SEBRING — Whether or not charges are filed in the state attorney's office investigation of the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce, the results will be become public. According to Florida's sunshine laws, the records are currently closed because the investigation is ongoing, said Assistant State's Attorney Steve Houchin, who manages the Highlands County office. But when the investigation concludes, if the case is closed and no action is taken, then the findings can be released to the public, Houchin said. ...more

May 26, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County commissioners will consider seeking grant money to continue the neighborhood revitalization of the Washington Heights neighborhood from the city of Sebring into the abutting Lincoln Heights area, which lies in the unincorporated area. Commissioner Barbara Stewart raised that idea last week after the five commissioners voted unanimously to donate $1,000 for equipment rentals for the June 21 Juneteenth community festival in Washington Heights. Both Stewart and Edgar Stokes, chairman of the county commissioners, said they were impressed by the streetscape project, which is improving the appearance of Lemon Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the center of the Washington Heights neighborhood. Further improvements to the neighborhood will be discussed by neighborhood residents and city leaders at two "visioning" sessions, scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 18 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 19. ...more

May 25, 2008

Earlier this year a task force comprised of representatives from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, Toronto Blue Jays and Downtown Merchants Association, plus hospitality entrepreneur Peter Kreuziger, met to consider how to better market the city. The Chamber of Commerce's marketing task force quickly sprang into action. Its members chipped in $5,000 each to pay for 100,000 brochures marketing Dunedin to visitors at 775 travel locations along the Suncoast. ...more

May 24, 2008

SEBRING — A Sebring contractor has filed a construction claim of lien against the city of Sebring for its building in the Sebring Circle, currently occupied by the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce. Mark Stewart, owner and president of MCS Contracting, doing business as Stewart Construction, located at 2714 Kenilworth Blvd., swore out the claim of lien on May 15, stating that his firm provided labor, services and materials to remodel the old chamber building. According to the document filed with Highlands County Clerk of Courts L.E. "Luke" Brooker, Stewart claims his business did the remodeling for $43,429.46, starting on Nov. 29 and completing the job on March 13. ...more

May 19, 2008

SEBRING — Sebring's planning and zoning commission is no longer limited to city residents. Two commissioners may now be property or business owners in the city that do not reside within the city limits. Gary Lower, zoning supervisor, said he has difficulty finding city residents to fill vacancies on the commission, which has seven members and two alternates. ...more

May 11, 2008

AVON PARK — Groundbreaking for Avon Park Executive Airport's new terminal building should begin within 30 days. Airport Manager C.B. Shirey said that he was hoping it would be completed by Sept. 30, the end of the city's fiscal year. The building will be the ...more

May 8, 2008

Starbucks will not brew coffee in downtown Dunedin next year after all. This week the upscale coffee giant notified developer Joseph Kokolakis, who is refurbishing a row of shops at the western entrance to Main Street, it could not sign a lease at this time, Economic Development Director Bob Ironsmith said Thursday night. ...more

February 22, 2008

Developers of the stalled Main Street Landing project have been discussing with city officials plans to resume construction, possibly by late summer. ...more

February 1, 2008

Developers of the stalled Main Street Landing project have been discussing with city officials plans to resume construction, possibly by late summer. ...more

January 30, 2008

SEBRING — Although funding will not be available for expansion of the Highlands County Jail in the next 10 years, a block of downtown Sebring could eventually by usurped by a detention facility. City Council members had their first look at the jail's plans for expansion at the Jan. 15 meeting during a discussion about the Sebring Parkway, but they had a hard time focusing on that topic and instead discussed the jail. The Board of County Commissioners has been handling the jail expansion process because administration of the sheriff's office is part of the county's responsibilities. City Council members said because the jail is in the heart of the downtown, they want to be involved in the process as well. "I think the city needs to be part of these discussions about the location and the expansion of the jail," said City Council member Jeff Carlson, who added that the jail is in the middle of the community redevelopment zone. ...more

January 22, 2008