A few weeks back I got a chance to meet Debra Snyder the new general manager of Woody's BBQ in Sebring. She is one progressive lady. For example, it takes a lot of nerve to close your business to paying customers for an evening in order to host a monthly Chamber of Commerce Mixer. ...more

February 23, 2008

SEBRING — What sounded like the rapid snapping of cap pistols filled the air on Wednesday, while students at Cracker Trail Elementary School responded by cheering wildly. ...more

February 20, 2008

One writer, apparently not a fan, asked about Senator Clinton's early years. A good question because many believe that academic success, high intellect and early leadership roles are essential foundations for the demanding position of president. A brief Internet search provides concise background information on all candidates. Hillary Rodham, daughter of a small business owner, had a Midwest Ozzie and Harriet childhood. Hillary was student body president of her public high school, graduated in the top five of her class and was a National Merit Scholarship finalist. She majored in political science at prestigious Wellesley College, where she was president of the Young Republican's Club (yes Republican), graduated with honors and was the first student in the school's history to deliver a commencement address. The latter was covered in Life Magazine. She went on to Yale Law School, served on the Law Review Board and received her L.L.D. Interviews with former Wellesley students state that Hillary was an inspirational student leader who was always prepared, charismatic and very effective. She was viewed by many at the time as a future senator or even the first woman president. ...more

February 19, 2008

SEBRING — Even though he has maintained straight A's in school, Austin North jokingly says his favorite subject is "lunch." Austin, 14, is your typical run-of-the-mill seventh-grader. He likes video games, talking about cars and ice cream, and has a "great wit," as his mother, Candace North, of Lorida, will attest. But Austin is a little bit different compared to his schoolmates at Hill-Gustat Middle School. Austin was diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMS) when he was 3 years old. The disease, which affects Austin's muscles and his breathing, has left him unable to walk and in a wheelchair. ...more

February 11, 2008

Isn't a knee-jerk reaction wonderful? Just like the county's employee firings, Ms. Allwood's response to my (and other) letters shows more reaction than understanding. At no point in my letter did I condone the actions of any of the employees. What I and others have tried to point out is that "all" these employees broke the "same rule" but each was treated differently. Although I have not seen the actual wording of the rule I can bet that it does not say that it's OK to have content of one type but not content of another type. It would be impossible to write such a rule that would define everything one might or might not include in a message so rules are made to be general. Most likely it says it's wrong to use the county's equipment for personal use – period, that covers it all. But now we have county administrators, after the fact, rewriting the rule to fit their own agenda (or cover their own past actions) and to protect a higher-up employee while firing lower-level employees. That's wrong, and shows poor management skills. There's an old saying: "You can't be almost pregnant." Apparently you can in Highlands County. ...more

February 8, 2008

I was sorry to see that three county employees were fired for what amounts to a minor infraction. As a taxpayer I think it's a waste of money to have to hire and train replacements for this type of infraction. I'm sure that now that it's been revealed that there are actually 22 employees, including some high level employees, who broke the same rule, that the powers that be will do the right thing, give them a reprimand and give these people back their jobs. To pick and choose who gets disciplined and who doesn't for breaking the "same rule" would be hypocritical. ...more

February 2, 2008

What chutzpah! First the state intrusively reduces local governments' revenues, tacitly accusing them of wasting money. Then it proposes House Bill 683 designed to kill one county's innovative money saving idea – building its own asphalt plant – in order to endear itself to a special interest group. Our leadership should join forces with officials of other counties that either currently do or contemplate doing their own road construction in aggressively fighting this legislation that forces them to use private contractors for non-maintenance roadwork. ...more

January 30, 2008

I have two favorite radio stations. One is the local '50s channel, 10:50 AM, which, with the exception of the occasional "These Boots are Made for Walking," plays great "cruising music" from my youth. My other favorite station is from the University of Michigan. It's called "Michigan radio for my Michigan and Northern Ohio snowbird friends and anyone else who likes to hear intelligent discussions and civil debate of issues with both sides presented" as well as many of the other wide variety of programs they produce. I welcome you to give them a listen. ...more

January 14, 2008

Mr. Gulledge had his facts wrong as several letter writers pointed out. Not to gang up on him, but he also offered an opinion that he may wish to reconsider. He opined that Oprah Winfrey endorsed Sen. Obama because both are black. With that line of thinking, her endorsement of Sen. Clinton, likely her second choice, would have been because both are women. ...more

January 1, 2008

I would like to give praise to the First Assembly of God Church on Kenilworth Boulevard. I went to church there on Sunday for the first time, and they were having a special program, which was Tommy Brandt in concert. Anyone who hasn't heard this young man sing and minister to people through his music should make it a point to see him when he is in Sebring again. A big thank you goes out to the church for having him at their services. ...more

December 15, 2007