When Dee Dee Jacobson was growing up, it was not unusual for her to find tagged squirrels and dead birds in the refrigerator. Her father taught animal behavior at Cornell University and occasionally brought home some of his work. ...more

December 1, 2008

A Sebring man was free Friday on $3,000 bail, while his step-son remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond, after a verbal argument over the use of a home computer got out of hand and turned violent, according to Sebring police. ...more

October 6, 2008

SEBRING A Sebring man was free Friday on $3,000 bail, while his step-son remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond, after a verbal argument over the use of a home computer got out of hand and turned violent, according to Sebring police. The 36-year-old step-dad was charged with domestic violence related battery, a misdemeanor. Marcus Wayne Devries, 18, was charged with third-degree felony battery or domestic violence battery by strangulation. Police reported they were called at about 11:55 p.m. Wednesday in reference to a domestic violence fight in progress. ...more

October 4, 2008

A Lake Placid woman remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bond Wednesday, after sheriff's investigators say she became angry and threatened her stepdad with a pan of hot grease. ...more

August 29, 2008

A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond Tuesday, charged with hitting his step-father and grabbing his mother during an argument. Jordan Eli Shapiro, 29, of Sebring, was charged with domestic violence related aggravated battery on a person 65 years old or older and domestic violence battery. ...more

August 26, 2008

It came as no surprise they got his death certificate wrong. George Kaylor, my step-dad, didn't die of bladder cancer. He didn't even have cancer. ...more

December 30, 2007

The reaction was swift from those who read to the end of last Sunday's column on the profound change in health care, as seen through the deaths of two dads. ...more

December 30, 2007

On Nov. 1, there was a front page article about a convicted sexual predator named Dale Leland, titled "Family, Friends Plea for Man in Court." It was full of quotes from his friends, neighbors, co-workers and lawyer, all vouching for him. Dale already confessed to detectives. Evidence supported the charges and he was found guilty by the jury. Yet, despite the conviction, these character witnesses implied that the sweet, innocent girls lied, making Dale the victim. MSNBC ran the series, "To catch a predator." Predators would meet "underage" targets online, using sexually explicit language. When the predator showed up for pre-arranged sex, the MSNBC investigator spoke briefly to him, then allowed him to leave. Once outside, local police quickly arrested him. The series concluded with the trial and sentencing of each. Without even touching their underage victims, every predator was convicted. Among them was a doctor, a college professor and a child services worker, all liked and respected in their communities. Like Dale, probably many vouched for them. ...more

November 27, 2007