"We the People" of Highlands County elected the county officials and "We the People" must voice our concerns as no state representative, governor, senator or president will act on our concerns for us. It is our duty to see that the elected officials of our county government spend our hard earned money appropriately. ...more

September 2, 2008

Many of our paths have crossed over the pasty several years since I moved to Highlands County from Broward County. Although my primary career was in law enforcement, I have been involved with real estate since the mid '70s. I love Highlands County but am concerned that our county commissioners may not be practicing due prudence on expensive capital projects, particularly the new sheriff's building, which is the purpose of this letter. ...more

September 2, 2008

I have not commented on the building of the the new proposed sheriff building. I grew up in Sebring and in 1974 began my career with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. I learned through three sheriffs that a department works together. Now, employees must answer the phone and answer "sheriff's office" or "office of sheriff." It's just semantics to most, but it's still a loss. The public must realize that these are honorable servants (mostly.) They deserve not to be disposed of, or shoved or shuttled around. When they selected this employment or career, with conditions of danger, terrible hours, weather, pay, etc., I learned that you don't survive, you endure semantics. True, your perception is still altered. Driving by the vacated Winn- Dixie store on Kenilworth and Lakeview, I thought that it was a large building on a vast lot, located in Sebring, close to the courthouse, jail and government buildings. If the new sheriff's office is built, what effect or loss to the economy is there to the city of Sebring? ...more

August 22, 2008

Bruce Borkosky and Jeri Canale are running as Democrats for County Commissioner District 3. ...more

August 11, 2008

The economy. The real-estate bubble. Jobs. Impact fees. Big budgets. A new sheriff's building. The list can go on. ...more

August 11, 2008

A record number of companies is competing for the contract to build the new Highlands County Sheriff's Office building. ...more

August 1, 2008

SEBRING - The six candidates for county commissioner kept it civil during their hour Tuesday at the candidate forum, but Ron Grimming and Mike Rowan were sharply critical of incumbent Sheriff Susan Benton. ...more

July 16, 2008

Recent newspaper articles have referenced plans to expand the Highlands County Jail in downtown Sebring and build a new sheriff headquarters facility on George Boulevard behind the Agri-Civic Center south of Sebring. These are extraordinarily important and costly budget items. While these issues have been discussed in the newspaper, jail expansion is not in the 10-year capital improvement budget plan, according to county Engineer Ramon Gavarrete. ...more

January 31, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist appointed a new sheriff in Gulf County, filling the position that became vacant after the former sheriff became the target of a law enforcement investigation and resigned. ...more

September 14, 2007