If you get a telephone call from a real estate broker today, don't get excited, they're not looking to sell or buy your home; they just want your vote. ...more

January 27, 2008

SEBRING — A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail, charged in connection with allegedly slashing his roommate with a sword and a knife and not letting him leave. Ian Preston Dressel, 28, of 2808 DeSoto Road, was charged with aggravated battery by a person using a deadly weapon and kidnapping to commit or to facilitate the commission of a felony. At 8:16 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 13, sheriff's deputy Robinn Singles reported he met with the mother of the victim, who told him her son, 33, was slashed with a knife and named Dressel as the suspect. ...more

January 15, 2008

SEBRING — The case of the first growhouse raided by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office in 2008 was still under investigation on Tuesday, said sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle. ...more

January 11, 2008

A telephone call at midnight normally would have awoken Bill Whiting, but he hadn't been sleeping much since his dog disappeared. He picked up the phone and couldn't believe what he heard. ...more

January 5, 2008

A Kissimmee River Estates woman was safe Thursday after reporting her ex-boyfriend kidnapped her, dragged her from her remote Highlands County home Wednesday night and then drove her into Okeechobee County. Highlands County Sheriff's investigators have issued a "be on the lookout" for David Michael Yates, 40, of last known address, 2265 Cross Roads, Lucedale, Miss. Sheriff's Lt. Tim Lethbridge reported that at 8:23 p.m. they received a 911 call from the victim that her ex-boyfriend was trying to break into her home. Then the telephone went dead. Yates and the victim reportedly lived together for four years prior to a breakup about six months ago. He did not take the breakup very well, Lethbridge said. "When the deputy arrived there were signs that the home had been broken into," Lethbridge said. ...more

December 28, 2007

A Kissimmee River Estates woman was safe Thursday after reporting her ex-boyfriend kidnapped her, dragged her from her remote Highlands County home Wednesday night and then drove her into Okeechobee County. Highlands County Sheriff's investigators have issued a "be on the lookout" for David Michael Yates, 40, of last known address, 2265 Cross Roads, Lucedale, Miss. ...more

December 27, 2007

SEBRING — There's a new telephone scam being tried out, said Paul Hinman of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Unit, on Tuesday. At least 10 people have contacted the unit's office at the Lakeshore Mall reporting that a man with a Jamaican (West Indian) accent called telling the listener that if they send him $800, he will send them $5 million, Hinman said. ...more

November 28, 2007

Half a lifetime ago, when party lines allowed neighbors to know your business, people had no expectation of privacy when making a telephone call. ...more

November 19, 2007

A St. Petersburg toddler whose parents say would not be alive today if not for government-financed health care is being featured in lobbying efforts to persuade Congress to override the president's veto of a children's health insurance program bill. ...more

October 16, 2007