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How did your school do? Complete list of Polk County school grades for 2023-24
The Florida Department of Education issued grades for schools and school districts on Wednesday for the 2023-24 academic year. Polk County Public Schools received a C grade overall, alling just one percentage point short of a B grade, according to the district. Polk also climbed from 55th place statewide last year to 49th this year. ...
No water, no new homes: Dundee considers a building moratorium until more water is found
The Town of Dundee is expected to enact a one-year moratorium on new housing developments because of a lack of water for all the residential units that developers have planned. Dundee, a town of about 6,000 residents nestled on the east side of U.S. 27 between Lake Wales and Haines City, has about...
New Lakeland VA Clinic opens as Polk County's veteran population grows
LAKELAND, Fla. - For veterans living in Polk County, the only option to get to a VA hospital was to drive to Tampa or to Orlando, but now there's a closer option. James A Haley Veterans' Hospital hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Lakeland VA Clinic, located at 2080 Meadowland Park Boulevard in south Lakeland.
Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce selects Polk County native as next leader
After conducting a national search for its new leader, the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce selected someone who grew up just a few miles to the northeast. Betsy Cleveland, a Haines City native, has been appointed as president and CEO, the chamber’s board of directors announced Friday afternoon. ...
Polk County takes C grade in state report as 32 schools make improvements
Polk County Public Schools received a C grade in a report issued Wednesday by the Florida Department of Education. Though the state report listed only grades, the Polk County school district reported falling just one percentage point short of a B grade in an emailed response to The Ledger. School grades may incorporate...
Coming Soon to Downtown Lakeland: ‘Market on Kentucky’
There’s paper covering the windows of the former Taco Bus location on Kentucky Avenue right now. But in about a month, Frescos owner Tina Calhoon, 54, hopes to unveil a curated community market where up to 20 local purveyors can sell artisan food products. She and her husband Tim...
Polk School Board approves timeline for hiring replacement for retiring attorney Wes Bridges
Polk County Public Schools has set a target date of mid-September to name a replacement for Wes Bridges, who is retiring after 26 years as School Board attorney. Bridges, who has served under eight superintendents, announced his retirement plans at a School Board work session on June 11. The district released a timeline in...
VA cancels debts for veterans related to pension overpayment error
LAKELAND, Fla. — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is canceling pension debt incurred by thousands of low-income veterans after a data-matching error spanning a decade. It’s a major update to a story 10 Tampa Bay first reported back in November, when a local veteran received a letter from...
Philanthropists Step In to Help Polk Arts Groups After Governor’s Veto
Following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ unprecedented veto of the state’s entire $32 million arts budget last month, local philanthropists have raised $200,000 to help Polk County arts groups. Gifts so far: Working with the GiveWell Community Foundation and the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance, the $200,000 in gifts have...
Taking It For Granted – Much Has Changed In Lake Wales Over The Past 30 Years
In 1997 The Lakeland Ledger reported our city had adopted a new motto-“Progressive Vision, Vintage Charm”. They also reported the initial actions taken in pursuit of the motto. The city had ordered new letterhead and street signs with it emblazoned on them. “Progressive Vision” may have been the motto, but status quo was the reality. That was fine because Lake Wales was surrounded by rolling hills covered with healthy citrus groves as far as we could see. Not much happened, not much changed, and not much needed to.
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