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Tag: Alexis Jones

  • ‘It’s a big deal’: Lakeland International Airport prepares for new restaurant

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — In less than two months, passengers at Lakeland Linder International Airport will be able to dine in as they wait for their flights.

    Airport officials announced the upcoming opening of its new restaurant, Sora Eatery, which they say will contribute to further growth.

    What You Need To Know

    • A new restaurant is coming to Lakeland Linder International Airport.

    • Sora Eatery will take the place of Waco Kitchen after it abruptly shut down. 

    • Sora plans to have a soft opening on Feb. 15, 2025.


    Director Kris Hallstrand will get to see the growth firsthand. As the airport’s longest-tenured employee, she’s witnessed it evolve into a commercial site — and now into a full-service airport.

    “It’s a big deal,” Hallstrand said. “Passengers expect it when they come into an airport to have some snacks before the flight or even after the flight, if you just want to sit and relax before you get onto the Polk Parkway and on to your friends and family.”

    The airport used to have a restaurant called Waco Kitchen, but Hallstrand said it suddenly shut down.

    “It really had nothing to do with the location,” she said. “It was just how it worked out for the company, and the decision was made to close down abruptly.”

    Soon, Sora, which means “sky” in Japanese, will take its place after signing a five-year lease to provide a variety of dishes.

    “You can get a smash burger, wings, and all the good stuff that is American flair,” Hallstrand said. “But you can also get some Korean, Japanese, and other Asian-inspired dishes, if that’s what you’re into.”

    She said the best part is the restaurant will be open to everyone, not just passengers.

    “Our community can come here because you don’t have to go through TSA,” she said. “You can sit up here and have a great meal and watch the airline do its thing out on the ramp.”

    This not only contributes to the area’s success, but also attracts more people to Avelo Airlines.

    “As soon as the word is out on the street and the more people that are exposed to the airport, the better the airport is going to be, and the airline is going to be strong as well,” Hallstrand said. “And that’s what we need. We need strong partners to move this airport forward in the future.”

    Sora plans to have a soft opening on Feb. 15, 2025.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Babson Park restaurant fulfills Christmas wishes for students in need

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    BABSON PARK, Fla. — In a place where no one leaves hungry, the Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern strives to ensure fewer children go without.

    What You Need To Know

    • Every year the Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern collects Christmas gifts for students in need at Lake Wales High School

    • The restaurant displays names and wishlists of students for customers to choose from

    • The goal is to eventually create a housing program to help these students year-round


    Every year, co-owner Tammy Bracewell hangs the names and wish lists of hundreds of SIT students on the restaurant’s Christmas tree. Her customers are then given the opportunity to choose a child to donate gifts to.

    “What really warms my heart is helping the children and seeing that our customers embrace this,” she said. “We purchase things as well, but all of the gifts—I just put the tags on the tree, and our customers take them faster than I can put them up.”

    Bracewell says she learns about the children’s wishes from Jane Lewis, who oversees the McKinney-Vento program at Lake Wales High School.

    The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures students experiencing homelessness have the right to attend school without barriers.

    “Systemwide, we have about 400 in the program, but here at the high school, it’s 124—living in a tent, living in a car, what we call couch surfing. They go from home to home,” Lewis said.

    With the support of community partners like Bracewell, Lewis says she’s able to provide food, uniforms, and life-changing resources to students year-round. But Christmas is especially meaningful to her, as she’s often brought to tears by students’ reactions.

    “Because, I mean, some of these kids—what they struggle with, what they go through—it’s just heartbreaking,” she said. “Some days, my days are so sad. So sad. But other days, I’m so filled up with these kids.”

    Now that each kid has received a taste of holiday joy, Bracewell says there’s more to be done. The ultimate goal is to compile a list of donors willing to fund a transitional housing program.

    “So they’re not leaving school and worrying about where they’re going to get their next meal and if they have a safe place to sleep tonight,” Bracewell said.

    In the meantime, the tavern’s doors are open for a child in need, whether it’s for a warm meal or a gift under the tree.

    To support Lake Wales High School’s McKinney-Vento program, call the front desk at 863-678-4222.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Residents left with questions as pumping relieves Lake Seward flooding

    Residents left with questions as pumping relieves Lake Seward flooding

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Residents living on Oakmont Lane are starting to see some relief Friday as Polk County continues to pump floodwater from their homes.

