I try to keep a stiff upper lip about not having an iPhone. Just couldn't afford it - not with the $75 a month or so AT&T charges for service on top of the $199 upfront cost for the device. ...more

March 21, 2009

Fort Myers mental health counselor Thomas Jackson Friedlander was described today as being either a sadistic pedophile or a lonely 78-year-old homosexual who was arrested for describing his corporal punishment fantasies. ...more

December 8, 2008

"Let your fingers do the walking" might have become an obsolete phrase a few years ago. ...more

October 27, 2008

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley is not expected to face charges after a lengthy investigation into his lurid messages to underage congressional pages, two federal law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. ...more

September 19, 2008

Just their luck. Robert Jordan's kids have the sheriff's Internet administrator for a dad. They can't get away with anything on the home computer. ...more

August 4, 2008

The burglar is inside your house, rummaging around in the next room. Does he have a weapon? Your heart beats fast. ...more

July 15, 2008

SEBRING – The appeals of the firings of ex-county employees Treasa Handley and Jarod Lee will be heard by new Highlands County Administrator Michael Wright. But the informal hearing process won't be scheduled until after Handley's and Lee's attorney takes depositions from at least four and possibly more county employees. Attorney Jim McCollum, representing the two Office of Management and Budget employees who were fired for sending thousands of personal and inappropriate instant messages on their county computers, has not yet requested a hearing date. Their firings go back more than three months, but McCollum is not rushing to schedule the appeals hearing in front of Wright. Before any hearing is scheduled, McCollum said, he needs to get sworn statements in depositions from several high-ranking county managers and from one ex-county employee, Carl Cool. ...more

June 6, 2008

SEBRING –– Two of the three county budget office employees fired for sending sexually explicit instant messages on their county work computers during work hours are threatening state and, if that doesn't work, federal legal action. Those threats were made by Jim McCollum, attorney for Treasa Handley and Jarod Lee, who were fired for sending several thousand "inappropriate" instant messages during work, many of them described as "sexually explicit." ...more

February 21, 2008

I read with amusement the Highlands today article on electronic messages dated Feb. 1 about Mr. David Flowers getting only a letter of reprimand from assistant county administrator Mr. Helms for sending instant messages. I don't know about anyone else but that article really smells when you read between the lines. After the firing of three employees for doing the same thing, save the baloney. Using county equipment for personal use, no matter what the circumstances are, is still against policy. Mr. Helms messed up with the termination of first three persons. Policy again dictates the proper type of disciplinary action that should have been issued. It appears what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander. I guess it just goes to show you, if you're one of the big dogs or good old boys, which ever you prefer, who gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar, it's still business as usual. I wait with great anticipation the next chapter of Highlands Gate! ...more

February 5, 2008

SEBRING — David Flowers, director of Highlands County's facilities management, was given a written reprimand late Thursday afternoon for his improper use of county instant messaging. ...more

January 31, 2008