In 1997, I traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The all-night trip was bumpy on a rickety bus filled with cigarette smoke. But I didn't have to worry about snipers and land mines this time. ...more

June 29, 2008

No need to change the timer on that irrigation system just yet. The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board on Tuesday extended once-per-week watering restrictions through Sept. 30. ...more

June 25, 2008

LAKE PLACID — State Representative Denise Grimsley's condo used more water than any other piece of residential property in Lake Placid through all of 2007 and the first three months of 2008, the town's water usage records indicate. The condo at 19 Sunset Lane had used more than 50,000 gallons a month from January 2007––the earliest records obtained in a countywide request of all municipal and county water usage records––to March 17, 2008. Her usage cut down to 11,000 gallons per month from March through May 16. Lake Placid utilities director Gary Freeman said the typical Lake Placid resident consumes 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water per month. ...more

June 9, 2008

A county program aims to save water by offering residents a free checkup of their sprinkler systems. ...more

June 7, 2008

When county officials gathered last month to celebrate the reopening of Bayport Park, Commissioner Diane Rowden said she felt compelled to mention the lush sod. ...more

June 5, 2008

LAKE PLACID — A Hialeah man was free Thursday on $5,500 bail after he was arrested and charged with operating a marijuana grow house operation at 320 Guymon Ave. N.W., in Placid Lakes. Raul Alain Santos-Gonzalez, 28, was booked into jail May 22 on charges of conspiracy to produce marijuana production and conspiracy to traffic in excess of 25 pounds of marijuana or 300 or more plants. "He was linked to numerous grow houses," said Sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle on Thursday. "The investigation is on-going." LaBelle declined to say how Santos-Gonzalez was linked to the Guymon Avenue grow house. The investigation began back on Nov. 28, 2006, when a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer, Robert O'Horo, came upon an illegal dump site about two miles away from Guymon Avenue. The site reportedly consisted of a large number of plastic bags containing items belonging with an indoor marijuana grow house operation; plants, cuttings, fertilizer, PVC pipe, etc. ...more

May 31, 2008

LAKE PLACID — A Hialeah man was free Thursday on $5,500 bail after he was arrested and charged with operating a marijuana grow house operation at 320 Guymon Ave. N.W., in Placid Lakes. Raul Alain Santos-Gonzalez, 28, was booked into jail May 22, on charges of conspiracy to produce marijuana production and conspiracy to traffick in excess of 25 pounds of marijuana or 300 or more plants. "He was linked to numerous grow houses," said Sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle on Thursday. "The investigation is on-going." ...more

May 30, 2008

VENUS — A Venus man and woman remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $151,500 bond each Thursday, after they were arrested in connection with a marijuana grow house operation at their home. Reniel Ramos Pina, 29, and Marta Antonia Barrios, 50, both of 44 Cannon Court, Venus, were booked Wednesday on charges of production of marijuana, possession of marijuana more than 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia. ...more

May 8, 2008

LAKE PLACID — Six Lake Placid residents of Cuban citizenship were arrested Thursday in three separate growhouse busts by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. ...more

February 23, 2008

Shortages of food for the poor and hungry is becoming so severe a local food bank has contemplated raising its own crops. The Volunteer Way, on Congress Street in New Port Richey, is scheduled to meet Monday night with officials of a church in the area which has several acres of land, Lester Cypher, CEO of the Volunteer Way, said today. ...more

February 11, 2008