Virginia Helper, whose 35-year career with the city culminated with her becoming the first black city clerk, has announced she will retire. ...more

February 18, 2009

Longtime city commissioner and former mayor Mike Sparkman was scheduled this week for nonsurgical treatment for prostate cancer. ...more

February 18, 2009

Tuesday's announcement that Smithfield Foods will cease local operations means not only the departure of this city's largest private employer, but loss of a meat-packing plant that has provided jobs for generations. ...more

February 18, 2009

Virginia-based Smithfield Foods' closing of its Plant City meat-packing plant – the city's largest private employer – may be the largest layoff in the city's history. ...more

February 17, 2009

Virginia Helper, whose 35-year career with the city culminated with her becoming the first black city clerk, has announced she will retire. ...more

February 17, 2009

Longtime city commissioner and former mayor Mike Sparkman is scheduled next week for nonsurgical treatment for prostate cancer. The 64-year-old Sparkman said he will undergo prostate seeding brachytherapy on Monday. ...more

February 12, 2009

When people consider the possibilities, the city's plan to provide green space to individuals, groups or businesses interested in starting a vegetable garden might grow on them. ...more

February 7, 2009

The Sarasota County School Board shut down a police training class on Tuesday after a complaint that the instructor, Mike Treubert, had shown a pornographic movie to the six officers taking the course. Mike Treubert Treubert, 50, is a North Port city commissioner and retired Venice police officer. He also teaches driver's education and has been a longtime youth sports coach. He refused to comment Wednesday on the complaint or the personnel investigation by the School Board. ...more

February 5, 2009

Mary Yvette Thomas Mathis, the only Plant City commissioner facing re-election this year, has announced she will seek another three-year term. ...more

February 4, 2009

Aero Park Isn't Safe Or Reasonable I have to respond to the FAA spokesperson in the (Jan. 28) article ("Federal Study Requested For Tampa North Aero Park"). I did contact the Aero Park owner and was told by Charlie that he couldn't (wouldn't) do anything about the planes that fly over my house that is situated at least 700 feet north of the direct flight path. So much for that suggestion. And the assertion that we're operating in one of the safest periods in aviation history is at best laughable. We've had two crashes (one fatal) here in Wesley Chapel in the last four years. The next one could be into one of the 2,500 houses that surround the airfield. Let's face it: The airfield serves less than 100 people and puts upwards of 7,500 people at risk. How safe or reasonable is that? ...more

February 1, 2009