I'm getting very irritated when the first thing elected city officials or government officials say is that we can't reduce taxes because we'll have to reduce services. They need to look at organizational structures, tasks and responsibilities and see how they can adjust. It's the citizens' money, not theirs. I am totally disgusted with the sheriff's office when they took extra money and divided it up for bonuses. This was ridiculous. ...more

February 13, 2008

AVON PARK — The police chief search committee has thinned out its field of applicants, leaving 14 candidates out of the 61 who sent their resumes to then-city manager C.B. Shirey to seek Avon Park's top police job. Highlands Today confirmed that the field includes at least four applicants from Highlands County and at least two from the Fort Meade area. City officials provided a list of the 14 candidates with titles for the last positions they held, but more details on the candidates were not released. Interim City Manager Sarah Adelt said the committee originally trimmed the field to 15 candidates, but one of them removed himself from consideration after he was hired elsewhere. Eight of the 14 candidates last held high-ranking positions in local police departments, with three of them being current or former police chiefs. Adelt said that all 14 entries on the "short list" have law enforcement experience. Adelt said she's hoping the committee will narrow it to "no more than five candidates, hopefully three" within the next two weeks. ...more

February 5, 2008

The inspiration for CrimeReports.com came a decade ago when Greg Whisenant made the mistake of letting a stranger, who turned out to be a burglar, into his apartment building in Arlington, Va. ...more

February 5, 2008

I would like to express my gratitue to the many motorcyclists and others who participated in the 8th annual Lake Placid Food And Toy Run. This toy run has continued to grow each year with the support of the biker community. The bikers in Highlands County are always ready to support a good cause and pull together to make it successful. I thank each club, group and organization that pitched in and made this run possible. ...more

January 31, 2008

Several agencies will work together this Wednesday to try to get a snapshot of the Pasco County homeless population. The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, in cooperation with Pasco County community development division, St. Leo University, Pasco-Hernando Community College, Pasco Sheriff's Office and the Dade City, Zephyrhills, Port Richey and New Port Richey police departments will team up for this annual census. ...more

January 26, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - The Big Brothers Big Sisters organization is looking for people who would enjoy a night of free bowling and food. ...more

January 26, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - The Big Brothers Big Sisters organization is looking for people who would enjoy a night of free bowling and food. ...more

January 23, 2008

As soon as they found gasoline on the bodies and a melted cigarette lighter nearby, investigators said they suspected that Priyakumari Master set herself and her two young children on fire last week in a storage room at the motel her family owns. ...more

January 22, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - The Big Brothers Big Sisters organization is looking for people who would enjoy a night of free bowling and food. ...more

January 21, 2008

One political representative is urging voters to vote "yes" for a constitutional amendment to cut property taxes, regardless of what teachers unions and firefighter groups say. ...more

January 16, 2008