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The Ledger

partner publisher · 23.8K followers
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Jon Corneal, a largely forgotten founder of country-rock, dies at 80

Jon Corneal, a drummer from Auburndale who helped birth the genre of country-rock, has died at age 80. Corneal’s death on Nov. 6 came just eight days before his teenage bandmate, Winter Haven native Gram Parsons, will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 14. “Jon Corneal was at Ground Zero of country rock as evidenced in his collaborations with Gram Parsons, Gene Clark and Doug Dillard, and his own solo work,” said Bob Kealing, author of “Calling Me Home: Gram Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock.” “I’ll miss his stories of those formative days whenever I attend Gram Parsons Derry Down shows. He was a Polk County country rock original.” In recent years, Corneal performed regularly with a small band on Friday afternoons at Hillcrest Coffee in Lakeland, singing and playing guitar and working a percussion setup with his feet. Corneal played a final show on Oct. 30, exactly one week before his death, said his friend of 50 years, Gene Owen. The influential website AllMusic.com has described Corneal as the first drummer in country-rock "down to a virtual certainty." Corneal decided to become a drummer after his mother took him to see

Auburndale, FL · 2d

Tampa Bay 28

partner publisher · 109.6K followers
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New $10 million grant aims to protect Lake Wales Ridge from development

As development continues across Polk County, a new $10 million federal grant aims to protect thousands of acres of environmentally important land along the Lake Wales Ridge.

Polk County, FL · 2d

plantcityobserver.com

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Local Resident Dodie White Named Aspire Plant City’s 2026 Woman of Distinction

Aspire Plant City honors longtime community volunteer for her dedication, generosity and lasting impact on the local community. Aspire Plant City is a local nonprofit that believes every woman has value and worth that she can offer her community. The foundation of the organization is built on their members’ shared values.

Plant City, FL · 1d
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globalair.com

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FAA's first digital control towers go live. The real test is what's next.

The FAA announced on Nov. 6 that the first digital control towers in the U.S. are now operational at Bartow Executive Airport (BOW) in Florida and Kenai Municipal Airport (ENA) in Alaska. The agency claims the new towers' technology gives controllers better tools to monitor airport traffic. A digital tower...

Kenai, AK · 2d
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LkldNow

publisher · 6.0K followers

Polk County Sees Increased Voter Turnout, Signs of a Shifting Political Landscape

Lakeland voters cast their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 3, under cloudy skies and scattered thunderstorms, but the less-than-ideal weather conditions did little to dampen voter turnout. Voter participation in Polk County increased by 12.8% overall, with ballots rising from 230,726 in the 2022 midterm election to 260,235 in the 2026...

Polk County, FL · 2d

High School On SI

partner publisher · 52.6K followers

Lakeland vs. St. Thomas Aquinas: Florida Open Division Football Playoff Preview

Lakeland visits St. Thomas Aquinas on Nov. 13 to open Florida’s Open Division playoffs. Key players, matchup analysis and kickoff information.

Fort Lauderdale, FL · 1d

plantcityobserver.com

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Plant City Walk to End Alzheimer’s reaches $15,000 goal

Community support helps walk meet fundraising goal while inspiring plans for local caregiver support group. Alzheimer’s disease touches millions of families, often placing an emotional and physical burden on the loved ones who provide care. An estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s, including approximately 580,000 Floridians, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report.

Plant City, FL · 21h

CBS Miami

partner publisher · 229.2K followers

DeSantis signs warrant for 22nd Florida execution of the year

Willie Seth Crain, 80, was convicted in the 1998 disappearance of 7-year-old Amanda Brown, and exonerees are asking Gov.-elect Byron Donalds to pause executions.

Florida · 2d

The Ledger

partner publisher · 23.8K followers

Lakeland linebacker Charles Calhoun aims to make statement in playoffs

LAKELAND — If defense indeeds wins titles, Lakeland senior linebacker Charles Calhoun couldn’t be happier with that responsibility. He certainly knows what it’s going to take on his part and his defensive teammates as the postseason run begins, especially beginning against Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday. “We got to come out, dominate,” Calhoun said. “We got to hit them in their mouth first. You can't let them hit us in the mouth. This whole week we've been practicing hard, you know what I'm saying, working hard, getting it in, so we got to come out, hit them in the mouth first, play 48 minutes of tough football.” Lakeland renews its rivalry against St. Thomas Aquinas in the first round of the Open Division playoffs at 7 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale. Lakeland has the overall edge in postseason matchups, but the Raiders have won the last two meetings with shutout wins in the championship game. For Calhoun, it’s his first time facing the Raiders as he transferred from Auburndale to Lakeland for his senior season. With Lakeland graduating its top three linebackers from last season, there was a void to be filled at that position, and Calhoun stepped into

Lakeland, FL · 1d

fox13news.com

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Painting across Lakeland

Blank walls across Downtown Lakeland are turning into colorful masterpieces as the new Color Wave Walls mural festival brings nearly a dozen artists from across the country and around the world to transform the Swan City into an open-air art gallery. FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports.

