ReportWire

Tag: Lizbeth Gutierrez

  • Immigration attorney shares advice for clients looking to travel

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The holiday season involves traveling for many, but for several immigrant families here in the Tampa Bay area, there’s hesitancy about any travel plans.

    And one has been a permanent U.S. resident for nearly 20 years.

    What You Need To Know

    • An immigration attorney says many of her clients are hesitant to travel this holiday season
    • The attorney’s advice is that residents or those with pending cases carry their legal documents
    • She says there have been cases where immigration enforcement has stopped or questioned her clients about their legal statuses
    • One family shares the impact this hesitancy is having on their annual travel plans


    Immigration lawyers say fewer people are traveling because of stronger immigration enforcement by the Trump administration.

    A picture shows a glimpse into the life of Adriana.

    “This picture was taken at my dad’s birthday party, where he turned 95. This is all of the family together,” she says.

    Adriana, who did not want her identity revealed even though she’s been a permanent U.S. resident for 16 years, says increased immigration enforcement concerns her because of the uncertainty about what would happen if she were detained.

    And it made her think twice about her annual travel plans to see her family in Colombia, with her husband, Osvaldo.

    “We have this fear of going and not being allowed back into the country,” she says.

    It’s filled her with anxiety, thinking about leaving the country. Osvaldo is a citizen as well; he also did not want his identity revealed to protect his wife. 

    He says their concerns would keep his wife from seeing her elderly parents.

    “It makes you think twice more about traveling to visit your family and that shouldn’t be there, you’re going to visit family, you’re going to have a good time,” he said.

    Immigration attorney Danielle Hernandez has heard similar stories from the families she serves. She says there have been cases where immigration enforcement has stopped or questioned her clients about their legal statuses.

    “We’ve heard of residents being detained, sometimes they have infractions that they’re not aware of that have immigration consequences, then we have people who are going through the right process and have immigration cases pending who are rightfully anxious about being detained,” says Hernandez.

    She’s advising permanent residents who are planning to travel to carry all legal documentation, and for those who have pending cases, to carry receipts of those applications.

    Adriana says despite her concerns, it’s a risk she’s willing to take to see her loved ones.

    “We all go with faith that we’ll return because we have our employment here, and it would just hurt not coming back knowing I have my life here,” she says.

    A life she’s worked hard to build and one she hopes to continue calling her forever home.

    The immigration attorney says even those traveling by car — regardless of the distance — could still be stopped and questioned about their legal status.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • UF/IFAS Extension reports record breaking strawberry acreage

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    HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Did you know that one strawberry plant can produce up to 50 berries during a single season? Now, multiply that number by thousands of strawberry rows.

    That’s a lot of berries. And this year, there may be more than ever.

    What You Need To Know

    • The University of Florida’s IFAS Extension Hillsborough County Office reports more than 15,000 acres of strawberries planted
    • It’s due to demand and high usage of strawberry acreage
    • One local farm in Plant City says they are looking at a promising strawberry season this year


    We’re only at the start of the strawberry season, but one farm in Plant City says it’s a promising one, that’ll be the sweetest one yet.

    “This one already has a lot of flowers. It hasn’t produced the strawberry yet, but we can see they’ll soon be here, “says Fidel Sanchez, owner of Sanchez Farms.

    The saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait,” and that’s been the case for Sanchez. The Plant City farm owner has about 50 acres dedicated to strawberries.

    He said there are four different varieties of berries, which all have different growing schedules. And they need a lot of tending to.

    “It’s really important for us to have a good climate to help the strawberries and for a good production,” Sanchez said.

    This year, he said the growing season has a better outlook than last year.

    “We are ahead nearly a month compared to last year, because last year, the hurricanes impacted us and set us back,” he said.

    That optimism is shared by the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension Hillsborough County Office. Agribusiness Development Manager Simon Bollin said over 15,000 acres of strawberries were planted this season – that’s a record-breaking total for this area.

    “There are two main reasons — one is demand, you’re not going to raise a crop if you don’t have demand for it, and two — the high usage of the strawberry acreage,” said Bollin.

    The extension office said a season that started dry with no hurricanes created a good environment for the berries. They also attribute the high number of acreages to expansion into Manatee and Polk County.

    Sanchez said he wants to continue to share his love for farming through his crops.

    “This season, I think, it’s going great.” he said. “If you look at the plant, everything looks beautiful.”

    With more plants in the ground and promising conditions, this season could be the Bay Area’s best ever.

