A Haines City woman was arrested after authorities said she stole nearly $12,000 from a woman with dementia.

CHAMPIONSGATE — Like so much else during the pandemic, the work of the Four Corners Area Council and the "Four Corners, One Vision" initiative it is spearheading had to pause and adapt.

Polk County commissioners decided last week to redo, replace, rejuvenate and initiate a variety of projects — and approved the funds to do all of the above.

Two implementation agreements that officials say will help build the access to Polk’s future water supply were approved by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners on April 20.

Haines City Deputy City Manager Jeffrey E. Brown submitted a letter of resignation on Friday, April 16, stating that his resignation will be effective May 14 if accepted by the city commission.

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe finalized a 30-year gambling agreement on Friday, inking a deal that would deliver at least $2.5 billion to Florida over the next five years in exchange for giving the tribe control over statewide sports betting.

The Davenport City Commission honored the life of Walter James Henderson on April 19. Henderson, who died recently, was the the first Black police officer to be hired by the City of Davenport. Family was in attendance to accept the proclamation.

Best Friends Animal Society and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services have come together to save vulnerable kittens through a new shelter diversion and foster program.

An entrepreneurial team of Florida Polytechnic University students has earned thousands of dollars in funding for the development of an innovative gesture-control device for electric longboards.

The City of Davenport passed 10 future land use ordinances at first reading on April 19, speeding through the process about as quickly as possible.

Polk State College, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk), will host an on-site COVID-19 vaccination event for Polk State students, faculty, staff, and their families.

Everything about Southern Hill Farms makes you feel like you’re far away from Central Florida’s main attractions.

DAVENPORT — During a Davenport City Commission meeting on April 5, Commissioner Tom Fellows noted that he had heard a rumor that someone from Haines City may have reached out to Davenport City Manager Kelly Callihan about taking over Deric Feacher's old job.

Davenport High School released the schedule for its inaugural varsity football season this fall.

On April 13, the Davenport High School Facebook page shared a handful of aerial images of the campus, depicting a campus that continue to take shape as it inches closer to being a final product.

HAINES CITY — Citrus Center Boys & Girls Clubs Chief Professional Officer Curtis Reddick traveled to Haines City April 15 to thank City Manager Deric Feacher for his years of service to the club.

NORTHEAST POLK – Home organization is trending.

Polk County Public Schools hosted a pandemic-safe version of its annual All-County Fine Arts Festival on April 9 and 10.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting involving a Winter Haven Police Department Sergeant that occurred in the Orchid Springs area near Winter Haven Saturday night, April 17, at approximately 10:10 p.m.

DAVENPORT — Until a few years ago, members of the Davenport Historical Society were assigned space in Davenport City Hall — but, due to population growth, members had to be asked to leave city hall.

WINTER HAVEN — Flanked by uniformed law-enforcement officers, including Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed into law a controversial law-and-order measure sparked by nationwide protests that erupted last year after George Floyd’s death.

Five finalists vying to become the next superintendent of Polk County Public Schools will take part in a whirlwind of activities this week.

Around a hundred veterans, along with some friends and family, participated in an American Legion Riders motorcycle and Jeep “Poker Run” to benefit the Polk County Homeless Coalition April 17.

With Haines City City Manager Deric Feacher having been offered and accepted the same role for the City of Daytona Beach, formal goodbyes have begun.

Davenport Vice Mayor Brynn Summerlin was candid in sharing his opinion about the Polk Regional Water Cooperative during a city commission meeting April 5.

Sunshine Foundation is hosting its 19th Annual RunWalkBark4Dreams during May and June 2021.

The Florida Department of Health in Polk County, in partnership with Polk County Board of County Commissioners, has closed Polk County’s COVID-19 vaccine portal.

Winter Haven High School student Kamya Williams, holding a plaque, and other Polk County Students Working Against Tobacco — known as Polk County SWAT — have been traveling around the county in April accepting proclamations.

Polk County Public Schools staff announced April 15 the school district will continue to require face coverings for the remainder of this current school year (2020-21).

WINTER HAVEN – Last year, an incredible 798 dogs got a second chance with forever homes thanks to Stefanie Badillo and her Crossed Paws Pet Rescue.

Drivers passing through Haines City on April 18 may need to adjust their routes to accommodate for the Ironman 70.3 Florida event.

DAVENPORT – Twenty-five thousand.

HAINES CITY – The Haines City Police Department announced last week it has again been recognized as a nationally-accredited law enforcement agency.

The Boy Scouts of America’s Greater Tampa Bay Area Council held a record-shattering Scouting for Food Drive in February, with scouts assembling more than 45,000 pounds of food for local pantries across their nine-county territory.

HAINES CITY — The city manager of Haines City, Deric Feacher, has been chosen to become the next city manager of Daytona Beach, pending contract approval.

NORTHEAST POLK — On March 15, the Davenport City Commission initiated the process of annexing another 138 acres of land into its city limits.

The George W. Harris Youth Shelter in Bartow is the only emergency shelter for children in Polk County.

Polk County Commissioners recently learned that proposed improvements to both Cypress Parkway and Marigold Avenue, in the northeast area of the county, will cost about $45 million — and they also learned that the project has fallen about six months behind its original schedule.

HAINES CITY — Plans for transforming a former industrial fertilizer plant into a new public park in Haines City were potentially set back following a Florida Department of Environmental Protection study, the findings of which were recently released.

On March 15, the Davenport City Commission authorized city staff to hire Tantrums Lakeside Grill staff to sell alcohol at the city’s “Grills Gone Wild” BBQ competition, which is scheduled for April 23 and 24.

Legoland Florida Resort staff recently applied for a permit to build a shade structure that is more than an acre in size. The shade will be used to cover a portion of the theme park called “Miniland USA.”