Advertising Info Place a Classified Ad Subscribe ArchivesDistribution LinksContact UsPay Your Advertising Invoice

Click on newspaper below to see all pages of the current issue

Check for updates on local events that were too late to be published in our print edition. UPDATED DAILY

Silver's Art Debut By Chere Simmons
Silver, the multi-talented pony belonging to Eunice and Hub Hubbell of Sarasota, has developed another skill. He is now an abstract artist with many completed works under his belt...er...saddle. More....

New Book Chronicles Hardee County History
By BARBARA OEHLBECK
WAUCHULA, FL — A new book is on the scene that chronicles the heritage and people of Hardee County in Central Florida. It was written by Spessard Stone, historian and genealogist who works from his home in Wauchula, the county seat of Hardee County.
Beginning with the Indians, trading posts and forts, Spessard leaves no stone unturned as to the origin of Hardee County, it’s people, how they lived and worked, how they dealt with hardships we today cannot imagine, as well as their joys and sorrows.
The book is highly pictorial and detailed, depicting the life and times of the early settlers including the three Indian Wars, fighting wild animals, heat and cold, diseases and hunger.
The Civil War In The Peace River Valley is probably not taught in schools, but for any who want to learn about this period in our state, this book on Hardee County holds the key.
Following the Civil War, the people were left in a very impoverished condition, morally, religiously and financially, especially the latter. There had been a great spiritual awakening and churches were springing up in every community thus taxing the time and energy of the few resident preachers. More...

Dry Tortugas: Only 70 Miles West of Key West...Worth The Trip

By WARREN RESEN, Member- Florida Outdoor writers Association
One in a series of occasional Florida travel articles
If you found yourself on an island out in the Gulf of Mexico 70 miles west of Key West, where do you think you might be...in another country, or perhaps another state? You would still be in the USA and in Florida and would probably be visiting Ft. Jefferson on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas.
The Dry Tortugas and Ft. Jefferson are places not familiar to many people. When asked about the location, one person thought it was part of Cuba. Another thought it was a territory of the United States, and on it goes.
The islands were discovered by that ubiquitous Florida explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513 and named by him for the abundant turtle life (Las Tortugas). Later on, because of the lack of fresh water, mariners added the label “dry” to their charts. In 1832 naturalist John James Audubon visited there, traveling from Key West to study the abundant bird and marine life. The next happening of note was construction of Ft. Jefferson, named for president Thomas Jefferson, by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers beginning in 1846.
The Dry Tortugas are located along one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Its strategic location was seen as key to protecting shipping through the Gulf of Mexico and the building of a heavily armed fort was seen as a necessity in the mid 1800’s. Ft. Jefferson, designed to support 450 cannons, is the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere.
Construction went on for over 30 years, ending in 1875. During that time, never was a shot fired in anger. Although the fort was never finished, estimates are that more than 16 million bricks were used during its construction.
Unless you have your own boat, for most visitors getting to what could be the most isolated national park in the Continental United States usually means a cruise on one of two speedy catamarans that leave Key West at 8 a.m. Arrival at the Ft. Jefferson dock takes 2 - 2 1/2 hours and the larger of the two craft, the 100 ft. Yankee Freedom II, can transport up to 100 passengers. Breakfast is served on board this ship and lunch is a picnic style buffet on the island. Now, why go there in the first place? More...