East Polk County News
| Wildfire Danger High in Polk |
| A few wildfires have been reported around Polk County and "everything is ripe" for more, according to the Florida Division of Forestry.<br>Chris Kintner, a spokeswoman for the Lakeland office, urged residents to be extra vigilant with any outdoor burning. |
| 01/06/2009 02:57 PM |
| Man Gets 11 Years in Fatal DUI Crash |
| BARTOW | Circuit Judge Neil Roddenbery sentenced a 26-year-old Belle Glade man Tuesday to about 11 years in prison for a crash that killed one of his passengers.<br>The judge also sentenced Valentin Guzman to a year of probation.<br>Guzman pleaded no contest to DUI manslaughter in November. |
| 01/06/2009 08:30 PM |
| Arts Notes: Auditions Are Held for Musical 'Kiss Me Kate' |
| Theatre Winter Haven is holding auditions for the musical "Kiss Me Kate."<br>Auditions will be held 2 p.m. Jan. 18 and 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Chain of Lakes Complex, Winter Haven. Production dates are March 5-29. |
| 01/06/2009 10:20 PM |
| Just For Kids Calendar |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM<br>WACKY WEDNESDAY Lakeland<br>In Cup Cooking, kids can mix and create simple recipes. Activity is "Snowmen Cookies."<br>WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday<br>THRILLING THURSDAY Lakeland<br>Session focuses on early science and math. Topic is "Shape Pictures."<br>WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Thursday<br>MUSIC AND MOVEMENT Lakeland |
| 01/06/2009 10:40 PM |
| Divorce Applications |
| Final divorce applications filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Bartow for the period of Aug. 1-31, 2008. |
| 01/06/2009 10:41 PM |
| Farley Indicted in Father's Slaying |
| A grand jury indicted Robert Farley on Tuesday in the slaying of his 93-year-old father.<br>He faces a charge of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Walter Farley, which took place sometime between late Dec. 31 and early Jan. 1 inside his home at 7931 Indian Heights Drive in Lakeland. |
| 01/06/2009 11:22 PM |
| Orlando Man Indicted in Fatal Shooting |
| A grand jury indicted a 22-year-old Orlando man Tuesday in the fatal shooting of Dontavious Griffin.<br>Joseph P. Walker faces charges of first-degree murder, robbery and kidnapping.<br>Griffin, 21, of Orlando, was found dead Dec. 14 about 10 feet off Interstate 4 three miles west of U.S. 27, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. |
| 01/06/2009 11:23 PM |
| Transit Route Workshops Today |
| Winter Haven Area Transit route changes will be the subject of two workshops today.<br>The workshops will be at the Winter Haven Library, 325 Ave. A N.W., from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. |
| 01/06/2009 11:24 PM |
| Juneteenth Panel To Meet Today |
| The annual Juneteenth Community Celebration Committee meeting will be today at 5:30 p.m. at the Polk Street Community Center, 1255 West Polk Street in Bartow.<br>The meeting is open to the public. Attendance is free. |
| 01/06/2009 11:25 PM |
| Line Break Spurs Boil Water Notice |
| A boil water notice has been issued for 2103 to 2117 Ninth St. S.E., which includes 110 residences.<br>The notice includes the Sandy Cove, Waters Edge and Halcyon condominium developments.<br>The cause of the boil water notice is a 6-inch water line break, the same line that broke in December. |
| 01/06/2009 11:26 PM |
| Auburndale Crime Report |
| The Auburndale Police Department reported these criminal activities from Dec. 25 through 30:<br><b>BURGLARY </b><br><B>Burglary</B> was reported Christmas Day at a residence in the 300 block of Keystone Road.<br><B>Car burglary</B> was reported Dec. 26 in the 600 block of Poplar Street. |
| 01/06/2009 11:40 PM |
| Area Golf Results |
| Results from golf league play around Polk County through Jan. 5 with format, date, event and winners by flight or class in alphabetical order. |
| 01/06/2009 08:30 PM |
| Lanes Blocked on Dundee Road, Thornhill Road |
| WINTER HAVEN | A vehicle crash blocked the eastbound lane in the 1500 block of Dundee Road at 17th Street Northeast about noon Tuesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said.<br>There was no report about injuries.<br>An accident shortly after 11:30 a.m. blocked the road on Thornhill Road at Betty Ann Lane in Auburndale, the FHP reported. |
| 01/06/2009 12:22 PM |
| Winter Haven Neighborhood on Boil Water Notice |
| WINTER HAVEN | A boil water notice has been issued for 2103 to 2117 Ninth St. S.E. that includes 110 residences.<br>The notice includes the Sandy Cove, Waters Edge and Halcyon condominium developments.<br>The cause of the boil water notice is a 6-inch water line break , the same line that had broken in December. |
| 01/06/2009 11:16 AM |
| Winter Haven's Hayes Gives Huskies Energy Off Bench |
