The cartoonish plastic frog with bulging eyes could be a children's toy - but for the torch-like flame that bursts from the novelty lighter's head. ...more

February 16, 2008

SEBRING — Blaine Albritton kept walking his steer around in circles near Firemen's Field's midway Thursday. Blaine's steer, Billy Bob, seemed a bit anxious that morning, mooing and occasionally bucking as Blaine held to his lead rope. But as Blaine got ready Thursday morning to show and auction Billy Bob at the Highlands County Fair, Blaine, 10, was also a bit uneasy parting with him. "It's going to be hard," he said of the coming auction. Blaine considered Billy Bob to be "like my best friend" during the 8 months he raised him. ...more

February 15, 2008

Having completed a yearslong scientific review, the Food and Drug Administration is set to announce as early as next week that meat and milk from cloned farm animals and their offspring can start appearing on supermarket shelves, sources in contact with the agency said Friday. ...more

January 5, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County Animal Control is looking a bit like Old McDonald's Farm these days, due to the recent series of marijuana growhouse busts. Animal control recently picked up 15 sheep following a growhouse raid by the sheriff's office. The day after the sheep were impounded, workers at animal control discovered they had a 16th sheep in their care. "Overnight, one of the sheep gave birth, and we have a baby lamb here now, too," said Darryl Scott, animal control director. Pens and pasture areas at the county facility are also sheltering three horses, three large hogs, four rabbits, a chicken, two yearling cows, and an 8-foot-long Burmese python. Many, but far from all, of these animals came into the county's care from growhouse raids. ...more

December 7, 2007