Voters will decide a contentious tax battle involving Sarasota County schools today. At stake, millions of dollars used mainly to pay teachers. The debate has parents and volunteers trying to get out the vote using a phone bank set up inside the Sarasota County Democratic Party headquarters. Rita Ferrandino said while the party has offered the use of its site, Republicans, Democrats and independents have all worked side by side in the last week trying to push people to the polls. ...more

March 16, 2010

Road not wanted If Tampa Councilman John Dingfelder lived west of Dale Mabry Highway rather than east, he might understand why those of us in the adjoining Gandy neighborhoods are so vehemently against the proposed elevated bridge ("Foes of plan for elevated road over Gandy call on council," Metro, March 5). He won't be bothered with this eyesore that will ruin small businesses, promote pollution filtering down on us, raise the noise level and the lights shining down on us and will light up our yards like a Christmas tree! ...more

March 6, 2010

A request was posted Feb. 11 in the Florida Administrative Weekly seeking a contractor for mental health services in Highlands County after Winter Haven Hospital announced it will no longer offer services through the Marge Brewster Center. ...more

February 19, 2010

The following people were booked Monday, Feb. 8 into the Highlands County Jail: ...more

February 10, 2010

Paul and Rita Bellaire of Valrico have been enjoying marriage for 54 years. The key, Rita said, is faith in God. "If you don't have that to fall back on, little things become major," said Rita. ...more

February 10, 2010

Rita Daskam stands on a chair to put the finishing touches on the Brooksville Garden Club's entry. ...more

December 3, 2009

The state will not prosecute a woman accused of inappropriately disciplining four children at the day care center she ran. ...more

November 19, 2009

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 138, Port Tampa, recently held a reception for its 2009 delegates to Girls State, which took place in July in Tallahassee. ...more

September 23, 2009

It will be until September before a new trial date will be set for Stephanie Ragusa. The former Davidsen Middle School teacher had been set to be tried Aug. 10 on charges of molesting two teenagers from the school. But defense attorney Robert Herce and Assistant State Attorney Rita Peters said today that there is still too much pretrial work remaining to meet that date. ...more

July 8, 2009

The 43-year-old nurse's aide was in the front row as prosecutors made their final arguments against the man accused of raping her on Aug. 18, 2007. ...more

June 19, 2009