I was sent a letter posted on the Sun 'n Lake commentary Web site written by a Joe Eck. It was a plea for Guy Maxcy's re-election to the county commission, repeating Maxcy's campaign theme of "Please, just four more years." I wonder how many readers know why another term is so necessary for Maxcy? Maybe Eck and others know that if Maxcy gets 20 years in he becomes eligible for a retirement benefit? In other words, he gets paid for not working and we the taxpayers have to fork over monthly public funds to him. ...more

October 15, 2008

The coming years will, perhaps, be the most difficult in Highlands County government history. Major cuts loom for next year's budget, if projections are accurate, and we believe they are. Deciding where those cuts come from and how to protect essential services vital to the county will require strong leadership, good judgment and an inherent understanding of the direction our county needs to go. ...more

October 10, 2008

An effort in Hillsborough County to push for transit-friendly developments was delayed until the end of the month. ...more

October 6, 2008

Highlands County Commissioner Barbara Stewart and Sheriff Susan Benton are in the middle of a controversy that has everyone talking. Depending on whom you support, trying to figure out who is to blame is next to impossible. For people who don't have a point of view either way for either woman, both of these high-ranking public officials deserve blame for this even becoming a issue. ...more

September 26, 2008

Local businesses will have a better chance of getting Highlands County government contracts under the new "local preference" policy adopted Tuesday by the county commissioners. ...more

September 25, 2008

Regarding "Crisis In Leadership Threatens Support For Lowry Park Zoo" (Our Opinion, Sept. 18): ...more

September 21, 2008

Highlands County Commissioner Don Bates said he always tries to "buy locally." ...more

September 21, 2008

Unintended Consequences To all who read Sherry and Walt Searle's letter about Hernando County. ...more

September 20, 2008

Hillsborough County soon will begin enforcing its strict ordinances governing adult businesses now that a federal appeals court has ruled the restrictions are constitutional. ...more

September 19, 2008

The United Nations Panel on Climate Change is calling for sacrifice on the part of the American people in order to fight global warming. Their solution is for us to eat no meat one night a week. They have estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. ...more

September 19, 2008