East County

Jen Blanco
February 8, 2012

Born to ride

California native Shane Rice has received the Best Playing Pony award three times so far this season and also has been named the Most Valuable Player.

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
February 8, 2012

Pirate squad to compete at nationals

The Braden River High varsity cheerleading squad will compete in the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships for the first time in school history Feb. 11-12, at Walt Disney World.

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
February 8, 2012

Comment: Hoops madness hits early out east

The tournament seeds have been announced, and the brackets are set.

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
February 8, 2012

Athlete of the Week: Blake Riley-Hawkins

Lakewood Ranch High junior Blake Riley-Hawkins captured his first-ever district title in the 132-pound weight class of the Class 2A-District 11 tournament Feb. 4, in Port Charlotte. With the win, Riley-Hawkins will advance to the Class 2A-Region 3 tournament Feb. 10-11, in Charlotte. Here is an inside look at this week's Athlete of the Week.

East County
Sports

Observer Staff
February 8, 2012

Hillcroft/Regent defeats Wildcat in Super Bowl Cup

Hillcroft/Regent defeated Wildcat 8-7 Feb. 5, to win the MGA Insurance Group Super Bowl Cup.

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
February 8, 2012

Mustangs fall in semis

PALMETTO -- Lakewood Ranch High girls basketball coach Tina Hadley felt pretty confident heading into the locker room at halftime.

East County
Sports

Jen Blanco
February 8, 2012

ODA shut out in quarterfinal

The Out-of-Door Academy boys soccer team saw its season come to an end Jan. 31, with a 4-0 loss to Indian Rocks Christian School in a Class 1A-Region 2 quarterfinal.

East County
Sports

Pam Eubanks
February 8, 2012

Neighbors: Dave Kostura

Lakewood Ranch photographer Dave Kostura spent most of his career working with NASA and with the U.S. military.

East County
Neighbors

Observer Staff
February 8, 2012

BUSINESS OBSERVER

RE/MAX's Samler expands business; Jon Talamas joins MGA Insurance Group; Caldwell Trust Co. welcomes trust officer

East County
News

Adam Hughes
February 8, 2012

Verna Bethany home tops weekly transactions

A home on Verna Bethany Road tops all transactions in this week's real estate. David and Lisa Johnson sold their home at 6540 Verna Bethany Road to Bankunited for $500,000.

East County
Real Estate

Observer Staff
February 8, 2012

Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Rob Mason submitted this sunset photo, taken at Heron's Nest Park in Lakewood Ranch.

East County
Neighbors

Jen Blanco
February 7, 2012

Mustangs gallop into semifinals

The fourth-seeded Lakewood Ranch High boys basketball team defeated fifth-seeded Dixie Hollins 58-41 in the Class 6A-District 12 quarterfinals Feb. 6.