This is an open letter sent to Mr. Jim Thompson, president of State Farm Florida. Concerning your letter to Florida State Farm customers reminding us that you're there for us for our other insurance needs, when you cancel our home insurance, forget it, Jim! If your company can't take care of me after 42 years of loyalty to you, I don't need you! Hopefully, the 1 million-plus homeowners in Florida will do the same and shut you down. ...more

February 3, 2009

Zane Thomas is one of Highlands County officials glad to hear that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the county a $136,000 "Firewise" grant to greatly reduce the chances of wildfires engulfing homes. ...more

September 15, 2008

District 3 County Commissioner Ann Hildebrand faces two Republican challengers: electrician Matt Matey and home insurance activist Wil Nickerson, in her bid for a seventh term. The winner of the Aug. 26 primary will face one of two Democrats in the race. ...more

August 16, 2008

The latest word is that the government will now bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. ...more

July 18, 2008

Why are there no stories about home insurance in places other than Florida? Factual stories appear about the financial failure of some companies, claims filed for several years after hurricanes, state liability through its intermediary, Citizens, and legal filings against Allstate. Ironically, not one word about insurance in California, Missouri or anywhere outside of Florida. ...more

July 11, 2008

I recently read a report by the executor of the estate of a man who died in 1872. It surprised me when I saw an entry for $28.13 paid in 1873 for "insurance on house." Why had I thought of home insurance as a modern-day thing? ...more

June 15, 2008

Using Tax Dollars To Fund Re-election Today, I received for the second time in the past 30 days a full color 11-by-17-inch mailer from District 5 U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite. It has been my observation that Ginny prefers to save her "franking" for election years, having received perhaps one or two throughout all of 2007. Ah... but 2008 is an election year, is it not? ...more

February 11, 2008

Whew! Ain't I the lucky one! I figure there's a whopping $240 savings on my typical, average home value now that Amendment 1 is said and done. And yet, I'll still have an end-of-the-year tax bill that's three times that of my neighbors. ...more

February 3, 2008

She'll Take The Savings Your letters page has carried many complaints about the average savings of $240 on property taxes being insignificant and not worth the effort to vote on the proposed amendment. ...more

January 28, 2008

Florida officials want copies of secret corporate papers held by Allstate Insurance Co. to see if unfair practices were used to adversely affect consumers. Allstate is fighting to keep the papers secret, but we hope citizens in Florida, and elsewhere, soon will learn about potentially unsavory tactics for the company to pay out as little as possible while maximizing profits. ...more

January 24, 2008