    The strawberry season goes until March or April, so you’ll start to see more berries in the local stores as we get further into the season.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Citrus u-pick and market to open in Bartow

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    BARTOW, Fla. — One farm in Bartow is working to keep the citrus industry alive, and they want to involve their community in that process too.

    Golden Ridge Groves is opening a first-of-its-kind citrus U-pick, but it’s all being done under protective screening, a method that’s helping combat greening.

    What You Need To Know

    • The market will include all things citrus and offer a sunflower and strawberry u-pick as well
    • The farm owners hope this citrus u-pick will serve as education for those who visit


    When people hear the word U-pick, some may think of strawberries and blueberries, but that’s not the case for this farm. Here, it’s all about the Ray Ruby Grapefruit.

    “It’s known for its beautiful red flesh, sweet taste, and low acidity,” Shane Bevilacqua said.

    He and Katie Bevilacqua are the owners of Golden Ridge Groves.

    They’re using a unique method to protect the fruit — protective screening structures. It was first implemented by Katie’s dad and uncle.

    “The entire reason we do that is so that we can keep out a bug that carry’s a disease that has really impacted the citrus industry here in Florida,” Shane said.

    While citrus production has fallen 28% in the state according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Polk County still leads the state in citrus production.

    Katie said she believes that new innovations like the screening structures are helping. She’s hoping to bring that education to consumers in the form of a u-pick.

    “We get to talk about the innovative stuff we’re trying,” she said. “We’ll get to talk about what works, what didn’t work.”

    The farm will have five acres dedicated to the U-pick.

    Katie said it’s a way to preserve a fruit that’s in danger and bring more people to the farm.

    “Inspire people to get excited about what’s happening in the industry, get excited about Florida citrus and learn a little bit along the way,” she said.

    And that’s not all — Golden Ridge Groves market will open its doors for all things citrus, from juice to jams to citrus lotion.

    “We wanted to bring local produce to the consumer here in Polk County and make it more accessible,” she said.

    They’re creating a space for people to immerse themselves in the process of not only preserving but growing the citrus industry.

    The market will also offer a sunflower U-pick and a strawberry U-pick.

    This Saturday, they’re hosting a great grapefruit extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to celebrate the Golden Ridge Groves U-Pick and Market grand opening. 

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Booming agritourism business helps small Florida farms

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — More farmers and ranchers are embracing agritourism opportunities on their properties. It’s a way to incorporate recreation and educational experiences. The agritourism industry has helped generate billions in Florida alone, according to the latest census of agriculture.

    What You Need To Know

    • Farms and ranches generated $1.26 billion in agritourism in the U.S. in 2022, the latest Census of Agriculture
    • Fancy Farms was started in 1974, and its market opened six years ago
    • The market, open October through June, is located at 5204 Drane Field Rd. in Lakeland


    What started as a strawberry farm has now transformed into a spot the community can enjoy.

    Kristi Grooms Barnes is the president of the Fancy Farms Market. She and her brother Dustin Grooms opened the market six years ago to continue to share their parents’ legacy and her family’s homemade goods.

    She says something they pride themselves on is sharing things she and her brother grew up with. “We have branded this after my mother DD, as Fancy Dee’s preserves, jams and relishes,” Barnes said.

    The market has since expanded to serve lunch, and recently they decided they would open two months earlier than prior years.

    They consider the market a form of agritourism for the farm.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes agritourism as a commercial enterprise that links agricultural production with tourism.

    For Fancy Farms, this concept has been a plus. “It’s another revenue stream for our farm, and we’re able to get more people to the farm,” she said.

    The latest Census of Agriculture reports that about 57% of U.S. counties reported agritourism income.

    Barnes said the farm is a member of the Florida Agritourism Association, and the family serves on the board, because they see the growing demand.

    “We’ve seen a shift in this agritourism, and people want to get outside. They want to see where their food comes. They want to connect with the land,” she explained.

    Simon Bollin is the Agribusiness Development Manager with UF IFAS extension.

    He said agritourism has increased on small to medium-size farms, rather than on large-scale properties.

    “It does definitely help out local farms. It gives them another source of income and direct to retail, direct to consumer ability to market,” Bollin said.

    Barnes said agritourism is helping shape the future of farming, making more people aware of what goes on behind the scenes.

    “The education side is really important to us to show people there’s a lot more that goes into farming than it just showing up on your plate at dinnertime,” she said.

    Sharing what the farm has to offer so that everyone can enjoy it.

