POLK COUNTY – Florida history comes alive at the 49th Annual Alafia River Rendezvous this weekend in Homeland, between Bartow and Fort Meade, just off U.S. Highway 17.

LAKE WALES – In late 2019, the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Board budgeted $200,000 in matching grants of $50,000 for those interested in bringing restaurants and other food-related businesses to the City of Lake Wales.

POLK COUNTY – At a Polk Regional Water Cooperative meeting Jan. 15, Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey and PRWC lawyer Ed de la Parte repeated what Frostproof Mayor Martin Sullivan described as an “old threat.”

The annual Polk County Youth Fair is coming. The end of January will find critters, kids and countless other activities abounding at the Stuart Center in Bartow, with ribbons galore and the culmination of a year's worth of hard work for hundreds of Polk 4-H and FFA members.

BARTOW — Magnolia Acres, a proposed development of eight estate homes in north Bartow, got the green light from Bartow City Commissioners at a meeting earlier this month, along with the rezoning of a 37-acre piece of property that some said could result in objectionable odors.

LAKE WALES – The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency Board laid the groundwork for an affordable housing initiative Jan. 14.

Staff for Polk County Public Schools recently navigated a chaotic stretch that led up to the “Take on Tallahassee” rally in support of public education on Jan. 13 in Tallahassee.

WINTER HAVEN – By now, many residents have learned that a local developer is planning to build a hotel, an apartment complex and a yet-to-be-announced big box store at the corner of U.S. Highway 27 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard.

POLK COUNTY – Southwest Florida Water Management District staff hosted a public workshop at Circle B Reserve Jan. 8 to explain a draft recommendation that the SWFWMD Board of Directors may approve as early as Feb 25.

HAINES CITY – It’s been nearly a year since Haines City Police Officer Dwight Rogers put his life on the line during a call to assist the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

On January 15, 2020, PCSO detectives arrested 35-year-old Neidy Mendez-Gudine, of Davenport, for one count aggravated child abuse and one count manslaughter in the death of a 13-month-old baby.

LAKE WALES – Four of the best carillon artists in the world will tour their way through performances at bell towers in Florida, part of a spring series of recitals associated with the Florida Carillon Festival — with each making a stop in Polk County at Bok Tower Gardens.

BARTOW — Magnolia Acres, a proposed development of eight estate homes in north Bartow, got the green light from Bartow City Commissioners last week, along with the rezoning of a 37-acre piece of property that some said could result in objectionable odors.

POLK COUNTY – According to a statement made by Polk County Public Schools staff on the district’s Facebook page, about 1,520 district teachers — roughly 20 percent of the 6,800 teachers who are employed by the district, in total — were absent from school on Monday, Jan. 13, to attend the “Ta…

LAKE WALES – Thanks to the First Baptist Church of Lake Wales, every student attending Bok North Academy, Bok South Academy and Lake Wales High School had a zero balance in their respective lunch accounts after they returned from the holiday break.

POLK COUNTY – A Lake Wales High School alumna and her mother are partnering up with hopes of investing $350,000 in downtown Lake Wales.

LAKE WALES – Near the end of a Lake Wales City Commission meeting Jan. 7, Commissioner Curtis Gibson made a motion that, essentially, would terminate Lake Wales City Attorney Chuck Galloway.

WINTER HAVEN – A celebration of life concert for longtime area journalist and musician Michael Trent Rowe will be held at the Gram Parsons Derry Down on Friday, Feb. 28, between 6 and 9 p.m.

POLK COUNTY — The Polk County Fire Rescue department is hiring, with some 62 vacancies the department is trying diligently to fill with firefighters, EMTs and paramedics.

A Winter Haven man was shot Saturday, January 11, at around 9:33 p.m. after two motorists got into a confrontation on Lake Ned Road in Winter Haven.

LAKE WALES – The Lake Wales City Commission tabled a debate to reform how code enforcement appeals may be handled in the future.

