The city of Sebring should consider the disbanding or preservation of the Sebring Historical Preservation Commission. As a preservationist and former chairman of the SHPC, I admit that the organization is totally ineffective and no longer preserving the historical buildings in compliance with the state guidelines and the city of Sebring ordinance. With exception to Lorrie Smith, chairperson, the commissioners would rather bend or ignore the guidelines. I have heard numerous times the members state that proper restoration is too costly, so they allow a building to be renovated instead. ...more

January 9, 2009

Community Redevelopment Agency Chairman Gene Brenner announced the receipt of a resignation letter from Commissioner Jim Rimer at Monday's CRA board meeting. ...more

December 10, 2008

Every time I see gymnastics on the TV, I can't help but think of Kathy Rimer. Kathy, along with her husband Jim, is the owner-operator of Get-A-Grip gymnastics' school in Sebring. She also owned the boutique Iris and Butterflies on the Circle, which she closed earlier this year so she could concentrate on her newer youth oriented venture. ...more

August 16, 2008

SEBRING — Expect twice as large an audience for Heartland Idol this year, and watch our downtown grow, Sebring CRA members suggested at their Monday night meeting. At Commissioner Jim Rimer's suggestion, the Community Redevelopment Agency will interview all five firms that applied for the job to market Sebring's downtown. "We don't have a clue as to the cost," complained Commissioner Lorrie Smith, who moved to add the cost of the campaign to the evaluation form for the five firms. ...more

June 24, 2008

SEBRING — When Kathy Rimer walks into most gymnastics centers for a competitive meet, the owner of Sebring's Get A Grip gym is often taken aback by the glare of polished accomplishment. "We'll go to these gyms, and they'll have these trophies lined up, sometimes two- or three-deep," she said. "We've won individual trophies in the past, but none we could display. "Now, we have four." Get A Grip's Highlands Aerials team earned its first-ever team trophies at the C. Gene Stowe Scholarship Meet last weekend, giving the gym its first hardware since opening in Sept. 2006. "We entered four teams and won four trophies," Rimer said, who noted her team had competed in five meets before taking team prizes. "And they look wonderful." Shannon Gibbs and Amaia Unanue pushed the Aerials to a first-place finish in Level 6, as Gibbs took first-place honors in the vault and floor and Unanue finished second in the bars and beam. ...more

November 23, 2007