AVON PARK — The Avon Park Community Center cost the city and its taxpayers an average of well over $10,000 every year since it opened at its current location, city records indicate. For all but one year since record-keeping began on the community center, expenses were considerably higher than revenues. This is without considering the damages the building received during the 2004 hurricane season. Last week, the community center's losses led at least one councilman to compare it to the city's airport, accusing both of losing money each year. "We need to either get rid of it or do it right," Councilman George Hall said Monday. Hall blamed the center's losses partially on the lack of advertising for it. He added that there was not even an information box placed there. ...more

February 19, 2008

After two of the five Sarasota County commissioners changed their positions on a proposal to renovate Ed Smith Stadium, the commission voted to offer $17.6 million toward the project, a decision that could keep the Cincinnati Reds baseball team from leaving its spring training facility in Sarasota. ...more

February 13, 2008

SARASOTA - The City Council in Goodyear, Ariz., approved an agreement Monday locking the city and the Cincinnati Reds into exclusive negotiations for 75 days. ...more

January 29, 2008

Rock on, Cleveland. The home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will host its induction ceremony in 2009 after more than a decade-long absence, Mayor Frank Jackson has announced. ...more

December 23, 2007

The Clarion Hotel building is going to be a hotel again. The city council unanimously voted to rezone the vacant building, 5303 W. Kennedy Blvd., back to a hotel, this time a Crowne Plaza. ...more

December 5, 2007

A former city of Tampa employee has been hired as the Tampa Palms Owners Association community director. ...more

November 24, 2007

MADEIRA BEACH - Skeletal remains were uncovered during the renovation of a Madeira Beach business, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reported Saturday night. ...more

November 17, 2007

In Tarpon Springs, officials are pondering the fate of a downtown building at 144 E. Tarpon Ave. A recent inspection by a Tampa engineering firm found major structural problems with the building. It should be fixed or torn down, the outside engineer and city staffers stay. ...more

November 13, 2007

SEBRING — Harder Hall is changing hands once again, after Sebring Hospitality Group withdrew its contract just hours before the due-diligence period ended Thursday. The city will now move forward with its contract with Steve Israel, an investor from New York, who has offered to purchase the hotel for $5.6 million. City council approved a back-up contract with Israel at a Sept. 19 meeting, in case the contract with Sebring Hospitality Group fell through. Sebring Hospitality Group requested a 30-day extension to its due-diligence period, which the city council denied at a special meeting Thursday. ...more

October 5, 2007

A lot of people have been anxious to hear if Sebring's deal to sell Harder Hall would happen after the 30-day due diligence period. It didn't, unfortunately, but the good news is that another investor is in line to buy the historic property on Little Lake Jackson. Sebring Hospitality Group, a group of investors from the northeast made up of doctors, wanted a 30-day extension on their due diligence period. Sebring City Council members said no, that there was a better deal waiting from the next investor. We believe the council made a wise decision to move on. Perhaps 30 days isn't enough time, but that's the offer the first group made. Besides, the new investor, Steve Israel, is offering more money for the property. Of course, he wants due diligence as well. In the meantime, the city continues to talk to other potential buyers. ...more

October 5, 2007