SEBRING — Housing assistance offered by Highlands County to low- and moderate-income people has grown 15 times larger than it was seven years ago, when Penny Phillippi took over the program. That's one reason Phillippi is on the verge of becoming the first executive director of the new Immokalee Community Redevelopment Agency. When Phillippi became county housing director in November 2000, assistance programs totaled just under $700,000 per year. That figure is now more than $10 million annually. Phillippi confirmed that she has a contract offer of $85,000 to head the Immokalee CRA. With a $6,000 per year car allowance, her total salary package would be $91,000. While the new job would raise her salary by about $35,000, Phillippi said, "for me it was never an issue of money. I loved this job, I loved the challenge here, and I love Highlands County." ...more

October 5, 2007

SEBRING — The Nan-Ces-O-Wee Hotel has a new owner, who has plans to revitalize it into a vibrant part of downtown. Jhonson Napoleon, owner of Napoleon Real Estate in Miami, closed Friday on the hotel, located at 139 N. Ridgewood Dr. "I want to make the hotel into a project that will make the city of Sebring proud," Napoleon said. He is already working with an architectural firm in Lakeland on plans for condominiums on the upper floors and a restaurant on the ground level. ...more

October 3, 2007