Howard Berna, environmental supervisor for Sarasota County, looks at a huge mound of dirt piled at Warm Mineral Springs. This area was illegally cleared creating an environmental issue at the nearby the Warm Mineral Springs Creek. A small parcel along the creek has been purchased through the county’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. This means the county will be more active in enforcement of this area.

Fisher beefs up servers

Company tries to avoid computer ‘meltdown’

NORTH PORT — Computer glitches left some prospective lot buyers in a rage during last week’s lot auction.

Some would-be buyers say they were prevented from placing bids because Fisher’s online auction set-up was inadequate.

Grassroots groups seeks voting machine changes

SOUTH VENICE — An organized group of civic-minded citizens converged on the Robert L. Anderson Administration Center last week in hopes the county will jump on the bandwagon and create a hard copy piece of paper for elections.

Basic Training: It’s not just for soldiers anymore

VENICE — In today’s fitness marketplace, there’s no shortage of options out there for the would-be-fit. The unwary consumer is forced to wade through endless fantastic claims: testimonials of persons who attribute their weight loss success to a particular diet, celebrity trainers who hawk their latest fitness invention as “the answer” to one’s flabby midsection, etcetera ad nauseum.

Deborah Brothers column

Healing The Body Naturally

Did you ever hear the saying, “Take care of yourself, because no one else will?”

You have a list of things to do each day. You begin by taking care of your children, husband or wife, home, finances, pets, jobs, co-workers, dealing with the traffic, friends and family.

Homeless man allowed to live in shed near school upsets parents

A homeless man who has been living in a church shed has sparked concern among some parents whose children attend school on the church’s property.

Reverend Vincent Scotto, the pastor of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 401 W Henry St.

Catering debate

Commissioners question food choice

NORTH PORT — There was a food fight at the new City Hall last week.

Well, not literally. Commissioners and staff weren’t lobbing pies at each other. But there was some debate between commissioners and City Manager Steve Crowell about which restaurant will cater the March 4 Grand Opening of the new City Hall building.

Corretta King remembered

In the eyes of local black leaders, Corretta Scott King was more than the wife of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

King, 78, who died Tuesday morning, is being remembered for her own strength and commitment to the cause of equal rights.

Drug bust nets 300 grams of marijuana

ENGLEWOOD — An undercover drug bust at a local gas station netted more than 300 grams of marijuana Monday night, a police report stated.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office report, 18-year-old Matthew Joel Browne, of 6159 Rowe St.

Atanas T. Kobryn column

OUR NEIGHBORS — THE UKRAINIANS

This year’s first meeting of the Roman G. Lazor Post No. 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, Inc. (UAV) will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at 4100 S.

Movie theater opening delayed again

The opening of the new Galleria Stadium 11 Movie Theater in the Galleria Plaza on Tamiami Trail, South Venice has been delayed again.

Following some accessibility issues that arose over seating for physically challenged persons in the auditoriums, Frank Theaters has to attend a hearing on Feb.

Yum Yum’s has got the goodies

ENGLEWOOD — Word of mouth already has Cecile and Kevin Harrington hopping.

The Harringtons are owners of Simply Yum Yum Bakery in Englewood.

“We needed a good bakery,” said Tommie Miller, a bakery customer and a south Venice resident.

Judicial center to be named for Silvertooth

The Sarasota County Judicial Center will be renamed the Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center in a naming ceremony and sign dedication on Feb. 23 at 1 p.m.

A lifelong resident of Sarasota, Silvertooth was first appointed as a 12th Judicial Circuit Court judge in 1964 by then-Gov.

School District hosts humanities black history program

Beecher Stowe and Douglass come back to life in DeSoto

Residents will be treated to a special Florida Humanities presentation Monday at the Historic Owens School.

The face of homelessness could be someone you know

My name is Connie Thrasher, and I am the Director of Development and Public Relations for the Homeless Coalition. Our mission is to prevent homelessness and hunger in this area.

Volunteers work to uncover 9,500 year-old stakes

A fenced-in area just off of Price Boulevard in North Port hides an unusual archaeological treasure — wooden stakes.

Little Salt Spring, a classic Florida sinkhole just like Warm Mineral Springs but with different water sources, was buzzing with activity last week.

Holiday Park pool players enjoy winning streak

Greetings from Holiday Park. Our pool players did it again on Jan. 16. They defeated Harbor Isles playing on their home court. Congratulations, guys. We are very proud of you.

Harbor Isles residents keep busy with many activities

A week in Harbor Isles starts with shuffleboard and bocce. That involves 50 percent of the people living here. Then there is fabric painting, quilting, chorus, cards and other activities.

Jockey Club resident Alan Potts retires from the Airforce

A few weeks ago, on Saturday, Jan. 7, a retirement party was held for Alan Potts and some of his buddies at McDill Air Base. Alan has served his country proudly in the Airforce for more than 20 years.