The koala moved gingerly on scorched paws, crossing the blackened landscape as the fire patrol passed. Clearly in pain, the animal stopped when it saw firefighter David Tree following behind. ...more

February 10, 2009

Neither the stepdaughter of a Polk County firefighter nor the stepdaughter of a Winter Haven police officer was wearing a seat belt when the teenagers were involved in a fatal wreck Sunday morning, Polk County deputies said today. ...more

February 9, 2009

The stepdaughter of a Winter Haven police officer died Sunday morning and the daughter of a Polk County firefighter was seriously injured when their vehicle hit a power pole and rolled over in Winter Haven. ...more

February 8, 2009

The calls were always the same: telemarketers claiming he'd promised $20 to a Florida charity. Coral Springs resident Jerry Mayer didn't remember pledging money. He told the callers they were wrong. He had an illness in his family. He just wanted to be left alone. But the phone kept ringing at least once a week until he mailed a check, he said. ...more

February 1, 2009

The calls were always the same: telemarketers claiming he'd promised $20 to a Florida charity. ...more

January 31, 2009

An Ohio firefighter has been given a six-month suspension from his role in a pipe and drum band because he nodded to President Barack Obama during last week's inaugural parade in Washington. ...more

January 27, 2009

A federal judge accused a 29-year-old Tampa man of faking mental problems, and then sentenced him today to life behind bars, plus 82 years, for his role in a crime spree in which a county firefighter was carjacked. ...more

January 23, 2009

Hernando County commissioners nixed a request from staff to spend $191,175 on a new 12,000-gallon fuel island at the county landfill. ...more

January 21, 2009

Cite $192,000 price tag. ...more

January 20, 2009

With the hours to the annual home invasion by the famed jolly elf having dwindled to a precious few, This Space offers as a public service to end the anticipation among the year's Pasco newsmakers just who can be expected to be treated generously, and who can expect stockings stuffed with coal and switches. ...more

December 24, 2008