Yesterday, we received in our mail yet another political publication. This one, however, was from a different source, the Florida Police Benevolent Association; the one which often solicits for donations to its "causes." Its large red headline stated: "Sheriff Susan Benton Accused of …" Accused! Not convicted, not charged, accused! This country's legal system proclaims a person to be innocent until proven guilty. We were astounded that such an organization, which supposedly bases its existence on that proclamation, could so blatantly accuse one of its own as if already proven guilty. Regardless of one's political loyalties and choices, such a charge is both immature and just plain wrong. We see this piece of paper as libel. Yes, our country has freedom of speech, but libel is not freedom of speech. Acting to damage someone's reputation without proof of fault is actionable in a court of law. For shame! ...more

October 18, 2008

Sarah Palin kept her cool, stayed on her game and lived up to her reputation as a spirited debater. ...more

October 5, 2008

Robert Giroux, 94, a distinguished giant of 20th century publishing who guided and supported dozens of great writers from T.S. Eliot and Jack Kerouac to Bernard Malamud and Susan Sontag, died Friday in Tinton Falls, N.J. ...more

September 6, 2008

FOOTBALL A year after Nature Coast stomped perennial playoff participant Dunnellon, the Tigers are treating the Sharks with reverence. ...more

September 5, 2008

It's a good thing Devin Ray and Eric Lampe like each other, because the Riverview seniors will see a lot of each other this year. ...more

September 4, 2008

When B.J. Upton got pulled from a game in Texas last Friday, the postgame focus was on his lack of hustle rather than Matt Garza's dazzling complete-game shutout. Monday night, the story was much the same, as Upton getting caught on the bases in the middle of what he termed a "mental lapse" overshadowed an impressive victory against an Angels team with the best record in baseball. ...more

August 20, 2008

Both new and established homes in Sun City Center include estate homes, single-family houses and villas. These homes range from just over 1,000 to nearly 4,000 square feet of living space, easily meeting the needs of nearly every home buyer. ...more

August 17, 2008

MarineMax Inc., a Clearwater-based boat dealership chain, posted a 29-percent drop in sales for its third quarter, the company said today. ...more

July 31, 2008

What Hillsborough County Jail Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones did last January was an outrage. While searching a partially paralyzed man during booking, she dumped Brian Sterner out of his wheelchair, as casually as if he was a bag of dirty laundry. The Sheriff's Office quickly and rightly charged her with abusing the disabled, a third-degree felony that could bring up to a five-year sentence. ...more

July 8, 2008

I felt compelled to write about my unexpected friendship with Ralph Hughes, who passed away recently. I have worked for more than one candidate who was on the losing side of Ralph. He had a reputation, one that I had heard about for most of my years in local politics. You didn't want to be on the other side of Ralph. But because of political parties that is where I found myself for many years. ...more

July 7, 2008