It's not often that a play about pedophilia earns a standing ovation, but Jobsite Theater's production of "Blackbird" by David Harrower did just that. Admittedly, the superlative acting elevated the subject matter to a shameful level of enjoyment. ...more

September 16, 2008

There's nothing light and frothy about David Harrower's play ''Blackbird,'' which won the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for best new play. The subject matter is decidedly unsettling. Nevertheless, it's a fascinating character study that challenges the actors' chops, which is why it's segueing Jobsite Theater's 2008-2009 season. ...more

September 12, 2008

AVON PARK — The police chief search committee has thinned out its field of applicants, leaving 14 candidates out of the 61 who sent their resumes to then-city manager C.B. Shirey to seek Avon Park's top police job. Highlands Today confirmed that the field includes at least four applicants from Highlands County and at least two from the Fort Meade area. City officials provided a list of the 14 candidates with titles for the last positions they held, but more details on the candidates were not released. Interim City Manager Sarah Adelt said the committee originally trimmed the field to 15 candidates, but one of them removed himself from consideration after he was hired elsewhere. Eight of the 14 candidates last held high-ranking positions in local police departments, with three of them being current or former police chiefs. Adelt said that all 14 entries on the "short list" have law enforcement experience. Adelt said she's hoping the committee will narrow it to "no more than five candidates, hopefully three" within the next two weeks. ...more

February 5, 2008

AVON PARK — City Manager C.B. Shirey applied to be the Avon Park Executive Airport's manager Tuesday, a move that could force him to resign as the city manager if he were hired. The city council could hire him as early as Jan. 2 when they have their next meeting. If he is hired, Shirey might continue acting as the city manager until a replacement is found. Shirey announced his intentions Monday. Some council members became aware of Shirey's plans only the morning before the meeting. They would have hired Shirey that day, but Shirey did not complete the application until Tuesday. ...more

December 12, 2007

AVON PARK — The Highlands County School Board will not have to pay for a reclaimed "gray water" pipe hook-up at Memorial Elementary School until the city's reclaimed water lines reach within 500 feet of the school. In a split 3-2 vote, the council accepted the compromise in the agreement. Council members Doug Eason and Brenda Gray cast the two dissenting votes. ...more

November 29, 2007

AVON PARK — With upcoming council member Al Joe Hinson's arrival, the council will have two Southside representatives and two black council members for the first time in the city's recent history. And several Southside residents were hoping this would boost the influence of the economically under-served part of the city. Shirley Johnson, the Southside Community Redevelopment Agency chairwoman, said she thought Hinson –– who she and most of his friends call "Al Joe" –– would be a major boost for the Southside's representation in the council. "He won, and I'm glad he won, and I know people on the Southside are," Johnson said. "People were ready for another person to join in with Miss (Brenda) Gray... I think the people are ready to see some positive things happen with Gray and Hinson." ...more

November 20, 2007

AVON PARK — Sharon Schuler retained the mayor's seat and Al Hinson will take over Doug Eason's city council position after both won by comfortable margins in the official count. ...more

November 7, 2007

AVON PARK — If the size of a candidate's bank account is a clue in who's going to win the election, then Mayor Sharon Schuler is way ahead in the mayoral race, while James Rahenkamp has a comfortable lead in the race for Doug Eason's open council seat. According to campaign treasurer's reports submitted Oct. 19 to the city, Schuler didn't need to use a dime of her own money to raise $1,335 in her campaign. Rahenkamp, meanwhile, plunked $200 of his own money and collected more than $820 from a handful of big-dollar donators in his council bid. On the expenses, Schuler spent $1,119, almost double the amount spent by Gonzalo Lezama, the next-biggest spender for the mayoral race. Rahenkamp has held on to most of his contributions, spending a mere $428.81 as of Oct. 12. Notably, Schuler was the only candidate to use campaign mailers. Even though Paul Miller bought business cards, none of the other six candidates spent money on any other form of advertising, using their funds only for filing fees and campaign signs. Several of the other candidates bankrolled their campaigns using mostly their own money. Mayoral contestants Ed Dickerson and Gordon Marshall relied only on their own wallets to raise $641.87 and $300, respectively. ...more

October 30, 2007

AVON PARK — The police chief's position was frozen until the council voted unanimously to thaw it Monday, but also tacked a residency requirement so that Frank Mercurio's successor must live within 10 driving miles of the city limit. ...more

October 10, 2007

AVON PARK — Outgoing Avon Park Police Chief Frank Mercurio said at a press conference late Wednesday morning that he will turn in his badge Friday, Sept. 28. As he announced his resignation, he also accused the city of "railroading" him at July's budget meeting. ...more

September 19, 2007