Central Florida’s Visitor Information Center (CFVIC) will host the trick-or-treating event “Ghosts, Goblins & Goodies” on Saturday, Oct. 24.

HAINES CITY — Passersby on U.S. Highway 27 can easily spot the turquoise blue building that is home to Sisters Junktiques Vintage Market.

On Oct. 14, officials and staff for Citrus Connection bid farewell to Citrus Connection Board Chairman John Hall with a special ceremony prior to his final board meeting.

Supporters of the Central Florida Development Council celebrated more than $700 million in various capital investments in Polk County over the course of the past few years during the organization's annual meeting Oct. 15, held at the Polk State College Center for Public Safety in Winter Haven.

Early voting began in Polk County this past Monday, Oct. 19, and more than a few county residents took advantage of that fact.

Starting Nov. 4, Polk County Public Schools will be able to provide meals to all children 18 and under at specific pick-up locations.

HAINES CITY – The WAY Center will hold its 15th Annual Fall Fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Snively Ranch in Haines City.

Central Florida’s Visitor Information Center in Davenport will host a weekly Flea and Farmers Market beginning Thursday, Oct. 29, and continuing through May 6, 2021.

WINTER HAVEN – One of the city’s best-kept secrets, Mann Lake-Stromberg’s is tucked away among warehouses and commercial buildings in an industrial park on Lucerne Park Road.

Polk County Public Schools is asking parents, employees and community members to share their thoughts on what’s needed in the district’s next superintendent.

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will examine all aspects of the Haines City Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, HCPD Chief Jim Elensky announced last week.

Three Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies defended themselves with lethal force Wednesday, Oct. 14, when a Polk County resident living near Frostproof rushed them while holding a machete over his head.

DAVENPORT– Roughly nine months after breaking ground, the $85 million state-of-the-art high school being built in the northeast area of Polk County was recently named Davenport High School.

Polk State College will hold commencement ceremonies this academic year and invites the graduates of 2020 and spring 2021 to participate on May 6, 2021. The college will host a virtual celebration on December 10, 2020, for fall 2020 graduates.

WINTER HAVEN – Legoland Florida Resort opened Brick or Treat this past weekend.

HAINES CITY – Winter Haven Police Department officers won first place in the “Hoops & Heroes” fundraiser basketball tournament, held Oct. 2 to benefit the Ridge Community High School Lady Bolts basketball team.

POLK COUNTY – During a Polk County Public Schools work session Sept. 29, staff said that while the district is in no imminent financial threat at the moment, next fiscal year could be a different story.

CHAMPIONSGATE – In 2019, when Melissa Chivers started a girls golf group, her goal was to eventually have 30 students.

The City of Davenport's Annual Spooky Halloween and Trunk or Treat event will take place on Saturday, October 31, from 6-9 p.m. at Lewis Mathews Field — located at 400 Palm Street.

KISSIMMEE – Just when you thought it safe to come out on Halloween, Scream n' Stream is here.

In a rapid-fire public hearing last week, the Polk County Commission put it's final stamp of approval on a $1.79 billion budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, lowered the property tax rate and, in earlier action, okayed a development in the Kathleen area — despite protests from neighboring p…

For the 11th consecutive year, the millage rate for Osceola County residents remains unchanged, as Osceola County Commissioners approved a $1.6 billion FY 2021 budget Sept. 21 that provides necessary services to the citizens with a continued focus on transportation, housing services and publ…

First Presbyterian Church in Haines City opens its food pantry every Wednesday from noon until 1 p.m. at 104 Scenic Highway. For more information, call (863) 422-3334.

FROSTPROOF – Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Amanda Lynn Brown Sept. 23 for fraudulently setting up a GoFundMe account to benefit the families of Brandon Rollins, Keven Springfield and Damion Tillman.

POLK COUNTY – Among other things, on Friday Sept. 25 Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended the collection of fines by local governments for those in violation of mask mandates.

Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted state COVID-19 business restrictions Friday, Sept. 25, including limits on the numbers of people who can dine in restaurants, while also prohibiting local governments from closing restaurants and collecting fines from people who don’t wear face masks in public.

POSNER PARK — Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Citrus Connection’s Posner Park's Park-and-Ride facility, Haines City Mayor Morris West suggested that this was how things ought to work.

HAINES CITY – Deputy City Clerk Erica Anderson will be formally promoted to Haines City Clerk during a Haines City Commission meeting Oct. 1.

HAINES CITY – The 38th Annual Pig Roast & Political Rally, hosted by the Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce, will be held Friday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. at Balmoral Resort.

After only six years in existence, Florida Polytechnic University made its first appearance in the national rankings of the prestigious U.S News and World Report as a top-75 engineering college without a doctorate degree.

Haines City’s Food Truck Marketplace has been going strong for more than a month. Now, it’s time to give it a proper welcome.

Over the last six months, COVID-19 has been life-changing for many business owners at the Cagan Crossings Town Center, located in Clermont in the Four Corners region of Lake County.

HAINES CITY – The city commission passed a slight tax increase Sept. 17, as defined by state law.

DAVENPORT – Central Florida’s Visitor Information Center (CFVIC) will host a Health Expo on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 8 a.m. until noon.

Northridge Church will host “The Return - A National Day of Prayer.” The simulcast will be shown from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. The church is located at 2250 State Road 17 South in Haines City.

Last week, a Bartow man was ushered out of the Polk Board of County Commissioners’ annual budget public hearing after raising questions about the county's proposed $20 fire service assessment increase.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida continues to see a steady decline in first-time unemployment claims, even as several large hospitality and entertainment companies have extended and imposed large-scale layoffs because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff for AdventHealth say the healthcare provider invested $1.2 billion in Central Florida in 2019, furthering its commitment to caring for the region’s most vulnerable and addressing key issues like food insecurity, mental health and overall access to care.

As conditions continue to diminish at Kissimmee’s Star Motel, located near Four Corners, Osceola County’s Human Services Department is working to secure safe accommodations for the property’s residents in partnership with local organizations.

DAVENPORT — A late rally for the Ridge Community Bolts fell short as the Lake Wales Highlanders, playing in their first game of the season, held on for a 36-28 victory Sept. 18.

The motto of Ridge Community High School is "Once a bolt, always a bolt." For its new principal, Angela Clark, that has rung especially true since it is the only school she has worked at since moving to Florida in 2005.

DAVENPORT — The love of America’s pastime is alive and well for two Davenport youth baseball travel teams.

HAINES CITY – The Ridge Community High School girls’ basketball program is teaming with the Haines City Police Department’s COPS unit for a fundraiser called “Hoops & Heroes.”

HAINES CITY – Haines City Clerk Linda Bourgeois submitted a letter of voluntary resignation Sept. 2.