A proposed development for land slated to be annexed could one day double the population of Avon Park, but some Lake Byrd residents have concerns that lake access would be opened up to thousands of residents. ...more

January 28, 2009

Trash Cans Are A Sign We just got a card in the mail today from folks wanting to stop the Dade City landfill and dump. I wonder if the people backing the card I got put out trash cans twice a week for the garbage man to pick up? And I wonder if these same folks recycle all their plastic, metal cans, glass, clippings, limbs, etc. and either take it to the recycler or put it in the blue bags twice a month. Until everyone in the Dade City area recycles almost all of their waste, there will be a need for a dump. Every house I see with a sign in the yard that says to vote "no" on the Dade City landfill, without exception, has giant garbage cans in the driveway or on the side yard. None I have seen have had a blue bag out front on their scheduled days for recycling pickup, and I only look when I am going on an errand. ...more

January 25, 2009

Dear Abby: I have been involved in several weddings, and something has come up we hope you can help with. Often with wedding gifts, the card becomes separated from the gift, or in the case of online retailers, they forget to enclose the sender's information in the box. How does one go about thanking people for their generous gift if you're not sure who the sender is? ...more

January 18, 2009

Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire at an apartment complex for about an hour Friday morning, dousing the blaze before anyone was injured. Damage was estimated at about $25,000, authorities said. ...more

January 17, 2009

TAMPA -- Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire at an apartment complex for about an hour this morning, dousing the blaze before anyone was injured. Damage was estimated at about $25,000, authorities said. ...more

January 16, 2009

Roberta Wido said Monday she always knew the man who gunned down her 82-year-old husband before her eyes in their Timber Oaks home last summer would be caught. "I knew they would get him," she said hours after a public announcement of the arrest was made. "I have confidence in the sheriff and his men and his women." ...more

January 12, 2009

A homeless man is accused of peeking through a window while two children undressed and then, as he was being chased by neighbors, grabbing and punching a teenage girl. ...more

January 9, 2009

A body discovered this morning in a vacant lot is that of a 15-year-old girl reported as a runaway a month ago, St. Petersburg police said. She had been shot. The body of Malayshia Kierra Gamble was found at 8:10 a.m. at 856 Preston Ave. S., said St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt. ...more

January 9, 2009

This chicken and rice dish is a reminder of why they love their neighborhood so much. ...more

January 8, 2009

An allegation of misconduct by a Highlands County commissioner is included in a lawsuit filed by Preston Colby this week charging that county officials did not fully comply with his public records requests. ...more

January 8, 2009