SEBRING — While most of the eight kids eased into the new YMCA swimming pool Tuesday, 9-year-old Dalton Hiller splashed everyone else when he hit a perfect cannonball. Everyone laughed, and then practice began. Hiller and the other students, 6 to 14 years old, were preparing for the July 12 Heartland Triathlon. Depending on age, the kids will swim either 100 or 200 yards, bike three or six miles and run either half a mile or a full mile. Hiller is a Cracker Trail Elementary student and said he lifts weights at home. He hopes to improve on last year's 31st place he earned during the inaugural kids event – maybe even enough to win this time. ...more

June 12, 2008

Heartland Horses & Handicapped Inc., its volunteers and board members would like to express our deepest gratitude to the hosts, sponsors, and riders who helped to make the Sandy Kuhn Memorial El Clair Ranch Ride-A-Thon a great success. With 109 riders and their families, we were able to raise nearly $9,000! This will enable our program to continue offering independence, mobility and dignity to children and adults with special needs. It is through the generosity of individuals and business that we are able to continue this program free of charge for all participants. The benefits of our program and those alike are endless. Riding for the disabled has become a well recognized and acclaimed method of improving the lives of those who refuse to let their disabilities limit them. Our participants gain confidence, dignity, mobility and self-esteem. ...more

May 22, 2008

It's easy to forget, in the ribbons of highway and rows of two-car garage homes, that Florida was built by real horse power. ...more

February 25, 2008

SEBRING — What sounded like the rapid snapping of cap pistols filled the air on Wednesday, while students at Cracker Trail Elementary School responded by cheering wildly. ...more

February 20, 2008

Check out our photo gallery from today's Cracker Trail ride. ...more

February 20, 2008

SEBRING — A little bit of Florida history is being revived this week. ...more

February 20, 2008

SEBRING — More than 50 Cracker Trail Elementary students in challenging situations have been paired up with a concerned staff member. School's guidance counselor Crystal Pella created the Adopt-A-Student Program to promote self-esteem, school attendance, academic achievement and a reduction in discipline problems. It's a "Big Brother/Big Sister" strategy for meeting the individual student's self-esteem needs, said Principal Rick Demeri. Cracker Trail Elementary staff members are asked if they would like to be paired with a student who has been chosen based on attendance problems, academic difficulties, divorce or death in their family or low self-esteem. Pairing up with a student is on a voluntary basis and not a requirement, Demeri said. Parent permission is obtained and all strategies take place during school time on the school campus. ...more

January 21, 2008

SEBRING — Beautification projects in Highlands County were shut down last year because grant funding was pulled from Keep Highlands County Beautiful, the local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, which funds neighborhood, school and road improvement projects. This year, though, the agency has at least $12,000 in funding, thanks to the Florida Department of Transportation renewing the agency's yearly state funding. On top of that, Keep Highlands County Beautiful officials are hoping to add another $4,000 to $5,000 to the beautification grant pool through its first-ever fundraiser on Saturday. Called the KHCB Fun Shoot, the fundraiser is set to start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Square One Sporting Clays, 7500 State Road 70, Lake Placid. ...more

January 15, 2008

SEBRING — Nine-year-old Michael Stone's petition drive to reopen Lake Denton to the public, without any restrictions or $25-per-person weekend user's fees, is taking off. "We've gotten 10 phone calls on the petition," said Jessica Stone, the wife of Michael Stone the elder, who is the father of young Michael Stone the petitioner. "At least two of the people who called want copies of the petition so that they can circulate it and get signatures," Jessica Stone said Friday afternoon. "One of two callers who want a petition sent to them is John Huddleston, the owner of the barbershop next to Beef O' Brady's restaurant," Jessica Stone said. Jessica Stone said she expects Huddleston to be successful in getting signatures on the petition because it will be available for signing in his busy barbershop. ...more

January 12, 2008

Schools are custodians of our children, so any precaution they take to keep our kids safe is a welcome gesture. Take for example new dismissal procedures at Park Elementary School. Starting next year, parents or guardians who pick up the school's students are required to have a card in the dashboard that has the names of the children they will be picking up. ...more

December 27, 2007