The subfreezing temperatures last week actually raised optimism for some farmers. ...more

January 25, 2009

It's cookie time in Highlands County, courtesy of the area Girl Scouts. ...more

January 10, 2009

The tour to promote the region to site selection consultants in an attempt to bring better jobs to the Heartland has been postponed at least until next year. ...more

November 9, 2008

By 1 p.m. winds were howling across the Sebring area as rain was driven sideways toward the south. The EOC noted that sustained winds had risen to 31 mph and the highest recorded gust was 48 mph. The worst is yet to come, they said. At about 4 p.m. when the eye passes the southeast portion of Highlands County, winds are expected to reach 45 mph and gusts are expected to reach 57 mph. ...more

August 19, 2008

The Highlands County Tourist Development Council has agreed to help develop a marketing strategy for the Highlands County Sports Complex in Sebring. ...more

August 10, 2008

SEBRING — Area high school students will encounter a new set of classes when they go back to school in August. The set of 12 classes will not be on social studies and math but alcohol prevention. The new program is being funded through a grant totaling more than $432,000 to prevent alcohol abuse among high school students in the Florida Heartland, a top local education official said Wednesday. Frank Gibbs, the executive director of the Heartland Education Consortium based in Lake Placid, said it would be up to the Highlands County School Board to determine how the courses will be inserted into the high school curriculum. ...more

June 11, 2008

An issue that apparently has baffled educators in the Heartland is going to be addressed. The high schools in Highlands, Hardee, Okeechobee, Glades, DeSoto and Hendry counties have posted numerous "C" and "D" accountability grades for the past nine years, but few "B" grades and no "A" grades. There is an apparent disparity in the performance of middle school and elementary students compared to high school students, according to the Heartland Educational Consortium. In one recent year, while the elementary and middle schools received primarily "A, B or C" grades, about one-fourth of the high schools received "D" or "F" grades. ...more

January 2, 2008

LAKE PLACID — School superintendents in the six-county Heartland area agree there is a need to review educational practices at the high school level. ...more

January 1, 2008

In a place where there's few things for children to do, the Children's Museum of the Highlands is special. But the museum is more than just easily accessible to county residents. It's fun, it's educational and it's affordable. Those who've got children in the family have had to have made at least one trip to the museum, and many leave its doors with children who'd rather camp at the museum for life. This popular destination now wants to be bigger and better and needs the community's help to expand. Museum director Linda Crowder, who unveiled plans Wednesday, said the museum is seeking to build a second floor, which will double its space. ...more

December 14, 2007

SEBRING — When Linda Crowder started the Children's Museum of the Highlands about 17 years ago, she had big plans, but she never knew if they would pan out. Now the museum director has more than exceeded the original dreams, and she is planning to continue upward - literally. The museum, located at 219 N. Ridgewood, has announced plans to build a second floor, doubling its space. The additional 6,000 square feet of space will feature new exhibits, allow current exhibits to expand, provide another classroom for the expansion of the summer Discovery Camp and include additional bathrooms, storage, workrooms and offices. ...more

December 13, 2007