The Sun N' Lake Special Improvement District of approximately 3,000 people is governed by five puppet supervisors, elected by landowners only. Two out of three are landowners from all over the western hemisphere (USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, South America and Mexico) who can vote to elect a supervisor to govern and tax the residents of this district. How long must the residents endure this abuse from this government? The abuses are practiced in communist countries, but, we are the democratic United States of America? ...more

February 18, 2008

I feel that the very idea that the Highlands County School Board has to have discussions and special meetings to address this issue is an excessively waste of thought, working hours and especially time away from more important issues. For I feel that if one feels he is from an ape, then one should be in the idiot zoo where one will "fit in" and be at home and the school of teachings one's own beliefs. For apparently, from the letters one has written to the newspaper editor, he has certainly proved himself to be that of the ignorant and illiterate non-human species. ...more

February 13, 2008

The Shriners of the Highlands Shrine Club, and Shriners everywhere, would like to thank all the businesses and people who contributed to our Hospital Days Crusade on Nov. 16 and 17. Monies collected once each year go to support The Shriners children's hospitals around the country and in Mexico and Canada. This year marks 85 years the Shriners have operated these hospitals at no charge for any child who is under the age of 18. ...more

January 1, 2008

County Needs To Cut Like Taxpayers Well, it seems the only one who is cutting back on spending is the taxpayer, in order to pay taxes, prescriptions, gasoline and all the other daily expenses. The taxpayer has to do without a lot of necessities, but does the county and county employees? They get raises every year no matter what. ...more

December 9, 2007

Our association is having new amended documents and wants to charge everyone $25 for a copy. From what I have read in your article, the first copy must be free but they can charge for a second copy. Is this true? If so, will you e-mail me something I can show the board president in order to stop him from charging this cost? ...more

December 8, 2007

An open letter to the School Board and superintendent of Highlands County: I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction in regard to the school board's offer to raise the Educational Support Professionals salary by 2 percent. Due to circumstances beyond our association's control, we have been working under last year's contract until Nov. 9, when the school board/superintendent presented this "offer," and I use that term loosely. I understand that the district has the authority and responsibility to set aside a certain percent of monies for employee's salaries (raises). What I don't understand is the reasoning behind their only offering us a 2 percent raise especially considering that the teacher's got at least an 8 percent raise over 2 years, and administrators received 3 percent raise for the current year. ...more

November 30, 2007

Regarding 'Glazers Boost Children's Museum' (front page, Oct. 16): Not only did the Glazer Family Foundation score another touchdown for the arts in Tampa, they won the Super Bowl of bringing the Children's Museum to fruition! Thanks to Heidi Shimberg's leadership efforts in raising monies for this worthy project and her willingness to ask Bryan Glazer whether his family might consider making a significant donation to the Children's Museum, Bryan consulted brother, Edward Glazer, and sister, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, who immediately sanctioned the gift. The other adult children of Malcolm Glazer, owner and president of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were also in accord. ...more

October 18, 2007

Once again the residents of Erin Park have stepped up to the plate and took care of a problem that should have been resolved by the county or the state. ...more

September 30, 2007