    The water is from Lake Seward’s basin, which residents say was dry until September.

    What You Need To Know

    • Residents near Lake Seward face unprecedented flooding due to recent hurricanes

    • Polk County had previous feasibility reports since the 1990s that outlined possible flood mitigation strategies

    • A pumping operation is underway to manage floodwaters, but residents seek clarity on recovery options


    Hillsborough County firefighter Jarrod Smith, who moved to the area in 2015, said drainage from nearby neighborhoods started to fill the basin around the time of Hurricane Helene. Then the water rose much higher when Hurricane Milton hit the area.

    “What we have now is record-setting. People who have lived here for 45 years have never seen this,” Smith said. “And to see it like this is definitely defeating and frustrating.”

    To make matters worse, Smith says the damage to his and his neighbors’ homes was avoidable. Feasibility reports by Polk County dating from the 1990s detail ways the county could have reduced flooding in the area.

    “From my knowledge and everything that I’ve seen, and heard from the neighbors and residents, and paperwork from the Polk County website, they’ve chosen to do none of them,” he said.

    Polk County’s Roads and Drainage Director Jay Jarvis said plans for a permanent pumping station were placed on the county’s unfunded projects list because the area experienced a dry period without major flooding. Jarvis assures that Lake Seward is now a top priority, and officials are searching for a permanent solution.

    As part of the county’s relief plan with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, contractors started pumping water from Lake Seward’s basin to the Banana Lake system, under U.S. Highway 98 and into Lake Hancock. Once the water reaches Lake Hancock, it becomes part of the larger volume of the lake and will ultimately flow through the P-11 control structure into Saddle Creek and beyond into the Peace River.

    “Maybe it was a little late, but better late than never, is the saying. We’re happy that’s going on and we thank them for that. We’re very appreciative,” Smith said.

    However, Smith says he and his neighbors are left with more questions.

    “What’s the next step? What can we tell all these families here? Should they start rebuilding? Should they expect to get an offer from Polk County to buy their house?” he said.

    Residents will have the opportunity to get answers during the Polk County Commission meeting on Nov. 5.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland church prepares to help hundreds in Milton recovery event

    Lakeland church prepares to help hundreds in Milton recovery event

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland residents will be able to access many of the resources they need in one location on Wednesday. Combee Connection Ministries and Church is teaming up with several organizations for a community recovery outreach.

    What You Need To Know

    • Combee Connection Church is hosting a Hurricane Milton recovery outreach on Wednesday.

    • The church is teaming up with nearly 20 agencies to provide resources and services.

    • The event will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.


    Church members spent most of Tuesday preparing for the event. With them was Savannah Gary, who has volunteered for Combee Connection several times this year.

    “I just wanted to give back and help people in our community. I grew up here. This is home,” she said.

    Gary lives just a few blocks from the church building. She shared photos of the day after Hurricane Milton made landfall, which severely damaged parts of her home.

    “We got our roof ripped off and our carport,” she said. “We lost power for four days, but as soon as I got power, we came out here and started working. This church actually helped me, so I help back.”

    The church has been connecting people to resources and services since 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. But Pastor Kay Kasser says Wednesday will be their largest outreach yet.

    “It’s been a really big response. We’re looking for overflow parking, if that gives you an indicator,” she said.

    Kasser says they’re teaming up with more than 20 agencies to help community members, including the Red Cross and AmeriCorps.

    Once people sign in, they’ll receive assistance and boxes of food. They’ll also have access to portable laundry rooms and showers, which Pastor Kasser says residents in flooded areas need right now.

    “And when there’s a need, we’re here as a church to meet that need. That’s what we’re called to do,” she said.

    As for Gary, she’s looking forward to being of service, helping others at Combee Connection Church while she searches for some relief herself.

    The community event will run Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation, click here.

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  • FEMA goes door-to-door offering help to storm victims in Polk County

    FEMA goes door-to-door offering help to storm victims in Polk County

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — FEMA crews are making their way through Polk County neighborhoods, trying to connect people with federal assistance and local resources.

    They have a lot of ground to cover, and they try to walk door-to-door to as many homes as possible.

