SEBRING — Jason Sava has honed his game on the Sertoma Junior Golf Tour for the past several summers. And now, the hard work and practice are paying off for the talented teenager, who shot a 79 to win the boys 15-16 age group during Thursday's Sertoma Junior Tour event at Sebring Golf Club. ...more

June 14, 2008

SEBRING — In the bleachers, Ruth Mendez waited to hear her daughter's name, Ibelissa Roque. "It's kind of hard to see them become adults," Mendez said. Then "Pomp and Circumstance" started playing, and everyone stood up. Mary Midence and Amy Hart gave the salutatory and valedictory addresses. But an hour earlier, before they stepped across the stage and accepted their diplomas on Saturday morning, the Sebring High School graduates gathered in the fieldhouse at Firemen's Field to receive final instructions. And a few threats. "Turn off your cell phones. Turn off your cell phones!" shouted one administrator. "If your cell phone goes off during the ceremony, you will be removed." "Get in line. Get in line," yelled another woman. ...more

May 31, 2008

SEBRING –– With a foursome comprised of some of the finest shot-makers in the Heartland, the multi-talented team of Grover Crawford, Mike Browning, Rene Brown and Vince Liles shot a 17-under-par 55 to run away with first place in the Championship Flight of the Blue Streak Classic golf tournament on Saturday. The 25th annual event attracted a field of 116 players, who competed in a four-person scramble format over 18 holes of the par-72 Turtle Run course at Sun 'N Lake Country Club. Placing second in the Championship Flight with a fine 59 was the team of Ryan Magnuson, Kip Goolsby, Travis Rapp and Chris Myers. ...more

May 11, 2008

A few weeks back I got a chance to meet Debra Snyder the new general manager of Woody's BBQ in Sebring. She is one progressive lady. For example, it takes a lot of nerve to close your business to paying customers for an evening in order to host a monthly Chamber of Commerce Mixer. ...more

February 23, 2008

SEBRING –– Lightning in a bottle was what the 2007 Sebring High School baseball team was if you ask Blue Streaks head coach Hoppy Rewis. "We had an amazing ride," Rewis said. "That was a great group of kids. We had to run them out of the batting cages. They played with no fear and was the definition of a team. They never gave up, which was evident in that they scored a ton of runs with two outs." Last year, the Streaks rode the crest of a wave that saw the team defeat defending regional champion Tampa Jesuit 4-2 to reach the state semifinals for the first time since 1966. "I remember going crazy when we beat [Jesuit]," Sebring first baseman Tony Vazquez said. "Last year, we had a team full of all-stars and we played hard until the final out. It's an experience I'll never forget." ...more

February 19, 2008

SEBRING –– After falling short of winning district titles last year, the Sebring High School boys and girls tennis teams are focused on reclaiming district supremacy. "We've got a nice blend of players on the team this year," said second-year Blue Streak boys coach Jack Holt. "We're fairly young with only one senior, but the kids have had a great attitude and have been working hard to prepare for the season." Team captain Jake Broen is the only senior on the squad and brings a vast amount of experience to the No. 1 position. ...more

February 12, 2008

SEBRING — The pickup truck backed up, the gate swung open, and three hogs were released from a trailer. One by one, they cross the scales. "Two hundred and thirty-eight pounds," came a voice from inside the livestock barn. Whoops went up. Anthony Hargaden smiled. "It was the pie!" shouted his mother, Allison Hargaden. Indeed, it was two pies, and a bottle of water. ...more

February 10, 2008

It's a common perception that kids –– especially today's kids –– don't care beyond their needs, so it's comforting to see a few actually reach out. Last November, a group of about 20 Sebring High School freshmen decided they wanted to raise $10,000 for children in Uganda, an African nation caught in the throes of civil war. It's difficult, even for adults, to care about a faraway nation but these kids have really stepped up to the plate. Raising all that money in a few months is no easy job and so far the students have raised $7,000. ...more

January 28, 2008

SEBRING — A 16-year-old student at the Academy at Youth Care Lane was charged Thursday with a felony count of crimes against a person by threat, as well as disturbing the peace, for allegedly saying he was going to shoot his drill instructors with a gun. ...more

January 19, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County's most decorated war hero received another post-mortem honor this week. On the Island of Negros in the Philippines, a large memorial marker was set on the crash site where the late Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr. died in battle. McGuire, a Highlands County native who won the Congressional Medal of Honor as a pilot in the Army Air Corps in World War II, died at that spot 63 years ago while on a mission that turned into a desperate dog fight. ...more

January 17, 2008