When you’re 19, you don’t spend much time worrying about surviving to 20.

Thank you, Polk County, for allowing me to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming your Sheriff.

This photograph by Robert Dahlgren captures an early view of a path at Cypress Gardens, probably circa 1936. The photograph has been “tinted” with color by Dahlgren’s wife, Queena, who learned the art used to alter black and white photos.

Governor DeSantis just signed into law SB 712 — the self-proclaimed “Clean Waterways Act” — an ambitious misnomer for a bill that claims to be the solution to our mounting water quality issues, but falls far short of that mark.

How would you grade our governor?

In 1955, Ford became the first of the “Big Three” American automakers to offer seat belts as an option.

We have a very special holiday coming up — the Fourth of July.

Pictured is the H.A. Trueman Citrus packing plant, located on U.S. 17/6th Street at Avenue K, SW, circa the 1920s.

Happy Father’s Day. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my dad or my father-in-law, who are both deceased.

Polk County and most of its neighbors have escaped the violent conflicts that have swept much of the country in the past few weeks.

It’s no secret — I am a big supporter of the United States Constitution, and that includes the 2nd Amendment right to possess firearms.

In four years, the new president might be Florida’s current Gov. Ron DeSantis.

So many things have been cancelled this year — traditional graduation ceremonies, sports seasons, even conventional funerals — that it has been facetiously suggested that we just cancel the year 2020.

This photo is looking northwest at a band stand in what is now South Central Park. The event depicted is welcoming the Starnes and Lawrence Band and was taken circa 1915. The buildings at left are located on the site of the present Bank of America.

I’m not sure how the pilot received clearance to take off from the Tampa airport.

In my 30 years of service in the Florida National Guard, my most memorable summer camp was in 1967.

Hi everyone! This week, I have some good news and not so good news.

For a lot of people today, wearing a seat belt has always been something you were required to wear in your vehicle.

When I was five, I received my first “fishing pole.”

Pictured is the A. M. Klemm home, which was located in downtown Winter Haven on the present site of the Winter Haven Public Library.

One week ago, the United States reached 100,000 deaths in the Covid-19 pandemic, a milestone that seems incomprehensible in the most sophisticated and arguably one of the healthiest nations in the history of the world.

As we all ease out of quarantine and back into the real world, just remember that you can still create impressive meals in the comfort of your own home.

Pictured is the Florida Citrus Building, from around the early 1950s.

Would you wear a mask if you knew that 25 percent of our children under 2 years of age would die if they got infected with the coronavirus? I suspect most of us would say “yes” without hesitation.

How’s it going, friends?

For many years, in late May or early June I set out to offer some words of advice for that year’s high school graduating class.

While this year may seem like it is going slow, the end of the last hurricane season doesn’t seem so long ago. And our next hurricane season starts soon — June 1.

One of the most effective public service announcements to reach the airwaves in recent years is a Florida Department of Transportation piece on bicycle safety.

The headline may be misleading — and yet very accurate.

“Grandpa. Why did you make me legally obligated to pay off your $500,000 loan?”

Have you ever had picadillo? Picadillo translates to a meat “hash.” It is very common in Latin American countries and the neatest part is that each country has its own variation.

We’re all pretty certain that the shape of our near-term future is uncertain.

The flies were swarming. On the outside of the screens. Stuck in the screens. Some even squeezed through holes in the screens and now were dive bombing us in the house.

Photographed above is the Pate Chevrolet Dealership, taken around 1950, then located on U.S. 17 at Avenue C SW, across from Doty’s Farm and Garden.

The end of a major war is, as a general rule, a defining event in history, traceable to a given date and location.

How’s everyone doing?

Not too long ago, I wrote of a scam that was occurring elsewhere in the United States — but now it looks like it may be happening here. Therefore, I thought it would merit a reminder to be aware.

Imagine your neighbor knocks on your front door.

Happy May! Can you believe that May is even here?

Vice President Mike Pence, the nominal head of the nation’s battle against coronavirus, with its social distancing, quarantining and masking requirements, demonstrated a few days ago one of the few privileges (there certainly can’t be many) of being point man in the nation’s war on this unpr…

Pictured is Winter Haven City Hall from 1923 until the mid-1960s, when the current City Hall was constructed.

As it continues to warm up outside, and boat ramps across the county start to reopen following the COVID-19 virus closings by state and local governments, I want to remind everyone that safety and boating need to coexist.

I listened. The hurt in his voice – clearly in pain.

Hi all! I’m back with a recipe that’s comforting, delicious — and healthy!

Polk State College is celebrating more than a thousand graduating students this Spring 2020 Semester. Despite not coming together in celebration of their accomplishments due to COVID-19, their great resilience and unwavering commitment to their academic goals during this public health emerge…

When I first heard the word “quarantine” around the middle of March, my reaction was similar to when I heard the word “assassination” on Nov. 22, 1963.

Small business employs 60 million Americans.

Hi again friends, I’m Bailey!