A 3:44 a.m. new moon today produces a noon-time bite and your best chances of hooking into that trophy bass or filling your limit of crappie. All the moon events occur this month between the hours of 2 and 4 a.m., meaning the largest daily feeding migration happens at that time. The best we can hope for is that some of the largest fish in the lake feed again from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or the weather favorably influences the fish enough to either hold off feeding during the night or feed heavily during a daytime falling barometer. ...more

February 7, 2008

SEBRING — Two Sebring men remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $10,000 each, charged with burglary, grand theft and felony criminal mischief in connection with a burglary at the Habitat For Humanity store. ...more

February 4, 2008

In the face of rising inventories of vacant homes and declining orders for new ones, Tampa Bay homebuilders slashed construction 59 percent in 2007, according to preliminary data released Thursday by Metrostudy, a Houston-based housing research firm. ...more

January 18, 2008

Ron Rust and Beve Kozub were poking around the toy booths at China's biggest trade fair two years ago when something caught their eye: pouty-faced baby dolls snuggling in light blue and pink fleece blankets, their eyes tightly shut or gazing with a newborn's woozy stare. ...more

January 12, 2008

SEBRING — The Highlands County Legislative Delegation will hold its annual meeting and public hearing from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the Highlands County Commission chambers, 600 S. Commerce. "This hearing is specifically designed to encourage the public to personally address their legislators on their concerns and issues involving state government," said Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales. ...more

December 2, 2007

Today begins the second day after the new moon, which occurred on Friday at 11:03 p.m. The projection isn't any better today than it was last Wednesday, I'm sorry to say. So, read it and weep –– if you're a daytime angler. There is a very slight, very early, migration bite in areas known to have a high concentration of fish. The majority of fish stopped feeding four hours before and gorged themselves completely from midnight to 4 a.m. There might be a midday bite, but only the smaller fish will be participating, and very rarely a larger fish. A spawning female bass could be caught, but only if you've won the lottery in the last 2 years. ...more

November 11, 2007

Let me add a bipartisan note to Democrat Arthur Hayhoe's guest column of Oct. 21 in support the Hometown Democracy proposition that would allow voters to have a say concerning development in their county ("Hometown Democracy Gives Voters A Say In Development"). ...more

November 5, 2007

Highlands County Habitat for Humanity has built over 100 homes serving 360 people in our community. Started in 1990, Highlands County now ranks in the top 10 percent of all Habitat affiliates in the nation. ...more

October 16, 2007

Once again the residents of Erin Park have stepped up to the plate and took care of a problem that should have been resolved by the county or the state. ...more

September 30, 2007

SEBRING – Recommendations that will come from the citizens committee on Lake Denton –– which will meet for the first time at 4 p.m. today –– could have implications for public access to other public lakes throughout Highlands County. "More than one committee member has suggested that," said Highlands County Commissioner Don Bates, who chairs the committee as a non-voting member. Bates agrees with that assessment. ...more

September 25, 2007