JULY NEWS FROM VANTAGE POINTE

Residents are encouraged to please be cautious about leaving homes and cars unlocked even when you are home. Vandals have been in the community making their rounds and taking whatever they can resell easily. The HCSO has taken reports and is actively working to locate those responsible for the latest round of problems. Please report any suspicious vehicles or persons in the area to them. Any descriptions will be helpful.

Thank you this month to Jerry Syfert for his contacts with Highlands Co. road & bridge department as we continue to see repairs being made to all the streets in Vantage Pointe. Hopefully, even though piecemeal as it may seem, this will lead to eventual repaving with blacktop in the future.

Lastly, a few complaints have been made about problems with the lawn mowing crew. If you find damage on your property and you are positive that it was caused by the mowers, please contact PRO LAWN directly at 382-7797. They have an answering machine and will gladly listen to your message and get back to you generally within 24 - 48 hours of your call. They have been very cooperative in the past.

THE BOARD PURCHASED A NEW COMPUTER AND PRINTER FOR OUR TREASURER FLO GOODE'S USE. WE FINALLY GOT A SMILE ON HER FACE. THE SMILE DIDN'T LAST LONG THOUGH AS SHE IS LAYED UP AGAIN WITH A BROKEN FOOT. WE WISH HER A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

A GREAT 4TH OF JULY LUNCHEON WAS HELD AT THE CLUBHOUSE AND ENJOYED BY ALL. LOTS OF SLOPPY JOES AND SALADS AND DESERTS. ANOTHER GOOD JOB BY A GREAT COMMITTEE.

For years veterans have wanted to salute the U.S. flag during the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, instead of just placing their hand over their heart. Now they can.

A congressional Amendment sponsored by Senator James Inhofe (R-ok) in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2009 specifically states that "members of the Armed Forces and Veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute." "The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's military service," said Inhofe. "Veterans and service members continue representing the military service even when not in uniform. The U.S. Code is now consistent for Veterans and all service members in regards to the symbolic gesture of the military salute."

John Hancock was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence on Jul y 4th, 1776. Most of the 56 men who signed did so on August 2. The youngest man to sign was Edward Rutledge, who was 26. The oldest was Benjamin Franklin, who was 70. Also, two future presidents signed, John Adams, the nation's second president and Thomas Jefferson, the third president. Now wasn't that interesting?

ALL OF THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE BY THE COUNTY WORKERS IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE DILIGENCE OF JERRY SYFERT. JERRY HAS WRITTEN A TON OF LETTERS AND E-MAILS ON OUR BEHALF TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DENISE GRIMSLEY, HER CHIEF ASSISTANT MARTY MIELKE AND TO OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MICHAEL WRIGHT. HE ALSO HAS TAKEN MANY PICTURES OF THE TERRIBLE CONDITION OF OUR ROADS. THROUGH HIS EFFORTS, WE ARE GETTING SOME BADLY NEEDED REPAIRS. CHECK OUT THE WEB SITE FOR ALL OF THE EFFORT THAT HE HAS PUT IN (www.vantagepointfl.com). THANK YOU JERRY FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.

THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED 19 INCHES OF RAIN SO FAR THIS YEAR. ACCORDING TO THE AUTHORITIES, LAKE JACKSON HAS RISEN APPROXIMATELY 0.1 FOOT IN THE LAST WEEK, WHICH MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT OF WATER, BUT ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS, IT AMOUNTS TO 1 BILLION GALLONS. HOWEVER, AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, LAKE JACKSON HAS TO RISE ANOTHER FOUR FEET TO MEET ITS PRE-DROUGHT LEVEL.

BUILDING PERMITS HAVE STILL BEEN SLOW EVEN WITH THE SUSPENSION OF IMPACT FEES. AN 11 UNIT STRIP MALL AT 7741 U.S. 27 NORTH HAS BEEN APPROVED BUT THE PERMIT HASN'T BEEN PICKED UP. ALSO IN THE WORKS IS A NEW HAMPTON INN ON U.S. 27 SOUTH JUST SOUTH OF THE SEBRING PARKWAY ACCORDING TO THE ARCHITECT BUT PERMITS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL HAVE NOT BEEN SUBMITTED.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY CHANGES OR ADDITIONS FOR THE NEW DIRECTORY, PLEASE LET GAYLE MAGISANO KNOW AT ayla177@yahoo.com . SHE IS WORKING TO HAVE A NEW DIRECTORY READY FOR FEBRUARY 2010. WE NEED EVERYONES HELP TO DO THIS.