Polk County sheriff's Deputy Jack "Carlton" Turner's voice over the department radio betrayed the horrifying scope of disaster unfolding around him on Interstate 4. ...more

January 13, 2008

TAMPA - Deputy Jack "Carlton" Turner's voice over the department radio betrayed the horrifying scope of disaster unfolding around him on Interstate 4. "I'm having vehicles exploding all around me at this time," he said frantically near the end of the transmission recorded that morning and released by the sheriff's office on Friday. ...more

January 12, 2008

A Davenport man was killed Friday afternoon in Polk County when he turned his car onto U.S. 27 and was hit by a southbound vehicle, authorities said. ...more

January 11, 2008

Five people were injured slightly when a sport utility vehicle rear-ended a school bus at 102nd Avenue and 113th Street about 6:40 a.m. Thursday, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said. ...more

January 11, 2008

The Veterans Administration deserves praise for new ideas that should provide quality treatment for veterans. Someone figured out that proper caring for veterans starts early and involves all kinds of services. It's happening right here in Highlands County. Besides VA hospitals, clinics are providing a lot of care for veterans. Just as important, when soldiers return to the states, before they are discharged, mental health evaluations begin and continue long after leaving the service. For combat soldiers there is continual monitoring so problems not first realized immediately upon arrival back in the country are dealt with if they do surface. That often happens, according to experts. ...more

January 11, 2008

This is a response to the story about the gentleman responding to the article of the woman who was airlifted to Tampa following a stabbing in Avon Park. I believe that this gentleman is misinformed on some of his facts and I would like to set the record straight. First I will say that I am a nurse at Florida Hospital and am proud to work and serve my community. Our hospitals (in Sebring, Lake Placid and Wauchula) all are capable of handling most emergencies we face in Highlands County. We are able to handle most emergencies, but apparently not this woman's. She had sustained knife wounds, which could not be handled in Highlands County and the decision was made to get her somewhere quickly where she could get her wounds taken care of. ...more

January 11, 2008

A truck driver failed to stop for traffic, plowing into nine other vehicles in an accident Thursday morning that killed two people, state troopers said. ...more

January 6, 2008

This is in reference to David Park's letter on Dec. 31, querying as to why people from Highlands County are air-lifted to Hospitals in Tampa and Orlando, instead of going to the local hospitals. I am writing in Sebring and also have been wondering these same questions. The one other question I have is, where can we get answers? Are our big beautiful hospitals only for looks? ...more

January 5, 2008

In the matter of hospital placement of patients from this area: Why are people routinely sent to Tampa from HRH, and to Orlando from Florida Hospital? ...more

January 3, 2008

Regarding the story about a Lake Placid man charged with attempted murder: This story raises some serious questions for the residents of Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid and surrounding areas. Why would a person with non-life threatening injuries have to be flown to the Tampa area? Are our hospitals in this area not qualified to handle such emergencies? Who pays for this several thousand dollar airlift? ...more

December 31, 2007