There's something strange and big swimming in the canals of Madeira Beach along the Pinellas County coast. Those who have seen it say it's no fish and think it could be a sea serpent. ...more

November 17, 2009

Two of downtown's oldest Hillsborough River bridges are scheduled for makeovers next year, but don't expect any radical architectural changes for the aging spans. ...more

October 21, 2009

Some folks out here that are against buying the courses are trying to ignore the two 800 pound gorillas in the room. One is the fact that it is going to cost $1.8 million to construct lakes and $500,000 to dredge (de-silt) the canals. ...more

March 29, 2009

According to Gary Ritter, director of South Florida Water Management District, SLID is responsible for the water management system for Spring Lake, including the golf course. So if that is the case, there is no reason for SLID to buy the golf course. The current owner has stated SLID has every legal right to clear the water ways. They have an easement, he stated, at the meeting last Wednesday. If SLID buys the golf course for $3.4 million, how much more is it going to cost to clean out the ponds, canals and lakes? All the SLID board members have talked about is buying the golf course. How is this going to fix the problem without dredging the water ways? ...more

March 24, 2009

Apparently, St. Petersburg has had enough with the lawn watering scofflaws. Instituting the $175 fine for each watering violation will hopefully encourage residents, who place green lawns above the need to save water, to comply. ...more

March 17, 2009

When the five supervisors of Spring Lake Improvement District were elected or appointed to their positions, there was no voter or property owner mandate that they purchase a golf course. Quite the contrary; they came to that job with a simple duty – overseeing the drainage issues, have grass cut and ensure that the water plant functioned correctly. Nothing more! Let us fast forward to the present. Buy a golf course so they can create a park and trails? Give me a break. When is the last time you saw a golf course with walking trails, parks, etc., that were for general use? Buy a golf course consisting of over 220 acres so they can get 17 acres of lakes. If that isn't just flat dumb and bordering on misfeasance-well I just don't know what is. ...more

March 13, 2009

When the five supervisors of Spring Lake Improvement District were elected or appointed to their positions, there was no voter or property owner mandate that they purchase a golf course. Quite the contrary; they came to that job with a simple duty — oversee the drainage issues, have grass cut and ensure that the water plant functioned correctly. Nothing more. ...more

March 11, 2009

With an $800,000 appropriation from the state, the Highlands County Department of Natural Resources will begin dredging residential canals running off Lake Istokpoga. ...more

March 7, 2009

Facebook is trying its hand at democracy. ...more

February 27, 2009

Spring Lake Improvement District (SLID) was set up by the state in 1971 in order to monitor and control water drainage of a 3,400-acre WCI development on the north side of Lake Istokpoga that had mostly fallen into disrepair when the air base was shut down. The directors were and are elected by the people of the district. Up until 2005, when the hurricanes hit, there was no real reason to think the drainage was inadequate. The hurricanes and tropical storms have since proved differently. ...more

February 13, 2009