SEBRING — Four of five members of the School Board of Highlands County oppose the proposed change in the state's science standards that would present evolution as fact to students. Some school board members across the state have opposed the proposed revisions to the science curriculum that specifies that evolution be taught as "fact" as opposed to a "theory," School Board Attorney John McClure said at a recent school board meeting. Would the board consider a resolution opposing the proposed change in the Sunshine State Standards that would present evolution as fact? he asked. "I would for one," would support such a resolution, School Board Member Richard Norris said. ...more

January 25, 2008

AVON PARK — Wally Randall has a passion for the Boys and Girls Clubs that comes from someone who has a first-hand appreciation for its influence. When he was a teenager, Randall's single mother dropped him off at the club's summer camp every morning. "At the time, I didn't see the real impact, but now I see the path I could have gone down and where some of my friends ended up, and I really appreciate what a positive impact it had," said Randall, who is now the executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs in Highlands County. ...more

January 25, 2008

SEBRING — Going home for a turkey dinner will be a little easier for teachers and families with school children next year with the school calendar featuring the entire Thanksgiving week as a holiday. Deputy Superintendent Rodney Hollinger told the school board recently the district should consider taking the whole week off because many teachers already take the Monday and Tuesday off before Thanksgiving requiring a higher number of substitutes to be brought in. The School Board of Highlands County approved its 2008-09 student calendar Tuesday with no school for the fourth week of November. ...more

December 13, 2007

AVON PARK — Three weeks after the Boys and Girls Club's Avon Park branch opened at Memorial Field, the club is still getting a second portable ready, and is working on a deck to connect its two trailers. But membership has already shot up well beyond what Executive Director Wally Randall predicted. The branch's new location has 74 members, and 65 children can be found either studying or screaming, racing and playing around the two portables on any given weekday after school. That's slightly more than the number of kids at the club's main branch in Sebring. "We were expecting 40. On the first day, close to 60 showed up," Randall said. ...more

December 8, 2007

SEBRING — In honor of the county's veterans, the School Board of Highlands County unanimously approved naming its new elementary school "Memorial Elementary." The school is under construction on the west side of Memorial Drive, just north of Lakeview Memorial Gardens. The school district has a preference for naming schools with a geographic element in the name, Superintendent Wally Cox said at Tuesday's school board meeting. ...more

October 25, 2007

SEBRING — The district's newest elementary school is being built on Memorial Drive a short distance north and across the road from a memorial garden, so "Memorial Elementary" would be an obvious name choice. Superintendent Wally Cox has another reason for the "Memorial" moniker for the district's 17th school, which is currently designated as Elementary "A." "I would like to dedicate Memorial Elementary in honor of our veterans," Cox stated in a memo to the school board members. "I believe it would be a great honor to the many veterans who live in Highlands County and to all veterans who have sacrificed much to give us the freedoms that we enjoy each and every day. ...more

October 19, 2007

I would like to thank everyone who attended the POW-MIA in Avon Park, for it was a very spectacular program. Col. Hutchinson, with his JROTC giving tribute on the "Table" of the missing plate. The keynote speaker was introduced by Tom Macklin, and Elizabeth Steward, who is co-author of "An Enormous Crime," Barry and Susan Foster. Barry for all his help and write-up in the paper, and his wife Susan for the pictures she took. The city manager, CB Shirey, with all his help in getting our permits, and just being there for me. Wally Randall, I don't know what I would have done without you. Tom and Tammy Macklin, I know how you went out on a limb for me. David Flowers, I can't say what it meant to have you sing the American Trilogy, and play TAPS, just as the fireworks went off. I have not forgotten the Stardusters, who played patriotic songs for us to dance to before the program. ...more

September 28, 2007