Statistics show that cases of reported child abuse were up for the first eight months of 2008 compared to the same time period last year, according to Sheriff's Lt. John Chess, with the sheriff's Special Victims Unit. ...more

September 26, 2008 |

Highlands County has an emergency preparedness plan to deal with any type of disaster, natural or man-made, for the entire county. ...more

September 14, 2008 |

I am glad that Mr. and Mrs. Crail had a happy outcome to their encounter with Spring Hill Fire Department. They are truly a professional group when they arrive and will promptly deal with the situation. ...more

September 11, 2008 |

The most noticeable thing about Tuesday's election is the turnout, or more specifically the lack thereof. Last I checked, 10 percent of those eligible to vote actually voted. Frankly, I am astonished and extremely disappointed. For the judicial races, which represent the third branch of our government, it is as if the entire county said, "Who cares?" ...more

August 29, 2008 |

Two Democrats and three Republicans are vying for the nomination in their respective parties in the District 3 county commission race. Although commissioners represent the entire county, they must live in the district they represent. ...more

August 16, 2008 |

County Commission Annual Performance Review Each category totals 20 points with each commissioner getting 4 points for a positive record per category. ...more

July 30, 2008 |

She lost her city council seat but hasn't given up on politics. Former Vice Mayor Nancy Britton, who failed to win re-election in April, filed paperwork this week to challenge three-term incumbent Sandra "Sandy" Applefield for a seat on the Pasco County Mosquito Control Board in the Nov. 4 general elections. ...more

June 14, 2008 |

SEBRING — When Ave Maria opened last year in Collier County, two large landowners in Highlands County started working on a plan to conserve their land so they could organize the same kind of city, minus the controversies that surround that development. But after a series of fits and starts, the Rural Land Stewardship Area Program appears dead in Highlands County. First, Lykes Bros. dropped out of the program. Now, Atlanticblue has put in a more traditional rezoning request. Susie Bishop, an Atlanticblue spokeswoman, said Atlanticblue got tired of waiting for the state to review the program rules, and was discouraged by what she described as a new leadership in Tallahassee that stripped the program of incentives. ...more

June 8, 2008 |

Residents of northeast Pasco County for years have been waiting for regulations to maintain the region's rural character. ...more

May 28, 2008 |

County commissioners voted unanimously earlier this week to approve an agreement that requires the developer of Cortez Commons to pay $522,580 to mitigate the cost of transportation impacts to his project at State Road 50 and Mariner Boulevard. ...more

May 10, 2008 |