Highlands County Commissioner Andy Jackson, seeking re-election to another four-year term, said people tell him the same three things at every campaign stop he makes. ...more

August 17, 2008

The easiest thing to say to an elected leader is "Cut the budget!" The hardest thing for an elected leader to say to his or her constituents is: "Cutting the budget is the wrong thing to do." We've heard both of these things recently during county budget discussions. It's our opinion that making drastic cuts is the worst thing the county could do - until there is no other alternative. ...more

August 17, 2008

Officials of the Highlands County Library System went to the county commission Tuesday to get approval to hire a bill collection agency to go after unpaid fees and fines. ...more

August 6, 2008

Highlands County commissioners gave the county library system the go-ahead to sic a debt collector on people who don't pay their fines and fees. ...more

August 5, 2008

The Lake Denton Citizens Advisory Committee, appointed by the county commissioners in September 2006, will meet for the first time in four months on Aug. 19. ...more

August 5, 2008

On July 15, Highlands County commissioners were faced with a dilemma. A 78-year-old woman was standing before them, asking that they suspend a $287 fine. ...more

July 26, 2008

More than 1,500 acres of citrus groves about seven miles south of town, off the south side of S.R. 70, could become a top quality, 311-home "equestrian community." ...more

July 24, 2008

LAKE PLACID — Caladium farmers are smiling. Farmers pointed to more than a week of daily rains as favorable for the crop outlook and the August Caladium Festival, but cautioned that too much of good thing could become a negative. Carolyn Phypers, of Happiness Farms, said the caladium crop forecast is "looking pretty good." "The rain helped out," said Phypers. "If it doesn't drown them out, we'll be fine. Sometimes you can get too much rain, but we need the rain, so we can't complain." ...more

July 3, 2008

Here are some of the public celebrations scheduled for Independence Day: • 'Happy Birthday, U.S.A.' The Veterans Council of Highlands County Inc., the Veterans Advisory Board, and the Veterans Committee of the Sebring Elks will host a "Happy Birthday, U.S.A." ceremony at the Sebring Elks Lodge on Friday, July 4, at 10 a.m. ...more

June 29, 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