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Court Document Paints Violent Picture of Gang Behind Many Crimes in Polk County
When she was 22 years old, prosecutors say Lakeland’s Cerenia Lee Mixon was a rising star in the Florida branch of a national gang. Her tasks included serving as the gang’s Polk County chapter secretary, passing messages between incarcerated members and attempting to set up the retaliatory murder of a former member who had robbed the Florida head of the gang known as Sex, Money Murder.
Former Sears Store Relisted for Sale, Putting Planned Apartments in Doubt
The former Sears store at Lakeland Square Mall is back on the market. Plans to tear it down and build 320 luxury apartments are still on the table, according to Jordan Desnick, head of real estate for the Flacks Group, which owns the property. But that scenario is not a sure thing.
Lakeland Area Officials Relieved as Legislators Take the Heat Off Special Taxing Districts
Citrus Connection Executive Director Tom Phillips and staff spent several days in Tallahassee this week, working with Florida Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven, and other transportation and special-taxing-district officials to modify a bill that could have dissolved Citrus Connection and the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority. “It still has a few...
Repaving Projects Will Disrupt Traffic on Five Roadways
Contractors working for the city of Lakeland have begun five repaving projects that are expected to disrupt traffic for two to four days each. Work has already affected portions of Cleveland Heights Boulevard and Lake Hunter Drive:. Workers for Clearwater-based Wright of Florida this morning started milling the asphalt on...
Swan City Jazz Festival Moves Indoors
Organizers of this weekend’s Swan City Jazz Festival have moved the event indoors, thanks to a weather forecast calling for temperatures in the 40s and 50s. The event is part of the two-week Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Megafest. Instead of Munn Park, the free two-day music festival —...
Lakeland Commission Approves $6.5M for Final Cleanup of Coal Plant Waste
Just east of where Lakeland Electric is assembling its “next generation” power plant with six reciprocating natural gas-powered engines, there is an above-ground landfill that houses the toxic residue of the last generation’s power production. It’s called the South Byproduct Storage Area — a 45-acre, 30-foot tall,...
Trial Begins in Murder of Lakeland Commissioner and Her Husband
Marcelle Waldon’s double-murder trial began Tuesday, with jury selection expected to take several days. Waldon, 39, is accused of killing former Lakeland City Commissioner Edie Yates Henderson and her husband David Henderson in their Lake Morton Drive home on Nov. 11, 2020. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Lakeland...
Lakeland Asst. Fire Chief Lauded for Pulling Man from Burning SUV While Off-Duty
Lakeland Assistant Fire Chief Mike Williams and his wife Carol were headed out on a vacation on Dec. 28, traveling north on I-75, when they spotted a small SUV on fire in the treeline near Ocala. Williams, 52, parked his truck, ran to his toolbox and grabbed a claw hammer.
Lake Morton Welcomes New Restaurants on East Palmetto Street
Heath Phester, 31, gave up years of teaching to pursue his dream of owning a pizza shop. That dream came to fruition on Nov. 29 when the Lakeland native opened “Pizza Daddy’s” inside the Lake Morton Market and Deli at 811 E. Palmetto Street. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Arts and Culture Festivals Abound in Polk County
When the weather turns cooler in Polk County, locals know that our many festivals are just around the corner. Polk’s arts and culture sector offers a variety of options for residents and visitors alike. The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance has compiled a list of some of the many art and cultural festivals taking place in the upcoming months.
Lakeland Names 15-Member Charter Review Committee
Lakeland’s City Commission will formally appoint a 15-member committee on Tuesday to review the city’s charter. The group of notable and diverse city residents will meet monthly for the next year and a half, poring over the foundational document. The panel is expected to recommend any revisions or...
Drills, False Alarms Take Mental Toll on Students, Parents, Teachers
The call came in to the Lakeland Police Department just before 11:30 Tuesday morning, saying there was an imminent threat of violence at George Jenkins High School. Students scrambled for cover in closets and hardened classroom corners and started sending panic-inducing text messages to their parents. “The Polk County Sheriff’s...
Brick or Asphalt? Paving Projects in Lake Morton Neighborhood Paused So Residents Can Choose
Lakeland’s Public Works division was planning to resurface three roads in the Lake Morton neighborhood starting on Jan. 15. But the project has been postponed so residents can weigh in on whether Success Avenue, South Boulevard and East Park Street should be covered with fresh asphalt or returned to brick.
Plan to Celebrate the Dream: MLK Events Throughout January
Lakeland will celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights icon Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with two weeks of events that kick off Friday as part of the 2024 Dream Megafest. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event and features the largest line-up of activities to date, according to organizer Lynne Simpkins of the Education and Enlightenment Group.
Citizens Cancels Lakeland Couple’s Home Insurance, Despite $56K in Upgrades
For seven months, Bill and Ann Sargent were in a twilight zone — unsure if they would have homeowners’ insurance, despite completely reroofing and rewiring their 1925 home on Cleveland Heights Boulevard. Their Orwellian odyssey began at the end of May when AAA Insurance notified them that it...
Tornado Watch Issued for Polk County
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Polk County until 9 p.m. Tuesday as a line of severe thunderstorms moves through our area, starting during the evening rush hour. Residents should expect winds blowing from the north to the south at 25 to 35 miles per hour,...
‘One More Child’ Planning Major Expansion to Lake Hunter Campus
A major expansion is in the works for the Florida Baptist Children’s Home/One More Child campus at 1015 Sikes Blvd. on Lake Hunter. The Lakeland-based nonprofit organization plans to build 28 semi-detached cottages for single mothers, two large homes for foster families, a 21,375-square-foot meeting/event space, a warehouse, a climate-controlled storage facility and an 8,250-square-foot Family Resource Center.
10 Issues Lakeland is Watching as the 2024 Legislative Session Begins
The Florida Legislature will kick off its 60-day lawmaking session on Tuesday, sparking both hopes and fears for city leaders. More than 1,100 bills have been filed so far — including several that could affect city operations and Lakeland residents’ quality of life. Local officials are hopeful that...
Jan. 6 Downtown Farmers’ Curb Market Is Canceled Due to Expected Wind and Rain
There won’t be a farmers’ market downtown tomorrow. Julie Townsend, executive director of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, sent out a notice Friday that the event has been canceled due to expected high winds and rain. The message, which was shared by email and on social media, read:
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