Ona, FL

Polk County voters will choose only one judge in this election cycle. Five candidates are running to become a county court judge with the 10th Judicial Circuit, based in Bartow. The position in Group 8 is open because Judge Susan Barber is vacating her seat to seek a position as a circuit judge. Barber faced no opposition and will assume her new title in January.

The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating a deadly two-vehicle crash on US-17, just north of Southwest Hull Avenue, in Desoto County on Monday morning. All travel lanes on US-17 are blocked as the fire department and emergency personnel attempt to clear the scene. FHP asks drivers to find an alternate route.

The Florida Art Education Association announced two of this year’s winners are from Polk County. Frederick Heid is the winner of the FAEA 2022 Superintendent Award. Rebecca Schempp, art teacher, Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary, Fort Meade, won the FAEA New Professional Award. These awards recognize individuals within the membership who have achieved the highest level of professionalism in art education and show appreciation for individuals or organizations that have contributed their services in an exemplary way to the association and to shared professional goals. An awards banquet is planned during its 70th Annual Professional Development Conference at the Caribe Royale Orlando, Caribbean VI and VII, Oct. 15.

Jack L. Kline, age 68, of Bartow, Florida, and formerly a lifelong resident of the Edon, Ohio, area, passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2022, while working on a car with a friend in Ashley, Indiana. Jack was employed by General Products in Angola, Indiana, retiring with twenty-nine years of...

Georgia gas prices continues to decline at the pump compared to a week ago. The average price fell another 14 cents last week. Drivers in Georgia are paying an average price of $3.63 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, as of Monday morning. Monday's state average is 63 cents less than last month and 66 cents more than this time last year. It now costs $54.45 to fill a 15-gallon...