It might sound like a spring training cliche, but OF Carl Crawford looked and - perhaps more significantly - sounded like a new man Wednesday on his first day in camp. Reporting strong and healthy and saying he checked in at 225 pounds - 10 more than his listed weight - Crawford said he feels as good as he has in a long time. That isn't something he necessarily says every spring, either. ...more

February 19, 2009

Charles Lein, 70, didn't like seeing the young man speeding in the neighborhood, he told Pasco County deputies. ...more

February 18, 2009

I have to admit I was more than a little dismayed at the lack of attendance at the Jan.17 performance of "Don't Drink the Water" performed at the Highlands Little Theatre by local talent. All the people out there griping about nothing to do in the area just don't listen. For the past number of years, I have been giving praise to the actors and actresses at the Highlands Little Theatre, as well as the behind-the-scene people who do so much. The set design does not arrange itself, the costumes do not just jump on the cast, the lines don't just flow out of their mouths, the lighting doesn't just happen, the cast just don't happen to enter, exit and so forth at the right time. It takes hours of work! So it was heartbreaking to see the number of empty seats in the theater as if people just don't care. ...more

January 27, 2009

SPRING HILL Sunlake's Jarrett Baker had a bit of a chip on his shoulder entering the final of the Springstead Invitational last weekend. ...more

January 17, 2009

Why is Washington Heights area of Sebring still shut off from the most direct route for emergency care? This has always been a question to me and no one has provided a logical answer. Why was this not considered a problem when they planned the construction of the Sebring Parkway? Now I don't live in this area but I do have children that live in the area and I pray to God nothing ever happens to one of them where they need emergency care and it's delayed because they're shut off from the most direct route to the hospital. It didn't take the county long to tear up Kenilworth Boulevard and have it back in operation, but Highlands Avenue that leads into the Washington Heights area has been shut down for months, maybe even close to a year. ...more

January 10, 2009

Recently Tampa native Robert Marve chose to end his 1.5-year stay at the University of Miami. UM Coach Randy Shannon granted him a release, with stipulations that he could not attend ACC, SEC or in-state schools. Since that time, Plant Head Coach Robert Weiner has undertaken to assault the character of Shannon using any media outlet that will listen. His actions are immature, if not despicable. ...more

January 5, 2009

A 10-year-old girl died Tuesday afternoon after an 11-year-old boy visiting her Fort Meade home for Christmas shot her with a gun found in the bedroom, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. ...more

December 24, 2008

Last week, Corey Smith, a River Ridge Middle School student, went before the Pasco County Commission and asked the county to build sidewalks or bicycle paths along Moon Lake Road. That was not all that unusual. Most of the time, however, the young person merely makes the request, the adult government leaders respond with smiles and a verbal pat on the head and that's the end of it. ...more

December 10, 2008

As a young man buying my first car, a Chevy, my parents had to co-sign for me to guarantee payment of my loan to the finance company. Many years later, this car company wants me to loan them money, telling me they will pay me back. Now, Congress is handling this action for me, and I want a guarantee of re-payment. If all the individuals in Congress will personally co-sign for the auto companies that I will get my money back, then what do I have to lose? ...more

December 9, 2008

During a recent visit to the veterans hospital in Los Angeles, I ran across a young man fresh out of the Army. He had fought in Afghanistan and was recovering from some of his wounds. He was also homeless and, quite frankly, a little frustrated by what he saw as cumbersome and inefficient layers of bureaucracy between the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. ...more

November 27, 2008