A memorial service will be held Friday for Gunner, the Zephyrhills police dog who died during a burglary call Thursday. ...more

August 12, 2009

A memorial service will be held Friday for Gunner, the Zephyrhills police dog who died in the line of duty Thursday during a burglary call. ...more

August 11, 2009

Once again, it was Toney Douglas to the rescue. With Florida State clinging to a five-point lead in the final 20 seconds, Clemson's Demontez Stitt stole a pass and drove in for a layup. But the Seminoles' star guard, all 6 feet and 2 inches of him, rose up and swatted the shot away. ...more

February 28, 2009

Brothers and sisters often grow up playing each others' sport. Anyone will tell you that it is not unusual to spot identical surnames while scanning high school rosters. If the family genome is athletics-friendly, neither is it rare to see some sibling pairings excel in unison. When it comes to West Pasco girls basketball this year, though, there's a little bit of an added twist. In an area spanning roughly 200 square miles and containing five separate public high schools, three - Hudson, Ridgewood and Mitchell - have varsity-level sisters on roster. ...more

January 17, 2009

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office reminded car owners to lock their vehicles when they are parked as it investigated another rash of overnight car burglaries in neighborhoods behind Harder Hall and Orange Blossom area. ...more

September 18, 2008

President Bush on Monday presented the nation's highest military award to a 19-year-old soldier who died saving the lives of four comrades in Iraq by jumping on a grenade tossed into their military vehicle. ...more

June 3, 2008

When it comes to runaway energy costs and inflation, Congress fails to represent the American public. It would rather represent the super rich in their quest for greater profits. Congress has failed "we the people," for over 60 years. Greed of the super rich has and is controlling the government. World War II demanded that all would have to pay for the war, not so in this war that was a pre-emptive war, under false pretense that has lasted longer than World War II. Only blue collar workers have borne the cost in this war, both in manpower, deaths and finance. In World War II, war bonds funded the fight for freedom and also gave every American citizen a solid way to contribute to the war effort. Nearly $50 billion worth of bonds were sold during war time, a great majority, thanks to the efforts of American celebrities, actors, actresses, singers and others who used their names and notoriety to draw the crowds. Kate Smith was one prominent bond representative, as was actress Carole Lombard. Ms. Lombard, the young wife of Clark Gable, lost her life in a plane accident after a war bond rally in Indianapolis, during which she helped sell $2.5 million worth in bonds. Clark Gable was an actor turned Air Force gunner during the war ...more

June 2, 2008

Growing up in a small rural town, Ross McGinnis was more apt to get in trouble than on the honor roll. So he enlisted in the Army, and in just under a year found his soul mate, a brotherhood, and even himself. ...more

June 1, 2008

At this time of year we are bombarded by numerous health and charitable agencies looking for donations. We certainly can't afford to give to every one of them. We have people in our own county who need our help and a small donation from the good people of Highlands County would certainly help. ...more

December 6, 2007

SEBRING — Oct. 14, 1942, is a day Ted Biever Sr. remembers vividly. On that fateful day, Biever, a retired Air Force master sergeant, who served as a gunner on World War II aircraft, was shot down while conducting a mission over Germany. "To tell you the truth there was so much going on when we were shot down that I had no idea it was happening until we hit the ground," said Biever "I slept all night inside of a haystack," said Biever. "The following day I got up, and I was in the middle of Germany. I didn't speak the language, didn't have a compass and didn't have a map, so all I could do was hope to run into someone friendly on the ground." So, Biever, then 21, approached a group of farmers he thought looked friendly. "I was hoping they'd be friendly but they weren't," said Biever. "They took me into a village and threw me in this one-man jail until some German soldiers came and picked me up." Over the next 21 months, Biever was held captive by Nazi forces. ...more

November 11, 2007