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

AVON PARK — The new year will bring a new safety procedure for dismissal time at Park Elementary School. Beginning in January, each vehicle will be required to have a card in the dashboard imprinted with the names of the children who will be picked up in that vehicle. "We just want to make sure that the children are as safe as we can possibly have them be," said Park Elementary Principal Brenda Longshore. Usually by this time of the year many schools take the approach that they know the parents by now, "but, we just wanted to implement it and give it a try and see if we just can't up our safety just a little bit." Paraprofessionals who work during dismissal suggested the dashboard cards, which could also speed up the dismissal process, she said. ...more

December 24, 2007

SEBRING — Don't be surprised if you see more shaved heads than usual in Highlands County schools. It's all for a good cause. Five principals and teachers wanted to show support for Kindergarten Learning Center Dean "Mr. K" Rick Kogelschatz who has cancer. So they decided to shear their locks. Kogelschatz had a kidney transplant about 1½ years ago. During the summer he was treated for testicular cancer, which spread to a lung for which he is currently receiving chemotherapy. His fellow faculty and students from three schools, who've been associated with him as a teacher and dean, have tried to bolster Kogelschatz's spirits. ...more

October 30, 2007

SEBRING — Staff bonuses are in the offing at seven Highlands County schools that will receive incentives totaling more than $500,000 for their academic achievement in the 2006-07 school year. The state's School Recognition Program awards $100 per student to schools that achieve an "A" based on the school grading criteria or improve at least one grade from the previous year. ...more

October 3, 2007