Lakeland, FL · 14h

The Ledger

partner publisher · 23.8K followers

Dozens of speakers convey ardent opposition to Auburndale data center

AUBURNDALE — It was a familiar scene in Polk County. Speaking to an overflow audience, city officials explained that approvals were already in place for a planned data center. A representative of the developer provided details on the project intended to reassure the public that the project would yield economic benefits without causing environmental harm. And a boisterous group of citizens mostly expressed skepticism shading at times into anger. The Auburndale City Commission held a special workshop the evening of Nov. 10 to discuss the Auburndale Technology Center, a data facility planned for two existing buildings at 810 Pace Road. The meeting came less than a week after Hillwood Development Company filed a building permit following about a year of rumors regarding a data center in Auburndale. Rather than holding the meeting in the City Hall commission chamber, which seats about 50, Auburndale hosted it in the Ariana Suite of the Ariana Civic Center. Citizens filled all of the roughly 250 seats, with another 150 or so standing at the sides and back of the room. Nearly all the spectators waited through about 100 minutes of presentations and discussion among city commissioners before getting the chance to speak during the

Auburndale, FL · 1d

The Citrus Tea News

publisher · 155 followers

Fallen Heroes Ride Rolls 39 Miles From Lakeland To Lake Wales On Nov. 14

The 2026 Fallen Heroes Ride runs 39 escorted miles from the Lakeland memorial to Lake Wailes Park on Nov. 14. Kickstands up at 10 a.m. and $35 per bike. The post Fallen Heroes Ride Rolls 39 Miles From Lakeland To Lake Wales On Nov. 14 first appeared on The Citrus Tea News and was written by Citrus Tea Staff . The Citrus Tea News covers Polk County, Florida. Truly Local News. Truly Polk County. thecitrustea.com

Lakeland, FL · 2d

winterhavenchamber.com

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Polk County Public Schools Announces 2026-27 Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year

​Polk County Public Schools is proud to announce our Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year!. Elvin Hanna Jr., a music teacher and band director at Fort Meade Middle-Senior High, is the 2026-27 Polk County Teacher of the Year. Barbara Aourik, a paraeducator at Dundee Elementary Academy, is the district’s...

Polk County, FL · 2d

familyvacationsus.com

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Kids Pick Their Own Strawberries Every Winter At This Plant City Family Farm

A blueberry surplus once turned a family nursery into a full-blown farm destination. Now, every winter, kids grab buckets and head into strawberry rows to fill them by hand. The picking season usually runs from January into March. That timing feels almost unfair to the rest of the country. While...

Plant City, FL · 1d

hoodline.com

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Iron Oak Social Targets Early 2027 Opening in Winter Haven

David Braswell is targeting a February or March 2027 opening for Iron Oak Social at 355 5th Street in Winter Haven. The planned country-club-style indoor golf lounge would start with four simulator bays, an outdoor patio, a food menu and a full bar. Braswell also owns Golden Petal Designs, a...

Winter Haven, FL · 1d

Tampa Bay 28

partner publisher · 109.6K followers

Packed house, big questions over Auburndale data center proposal

Roughly 500 people packed an Auburndale meeting Tuesday night to hear more about a proposed data center, with hundreds more watching online.

Auburndale, FL · 2d

wusf.org

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Voters approve school taxes across the state amid sweeping Amendment 3 property tax cut

Voters in 26 out of 27 counties said yes to increasing or renewing sales or property taxes that will fund their public schools. At the same time, people overwhelmingly approved Amendment 3, which will significantly cut property taxes, and likely reduce local government services. The amendment raises the homestead exemption...

Florida · 1d

Bay News 9

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Winter Haven academy trains students with disabilities for skilled trades

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A new lab at the Language and Literacy Academy for Learning is giving students with disabilities hands-on experience in skilled trades while introducing them to career paths before they graduate high school. The Future Ready Lab allows students to explore more than 15 trades, including...

Winter Haven, FL · 1d

centralfloridalifestyle.com

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Lakeland Regional Health Completes 100 Endoscopic Spine Surgeries

The milestone highlights advances in minimally invasive spine care, giving eligible patients in Polk County and surrounding communities access to additional treatment options. Lakeland Regional Health is marking a milestone in specialized spine care after neurosurgeon Gabriel Flores-Milan, MD, and the team at the Lakeland Regional Health Brain & Spine Institute completed 100 endoscopic spine procedures.

Polk County, FL · 1d

Edmond Thorne

user · 26.2K followers

Florida Schools Find 141 Guns in One Year as Safety Questions Mount

Parents demand answers after state data shows hundreds of firearms recovered on campuses while more teens report carrying handguns outside school. Independently researched, reported & reviewed by human journalists!

Florida · 2d