| Tiffany Hayes wants to be known as the spark off the bench this season for the top-ranked Connecticut Huskies. Fortunately for the former Winter Haven standout, she's had the opportunity. |
| 01/05/2009 10:20 PM |
| Woman's Condition Still Critical After Crash |
| The driver injured in a U.S. 27 crash that killed her 6-month-old daughter remained in critical condition at Lakeland Regional Medical Center on Monday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. |
| 01/05/2009 10:50 PM |
| The Insider: Jangle For Local Jingle |
| Jangle for Local Jingle |
| 01/05/2009 10:50 PM |
| Polk Delegates Want to Hear From Constituents |
| Balancing the state budget will be a tough task for Polk legislators as they try to decide which programs to cut. |
| 01/05/2009 10:40 PM |
| Suit: Woman Buried in Stolen Grave |
| A lawsuit over ownership of a burial plot at the city's Oak Grove Cemetery seeks a court order forcing the exhumation of the body of a woman buried there and more than $15,000 in damages for the Lake Alfred woman who claims it was illegally taken from her. |
| 01/05/2009 10:50 PM |
| Voters to Decide on Bartow Charter Revisions |
| BARTOW | City commissioners in Bartow approved a proposed revision to the city's charter, clearing the way for voters to cast a final ballot on the provision in the April municipal election. |
| 01/06/2009 12:10 AM |
| Dundee Expected to Pick New Manager Tonight |
| DUNDEE | The Town Council is expected to pick a new town manager when it meets at 6 tonight.<br>So far, the council has narrowed the field to three candidates from five. The finalists are:<br>Nancy Carolan, director of general services and purchasing for the City of Sarasota from 1997 to 2008. |
| 01/06/2009 12:20 AM |
| Commission Elects Sterling To Be Mayor |
| City Commissioner Bill Sterling is Auburndale's new mayor.<br>Sterling was elected for a one-year term by fellow commissioners at their meeting Monday night.<br>This is Sterling's second time as mayor. He first served in 2001. <br>Sterling replaces Commissioner Ronnie Spears.<br>Richard Hamann will serve as vice mayor. |
| 01/06/2009 12:10 AM |
| Transit Workshops To Focus on Routes |
| Winter Haven Area Transit route changes will be the subject of two workshops on Wednesday<br>.<br>The workshops will be held at the Winter Haven Library, 325 Ave. A N.W., from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. |
| 01/06/2009 12:11 AM |
| PCC Plans Events For MLK Honoring |
| Polk Community College will commemorate Martin Luther King's birthday with separate events on its Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses.<br>The Martin Luther King Celebration Luncheon, featuring dramatic and musical presentations, will take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the Learning Technology Building of the Lakeland campus. |
| 01/06/2009 12:19 AM |
| Dockery, McKeel Set for Tiger Bay |
| State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, will speak on the issues before the Florida Legislature at the meeting of Tiger Bay of Polk County on Jan. 26. |
| 01/06/2009 12:20 AM |
| Lake Alfred Crime Report |
| The Lake Alfred Police Department reported these criminal activities from Dec. 29, 2008, through Jan. 3, 2009:<br><b>BURGLARY</b><br><B>Car burglary and grand theft</B> were reported Jan. 2 at the Lake Alfred Bar & Grill, 275 S. Lake Shore Way.<br><b>DRUG POSSESSION</b> |
| 01/06/2009 12:20 AM |
| Medical People |
| <B>Brian Weeks</B>, building repair and renovation specialist, was Lakeland Regional Medical Center's December employee of the month. He has been with LRMC for 26 years. He coordinates and supervises people who repair and renovate hospital buildings, building systems and property. Weeks has a diploma from Brewster Vocational Technical School and... |
| 01/05/2009 11:30 PM |
| Businesses Band Together For Billboard |
| FORT MEADE | It was a mildewed billboard partially blocked by a sprawling tree that most would have driven by without noticing, let alone giving a moment's thought. |
| 01/05/2009 04:19 PM |
| Nearby Libraries Hopping Once Again |
| Here's what's happening at libraries around the area:<br><b>AUBURNDALE</b><br>Special story times begin Thursday with "Winter Wonderland." Age 2 leads off at 9:30 a.m., then ages 3-5 start at 11 a.m.<br>The popular "Family Fun Time" returns 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The Polk Museum of Art will be back with an excellent program.<br><b>BARTOW</b> |
| 01/05/2009 11:13 PM |
| Mixed Views on What 2009 Will Bring in Sales, Development |
| AUBURNDALE | The commercial real estate market in Polk County is lukewarm - and likely to stay that way for some time - according to several professionals from various segments of the industry. |
| 01/04/2009 01:12 AM |