    The menu at Fancy Farms Market changes to incorporate new flavors, and in December, they will kick off the strawberry season.

    The market is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Viva Polk magazine makes transition to being bilingual

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Viva Polk magazine is giving readers the opportunity to learn English through its pages. This year, the magazine made the transition to become a bilingual magazine, while still preserving Spanish stories.

    What You Need To Know

    • Both languages are offered in the same article side by side
    • The magazine also underlines words that are similar in both English and Spanish so that readers can learn


    Teresa Martinez is an educator at heart. That passion to teach is evident within the pages of her magazine, Viva Polk.

    As the editor-in-chief and publisher, she says the magazine is a source of education for many.

    “An informed community is an educated community; it is a better community,“ she said.

    The first edition was printed in 2019. She says the magazine shares the stories of Hispanics in Polk County.

    Originally, it was tailored to the Spanish speaking community. 

    They recently made a change, though. The free magazine now offers readers two versions of the same article — they appear side by side.

    Martinez says it’s a way to immerse more readers in a new language — either English or Spanish.

    And it takes a lot of time to get it done. “We start working on the next issue as soon as one comes out because we put a lot of love into it and a lot of thought.”

    She says it can’t be done without a team. Michelle Peña Shoe is the graphic designer for the magazine. She says the switch has been positively received by the community. “When we publish in two languages, we are addressing and uniting the community,” she said.

    Martinez believes her magazine is helping preserve her native language, while introducing others to a new one. “This is my legacy to Polk County,” she said.

    Bridging language barriers, so that more people are inspired to learn.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Pinellas County votes to continues partnership with UF/IFAS

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A pathway toward a more sustainable Pinellas County has a clear vision after county commissioners voted to continue their long-time partnership with the county’s UF/IFAS Extension office. There was a lot of community support to preserve the relationship.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pinellas County commissioners voted to preserve their relationship with the UF/IFAS Extension office at their meeting on Tuesday
    • UF/IFAS provides programs to the community, helping to promote a more sustainable community
    • Several people were in favor of continuing the program and spoke at the commissioners’ meeting


    If you ever meet Jan Allyn, you’ll soon find out she has a green thumb.  

    She’s been a lover of plants since she was a little girl. It’s something she said her parents instilled in her. Now, she has a garden of her own.

    “Originally, it was mostly just grasses with some wildflowers, and then I’ve added more shrubs because I am trying to provide more for habitat,” she says.

    Allyn is the treasurer of the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. She said they partner with the UF/IFAS Extension to promote the education the center provides to the community.

    She said the extension office provides information on how to maintain a native garden.

    She believes the resources that the office provides are important. That’s why she spoke at the county commissioner meeting and voiced her support for continuing the partnership between the county and the extension office.

    “We earnestly believe that the county is getting a lot more money back than what they’re spending,” Allyn said.

    The UF/IFAS Extension offers programs such as 4-H youth development, green infrastructure workshops and more.

    Jeffrey Gellermann is the director of the extension office. He said preserving the partnership was important as more people engage with its outreach programs.  

    Gellermann said the master gardener volunteer program has grown to 140 county residents.

    “It’s a very intense program that provides a lot of information that creates volunteers who are amazing people that can go out to the community and really provide a lot of information to the citizens,” he said.

    Suzanne Hassell is a master gardener volunteer trainee. She said the program piqued her interest because it helps people create a more sustainable environment.

    “This is the type of program that really brings the community together and that the county benefits, but also all the citizens,” she said.

    Allyn said it’s a move forward to continue learning, and she’s excited to keep sharing her knowledge with others about native plants. 

    UF/IFAS offers programs virtually or in-person.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Enterprising Latinas celebrates 11 years by announcing expansion

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    WIMAUMA, Fla. — Surrounded by friends and her support system, Liz Gutierrez is making year 11 one to remember for Enterprising Latinas.

    What You Need To Know

    • Enterprising Latinas in Wimauma is celebrating 11 years of helping Latinas in the community

    • The education center announced its capital campaign, ‘Somos Wimauma’ to help with the planned expansion

    • The expansion will include a daycare center, culinary lab and more


    She founded the education center with one goal in mind: to help Latinas. She works to do that through business courses, education access and access to capital.

    “The population is growing, the needs are great and no one else is doing it, so why not us?” Gutierrez said.

    She announced an expansion of the center which will take form through a capital campaign known as “Somos Wimauma.”

    The project will include the creation of an early childcare center, a culinary lab and retail and office space.

