Holiday music will fill the air for Christmas on the Mall, starting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8, in front of the Hotel Jacaranda. ...more

December 6, 2008

This year's Heartland Idol competition will last just one more exciting night. ...more

November 8, 2008

Yes, it is that time of year once more: the Heartland Idol contest. Two weeks of the contest have come and gone and if you haven't been attending you have been missing out. You have two weeks to mark you calendar, Sept. 25, for the next show. ...more

September 17, 2008

I want to applaud the Avon Park City Council members for looking at making the hard decisions. I think it's interesting that it has almost come full circle in the fact that people have forgotten that we live in a small city, but it looks like some people had visions of expanding greatly, which has caused some of our fiscal issues in addition to lower revenues coming in. Even though I might not always agree with George Hall, I applaud him for saying the hard facts at the council meeting. ...more

September 5, 2008

Get ready to clap. The first of eight Heartland Idol competitions starts tonight at 6 at the downtown Circle. ...more

September 4, 2008

I'm amazed to hear that the firing of the county employees was upheld. This is such nonsense. I just cannot understand the hypocritical part of others being excused, and some people taking the bullet. Is this the Good Ol' Boys network at work here? ...more

August 22, 2008

It's a little acreage on Henscratch Road, between Lake Placid and Sebring. You gotta know how to get there to get there. ...more

August 16, 2008

I have read and heard about the dismissal of three county employees for the improper usage of county equipment. I also know that there are numerous others who have also misused the equipment, however, they were not dismissed. I have read a couple of letters to the editor concerning this matter also. I am really shocked at the response that Sara Keller and Roger Mcallister have. Apparently, Sara and Roger have not gone to the public records and reviewed the text messages that were sent by the three who were dismissed. From my understanding, the content of these text messages are nothing more than pornography. I cannot believe that any resident of Highlands County or any other county would want to know that their hard earned tax dollars are paying people to send porn. I am also of the mind that further investigation should be made into the three and all time spent for their texting should be tallied and be repaid to the county. After all, it is the county's money. ...more

February 5, 2008

I read with amusement the Highlands today article on electronic messages dated Feb. 1 about Mr. David Flowers getting only a letter of reprimand from assistant county administrator Mr. Helms for sending instant messages. I don't know about anyone else but that article really smells when you read between the lines. After the firing of three employees for doing the same thing, save the baloney. Using county equipment for personal use, no matter what the circumstances are, is still against policy. Mr. Helms messed up with the termination of first three persons. Policy again dictates the proper type of disciplinary action that should have been issued. It appears what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander. I guess it just goes to show you, if you're one of the big dogs or good old boys, which ever you prefer, who gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar, it's still business as usual. I wait with great anticipation the next chapter of Highlands Gate! ...more

February 5, 2008

SEBRING — David Flowers, director of Highlands County's facilities management, was given a written reprimand late Thursday afternoon for his improper use of county instant messaging. ...more

January 31, 2008