published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

SEBRING -- Some of the best four-legged and furry cops in the state are getting put through their paces in Sebring this week as the Highlands County Sheriff's Office is hosting the United States Police Canine Association's regional Police Dog 1 certification competition.

By achieving 490 point ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

AVON PARK -- County engineers have come up with a new way to handle the intersection of Phase III of the Sebring Parkway, Memorial Drive and College Drive.

The concern has been how to keep College Drive, which winds its way through the South Florida State College campus, from becoming a major l ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

By BARRY FOSTER

News-Sun correspondent

SEBRING - Florida Governor Rick Scott has inked the state's new $74.1 billion state budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The action included some $368 million in vetoes.

It appears that a couple of Highlands County programs escaped the governor's red pen ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

By BARRY FOSTER

News-Sun correspondent

SEBRING - In making a presentation to the Highlands County commission Tuesday morning, Commissioner Jim Brooks asked TDC Executive Director John Scherlacher about how the TDC's room verification system works.

Scherlacher explained that event organizers s ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Special to the News-Sun

SEBRING - Fundraising professional Stephanie McLean has joined Good Shepherd Hospice as a major gifts officer, effective April 1.

In her role, McLean will oversee major gifts in Highlands, Hardee and Polk counties. She will focus her efforts on securing gifts for the Some ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

SEBRING -- Memorial Day weekend begins Friday. The Highlands Little Theatre presents the perfect entertainment for tweens and teens -- "High School Musical II" -- beginning Thursday and running through Sunday, May 26.

The plot isn't really what matters in this musical, it's about the music and ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

LAKE PLACID - Students at Lake Country Elementary School have been exploring the many ways to become leaders in the school and the community under the school's "Leader In Me" program.

The internationally recognized program is taking elementary institutions by storm boasting more than 1,200 "Lea ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

By BARRY FOSTER

News-Sun correspondent

SEBRING -- Fred Wild Elementary School will be getting a makeover of sorts today thanks to employees from Belk Inc. and officials of the Points of Light foundation.

Sebring store manager Lupe James said this will be the first of a number of different proj ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

AVON PARK - The Highlands County Economic Development Commission is gearing up for its annual Small Business Development Day Thursday. The ongoing event was created to nurture and provide resources for local small businesses and owners within the county.

The EDC has created a workshop that will ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Special to the News-Sun

AVON PARK - South Florida State College art students, Emmie Periera and Jared Turner, recently collaborated on a community service project to design a T-shirt and program cover for the Highlands County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). The designs were created for the U.S. Police Ca ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

By BARRY FOSTER

News-Sun correspondent

AVON PARK - Avon Park has teamed with the Home Builder's Institute to have work done in the bunk rooms of the Avon Park Fire Department.

The HBI - best known for its work at the Avon Park Youth Academy teaching young men construction skills such as elect ...

published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

By BARRY FOSTER

News-Sun correspondent

SEBRING - The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Friday released the state's unemployment numbers for the month of April. The report shows that of the 41,535 people listed in Highlands County's work force last month, only 2,905 were looking for work ...

published: Sunday, May 19, 2013

SEBRING -- Quality water is essential, but years of drought and growing demand have seriously depleted Central Florida's water resources. Lake and canal levels have fallen leaving many docks and boat houses high and dry. Even as significant rain fell in April and the opening days of May, recovery ...