    “This is an opportunity for them to get involved and to support something important in their community, but what we want is engagement. We want everybody to benefit from resources that we all can create,” Gutierrez said.

    For Gutierrez, it’s about creating more opportunities for women. It can’t be done without support like the Raza Development Fund, a community development financial institution.

    Annie Donovan, the president of the Raza Development Fund, says the institution was instrumental in helping get the center up and running.

    “We find the people like Liz and like folks and team at Enterprising Latinas who have a dream, who know how to execute, and we come in with the capital to support that,” Donovan said.

    Donovan says the expansion will impact families who need support in rural communities like Wimauma.

    “In 2018 when we did the first building, she’s done so much with that building, she’s expanded and strengthened her network and she’s bringing real experts to the table,” Donovan said.

    Gutierrez says this expansion will help open doors for more women to lean and grow and place small businesses can take root.

    The center is hoping to start construction in May 2026 and have it completed by 2027.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Plant City Chamber offers Ag tours for people to learn about the industry

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — The Plant City Chamber of Commerce is immersing people into agriculture. Its Ag tour provides an inside look into the industry and the importance of preserving it.

    What You Need To Know

    • Each location provided an insight of the industry and how it supports the agriculture economy in Plant City


    Farming is a way of life for Marc Sewell. He shares his love for agriculture with people during Ag tours hosted by the Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

    “It’s very gratifying knowing that we started it from the dirt and we’re putting something on somebody’s plate,” he said.

    He’s a fifth-generation farmer who harvests watermelons, green beans and, of course, strawberries.

    It’s a process that starts early on. “We started planting for this crop last spring. I had to put my initial plant order in March,” he said.  

    He owns 75 acres of land he harvests conventionally, and most recently he’s purchased 40 acres, which he will harvest organically.

    It’s not the only change he’s had to make. Like many other farmers, he’s making the move to continue farming but in more southern areas like Manatee and Hardee counties.

    It’s an industry that’s changing as more people move to Plant City. The Chamber of Commerce wants to preserve that while educating more people on this Ag tour.

    Wesley Joyneris, the Chair of the Agribusiness Committee, says there have been a lot of changes and they want to provide an insight to that.

    “They’ve had to buy property in other places because of development but that’s also happening so that they can stay sustainable and to grow your food,” he said.

    The Ag tour is giving people the chance to learn where their food comes from and the impact it has on other industries.

    Florida has more than 40,000 farms and ranches that continue to produce a wide variety of food products. In Hillsborough County there have been more than 700 million agriculture products sold, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

    The tour also gave insight to the machinery used on farms.

    David McKeeman, the VP of Grove Equipment service, says he’s seen the change firsthand in the customers they serve.

    “We’ve transitioned a lot towards homeowners with acreage, so 2 to 15, 20 acres is the biggest market now,” he said.

    They’re working to keep families fed for years to come.

    The next Ag tour will take place in the spring.

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  • Lakeland residents invited to shape redevelopment districts

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland residents are getting the opportunity to weigh in on what they want the future of three of its redevelopment districts to look like.

    The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency has launched what it calls ‘Restore the Core.’

    What You Need To Know

    • Restore the Core in Lakeland will focus on supporting local businesses, economic growth and more

    • The plan will focus on redevelopment of Downtown, Midtown and Dixieland

    • There will be a series of public engagement opportunities through the spring of 2026


    From Downtown to Midtown to Dixieland, city leaders are looking to keep up with a growing community, to make it a place for residents to thrive and to keep calling Lakeland their home.

    Stephen Debats is a collector of all thing’s history. “I love Lakeland postcards, anything to do with Lakeland history,” he said.

    It’s a passion that’s grown into a business, as he’s the owner of Lloyds Lakeland Antique shop.

    He bought the property in 1997, but the shop has actually been in the heart of downtown since 1976.

    Over the years, Debats says he has seen downtown change.

    “In the downtown area, you got enough stuff that you can be walking and find some stuff that you didn’t know you needed to see,” he said.

    He says more business means more foot traffic. He hopes that push will continue, but also that there will be ways to preserve the area’s rich history.

    Ideas like that are what Lakeland’s Community Redevelopment Agency is looking for with “Restore the Core.”

    They want feedback from residents about what they love and what needs to be improved in the three main districts — Downtown, Midtown and Dixieland.

    Valerie Vaught, the manager of Lakeland’s Community Redevelopment Agency, says there are a few things they have been looking at.

