The winner of the first-ever Mason G. Smoak Friend of Agriculture Award was Smoak himself, the Lake Placid cattleman and citrus grower who died in a June 20, 2008 plane crash. His wife, Tracee, accepted. ...more

November 16, 2009

To the owners of groves that have been purchased for retail and housing developments: your property taxes may be going up. ...more

March 29, 2009

Dustin Wells Germaine, 28, was arrested and charged with producing methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. ...more

February 27, 2009

In the past two months, the median home price in Highlands County has fallen below $100,000. ...more

February 27, 2009

Four people were arrested Wednesday for allegedly operating a methamphetamine cook. ...more

February 26, 2009

Following an 8.4 percent decrease last year, the total taxable value of property in Highlands County could drop by more than twice that rate this year, according to Highlands County Property Appraiser Raymond McIntyre. ...more

February 10, 2009

Three guest speakers are scheduled for the Highlands County Homeowners Association meeting Monday morning. ...more

February 9, 2009

Back in late May and early June, Highlands County government officials, home builders and real estate agents talked about the possibility of an advertising campaign targeting coastal areas to promote home buying in Highlands County. ...more

December 2, 2008

During the last few years, I have contacted the Highlands County Property Appraiser's office concerning the increased appraised value on properties in the county. I asked the question repeatedly, "since you are raising them drastically during this housing bubble, will you lower them as drastically when the bottom falls out of the housing market?" Their answer, Oh yes, we will definitely lower them if that happens. Well fellow residents, have you seen any drop in your appraised value? According to the newspaper, TV and radio, prices of homes in Florida have dropped 20-40 percent in the last year. When exactly do you think they are going to do what they told us they were going to do? If any of you are in agreement with me and others I have spoke to, please let's join together and force our county officials to live up to what they are suppose to do. ...more

November 14, 2008

Florida voters last January approved Amendment One, which mandated an extra $25,000 homestead exemption on top of an existing $25,000 tax exemption on homestead properties. ...more

November 11, 2008