Finding plants that thrive in shady area and under trees is a problem but not impossible. If that's a dilemma for you, I have some helpful ideas. ...more

January 27, 2008

Whether on the dirt or on the turf, running six furlongs or five, Lookinforthesecret is without question the reigning king of the sprinters at Tampa Bay Downs. ...more

January 13, 2008

After meeting with six licensed and insured pool contractors, we have selected the firm we want to build our dream in-ground concrete pool. What happens after the contracts are signed? ...more

January 12, 2008

AVON PARK — Jeremy Machia's labor of love is a few tons of manicured dirt. And he likes nothing more than watching folks make a mess of it. The track director at Highlands BMX got hooked on bicycle racing at a young age, and more than 25 years later, Machia enjoys playing in the dirt more than ever. "Normally, we're out two or three times a week, hand-shaping jumps," he said. "We're not using heavy equipment, so it's a lot of fine-tuning." Much of that meticulous work is done to ready the track for weekly races that draw riders from Highlands County and beyond. And while most tracks are closed around the Christmas holiday, Machia's welcoming racers from across the state this weekend to grab some last minute points in order to qualify for the upcoming Sunshine State BMX's Florida state championships. He never knows how many riders will show up until race day, but Machia said up to 100 racers of all skill levels cold descend on the Avon Park track, which is known around the state as the fastest in Florida. ...more

December 21, 2007

A Manatee County hazardous material crew, along with personnel from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, is on the scene of an early morning fuel spill. ...more

December 10, 2007

All he wants is a few soccer balls. And if Innocent Chileshe gets his way, he thinks he can take a small step toward helping a continent torn by war. ...more

November 29, 2007

Plans for a special-use permit to allow all-night dirt excavation and hauling from an existing borrow pit off U.S. 41 near the Manatee County line have been withdrawn. ...more

November 28, 2007

How can I get my Web favorites out of MSN Explorer? Anybody remember MSN Explorer? Microsoft launched this AOL-esque all-in-one Internet software in 2000, issued a few minor updates to it and then quietly abandoned it after 2002. You should do the same if you're still using it. ...more

November 19, 2007

A landslide at a makeshift mine in southern Colombia killed at least 21 people and injured 18 Saturday after local residents began digging for rumored deposits of gold, authorities said. ...more

October 14, 2007

Police still are investigating a single-car crash that killed a 20-year-old man Saturday. ...more

October 9, 2007