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GOVERNMENT
Florida DOH Polk County Issue Blue-Green Algae Alert For Lake Van In Auburndale
POLK COUNTY, Fla – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) has issued a cautionary alert following the detection of blue-green algae in Lake Van, located at the end of Lake Van Road. As of August 20, 2024, water sample testing is underway to determine the presence...
Money proves crucial for winners of two Florida House races in Polk County
Money made a difference for Tuesday’s winners of two Republican primaries for Florida House seats in Polk County — but in different ways. In District 49, Jennifer Kincart Jonsson collected far more in campaign funds than any of her three opponents, with some of it coming from corporate donors and political committees based outside Polk County. ...
Anonymous donors help Polk County art and cultural organizations after DeSantis veto
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Members of the community in Polk County are stepping up to financially support local organizations impacted by Governor Ron DeSantis' veto of all art and cultural funding earlier this summer. Theatre Winter Haven, that sells over 70,000 tickets a year through their various productions, expected to...
Polk County government administrators in planning and building divisions promoted
Two longtime Polk County administrators overseeing growth and development, John Bohde and Benjamin Dunn, were appointed Tuesday to new government positions they will start Sept. 30. Bohde was promoted to deputy county manager over the infrastructure group, and Dunn will become director of the Office of Planning and Development, a county news release said. ...
Generous donors help Lakeland family get new roof
LAKELAND, Fla. — The kindness of strangers is helping a Polk County family get repairs to their home. High winds from Hurricane Debby peeled part of the roof off of Mary and Jose Olmeda’s mobile home. “It’s been stressful,” said Mary Olmeda. “Very, very stressful.”
'Without fear or favor': On The Ledger's 100th birthday, new challenges but the same mission
In 1924, Lakeland was in its relative infancy. Florida Southern College, then known as Southern College, had only relocated to the city two years earlier, and its campus contained no buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Terrace Hotel was preparing for its grand opening in October. The Polk Theatre and the Lake...
MacKID Winter Haven - Davenport 2024 Fall Guide
Looking for all the fall fun in Lakeland and the surrounding areas? We've got you covered. From pumpkin "patches" to corn mazes, Oktoberfest to trick or treat... it's all right here. 🎃. Want your event featured right here front and center? Email me about FEATURED GUIDE LISTINGS! Email amandaswank@macaronikid.com for...
Three Parcels of Land Being Considered by Lake Wales CRA for Affordable Housing
Three Parcels of Land Being Considered by Lake Wales CRA for Affordable Housing. The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) voted unanimously to table the discussion of donating three parcels of land for redevelopment into affordable housing. At their meeting on Tues. Aug. 13, Lake Wales CRA board members discussed...
City of Lake Wales To Use County Website To Post Public Notices
City of Lake Wales to Use County Website to Post Public Notices, Decision Receives Unanimous Vote from City Commission. Public notices from the City of Lake Wales will be uploaded onto the Polk County website, now that the City Commission has voted unanimously to do so. At their regular meeting...
Polk County Commissioners to Consider Impact Fee Increases
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the Board approved an “extraordinary circumstances study” to look at how much impact fees need to be raised to keep up with the county’s explosive population growth. Impact fees are one-time charges levied on builders to cover a portion of the anticipated costs...
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