Nature Coast Festival Singers will present three Christmas concerts featuring the Christmas Choruses from Handel's The Messiah and several other Christmas pieces. ...more

November 9, 2008

The shelves at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent aren't as full as Chief Operating Officer Tim Marks would like them to be. With just a few weeks left until Thanksgiving, donations are not keeping up with demand. ...more

November 8, 2008

The credit union that holds the mortgage for Without Walls International Church wants to foreclose on the megaproperty. ...more

November 6, 2008

I just wanted to congratulate Sheriff Susan Benton on the victory over Ron Grimming. It's obvious that the majority of the voters had the sense to vote for a clean campaign, and a job well done over the last four years. ...more

November 6, 2008

A judge says billboards and television ads supporting an amendment that would define marriage in the Florida Constitution can stay up for the election. ...more

November 4, 2008

Opponents of a Florida constitutional amendment that would define marriage are headed to court demanding to know who is paying for the supporters' campaign. ...more

November 3, 2008

That's the spirit! Miss Prudence Fipwhistle, a social director who died in 1899 at age 44, led about 150 people on a tour Sunday that raised the past from the grave. Miss Fipwhistle, aka historian Maureen Patrick in 19th century mourning attire, hosted the sixth annual Gothic Graveyard Walk through Oaklawn Cemetery, Tampa's Victorian-era necropolis. Following brick pathways under moss-bearded oaks, the visitors heard tales poignant and hilarious about local notables buried at the site, including 13 former mayors and veterans of seven wars. The $5 donations benefit the Tampa Historical Society. ...more

October 27, 2008

Where does the Police Benevolent Association get off mailing out inflammatory political flyers? Most people in Highlands County have the good sense to know what a good sheriff we already have. My question is, how do they have the nerve to solicit donations and then use them for political purposes? If this is their agenda, they should never receive a penny more. ...more

October 23, 2008

Yesterday, we received in our mail yet another political publication. This one, however, was from a different source, the Florida Police Benevolent Association; the one which often solicits for donations to its "causes." Its large red headline stated: "Sheriff Susan Benton Accused of …" Accused! Not convicted, not charged, accused! This country's legal system proclaims a person to be innocent until proven guilty. We were astounded that such an organization, which supposedly bases its existence on that proclamation, could so blatantly accuse one of its own as if already proven guilty. Regardless of one's political loyalties and choices, such a charge is both immature and just plain wrong. We see this piece of paper as libel. Yes, our country has freedom of speech, but libel is not freedom of speech. Acting to damage someone's reputation without proof of fault is actionable in a court of law. For shame! ...more

October 18, 2008