AVON PARK — If Rocky Khara had a chance to avoid a playoff on Sunday, he was certainly going to take it. After finishing second in the 2006 and 2007 Bagwell Invitationals, Khara seized on his opportunity to claim top honors when he birdied his final hole to hold off Cory Meade of Haines City and win the overall championship at the 39th annual Bagwell Junior Invitational at River Greens golf course. "It's very satisfying," said Khara, 16, a recent qualifier for the upcoming Florida State Golf Association Amateur championships. "It's something I've always needed to do, and not come in second again." But it didn't come easy: Khara saw his three-stroke lead with five holes to play evaporate on a makeshift leaderboard strapped to the back of one of the dozen or so golf carts following the final group. After sinking a 20-footer on No. 16, he figured he was in good shape to hold off Meade. ...more

June 9, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - About 150 fighters and spectators crammed into a corner of Tampa Bay Health and Fitness last week for a kids' kickboxing tournament. ...more

June 7, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - About 150 fighters and spectators crammed into a corner of Tampa Bay Health and Fitness last week for a kids' kickboxing tournament. ...more

June 7, 2008

SEBRING — Habitat for Humanity has a new way to help the environment — recycling houses. Instead of demolishing one of the houses on Magnolia Street slated to eventually become a parking lot for county offices, they moved the house to a new location a few blocks away. "We took a house that was donated to us by the county to a piece of property donated to us by the city," said Jane Breylinger, executive director of Highlands County Habitat for Humanity. "It's was a good way for us all to work together." ...more

May 31, 2008

PORT RICHEY - As one auto manufacturer liked to say in its sales ads, "There's never been a better time to buy." Castriota Chevrolet has purchased an automotive sales lot at 8425 U.S. 19 and plan to have it refurbished and up and running again within the month, selling pre-owned vehicles from that location. ...more

May 30, 2008

When the dogs took a special, sniffy interest in her "snake plant" last year about this time, Mary Winemiller grew curious. She finally went outside to investigate. ...more

May 28, 2008

This may be the best time to go to New Orleans. Tourist crowds are down, but spirits seem way up ...more

May 23, 2008

FORT MYERS –– As the national anthem played before the start of Saturday's Class 4A regional final between Sebring and Riverdale, the flag was flapping in a stiff breeze blowing out to center field. The combination of the windy conditions and two weary pitching staffs from Friday's first two games of the best-of-three series made for a slugfest, and Riverdale, down to its last six outs, rallied from a six-run deficit to score nine runs in the sixth inning and hang on for an 11-10 victory to earn a spot in the state semifinals. "Riverdale gave us some outs early and we gave them some outs toward the end of the game," said Sebring coach Hoppy Rewis. "Both of us were out of pitching and I'm sure that's happening all over the state. "I make no bones about it, I'm not an advocate of this new system of playing the best out of three series. It puts the kids in jeopardy of getting hurt because they're tired or a pitcher throwing too many pitches in a short period of time." ...more

May 11, 2008

Kit Raymond didn't look like a woman who'd recently lost her home and nearly all her material possessions. ...more

May 9, 2008

After losing her home to a fire, Kit Raymond says she is at peace and humbled by an 'outpouring of love.' ...more

May 8, 2008