The city will hold a special budget meeting in January to address an anticipated $157,000 shortfall in revenues. ...more

December 9, 2008 |

Being a caregiver is mostly a thankless, lonely job particularly if you yourself are not in good health. You lose touch with many friends, you don't get to go out except for business and any spare time is spent writing, reading, talking to friends on the phone or resting (I get very little sleep at night.) On Oct. 10, something happened with was a nightmare come true; I won't get into details. I thought, this can't be happening, it can't be true. I'll never forget it. Thanks to angels like Deputy D. Wilson, social services, S. Richards, friends Red and Tom Travison, Clare Schuler, Dr. E. Palosky and staff, who tried to bring closure to this event. Our son Jerry spent his days off from work making numerous phone calls to help me. Our son John and wife Donna called long distance. God bless you all. I hope no one ever goes through what I did. ...more

October 26, 2008 |

City voters will decide during the Nov. 4 election whether candidates for city council and mayor should live in the city for at least six months prior to running for office. ...more

October 22, 2008 |

For 25 years, the Heritage Arts Center Association's Spotlight on Talent competition has given Pasco County young people a chance to develop and showcase their performing arts talents. On Oct. 25, at least 14 Spotlight alumni will show off what they learned and make it possible for other kids to stand in the spotlight. ...more

October 4, 2008 |

Avon and Park elementary schools might continue using the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program if a deal between the Avon Park Police Department and the Highlands County Sheriff's Office works out. ...more

August 27, 2008 |

The Avon Park City Council decided it would take more money from churches and non-profit groups to support the fire department, but the extra revenue wouldn't make up for a $74,000 budget deficit the city has just discovered. ...more

August 27, 2008 |

AVON PARK - Churches and non-profit groups in the City of Charm will have to fork over more money for their fire protection after the council voted 4-1 to charge them 75 percent of the institutional rate for the city's fire assessment. This means that churches will have to pay 50 percent more to the city's fire department through the annual assessment than it did last year, when they were charged 50 percent of the institutional rate. Homeowners will still pay $165, while commercial and nursing home rates were unchanged. ...more

August 25, 2008 |

With a loud "welcome to Wal-Mart" from Mayor Sharon Schuler and a snip of her giant scissors, the yellow ribbon fell to the ground and about 100 customers found their way into the Supercenter. ...more

August 14, 2008 |

Victims of the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks said Thursday that they are satisfied with the investigation's outcome that pinned the blame on an Army scientist. And now, the widow of a dead photo editor said, it's time for the government to settle her lawsuit and pay up. ...more

August 8, 2008 |

As the city council plans to renew its annual fire assessments, churches and nonprofit organizations will likely find themselves paying a greater annual fee to get their fire protection. ...more

July 31, 2008 |