This Friday marks the beginning of an exciting special event at Walt Disney World’s Epcot. The 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts is included in the cost of admission into the park and features a world of entertainment — take a seat in one of the interactive workshops or sing-a-lo…

POLK COUNTY — Despite reports that as many as 1,600 Polk County Public Schools teachers could be absent on Monday, January 13, the district has repeatedly affirmed over the weekend its intention to remain open that day.

BARTOW – The Sahgal family, owners of the Firehouse Subs shop in Winter Haven for the past 12 years, recently opened a second location in Bartow at 280 E. Van Fleet Drive.

Lake Wales High School head football coach Tavaris Johnson was named the 2019 Buccaneers High School Coach of the Year Dec. 29 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

POLK COUNTY – Three quarters of the annual Polk Museum of Art exhibit budget for 2020 has been designated for single exhibit, one which will be on display beginning Feb. 8 and through to May 31.

LAKE WALES – Lake Wales Little Theatre artists and volunteers say they have been preparing to open a musical never before performed in the state of Florida.

POLK COUNTY – Last year, around 2,500 Polk County area residents registered for the Polk Senior Games. Registration for the 28th Annual Polk Senior Games is now open.

LAKE WALES – Twenty years ago, Lake Wales resident Mertice Kelly found what she believed to be her calling in life — to create a ministry for area residents who are disabled.

Unlike other places this time of year, we’re lucky enough to call January bearable. 

Polk County Commissioners last month okayed spending $143,000 to help the city of Bartow install sidewalks along Lyle Parkway, in the northwest part of the city.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s population growth remains on track to garner new congressional seats in the coming years, though the state might not be adding new residents as fast as officials had believed.

FROSTPROOF – On Dec. 16, Interim City Manager Nicole McDowell announced that the City of Frostproof had received an offer of a $104,000 downtown beautification grant from the State of Florida.

WINTER HAVEN – Hundreds of area residents attended the grand opening “tip off” of the AdventHealth Fieldhouse & Conference Center at Chain of Lakes Park Saturday, Jan. 4.

POLK COUNTY — It's time for Polk residents to stand up and be counted — or, at least, it will be this spring when the 2020 U.S. Census is taken.

LAKE WALES – Just a few days before Lake Wales History Museum Founder Mimi Hardman passed away Dec. 13, current Lake Wales History Museum Director Jennifer D'hollander published a press release announcing a $125,000 fundraising campaign to create the Mimi Hardman Collections and Research Center.

LAKE WALES – Corporate staff with the air filter manufacturing corporation Pamlico Air, based out of North Carolina, recently announced plans to expand into Lake Wales.

POLK COUNTY – Over the course of the last month, city staff in Lake Wales and Frostproof made separate code enforcement decisions involving two pieces of private property, against the will of the property owners.

WINTER HAVEN – The grand opening and ribbon cutting for the newly constructed — and recently renamed — AdventHealth Fieldhouse at Chain of Lakes Park is to be held Saturday, Jan. 4, starting at 10:30 a.m.

POLK COUNTY — A Kissimmee man who delivers packages for Amazon was arrested last week for stealing a package he had delivered to a home in the Davenport area.

BARTOW – Mosaic staff may stop manufacturing fertilizer at their Bartow plant through at least 2020, according to a December 19 press release.

“Enforcement time” has come for motorists caught texting and driving by Florida Highway Patrol troopers.

DUNDEE –Dundee’s Fire Department is one of thousands around the country with volunteer firefighters.

HAINES CITY – Last year was not an easy year for members of Polk County Fire Rescue, thanks largely in part to an incident that took place back in 2018.

Polk County could become a safe haven for gun owners if one county commissioner gets his way.

LAKE WALES – Her wedding day was a home run.

The Hallmark Channel presents “Holidays at Legoland” this weekend. Those who attend can expect glistening lights, yummy treats, upbeat Christmas tunes and more. Besides the rides, there are also plenty of festive Lego sights to see as you walk around the park.

HAINES CITY – On Sept. 1, at midnight, 1,567 Polk County area residents became AdventHealth employees.

POLK COUNTY – For roughly the past year, Lake Ashton residents have been working toward a deal to purchase the two 18-hole golf courses located inside the large retirement subdivision, located a few miles west of Eagle Ridge Mall.