SEBRING — Sebring coach Mike Lee said it best following the Blue Streak girls basketball team's not-so-pretty victory over Hardee. "It's a district win, so I guess I'm happy," Lee said. He had good reason to be on the fence. ...more

January 13, 2008

Hernando Audubon Society announces the following activities for January: Bird Walk at Bayport will be conducted Saturday, Jan. 12. If interested in attending, meet the group at 7 a.m. sharp at Hardee's Restaurant located at 6292 Commercial Way in the Weeki Wachee Village plaza at State Road 50 and U.S. 19, Weeki Wachee. The walk will be a coastal trip concentrating on shorebirds and coastal inhabitants. For more information, call Bernie at 352-754-9030. ...more

January 11, 2008

The semifinals of Friday's Alonso Holiday Classic were a relative breeze for the winners, King and Land O' Lakes, though each won with different styles. ...more

January 5, 2008

Ryan Hutto was trying to get his life in order. About two months ago, he moved out of his mother's house in Plant City and moved in with a friend in Zephyrhills. Soon after, Hutto, 25, took a job at a Hardee's restaurant in Zephyrhills. ...more

December 23, 2007

SEBRING — Mark St. Fort saw it coming all the way. Twice, actually. The 6-foot-6 senior forward led Hardee with 28 points and leapt to two show-stopping blocks in the waning moments Friday night to lead the Wildcats to a 74-71 victory over Sebring in Class 4A-District 10 boys basketball action. "I knew he wasn't going to try and pump-fake me," said St. Fort, who, with the Tigers up by two baskets in the final 35 seconds of the fourth quarter, turned back a pair of Sebring shots to put away the pesky Streaks. "I knew they'd try and score real quick, so I timed it right and got it." ...more

December 2, 2007

AVON PARK — Improvement has been steady for the Avon Park boys soccer team, but the youthful Red Devils felt another of its growing pains on Thursday night, as the Hardee Wildcats pounced on the host team early in a 5-0 win at Joe Franza Stadium. ...more

December 1, 2007

SEBRING — There's something about the home whites that doesn't agree with the Sebring boys soccer team so far this season. Winless at home and undefeated on the road, the Blue Streaks continued their cold play under the hot lights of Firemen's Field on Tuesday with an uninspired 2-0 defeat to Hardee, the same squad Sebring defeated in a double-overtime thriller last year in the Class 4A-District 10 semifinals. "When we go out on the road, we're hoping to win," said Sebring senior captain Nicholas Peters. "When we're here, we expect to win, and that's what kills us." ...more

November 29, 2007

SEBRING — Doug Morton wasn't exactly in it to win it. The 36 year-old environmental analyst from Sebring, who competed last week in a half-Iron Man competition in Miami, outpaced two of Highlands County's top prep runners to capture the overall title at the 15th annual Turkey Trot 5K at Highlands Hammock State Park. "I'm really surprised to win it," said Morton, who finished the 3.2-mile course in 17 minutes, four seconds. "I expected [Sebring's Connor Bauer and Hardee's Gilberto Guiterriez] to be all over me at the end. They sprint a bit faster than I can." Bauer, Sebring's lone state cross-country qualifier this past season, took top honors among 15-to 19-year old men with a 17:06, two seconds behind Morton. Guiterriez, meanwhile, held off top female finisher Laura Woznicki with a 17:25. ...more

November 24, 2007

The comedy "The Mouse That Roared" is being staged by Plant City Entertainment, the area's community theater. The play opened Friday, and performances continue tonight, Friday and Nov. 17. Curtain time is 8 p.m. ...more

November 10, 2007

AVON PARK – There was a huge turnout at Thursday's South Florida Community College Employment Fair, and the fact that unemployment is up in the area might be the reason. Close to 500 people showed up to talk with representatives of more than 40 companies and government agencies, according to Paul Fox, director of the Campus Career Center. There were some job seekers who came to the event 30 minutes before it began in Building B on the Highlands campus in Avon Park. The large crowd impressed employers. "This is absolutely the best year," said Randy Leonard, operations manager of the Alan Jay Automotive Network. "We've seen over 60 people and all are very good prospects." Leonard said the company has three open positions – sales consultant, service technician and entry-level car detailing. ...more

November 4, 2007