In a place where there's few things for children to do, the Children's Museum of the Highlands is special. But the museum is more than just easily accessible to county residents. It's fun, it's educational and it's affordable. Those who've got children in the family have had to have made at least one trip to the museum, and many leave its doors with children who'd rather camp at the museum for life. This popular destination now wants to be bigger and better and needs the community's help to expand. Museum director Linda Crowder, who unveiled plans Wednesday, said the museum is seeking to build a second floor, which will double its space. ...more

December 14, 2007

Joseph Stapf is the county's new utilities director. County commissioners voted 5-0 Wednesday to approve Stapf, who replaces former director Kay Adams who died in May. ...more

December 13, 2007

TAMPA - A woman chased her husband down a hallway from their bedroom Monday and struck him on the back with a baseball bat, police say. ...more

December 11, 2007

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that he will support First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as president, ending years of speculation about his choice and all but ensuring his longtime associate and young protege will succeed him in the Kremlin next year. ...more

December 11, 2007

It began as a feud only a child could invent - teenage chest-thumping over who had the right to sneak across a golf course after dark and scoop lost balls out of a pond. ...more

December 8, 2007

TAMPA - Raynell Franklin likes having a place where he can talk freely with friends who understand what he's going through. ...more

December 3, 2007

The Chesapeake Bay's famous blue crabs - feisty crustaceans that are both a regional symbol and a multimillion-dollar catch - are hovering at historically low population levels, scientists say, as pollution, climate change and overfishing threaten the bay's ultimate survivor. ...more

November 18, 2007

There was a time when Spencer Smith's life could be summed up by three things: training, racing and winning. And considering this chiseled Englishman seemed to capture about every triathlon title in sight - including back-to-back senior world championships - it was easy to understand why he was so focused on this demanding sport. ...more

November 9, 2007

SEBRING — How many unexcused absences are too many? School Board Member Andy Tuck is alarmed at the nearly 7,700 unexcused absences district-wide in the first nine weeks of school. It's hard to hold teachers accountable when kids don't come to school, he said. Several students have already missed more than 10 days of school. Highlands County School District data shows 43 middle school students (1.5 percent) were absent 10 or more days during the first nine weeks of the school year. At the elementary level, 57 students (1 percent) were absent 10 or more days during the same time period, Aug. 20 through Oct. 24. At the high school level, only five students (one-tenth of 1 percent) were absent 10 or more days. ...more

November 9, 2007

SEBRING — Police were still investigating Thursday a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred late Wednesday afternoon on southbound U.S. 27 in front of Alan Jay Automotive Network's corporate office. ...more

November 8, 2007