SEBRING –– The game was all but over at halftime, but the memories from the ninth annual South-Central Florida All-Star Football Classic will last much longer for the players involved. The Central team –– made up of seniors from Avon Park, Bartow, Fort Meade, Haines City, Hardee, Lake Placid, Lake Wales, Okeechobee and Sebring –– went up by four touchdowns at the half and cruised to a 42-6 victory over the South squad in a game filled with turnovers, penalties, and –– perhaps most of all –– smiles. "Our big concept from day one was 'Hey fellas, you might have been enemies before, but we're all on the same team this weekend,' " said Lake Placid coach Tim Grant, who led the Central squad. "But this was still our home turf, and we wanted to protect it." The Central team did just that, getting touchdowns from Sebring's Sam Robinson and T.J. Williams and holding the South team's stars –– made up of seniors from Charlotte, DeSoto, LaBelle, Lemon Bay, Moore Haven, North Port and Port Charlotte –– to less than 70 yards of offense at the half. Sebring's Isaac Fernandez, one of seven Blue Streaks on the field, said the win was satisfying in more ways than one. ...more

December 24, 2007

Wow! Saturday night we had the pleasure of visiting the Florida Flywheelers "Christmas in the Village." We both could not believe the wonderland of lights that the Flywheelers and their volunteers created. Besides all the Christmas displays, live entertainment, antique tractors and cars decorated with lights, there were hot dogs, cider, eggnog, coffee and homemade cookies all supplied by the Flywheelers. From the front gate, you are transported on trams through their antique village and into the different areas of the park to see the displays. The last dates to see this heart warming presentation are Dec. 14 and 15. Admission is an unwrapped toy, canned food or a cash donation. All proceeds go to local charities and local food banks. It is well worth the drive to their village in Fort Meade. For all who need a little holiday spirit and those who already have it, this is a must. ...more

December 11, 2007

BRADENTON — Senior Whitney Lee scored 11 points and seniors Brenita Grant and Chelsea Davis combined for 15 more Friday night, but poor shooting hampered the Sebring girls basketball team's effort in a 39-36 loss to Braden River. ...more

December 9, 2007

FORT MEADE - The Polk County Sheriff's Office says a Fort Meade police officer was arrested after detectives learned he had been paying a prostitute for sex during the past year. ...more

December 7, 2007

WAUCHULA –– Hannah Shoop had 10 points and 13 rebounds and Whitney Wells led the Streaks with 12 points on Friday night as the Sebring girls basketball team continued its winning ways on Friday with a 51-33 victory over Hardee in Class 4A-District 10 action. ...more

December 2, 2007

AVON PARK — Size is going to be a key factor for both Lake Placid and Avon Park girls basketball teams this season, but in different ways altogether. While the Red Devils have plenty of size in the post, the Green Dragons are lacking presence in the middle, a trend that was on full display during Avon Park's 40-18 win over Lake Placid on Tuesday at APHS. The Red Devils got good production inside from forwards Breanna Tate and Daija Barrett, who hauled in countless rebounds, while Avon Park's defense held the visiting Green Dragons to four points in a second quarter that saw the Red Devils build a 14-point lead at half time. ...more

November 29, 2007

LAKE PLACID — Fort Meade's size was too much for the much smaller Lake Placid girls basketball team to handle on Monday night, as the Green Dragons fell 53-25 to the Miners in a non-district meeting. Fort Meade's inside duo of forward Bette Morris and center Akaycla Robinson — both of whom check in at over six feet — pounded the Green Dragons and gobbled up most of the rebounds on both ends of the court, scoring on countless second-chance opportunities and leading their team to a 32-11 halftime lead. ...more

November 28, 2007

Customers of the city of Fort Meade Water Utility may have a loss of water pressure because of construction activity at the water plant, according to the city's public works department. ...more

November 27, 2007

In periods of drought, the curious can explore the bottom of the upper Peace River without getting wet. That's great for finding arrowheads and other flotsam, but it's no good for fish and wildlife. ...more

November 27, 2007

BARTOW - In periods of drought, the curious can explore the bottom of the upper Peace River without getting wet. That's great for finding arrowheads and other flotsam, but it's no good for fish and wildlife. ...more

November 26, 2007