Developers soon will pay higher fees to have their projects reviewed as an understaffed planning department tries to recoup expenses and farm out work to consultants. ...more

December 23, 2007

Jack Chamberlain walked a beaten path along Rainbow Lake. Stopping at a small, woodland campsite, he pointed to the pavilions lining the water. ...more

December 22, 2007

SEBRING — By mid-January, Highlands County is likely to become the third county in the state to give county residents serving in the military in combat zones a monthly stipend. The proposed stipend being considered is $75 per month of combat duty. The idea has been pending before the Highlands County commissioners since early November, but is likely to move quickly now that Joseph Dionne, the county's veterans services officer, is ready to make a recommendation. Dionne said Thursday he plans to send to county Attorney Ross Macbeth a proposal for the county to award the $75-per-month stipend to all full-time Highlands County residents currently serving in the military and deployed in what the federal government classifies as combat zones. ...more

December 21, 2007

It appears the Highlands County Commission is going to step up and do something good to support our troops who have been serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a wonderful gesture and sure to help any local soldiers who have been serving their country and placing themselves in danger. If approved – and it appears it will be – any soldiers who have served in a combat role will receive a $75 per month stipend, for every month they serve in combat, from the county, which could mean an extra $900 per year depending on amount of time. Commissioners are considering this instead of giving a property tax break, which would only benefit troops who own homes. Veterans officials suggested making it a stipend for all combat soldiers, instead of just property owners, since so many of the troops in harms way are young and just getting started with their lives. Some other Florida counties are offering the property tax rebate, but Highlands County would be one of three counties offering stipends. ...more

December 21, 2007

Some Florida school officials have taken offense at a new report from Johns Hopkins University which slammed the state for the high number of high schools it calls "dropout factories," schools where no more than 60 percent of those who start as freshmen complete their senior years and graduate. ...more

November 28, 2007

The Florida Legislature did residents, present and future, a great disserve last spring by rejecting Gov. Charlie Crist's proposal to increase by $100 million funding for one of the state's most important initiatives - the Florida Forever land preservation and conservation program. ...more

November 24, 2007

Camp Brorein will celebrate its 85th anniversary as a Boy Scout camp Saturday with an afternoon of fun, food and story-swapping. ...more

November 8, 2007

Despite several unresolved issues, the county commission on Tuesday agreed to send the state a plan to achieve school concurrency. ...more

November 7, 2007

A long-range transit plan approved Tuesday would have trains and buses crisscrossing Hillsborough County, but officials say the plan is decades - and billions of dollars - from being realized. ...more

November 7, 2007

The Florida Consumer Fireworks Task Force meets from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday in Clearwater. Welch, one of eight members on the statewide panel, said the meeting will give Tampa Bay area residents a chance to voice their opinions about an issue that often comes down to public safety versus individual rights. ...more

October 24, 2007