With a fearsome Hurricane Ike not far in its wake, Tropical Storm Hanna cruised ashore here early Saturday, bringing soaking rains and near-hurricane force winds to the Carolina coast but doing little immediate damage before pivoting quickly up the Eastern Seaboard. ...more

September 7, 2008

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun releasing water from Lake Okeechobee after record-breaking rainfall and ahead of the storms that are looming in the Atlantic Ocean. ...more

September 7, 2008

Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has asked Gov. Charlie Crist to seek federal disaster declarations from the federal government for 36 Florida counties battered by high winds, excessive rainfall, flooding or tornados from Tropical Storm Fay. Highlands County is included on the list. ...more

September 5, 2008

In response to numerous calls for help in dealing with mosquitoes, the Highlands County Extension Office will begin giving out free briquettes of a bacteria that kills mosquitoes in the water in their larval stage, before they can grow into adults and fly. ...more

September 5, 2008

After years of Highlands County schools seeing more students each August, enrollment is down this year, which means the district is bracing for less state funding. ...more

September 4, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Ray Markham. ...more

September 3, 2008

Edgar Stokes, chairman of the Highlands County commissioners, kicked off the county's investigation into spraying pesticides, by both airplanes and trucks, to battle the expected hordes of mosquitoes that will probably descend on the county in the wake of Fay and the three new tropical storms headed toward or near the Florida peninsula. ...more

September 3, 2008

Normally, all eyes would be on Tropical Storm Hanna, which will likely sideswipe Highlands County with moderate winds and 2 to 4 inches of rain. However, tropical storms Ike and Josephine are right behind her. ...more

September 3, 2008

Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden will host a town hall meeting on women's economic security on Wednesday in Sarasota. ...more

September 2, 2008

Rains from Tropical Storm Fay hurt attendance at last weekend's 18th annual Caladium Festival, but organizers say crowds exceeded expectations and vendors were pleased with the turnout. ...more

August 31, 2008