Riding in a white Toyota Corolla, a group of thieves went from parking lot to parking lot Wednesday night, robbing or attempting to rob four people at gunpoint, police said. ...more

February 15, 2008

Ravi Jakhotia asked his parents for a drum set when he was 12. But when his father said no, he threw himself on the floor at Kmart. ...more

February 3, 2008

What kind of people read the Recipes Lost & Found column? You could describe them as "collectors." Others might use the words "culinary pack rats." ...more

January 30, 2008

Sears Holdings Corp. abruptly announced the departure of President and chief executive Aylwin B. Lewis on Monday, leaving a management void at the top of the department store chain controlled by chairman Edward S. Lampert as it tries a high-stakes restructuring to reconnect with customers and reinvigorate slumping sales. ...more

January 29, 2008

Sears Holdings Corp., the owner of the Sears and Kmart retail chains and Kenmore appliances, will reorganize into separate business units after a year of sales declines and dwindling profit. ...more

January 22, 2008

More evidence of a dramatic slowdown in consumer spending surfaced Monday, as Sears Holdings Corp. warned a drop in sales would result in a profit shortfall and the world's largest retail trade group issued a downbeat sales forecast for 2008. ...more

January 15, 2008

This isn't one of those pet-friendly rivers they go tubing on in Ohio and Wisconsin. You don't float this river on your $4.95 Kmart raft with Sparky splashing alongside it. ...more

December 27, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - Prekindergarten students at Kids' Stuff Preschool in Land O' Lakes went on a Christmas shopping spree Dec. 19 and 20 at Kmart in Land O' Lakes, spending money earned through household chores and parent donations on toys and clothes. ...more

December 26, 2007

SEBRING – There is not a lot of time left to find that perfect gift for that special somebody and apparently a bunch of Christmas shoppers are in that predicament. As of Dec. 18, just one week before Christmas, about 19 percent of men — and about 14 percent of women — had yet to begin their shopping, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. The survey showed that 16.5 percent of all consumers hadn't started shopping. In Highlands County, some merchants agree with the survey about seeing more shoppers getting a late start, while other store managers don't see it that way. "We're swamped," said Tom Short, manager of Michaels Arts and Crafts at the Shops At Shelby Crossing in Sebring. "They are buying Christmas stuff like it is going out of style." ...more

December 23, 2007

SEBRING — Is Santa Claus full of hot air? Dozens of bigger-than-life inflatable blow-up Santas and various Christmas displays are popping up in yards all over Highlands County. Erick Kelecseny has $8,000 worth Christmas decorations, including eight blow-ups in his front yard on Duffer Road. There's the compulsory Santa, plus Mickey and Minnie, and even a full band, including shade-wearing musicians, which pumps out funky Christmas carols. "I grew up poor my whole life and now I say I do it for the kids," said Kelecseny, about the holiday displays with fans that quietly hum all night long. "But I really do it for my own enjoyment." Kelecseny said on Thursday night that he enjoys turning off the house lights, sitting in the yard with his daughter, 15-month-old Ericka, to watch the reaction of motorists and pedestrians. ...more

December 22, 2007