POLK COUNTY – Originally, community leaders charged with planning the 2020 U.S. Census awareness campaign had designated May as the time to begin door-to-door outreach, seeking county residents who had yet to self-respond to the census.
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BARTOW — Last week, Bartow Police Chief Joe Hall abruptly announced his retirement at the end of May.
In the featured photo, Central Florida Healthcare Navigator Linda Blas instructs a driver to move to the next station at a free mobile COVID-19 testing station setup at Lake Maude Sports Complex in Winter Haven on May 15.
DAVENPORT – The owners of the Ovation Bistros’ three locations are used to serving more than 20,000 guests a month at their restaurants.
HAINES CITY – Of late, several developers building residential subdivisions near Haines City have applied for those subdivisions to be annexed into the city. Over the past year, the Haines City Commissioners have had a number of close votes on such matters, with Commissioner Jayne Hall often…
POLK COUNTY – On May 20, the Polk Regional Water Cooperative board is expected to sign off on another step toward borrowing up to $239.1 million from the federal government to partially fund the construction of two desalination plants in Polk County.
HAINES CITY – A settlement offer was made May 12 in reference to civil litigation associated with the Haines City municipal election that was held on April 7.
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POLK COUNTY — On Tuesday, Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd announced her retirement, which will be effective Feb. 26, 2021.
POLK COUNTY — Today marks the first day that applications can be submitted by Polk residents, families and small businesses for financial assistance through the county’s share of money awarded via the federal CARES Act.
TALLAHASSEE — State university system Chancellor Marshall Criser next week will present guidelines for reopening university campuses in the fall, after students were sent home in March to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Bok Tower Gardens officials announced Monday morning that the popular destination for visitors near and far will reopen to the public on Monday, June 1.
POLK COUNTY – During an online town hall meeting May 5, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-Kissimmee) — whose congressional district includes much of the Osceola and Polk portions of the Four Corners region — said Congress recently appropriated an additional $12 billion in CARES Act emergency relief f…
POLK COUNTY – On May 1, Polk County Board of County Commissioners Chair Bill Braswell announced on his personal social media account that the federal government had wired $126 million directly into the county’s bank account in late April without much prior notice.
Suncoast Credit Union, Florida’s largest credit union, announced May 4 that it will donate $25,000 to the Polk State College Foundation, with $20,000 of the generous gift designated for scholarships.
LAKE WALES — For 44 years, Cliff’s True Value Hardware has been a constant in downtown Lake Wales, providing common and not-so-common hardware store items at fair prices.
Holding a remote meeting for the first time last week, the Bartow City Commission welcomed new Commissioner Steve Githens, named its mayor and vice-mayor for the coming year and opted to reopen the city golf course and restaurant.
POLK COUNTY – Because around 72 percent of the Polk County Public Schools budget comes from the State of Florida, and since state sales tax income is projected to be substantially lower over the near future as a result of pandemic-related economic downturn, there has been some discussion of …
Polk County Fire Rescue firefighters battled six fires in the southeastern quadrant of the county on May 8.
POLK COUNTY — On Thursday, Polk County Public Schools staff released details regarding the school district’s plans for graduation ceremonies in June.
BARTOW — While Bartow High School's brand new $17 million addition and renovation — completed just in time for last fall's start of the school year — sits empty for now, the school is bracing for phase two of the project, which will add even more classrooms and upgrade some more of the exist…
On Tuesday, Polk County Commissioners outlined plans to spend $126 million in federal COVID-19 relief money.
POLK COUNTY – On April 28, Polk County Public Schools Attorney Wes Bridges announced a recent $20 million settlement offer from insurance companies providing hurricane coverage during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Prior to Easter, Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo staff donated 3,000 plastic Easter eggs filled with candy to the Lake Wales Care Center that were distributed in Easter baskets.
