A private health company is administering swine flu vaccinations this week to those at highest risk for complications from the disease. ...more

October 30, 2009

Polk County emergency workers responded to a call about an explosion in Bartow this morning. The alarm came in just before 10:30 a.m. at the 1705 Mann Road industrial complex, authorities said. The complex includes Peace River Citrus and Ethanol of Florida. ...more

April 24, 2009

Recently the Kindergarten Learning Center held our annual Transportation Day. The students and staff were amazed by the generosity of local businesses and individuals who sacrificed their valuable time explaining their equipment and jobs. Utilizing our parking lot and bus loop to display their trucks, cranes, jet skies and so many other vehicles, the following people spent the better of the morning with us: Fred Nugent from Annett Bus Lines, Susan Bible from Sebring Florist, Randy Leonard of Alan Jay Automotive, James Byers of S.O.S. Septic, Joe Steiner from PRS Transport, Neil Thomas representing Thomas and Thomas Services; Josh Saucier from The Bike Shop, Officer Vivianne Buck of the Sebring Police Department, Opal Torres representing the city of Sebring Municipal Golf Course, Jack Dunham from Sebring's Public Works Department, Kip Goolsby of The Triple G Dairy, Jim Parker from U Scream I Scream ice cream, Officer James Parker from the Avon Park Police Department, Travis Wilson and Allen Larsen of Truly Nolen, Tony Powell representing Glades Electric, Sam McGrath & Michael Smith from Long's Air Conditioning, Jesse Gallegos from Lake Placid Marine, Doug Pifer and Brian Glisson from Highlands County Emergency Medical Service, Ryan Feikert and Wayne Settles representing the Sebring Fire Department, Joshua Cameron from the Division of Forestry, and Deputy Brian Giguere from the Highlands County Sheriff's DARE department. ...more

March 7, 2009

The burning question around North Pinellas fire stations these days is how will the county's plan to renegotiate emergency medical service funding to local agencies impact their ability to serve their communities. Last week a unanimous County Commission voted to revisit the county's first-responder contract with 19 cities and fire districts, which helps the cities and districts pay for firefighter-paramedics. ...more

February 28, 2009

Nine boaters were rescued by the Coast Guard in three incidents near Homosassa on Tuesday after storms passed through the area, the guard reported. ...more

August 12, 2008

SEBRING —Whether you're having a barbecue overlooking your back yard or lounging in a lawn chair near your beached boat to read this paper, many of you are probably putting your dock or deck to use now. If you have a wooden deck or are thinking of having one built, you might want to make sure it's in good shape so that you can enjoy it over the summer. Local contractors have come across decks and docks with loose nails and deteriorating planks, and in some cases it's because they were not built properly or because they weren't well maintained. ...more

June 30, 2008

SEBRING — Like every paramedic who's served 30-plus years, Mickey Byrd has dealt with critical life-and-death situations and has more than a few gripping stories. One of his in particular, about a terminal teenage patient whom he says "surely must be an angel," puts a lump in the throat of anybody with a functional heart. ...more

May 5, 2008

SEBRING — The Florida Highway Patrol responded to an accident Friday evening involving an ambulance at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Sebring Parkway. Emergency Medical Service officials said there were no major injuries or damage. ...more

May 3, 2008

LAKE PLACID — The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of Philemon "Bobby" White, 57, of Lake Placid, who was found dead Sunday in Lake Huntley. ...more

February 12, 2008

AVON PARK — The Highlands County Sheriff's Office has issued a press release that Donald Alfonso Henry, 37, turned himself in to the Orlando Police Department Thursday on murder charges, in connection with an Avon Park murder. A warrant was issued for Henry earlier this month in connection with the shooting death of Hugh Andrew Marks. Marks' murder occurred on Jan. 7, near the intersection of Garrett Road and Alabama Avenue, in Avon Park. ...more

February 1, 2008