    What You Need To Know

    • FEMA crews are trying to connect with Polk County residents and assist them with resources
    • Disaster Survivor Assistance Leader Ernestine James said homes in the area were damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton, and that it needed FEMA’s attention

    • FEMA also encourages homeowners and renters to apply for assistance online


    Their first stop in Polk County was at Twin Palms Mobile Home Park. After several knocks on a door, no one answered, but FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Leader Ernestine James left a flyer behind.

    “We do get residents that are not at home yet, and we find that they haven’t made it back post-storm,” she said. “They left, they evacuated, they moved out, and they’re making their way back slowly, but surely. One resident at the time.”

    James said she and her team picked the senior living community because several homes were damaged during hurricanes Helene and Milton. Some residents lost their roofs during the storms.

    “You can see the wind damage, the water damage, the vegetative debris, so it was identified and rightly so. It definitely needed our attention out here,” James said.

    The crew made their way through the neighborhood, looking for people in need of assistance and resources.

    They eventually met Roseanne MacDonald and her husband. The couple said they’ve tried getting in touch with FEMA for the past two weeks.

    “It’s so busy and everything, so it’s good that (FEMA) came. Very good,” MacDonald said.

    During their visit, FEMA specialists read the MacDonalds their rights as applicants, then got started on the couple’s assistance application.

    Specialists ask residents to follow up throughout the process.

    In the meantime, FEMA will determine the next steps, while James and her crew have boots on the ground.

    “Reaching as many homes as we can,” she said.

    FEMA also encourages homeowners and renters to apply for assistance online.

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  • Beloved music instructor to be inducted in Polk’s Arts & Culture Hall of Fame

    Beloved music instructor to be inducted in Polk’s Arts & Culture Hall of Fame

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The Polk County Arts and Culture Alliance will celebrate its annual Hall of Fame Gala Tuesday. This year, the group will induct five local legends, including beloved music instructor Dr. Jessie Davis Owens.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Polk County Arts and Culture Alliance will induct five people into its Hall of Fame Tuesday

    • Inductee, Dr. Jessie Owens, has taught jazz and classical music to Polk County students for the past 50 years

    • The Arts and Culture Hall of Fame Gala will be held at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven


    Owens first sat behind a piano during her middle school band class. She later learned to play more instruments and spent the last 50 years sharing her knowledge of jazz and classical music with Polk County students.

    “It makes me feel wonderful that I touched somebody’s mind and given them the gift of love,” Owens said.

    Since retiring, Owens has held most of her classes in her home. She teaches people of all ages through her nonprofit, the Dr. J. Owens Academy of Fine Arts, including 9th grader Zyonn McGriff.

    “Her impact on me has been really special to me and my connection through music,” McGriff said.

    Owens’ impact on the community has earned her several awards and recognitions over the years.

    Recently, the city of Winter Haven declared Oct. 15 Dr. Jessie Davis Owens Day. Now, she looks forward to being inducted into the Polk Arts and Culture Hall of Fame.

    “It’s been quite a surprise. Really, honestly, I’m honored and humbled, and just overjoyed,” she said.

    But like any true musician, Owens said this recognition wasn’t something she strived for.

    “I wasn’t doing it for show, or fashion, or form,” she said. “It’s just a passion of mine. I just love music. I love singing. I love playing. I love conducting it.”

    Most importantly, she loves sharing music with others, which is what she plans to do behind her piano for years to come.

    The Hall of Fame Gala will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven. For tickets to attend, click here.

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  • Polk County residents grow weary of hurricane debris pickup

    Polk County residents grow weary of hurricane debris pickup

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — While debris pickup is underway in parts of Polk County, residents living on Pineville Lane are growing weary.

    What You Need To Know

    • Piles of debris still linger on the curb of Pineville Lane in Lakeland

    • Residents says the debris has taken an emotional toll on him and his neighbors

    • Polk County has several debris pickup and drop off options to ensure roads are clean


    Piles of clothes and furniture still linger on neighbors’ curbs, some just outside of Michael Caudy’s door.

    “I have anxiety issues, and this makes it a lot worse because I see that stuff. I just don’t like it,” he said.

    Caudy said water from a nearby creek flooded his home during Hurricane Milton, destroying most of his belongings, including his Bibles.

