Lakeland Florida Local News
| Powerball Piques Interest in Polk |
| LAKELAND | When faced with choosing one or the other, some new local lottery players aren't thinking twice about playing Powerball over the Florida Lotto.<br>"They're not buying a Lotto ticket, they're buying a Powerball ticket," said Henry Tucker, owner of Tucker's Southside Package & Lounge in Lakeland. |
| 01/06/2009 09:20 PM |
| MidFlorida New Lead Sponsor of Mayfaire |
| LAKELAND | Call it MidFlorida Mayfaire by-the-Lake.<br>MidFlorida Federal Credit Union has claimed the title sponsorship to Lakeland's annual art festival, taking the place of Volvo, which had sponsored the event for five years. |
| 01/06/2009 10:16 PM |
| Man Gets 11 Years in Fatal DUI Crash |
| 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. The judge also sentenced Valentin Guzman to a year of probation. |
| 01/06/2009 08:30 PM |
| New Baby Makes McKeel a No-Show |
| LAKELAND | When the special session of the Florida Legislature began Monday, one local legislator was absent - Rep. Seth McKeel.<br>He had an excuse: Caroline Clark McKeel, who was born late Saturday.<br>McKeel, R-Lakeland, said he will be in Tallahassee when legislators vote on the budget package. |
| 01/06/2009 10:20 PM |
| Ex-City Employee Sues Over Insurance Benefits |
| LAKE WALES | A former city employee has sued the city seeking about $100,000 in insurance benefits.<br>The lawsuit, filed by James Sims Jr., claims the city improperly refused to pay the medical expenses incurred two years ago as a result of the premature birth of Sims' baby. |
| 01/06/2009 11:40 PM |
| Wildfires Crop Up in Polk; Conditions 'Ripe' for More |
| LAKELAND | 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 10:10 PM |
| Stewart Is New Dundee Town Manager |
| DUNDEE | Auburndale Assistant City Manager Andy Stewart was unanimously picked Tuesday as the next town manager of Dundee.<br>It took Town Council members less than 15 minutes to select Stewart. All five picked him as their first choice on their first ballot. |
| 01/06/2009 08:10 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 |
