Fifty children, all clad in flannel jammies and Christmas hats and slippers, ushered in the holiday season at a shopping mall Friday that included a giant snow globe and a Polar Express holiday train. ...more

November 8, 2008

After a 36-year career working with children and families, Jackie Rawlings found herself in the spotlight Thursday winning the Ninth Annual Judge Clifton M. Kelly Champion for Children Award. Amidst the congratulations, Rawlings exclaimed that she had three meetings to go to the next day. ...more

September 26, 2008

Life dealt Samuel Stockdale a rough hand. His biological parents were addicted to drugs and alcohol, forcing him into foster care at a young age. The Stockdale family adopted him when he was 9, but abandoned him when his behavioral problems continued. ...more

September 25, 2008

A 52-year old gay man and permanent guardian of his 13-year-old foster son last week won the right to adopt the boy, despite a Florida law banning adoptions by homosexuals. ...more

September 15, 2008

As a single mother with two girls, ages 9 and 14, Keysha Sirmons, then 33, suddenly found herself with a new baby. ...more

September 3, 2008

Joan Ruben of Palm Harbor says people don't like John McCain's ideas. ...more

August 30, 2008

Tina Freeman, a mother of four and stepmother of four more, was browsing Craigslist for day care services today when she came across what she called a shocker: "Eight Months Old Baby Boy For Adoption." ...more

August 28, 2008

Stephanie Fry says she knew before police told her the man found in a burning sport utility vehicle Saturday was her father. ...more

August 26, 2008

Stephanie Fry says she is pretty sure the man found in a burning car Saturday was her father, James Fry. They had a lunch date Saturday, she says. He was going to buy her a television for her new apartment in Sarasota. Then they were going to go to Livingstone's to eat pizza and shoot pool. ...more

August 25, 2008

I had the privilege of serving the people of Highlands County as a state employee with the Department of Children and Families for 14 years. Many times children under my jurisdiction needed the state's help. Often, we could only help them by removing them from their families and placing them in foster care. The New Testament Mission provided an alternative solution. Sometimes it was food, a hot meal, lodging but it never involved a fee. Pastor Karl never charged a dime for the services he rendered to the citizens of Highlands County. We have been blessed in this county to have such a helpful and willing institution. ...more

August 22, 2008