SEBRING — Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative Inc., Hardee County Economic Development Commission and Chamber of Commerce and Highlands County Economic Development Commission are hosting an inbound-trade mission from Honduras on May 22 at South Florida Community College in Wauchula from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. ...more

May 17, 2008

SEBRING — With 13 murder cases on his hands, Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin is just running from one thing to another – his words. If it's not Joshua Altersberger, it's Leslie Lewis, Albert Stevens, Brandon Johns, Arthur Aul, Terrence Barnett, Leann Parker, Silvia Zanchez, Donald Henry, Edgar Otero, Joseph Graham, Gerald Sanders or Nicholas Mezie. ...more

May 8, 2008

AVON PARK — Alaina Hobbs collected two degrees at South Florida Community College on Monday night –– her high school diploma and her associate of arts degree. ...more

May 7, 2008

While Sebring High School baseball players are relishing in advancing to the regional finals in Class 4-A for the second consecutive year, the school's soccer players – as well as those in Avon Park and Hardee County – are wondering if they will even have a season next year. There is a desperate need for referees as a result of the Central Florida Ridge Soccer Officials Association announcing that it no longer has the manpower to accommodate both Polk and Highlands counties in the next school year. The three schools could see their programs be dropped if local officials are not found. We hope that won't happen. ...more

May 3, 2008

SEBRING — A little bit of Florida history is being revived this week. ...more

February 20, 2008

WAUCHULA — Although it was only for a fairly uneventful hearing, Jean Claude Meus made his first appearance in three years Monday afternoon at the Hardee County Courthouse. Attorneys from both parties filed motions, which were granted by Judge Jeff McKibben, to allow the lawyer time to collect witness depositions before a tentatively scheduled evidentiary hearing. In 2003, Meus was convicted of the death of Nona Moore, 40, and her 8-year-old daughter Lindsey. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. ...more

January 30, 2008

SEBRING — Two Hardee County men were airlifted to Tampa General Hospital after an early morning crash Wednesday, when a Ford SUV flipped about 1,000 feet north of Valerie Boulevard on U.S. 27. ...more

January 9, 2008

WAUCHULA — A hearing has been set for Jean Claude Meus that could lead to a evidentiary hearing and potentially a new criminal trial. ...more

January 8, 2008

AVON PARK — C.B. Shirey stepped down as Avon Park's city manager to become the Avon Park Executive Airport's first dedicated airport manager. According to the text of a resolution unanimously passed by the city council on Wednesday, Shirey will continue to "provide his service and expertise and allow a smooth transition to (the interim) city manager" for the next 60 days. City Clerk Sarah Adelt will assume Shirey's old duties until the city hires his replacement. Even though three of the five council members criticized Shirey's performance as a city manager in his evaluation last month, the council agreed that Shirey should take on the smaller role. Council members were a bit concerned at first about whether Adelt could run the city in the meantime. ...more

January 3, 2008

Editor's Note: We are republishing this letter to the editor due to an error. We apologize for the error. It is good that our county leaders are seeking sound suggestions for the future growth of our county. It would have been more significant if they had actually accepted and followed through on suggestions in the last five years. ...more

December 27, 2007