Peace River Center, a non-profit behavioral health and victim services organization that serves more than 22,000 individuals each year, is hosting virtual sessions during Mental Health Awareness Month.
The Polk County Board of County Commissioners last month okayed another phase in the creation of a park in Wahneta.
TALLAHASSEE — Restaurants and many retail stores outside of Southeast Florida can start reopening Monday with limited occupancy as part of the first phase of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ economic-recovery effort after the coronavirus caused massive shutdowns.
BARTOW -- When Johnnie Levin reflects on the path Front Page Brewing has traveled since its grand opening last month, she can’t help but marvel at how unique that journey has been.
POLK COUNTY — With distance learning to continue through the end of this school year and possibly beyond, Polk County Public Schools has teamed up with Polk Vision in an effort to improve internet access for students.
POLK COUNTY – During the “Weathering the Storm” webinar hosted April 16 by SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler, Managing Partner Gary Ralston explained that — according to data he has collected — around half of all retail tenants and around a third of all residential tenants have sought rent relie…
WINTER HAVEN — Twenty-six days.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay is asking the community to help them feed the families staying in their four local houses.
Polk County’s Class of 2020 seniors were recently asked for feedback regarding how their graduation might be handled in light of the pandemic and, at the outset of a school board work session April 28, Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd shared the results — and the dis…
Publix announced last week a new initiative to purchase fresh produce and milk to assist farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
AdventHealth announced April 22 that it is continuing to expand its community COVID-19 testing in Central Florida and announced new locations in Polk and Lake counties.
BARTOW – Dozens of respected members of the community gathered for a graveside service for Eva Dolores Wyatt Corbett at Wildwood Cemetery April 21.
LAKE WALES – The Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees and the City of Lake Wales recently agreed on a price of $575,000 to purchase the Mimi Hardman School Complex, a mostly vacant school house built in 1919.
WINTER HAVEN — For business owners near and far, the stress and anxiety surrounding what comes next can be overwhelming.
Earlier this month it was announced that Lake Wales Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson will be honored at the Evening of Excellence at the University of Florida.
WINTER HAVEN – Since the onset of the pandemic, Marilyn Lacey, the owner of Home Remedy Winter Haven, has manufactured and donated more than a thousand bottles of hand sanitizer to assisted living facilities, post offices and clinics in the area.
TALLAHASSEE — As of April 16, payments had been made to roughly 4 percent of the more than 800,000 people who have filed jobless claims since the novel coronavirus started closing businesses across the state.
When the couple pulled up to the emergency room entrance, a nurse was there to meet them.
The Florida Department of Health announced Tuesday that, as of 11 a.m. April 21, there are 27,495 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Florida.
POLK COUNTY – The Polk County Board of County Commissioners collectively signed and mailed a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis this week, seeking more control in determining how to restart the local economy.
The Florida Department of Health announced Thursday that, as of 11 a.m. April 16, there are 22,897 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Florida.
POLK COUNTY - Several hours before a Winter Haven City Commission Agenda Review meeting April 8, the City of Winter Haven Technology Services Department staff filmed and broadcasted a trial meeting on social media.
POLK COUNTY – Staff with Polk County Public Schools and volunteers with a Winter Haven nonprofit organization named Faith Xtreme are teaming up to search for more feeding sites for Polk students around the county.
LAKE WALES – According to City Manager Kenneth Fields, Gov. Ron DeSantis has been speeding up the timeline on multiple Florida Department of Transportation projects across the state to take advantage of reduced traffic during the pandemic.
HAINES CITY — Darren Joseph had a plan for his life.
WINTER HAVEN — Shauna Bergwall, the principal at Garden Grove Elementary in Winter Haven, remembers well the roller coaster ride of Friday, March 13.
The Florida Department of Health announced Tuesday that, as of 11 a.m. April 14, there are 21,367 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Florida.
The Florida Department of Health announced Monday that, as of 11 a.m. April 13, there are 20,601 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Florida.
