Sebring Police released the statement on Wednesday that Commissioner Barbara Stewart typed and had notarized after she got into an argument Sept. 16 with Sheriff Susan Benton. According to Stewart, she was in her automobile and backing out when Benton's personal vehicle pulled behind her. "Thus, this auto prevented me from backing out of my space." ...more

September 24, 2008

In the issue of Highlands Today on Sept. 16, Guy Maxcy stated: "I don't think we cut enough millage the last two years," so I must ask the question, why does he wait until now to point that out? And, what has he been doing for the past two years, let alone 16? I feel Highlands County deserves better. ...more

September 20, 2008

Highlands County Commissioner Guy Maxcy asked an interesting question at this week's meeting where next year's budget was approved. He asked if anyone in the audience thought they received tax relief from the governor or the legislature last year. All that was heard was a groan from the large crowd. That is a perfect example of how the Legislature and governor have passed the buck to local governments, claiming they are cutting taxes, when in fact they are not. ...more

September 19, 2008

Highlands County government spending for the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, will be set tonight, and last-minute budget cuts - possibly up to $1.3 million and maybe more - are virtually certain. ...more

September 16, 2008

Last Monday I attended a meeting of the Highlands County Homeowners Association. As usual, Jack Richie and his fellow officers put together an informative and entertaining two hours. Invited to speak were Jeff Carlson, Ron Grimming, Guy Maxcy and Zane Thomas, all candidates for various elected positions in the county. ...more

September 14, 2008

Highlands County commissioners agreed to consider last-minute budget cuts which would drop the property tax millage rate from 7.3354 to 7 mills even. ...more

September 7, 2008

Edgar Stokes, chairman of the Highlands County commissioners, kicked off the county's investigation into spraying pesticides, by both airplanes and trucks, to battle the expected hordes of mosquitoes that will probably descend on the county in the wake of Fay and the three new tropical storms headed toward or near the Florida peninsula. ...more

September 3, 2008

The Highlands County commissioners approved in theory giving local contractors and vendors an advantage in getting county contracts on Tuesday. ...more

August 27, 2008

The easiest thing to say to an elected leader is "Cut the budget!" The hardest thing for an elected leader to say to his or her constituents is: "Cutting the budget is the wrong thing to do." We've heard both of these things recently during county budget discussions. It's our opinion that making drastic cuts is the worst thing the county could do - until there is no other alternative. ...more

August 17, 2008

On Monday, I went to meet candidates. I thought I knew everything about everything. I was wrong. There were political people there; there were people interested in the welfare of all of us. Andy Jackson admitted he/they might have done better. What he did not say is they could have done worse. Jeri Canale has knowledge of the county commissioner's job. Jeff Carlson has a political agenda that wants to cut, cut, cut. It is my opinion that we have been cut so much, we have been bled, to where we don't have blood to give to Red Cross. ...more

August 14, 2008