Kudos to Commissioner Carlson for asking "Where's the money coming from?" and then voting "no" to voluntarily reducing county revenue. The other commissioners should have followed the rookie's lead. Instead, the majority approved measures (senior citizen tax break and combat troop stipend) which had been turned down or tabled back when the county had the money to spend. What's the logic; now that we can't afford it, we'll do it? I'm not addressing the merits of either proposal, but neither should the commission have. The county should simply not entertain requests for exemptions or expenditures from special interest groups until its revenue stream is stable; tax reductions have consequences. ...more

November 25, 2008

Your FICO credit score is made up of five factors of varying importance. The weighted importance of the categories are averages. For some people certain categories may count more heavily. ...more

November 9, 2008

10:37 a.m.: Clerks in at least three Hillsborough County voting precincts have failed to hand out the second page of ballots, leaving voters unable to vote on all the measures, Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson said. ...more

November 4, 2008

Smaller school buses will have to be equipped with lap-and-shoulder seat belts for the first time and larger buses will have higher seat backs under a government rule announced Wednesday. ...more

October 16, 2008

Election No-Brainer There are two questions that I wish to elaborate on about this upcoming presidential election. ...more

October 11, 2008

Highlands County Court Judge Anthony Ritenour will not allow inmates to serve jail time on the weekend work release program until changes are implemented. ...more

October 8, 2008

I have known Susan Benton for 14 years, in fact she and her family lived close by me in a townhouse situation for two of these years. She was an excellent wife, mother and neighbor. I have been very impressed by her record as sheriff of Highlands County and the respect she commands and deserves from other sheriffs throughout Florida. The people who hold the same office recognize her leadership abilities. As a professional business owner with a medical office in Sebring, I can feel protected, due to Sheriff Benton's innovative measures and her department's vigilance. ...more

October 3, 2008

RESULTS NOT AS SIGNIFICANT AS FCAT BECAUSE NOT ALL STUDENTS TAKE THE EXAM ...more

August 31, 2008

SARASOTA - The Herald-Tribune announced cost-saving measures Tuesday that will result in 33 employees losing their jobs as the media company - like most across the nation - continues to struggle in a flagging economy. ...more

August 5, 2008

Ask Donna Dodson how she's doing. "Stressed" is her reply. The house where she lives on Piper Road is moving toward foreclosure. She was served with the official papers in April. ...more

July 19, 2008