Local leaders are fighting approval of a proposed business they fear could negatively affect patrons and other people within the community. ...more

October 15, 2008 |

Four University of Tampa students were suspended today after police arrested them on felony burglary and grand theft charges. ...more

October 3, 2008 |

A 13-year-old Avon Park Middle School student was in the care of the Department of Juvenile Justice after she reportedly kicked and hit a school official. ...more

September 26, 2008 |

Business Briefcase ...more

July 20, 2008 |

SEBRING — Nine-year-old Michael Stone's petition drive to reopen Lake Denton to the public, without any restrictions or $25-per-person weekend user's fees, is taking off. "We've gotten 10 phone calls on the petition," said Jessica Stone, the wife of Michael Stone the elder, who is the father of young Michael Stone the petitioner. "At least two of the people who called want copies of the petition so that they can circulate it and get signatures," Jessica Stone said Friday afternoon. "One of two callers who want a petition sent to them is John Huddleston, the owner of the barbershop next to Beef O' Brady's restaurant," Jessica Stone said. Jessica Stone said she expects Huddleston to be successful in getting signatures on the petition because it will be available for signing in his busy barbershop. ...more

January 12, 2008 |

AVON PARK — The sagging pants fashion fad, that is big with some youngsters and young men, is not welcome in Highlands County District Schools. Avon Park Middle School administrators toughened the school dress code this school year because of the big problem with baggy pants. "Before if their pants were falling down we'd give them string or we'd give them a belt and it got to be ridiculous," because it was such a common occurrence, Dean of Students Shane Wirries said Thursday. "We have kids coming with a size 36 waist [pants] and they are a 28." Now students cannot wear pants that are more than one size too big. If they do show up at school with droopy pants they must have a parent come to school with a proper size trouser or the student spends the day at in-school suspension. ...more

January 12, 2008 |

SEBRING — Like other Americans, from George Washington and Patrick Henry to Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King, fourth-grade student Michael Stone has a dream. Because he says his dream is being stepped on by government, Stone is doing what the Constitution says he can do: petition the government for redress of a grievance of the people. He's spearheading a petition asking that county government reopen Lake Denton to the public, and without the expensive user's fees and restricted hours and parking that will keep some people from using the public lake. And his petition is taking off not only with his fellow students but with adults, too. ...more

January 8, 2008 |

The recent drug possession arrests of four University of Tampa students, including the chaplain of a fraternity, have resulted in the temporary suspension of the fraternity's activities on campus and given administrators a chance to tout its anonymous tip line, authorities said. ...more

October 11, 2007 |

TAMPA - Police have arrested four University of Tampa students on drug charges over the past three weeks, including the chaplain of a fraternity. The busts have resulted in felony charges against all four students and the temporary suspension of the fraternity's activities on campus, authorities said. University officials said the arrests were the result of investigations sparked by anonymous tips. ...more

October 10, 2007 |