Our politicians are asking us to allow offshore and wildlife refuge drilling to increase the amount of oil available and lower gas prices. These requests make a rational mind believe we must have run out of land to develop for oil. Nothing could be further from the truth. ...more

July 9, 2008

Wouldn't it be nice if we could just wish this bad economy away? Actually, that's not too far from the truth – at lease locally. Much of what ails the Highlands County economy is consumer confidence, not any one particular factor beyond our control with the possible exception of gas prices. William Pittenger, senior vice president and chief real estate economist with Seacoast National Bank, recently told members of the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce that the local economy isn't as bad as a lot of people believe, and that with a better outlook, it could turn around much quicker. Pittenger is right about that. Our economy depends on consumers feeling confident to purchase goods. If they are scared jobs might not be there tomorrow, consumers are much less likely to spend. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. ...more

June 18, 2008

I am always amused when people think there are simple solutions to complex problems. Such is the case in Mr. Rahenkamp's letter in which he says if the U.S Government waived all restrictions on oil drilling and refinery construction, we would be energy independent in just two years. ...more

June 8, 2008

One thing you can say with conviction about Bucs coach Jon Gruden: As he's gotten older and more mature as a coach, he's gotten better at admitting his mistakes. ...more

June 1, 2008

Regarding "Facing A Place Far Removed From Mayberry" (Metro, May 18): As the wife of a 20-year-plus veteran of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, I would like to commend Sheriff Gee for his brutally honest description of the state of our society. In this day and age of "politically correct" and "intelligent policing," sometimes the truth just needs to be put out there for the world to know. In this case the truth is unnerving, yet it invites us to open our eyes to what these men and women face each and every day. ...more

May 27, 2008

In response to Frances Earl's column in Thursday's edition, I would like to take the opportunity to set her facts straight. ...more

May 13, 2008

Regarding Leonard Pitts' "We've Lost Sight Of Christ's Love" (Other Views, May 1): ...more

May 4, 2008

In truth of comparison, there has been innovative technical evolution of necessity, and/or convenience by man, and evolution by God the Eternal Creator, of various forms of life since the most ancient of times here on earth. ...more

February 13, 2008

Normally when someone competes in an event, they tend to only focus on themselves. ...more

February 9, 2008

Middleton and Plant - the teams many expected to be in tonight's Class 5A-District 10 final - all but walked through Friday's semifinals: Middleton beating Chamberlain 65-45 and Plant defeating Hillsborough 74-33. ...more

February 9, 2008