    “We have housing demand that’s changing, we have aging infrastructure in very different ways, so we certainly want to accommodate the change in times,” she said.

    CRA leaders say they want to explore plans that would have a long-term impact on those three areas.

    These are key priorities that can be found on the CRA’s website about the plan.

    • Support for local business and economic growth
    • Improved streetscapes, green spaces and walkability
    • Expanded housing options through mixed-use and infill development
    • Historic preservation and cultural district enhancement
    • Safer, more connected transportation networks

    Debats said infrastructure is top of mind for him, to ensure businesses like his continue to thrive.

    “We are not in a downcycle right now, we are in a upcycle and if they’re going to go from here up, let’s do it,” he said.

    He plans to keep his door open for anyone who wants to purchase their own piece of history.

    The CRA held an open house to launch the plan at the RP funding center on Thursday, and plans more events over the next six months.

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  • Agriculture industry experts discuss challenges, future in Polk County

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida has over 9 million acres of agricultural land, and according to the Florida Farm Bureau, over 300,000 of those acres are in Polk County.

    On Wednesday, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce hosted farm owners and agriculture experts to discuss the future of farming in the county. Industry leaders discussed challenges and ways to evolve farming methods.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lakeland Chamber of Commerce held a chamber connection breakfast and expo about agribusiness and economic development

    • The chamber connection brought together agriculture industry leaders to talk about the future of agriculture in the county

    • Patsy Rogers owns ‘My Tiny Greens’ and spoke about challenges she faces as a small farmer


    Pasty Rogers, a small farm owner, was there and shared her experience.

    “There are challenges at every level,” she said. “The regulations that I struggle with as a small farm, they struggle with them on the large farm, but there are resources out there to help us.”

    Rogers grows vegetables indoors using a method known as microgreening. She started this during the pandemic, and like many great ideas, it started with a question.

    “If we only had rice and beans to eat, what could we grow ourselves that grows quickly and is nutrient dense,” Rogers said.

    Her business, “My Tiny Greens,” has grown from harvesting the greens for family members to now selling them to local businesses.

    It’s a journey that she says has proven to have a lot of benefits. “Microgreens have 4 to 40 times the nutrients as the adult plant,” she said.

    While her business isn’t as large as some farms in Polk County, she said it’s an industry that is growing.

    The latest Census of Agriculture reported that small farms accounted for 85% of all U.S. farms. It’s a number that local farmers are hoping to preserve.

    Industry leaders spoke Wednesday about agricultural challenges, including increased development and citrus greening. One big issue some large farm owners are trying to navigate is labor challenges.

    John Bedell, the president of H Visa Solutions, said it’s a big part that drives production.

    “What a lot of people don’t understand is as these people come in and there’s new regulations that change, seems like every year, you need someone in human resources that understands the three-quarter guarantee that’s required for the H-2A workers,” he said.

    While there are challenges in the industry, it also comes with economic benefits and the opportunity to immerse young growers into careers in agriculture.

    For Rogers, it’s an industry she believes will continue to grow and evolve over time.

    “I think there’s a need for small farmers,” she said. “I think we’re going to see more people doing container gardening, more indoor hydronics’.”

    Learning new methods to keep her community fed right from her home.

    The chamber connection also brought together Farm Credit of Central Florida, Fancy Farms Market and Polk State College educators to speak more on the agricultural growth in the area.

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  • Polk County offers landowner expo to help with preserving agriculture

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Landowners in Polk County are taking steps to preserve their agricultural legacy. The county held a “Landowner Expo” on Tuesday, bringing together dozens of people who are invested in the industry.

    Farming has always been Jack Green’s calling.

    “I grew up with a set of skills that are kind of learned as you go and a lot of on-the-job training,” he said.

    Green is a fifth-generation Floridian, and his family got their start in the citrus industry. Over the years, he has adapted and now grows strawberries and blueberries for two companies.

    He has had to navigate the changes in the agriculture industry, from one crop to another. That’s why he attended the Polk Landowner Expo, to learn what resources are available to him and to find ways to keep his crops in a growing county.

    “The competition for land versus development prices, we don’t have the revenue, and we struggle sometimes to keep up with what’s going on in the state right now,” Green said of the challenges.

    Green also said it is important to teach the younger generation about farming and the benefits it brings.

    The nonprofit Conservation Florida is working to do just that by helping farmers stay in the industry.

    The director of land protections, Chelsea Wisner, says it works with farmers for conservation easements.

