Wauchula
In simple terms, when you comment on a government post, your comment should relate to the subject of that post. Some government officials have used “off-topic” comments as a reason to remove or restrict public participation. Well, Sheriff Grady Judd has just opened the door for us to...
A Davenport sushi spot topped Polk County’s October 2026 inspection list with 23 violations, and four restaurants were temporarily closed. State records showed that the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation inspected 283 restaurants in Polk County in the last 30 days. Of those, 237 passed on the first visit. The other 46 did not meet standards at first, and some needed follow-up inspections before they could keep serving food.
Winter Haven’s SEEDLab hosts a holiday card-making workshop on Friday using Canva and cutting machines [1]. Bartow Library runs Pokémon Club and Teen Anime Club on Saturday with trading, battles, and anime discussion [5][6]. Lake Wales offers two Saturday seminars: a morning DAR meeting and an afternoon life...
(This article was revised to include a contribution from the Central Florida Development Council.) Fort Meade Mayor Jaret Landon Williams faces an internal audit of expenses he charged to the city involving his October trip to inspect data centers in Virginia. The City Commission voted 3-2 at its Nov. 10 meeting to order a review of Williams’ charge of $948 on a city credit card. Commissioners Jim Watts, Matthew Taylor and Candice Lott voted for the inquiry, while Williams and Vice Mayor Petrina McCutchen voted against it. Watts raised the issue during the meeting, questioning whether Williams received authorization in advance for his travel expenses and whether the charges covered any costs for two unnamed companions. Four city commissioners and City Manager Troy Bell traveled to Loudoun County, Virginia , in late September to tour facilities in an area known as Data Center Alley. They stayed one night at a hotel in Dulles, Virginia. Commissioners voted in April to approve a development agreement for a planned 4.4-million-square-foot data center. Williams did not join the group for the September tour. He later made his own trip to Loudoun County and charged travel expenses on a city credit card, Bell confirmed during
A Highlands County hog had been avoiding capture for nearly a week in the Sun 'N' Lake neighborhood, but that changed today. The sheriff's office says they've received multiple calls about the animal, which multiple agencies believe to be very smart.
A wooden dinosaur, a sign offering optional valet parking, and some of the most genuinely satisfying food in the entire state of Florida are all waiting for you at Cherry Pocket Steak n Seafood in Lake Wales, Florida. That sentence probably raised some questions, and this article is going to...
One town on this list built its downtown streets like spokes on a wagon wheel, spinning out from a round park. Another packs more than 40 outdoor murals into a small town of fewer than 3,000 residents. Then there’s a lakeside spot with a seaplane base right by downtown. I...
The Polk Transportation Planning Organization has opened an online survey. It wants public feedback on a possible high-speed passenger rail station along the I-4 corridor. The survey stays open until Nov. 20. Responses will help planners evaluate potential station locations, amenities, and travel needs. Residents can join in through the...
Jon Corneal, the pioneering drummer and Polk County native widely regarded as a foundational architect of the country-rock sound, has passed away at 80. Born and raised in Auburndale, Florida, Corneal played an indispensable role in fusing traditional country rhythms with the driving energy of rock and roll. Key Contributions...
Defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback recently sent an open letter to Florida Governor-elect Byron Donalds, asking him to keep his promise to let local communities say no to data centers. The letter sparked major backlash online, as users were divided over whether to support Fishback. In the letter, shared...
It's going to be a cloudy day today! That's going to provide us with the benefit of seeing less warmth building up once the sun tries to come out. We won't be without sunshine altogether, so expect high temps in the low 80s for many of us. We're also closely watching our moisture being pumped straight out of the Gulf primarily across the southern half of our viewing area.
Nearly 830 acres of working Florida agricultural land in Polk County and two other counties have been permanently protected.
For many years, in addition to its regular food distributions, All Faiths Food Bank has held large-scale turkey distributions across Sarasota and DeSoto counties, providing turkeys and all the trimmings to neighbors experiencing or at risk of hunger in advance of Thanksgiving. These distributions are part of the annual ThankFULL campaign, a three-month community effort to raise funds for 14,500 turkeys and 4.1 million holiday meals for families across Sarasota and DeSoto counties. This year's large-scale distributions for Sarasota County residents take place at the following locations and times: Veterans Pantry at Church of the Palms (3224 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota) on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 9-10:30 a.m.; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (777 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota) on Saturday, Nov. 14, 9-11 a.m.; Ed Smith Stadium (2700 12th St., Sarasota), in partnership with the Baltimore Orioles, on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 4-6 p.m.; and in South County, community members can find turkey dinners at the Englewood Sports Complex (1300 S River Rd., Englewood) on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 5-7 p.m. or at Venice Middle School (1900 Center Rd., Venice) on Thursday, Nov. 12, 5-6:30 p.m.
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.
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!
A Polk County convenience center in Haines City is shutting down after the pilot program failed to stop illegal dumping. Officials say the Bannon Island Road site averaged only 20 vehicles a day while illegal dumping in the area spiked. Residents have until December 31 to use the dump before...
Polk County Young Republicans logo (left) and controversial former Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback (right). (Official photos) The Polk County Young Republicans are facing sharp criticism from fellow Republican groups and online commentators after announcing an upcoming event featuring James Fishback, who finished third in Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial primary and drew controversy during his campaign over false accusations against rivals and inflammatory public statements.
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...
