Highlands County Commissioner Guy Maxcy won a fifth consecutive four-year term in Tuesday's general election as voters also elected Jeff Carlson to the county commission. Maxcy and Carlson, both Republicans, won by resounding margins. ...more

November 5, 2008

After a race that was occasionally punishing but ultimately rewarding, incumbent Sheriff Susan Benton won her bid for a second term. ...more

November 5, 2008

When people have less money, they cut out the extras. One discretionary expense is entertainment and recreation, that's the reason why only four adult softball tournaments are scheduled in Sebring for the rest of 2008, Parks and Recreation Director Vicki Pontius told the Highlands County Commission at its Tuesday meeting. ...more

October 22, 2008

I was sent a letter posted on the Sun 'n Lake commentary Web site written by a Joe Eck. It was a plea for Guy Maxcy's re-election to the county commission, repeating Maxcy's campaign theme of "Please, just four more years." I wonder how many readers know why another term is so necessary for Maxcy? Maybe Eck and others know that if Maxcy gets 20 years in he becomes eligible for a retirement benefit? In other words, he gets paid for not working and we the taxpayers have to fork over monthly public funds to him. ...more

October 15, 2008

There has been lots of mud slinging in this election. The Highlands Today website: "Where is Mr. Maxcy" has some negative sayings about him. ...more

October 11, 2008

The coming years will, perhaps, be the most difficult in Highlands County government history. Major cuts loom for next year's budget, if projections are accurate, and we believe they are. Deciding where those cuts come from and how to protect essential services vital to the county will require strong leadership, good judgment and an inherent understanding of the direction our county needs to go. ...more

October 10, 2008

I just read a letter to the editor by Jerry Fennell. As most of you know, Mr. Fennell will not let candidates speak for themselves. One thing I'm sure of, Ron Grimming will not answer questions that he can be critiqued on. I was in support of Mrs. Stewart until she found that Mr. Cool was not going to run. ...more

October 8, 2008

In a 4-1 vote Tuesday, Highlands County commissioners took the first step toward raising the low-income senior citizens exemption on a homestead home from $5,000 to $15,000. ...more

October 8, 2008

Highlands County Commissioner Barbara Stewart and Sheriff Susan Benton are in the middle of a controversy that has everyone talking. Depending on whom you support, trying to figure out who is to blame is next to impossible. For people who don't have a point of view either way for either woman, both of these high-ranking public officials deserve blame for this even becoming a issue. ...more

September 26, 2008

To Ms. Kraft who wonders what Mr. Maxcy has been doing the last 2-16 years? He's been doing his part in helping to cut the millage and the unemployment rates, both of which were higher when he took office. He has been doing everything he could to help to make this a better county to live in along with the other four commissioners. You do realize that there are five of them that vote on things? May I ask what you have been doing these last two years? Have you been attending the meeting or committee meetings to help understand the goings on in our local government? ...more

September 26, 2008