"Signed, Mata Hari," by Yannick Murphy (Little, Brown and Co., $24) ...more

December 16, 2007

PLANT CITY – A "for rent" sign went up recently in front of the Woman's Club of Plant City, 1110 N. Wheeler St. ...more

November 30, 2007

Clark Elementary students' jaws dropped when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement helicopter approached to make a landing on the school's baseball field last week. ...more

November 21, 2007

More than 1,000 students at Boyette Springs Elementary did not wait until Veterans Day to honor those connected to the U.S. armed forces. ...more

November 17, 2007

More than 1,000 students at Boyette Springs Elementary School did not wait until Veterans Day to honor those connected to the U.S. armed forces. ...more

November 17, 2007

There was a void in Brandon resident Donna Johnson's holiday season that she couldn't ignore. ...more

November 15, 2007

SEBRING — One big question was raised Tuesday as Highlands County commissioners began discussions on a proposal to provide financial aid to the county's military personnel serving in combat zones in the war on terrorism. That question: Should this proposed county grant — up to a maximum $900 per year — be awarded only to homesteaded home owners, or to all service personnel from the county in harm's way overseas? Two of the five commissioners, Don Bates and Edgar Stokes, supported making the grant available to all men and women from the county serving in combat zones, whether they own or rent. "Their exposure to harm really doesn't depend on whether or not they own property," Bates said. He added, "Who serves right now? Mostly it's the young people, 21- 22-, 23-years old, who are the ones out on the front line." Few people at that age own a home, he said. If the intent is to support troops fighting the war on terrorism, he said, the aid should not depend on a person's status as a homeowner or renter. "They're both taking the same chances when they're out there," Bates said. ...more

November 14, 2007

SEBRING — While the person giving the invocation to start the Highlands County Board of Commissioners meetings changes every week, one thing stays constant. Every meeting begins with expressions of gratitude to and prayers for the men and women serving in the military. At Tuesday's meeting, the commissioners will discuss a proposal to provide up to $900 per year in financial aid to military personnel from Highlands County serving in combat zones in the war on terrorism. Highlands County is likely to become the 14th county in the state to offer such aid through an exemption on property taxes or a stipend to help with expenses. ...more

November 10, 2007

AVON PARK-Have you been hearing jets flying overhead? Or maybe explosions from afar? ...more

November 8, 2007

Violent deaths of U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians appear to have fallen sharply in Iraq in October, according to the latest Associated Press tally. ...more

November 1, 2007