    “I had all kinds of religious books, and they’re all gone. It really plays mind tricks on you,” Caudy said.

    Now, he and his neighbors must relive their loss every time they step outside.

    “It’s about time they come and pick it all up because it hurts all of us to look out there and see all of our stuff out in the road,” Caudy said. “I thought they would pick it up by now.”

    Polk County officials say the goal is to have all storm debris picked up by Nov. 24. Their focus is to pick up debris from the most heavily damaged areas first, then move to other parts of the county.

    To ensure everything gets removed, they advise residents to separate their debris into the following categories:

    • Vegetative debris: unbagged leaves, logs, plants, and tree branches

    • Construction and demolition debris: building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber, mattresses, plumbing, etc.

    • Appliances: A/C units, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.

    • Electronics: televisions, computers, etc.

    • Household hazardous waste: cleaning supplies, batteries, paints, pesticides, etc.

    Residents also have the option of dropping off debris at the following locations:

    • Polk County’s North Central Transfer Station, 3131 K-Ville Ave., Auburndale, Fla., 33823

    •  Polk County Strickland Avenue, 5901 Strickland Ave., Lakeland, Fla., 33812

    •  Polk County Marigold, 9500 Marigold Ave., Poinciana, Fla., 34759

    As for Caudy, he’s unable to travel far or lift much with his walker. In the meantime, he said he’ll just wait at home for crews to arrive.

    “If they would just pick that stuff up, everybody would be much happier,” he said.

    For additional information on how to dispose of debris and residential waste, visit the Polk County’s website.

    Keep track of debris pickup in Polk County with the debris removal map below.

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  • Flooding near Lake Bonny causes frustration

    Flooding near Lake Bonny causes frustration

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Residents living near Lake Bonny voiced their frustrations at Lakeland’s commission meeting on Monday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lake Bonny residents voiced their frustrations during Lakeland’s Commission meeting

    • Residents say the damage wouldn’t have been as extensive if officials addressed concerns about the area’s emergency pump sooner

    • Mayor Bill Mutz and others acknowledge the pump is not running as effectively as it needs to

    • City leaders say they’re working with several agencies to resolve the issue


    Resident Pamela Smith fought back tears as she addressed Mayor Bill Mutz and city leaders.

    “We have nowhere to live. You guys are our only lifeline,” she said.

    Her home on Lake Bonny Drive is still flooded with water nearly two weeks after Hurricane Milton.

    “One hundred thirteen feet from my back door to the dock, and it’s flooded. It surrounds our house,” she said.

    Smith said the lake started to encroach on her yard in early August. Once Hurricane Milton made landfall, she said water entered her home, along with sewage from a city waste line. Now, Smith and her family are unable to live inside.

    “Our home is completely ruined. Completely ruined. It’s uninhabitable,” she said. “Anything that’s in this house at this moment, we cannot take out. We can’t take anything with us after this.”

    Smith and her husband said the damage wouldn’t have been as extensive if officials had addressed concerns about the area’s emergency pump sooner. Each time residents called, Smith said they were given the same response.

    “City employees told us it’s pumping. It’s working, it’s working, it’s working,” she said.

    According to a public notice from Communications Director Kevin Cook, Lakeland obtained a permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to construct and operate an emergency pump to increase water flow from Lake Bonny to Lake Parker. While city commissioners assure the pump is working, they acknowledge it’s not operating as effectively as needed.

    “There are two parts: where it’s being pumped to can only handle so much, and that’s going to keep the water from flowing back,” Commissioner Mike Musick said. “And the other thing is just debris from the storm. We had a hurricane blowing all over the place, so being out there all the time—just like a pool—you’ve got to screen it, then re-screen it, and then re-screen it.”

    However, Mutz said the flooding has reached beyond what the pump can address.

    “To be as drastic as necessary, we have to do something that requires much more pumping in that area,” he said.

    Mutz and others said they are working behind the scenes with several agencies, including SWFWMD, to resolve the issue. However, Smith said without a long-term solution, she and her neighbors are worried this will become a recurring problem.

    “So now what are we going to do?” Smith said.

    Residents will have the opportunity to express their concerns during the Polk County Commission meeting on Nov.  5.

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