the Bert J. Harris, Jr. Agricultural Center, if county Commissioner Don Bates' motion is approved at today's county commission meeting. In the same motion, expected to pass unanimously with no opposition, the commissioners also will rename the auditorium inside the Bert J. Harris, Jr. Agricultural Center the Sam Poltson Memorial Museum. The auditorium is the main meeting ...more

June 16, 2008

Hillsborough County leaders who shepherded a planned $1 million expansion of recreation facilities at Carrollwood Elementary School struck a conciliatory tone on Monday, admitting they skirted community input before approving the project. ...more

June 7, 2008

CARROLLWOOD Hillsborough County leaders who shepherded a planned $1 million expansion of recreation facilities at Carrollwood Elementary School struck a conciliatory tone on Monday, admitting they skirted community input before approving the project. ...more

June 4, 2008

South Shore citizens recently had the opportunity to express their concerns about a project that would bring 1,000 homes to more than 500 acres. ...more

June 4, 2008

SUMMER CAMPS COUNTY PARKS Summer day camps offer sports, swimming, games, field trips, arts and crafts, movies, talent performances, weekly themes and special events for children ages 5 (and completed kindergarten) to 13. Camps run Monday through Friday, June 23 through Aug. 1; no camp July 4. ...more

June 4, 2008

A special section on hurricane preparedness is included in today's newspaper, as June 1 marks the official start of the Atlantic season. We hope the section is read and will not be tossed in the recycle bins — at least not right away. It contains a lot of useful information that will come in handy in preparing for a storm. Another way to prepare is to be informed, and the Highlands County Emergency Management staff is doing its part by sponsoring the annual Highlands County Hurricane Seminar this Tuesday. It will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Agri-Civic Center, located at the corner of George Boulevard and U.S. 27, in Sebring. As Bill Nichols, director of the Highlands County Emergency Operations Center, said, "I don't think you need to be afraid. The more you prepare, the less you're afraid. The more you know, the less you fear." ...more

May 31, 2008

SEBRING – The search for an executive director for Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative will contine Monday, June 2 when the selection committee meets in Sebring. Six candidates for the position are scheduled to be interviewed, according to Roger Hood, who is a member of the committee. The FHREDI board of directors' regular meeting will be held Monday, June 16 at the Agri-Civic Center in Sebring. A recommendation will likely be made from the committee to the board at that time. Following the retirement of Lynn Topel earlier this year, the board advertised the position. The committee chose three candidates to be interviewed and offered the position to the top two, but both declined. Salary might have been an issue with those two individuals, according to Hood, who is also a member of the board. ...more

May 31, 2008