    “That’s for the intention of conserving that property the way that it is forever,” Wisner said. “They can still farm, they can still hunt, they can still pass it down to their kids, but they get that one-time payment to help them fight that pressure to sell to development.”

    At the expo, landowners also learned about cost-share programs, mitigation banking and grant programs available to them.

    With more than 3,000 acres of agricultural land in Polk County, according to the Florida Farm Bureau, Green wants to be part of the industry for years to come.

    “To help preserve nature and help preserve environmentally sensitive lands and continue our way of life,” he said.

    A way of life he wants to continue to grow, now and for many more generations.

    Also on hand at the expo were the Avon Park Airforce Range, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and many more organizations tied to the industry.

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  • Polk County commissioners OK purchase of land to house new wastewater facility

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County commissioners recently approved the purchase of 200 acres in the eastern part of the county. The property will house a new wastewater treatment facility, which officials say is needed as the county continues to grow.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County Utilities is establishing a new wastewater treatment facility in the eastern region of the county

    • Commissioners recently approved the purchase of 200 acres to house a wastewater treatment

    • County leaders say the facility is needed as the population in the area continues to grow


    As more development makes its way into Polk County, Tamara Richardson, the utilities director for the county, says her department is working to keep up.

    “It’s about 200 acres, and utilities needs about 50 acres, and we’re planning to tuck our facility up into the corner,” she said.

    The county’s eastern region needs more utilities. The recent approval to purchase property off Masterpiece Road will aid in adding a wastewater treatment facility.

    Part of the land will also house a road and training facility, the sheriff’s district command office and part of it will be for conservation.

    The county currently has three facilities — each one helps to collect and treat wastewater, which in turn is sent back out for irrigation.

    It’s a cycle that Richardson believes will continue to have a positive impact for new residents.

    “Part of growth is being able to provide services that meet the needs but also do not damage the environment, and that’s what this project will do,” she said.

    But the new facility won’t be like the ones already in the county. Jason Jennings, the operations manager with utilities, says this one will use new technology known as membrane bioreactor technology.

    “So, what this process will allow us to do, is it’ll give us the opportunity for more effective removal of solids, protozolins, viruses,” he said.

    Unlike the traditional facilities, the new one will take up less space.

    And the future facility is already playing a role on the existing ones, so that they’re ready to accommodate more people looking to call Polk County their home.

    The project could take anywhere from three to five years to complete.

    With the new technology, it will help reduce labor but provide expanded opportunities for employees to learn how to handle new technology to treat wastewater.

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  • Lakeland High School, FSC partner to launch ‘Educator Academy’

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Students at Lakeland High School are getting a head start in pursuing a career in education thanks to a partnership with Florida Southern College. It is creating a pathway for students to earn credits while in high school.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Southern College and Lakeland High School partner to launch “Educator Academy”

    • The academy is made up of 55 high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in education

    • The academy is four years long and will help students transfer to FSC with five college course credits.


    Students in this classroom are putting pen to paper learning about a career in education.

    Ashlynn Masciarelli is a sophomore at Lakeland High School who is interested in working in the classroom. “I have a lot of family members that are teachers, and I’ve always been a big helper, and I love kids,” she said.

    She is part of over 50 students at the high school taking part in the “Educator Academy.” It’s a new partnership with Florida Southern College geared toward high school students.

    Faith Himene said it is teaching her valuable skills as she considers becoming a special needs educator.

    “I’ve learned a lot of relationship ways to work with kids and how to communicate with parents and adults,” Himene said.

    The course is taught by college students currently enrolled in the education school at FSC.

    The dean of the school of education, Lori Rakes, said the academy will guide students over the course of four years. At the end, they will earn five class credits that can transfer to the college.

    “Currently there are three classes in the educator academy, different periods of the day,” Rakes said. “As the program grows, we hope that it will take all seven class periods.”

    The academy includes partnership days where FSC students come in to teach the high schoolers. They also shadow college students at FSC and even get hands-on training at the Roberts Academy.

    Tracey Tedder, the provost and VP of Academic Affairs with the college, hopes this will create a pipeline for more teachers in the county.

    “There’s a need for teachers right here in our own community, and it gave us a great opportunity to not only work with our local community but to prepare students who are interested in education,” Tedder said.

    And inspire students like Masciarelli and Himene to one day be in their own classrooms.

    The academy is made up of students of all grade levels. Students interested in taking part can sign up at Lakeland High School.

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  • Organization bids to prevent accidents through ‘Polk Vision Zero Action Plan’

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County leaders are launching an initiative aimed at cracking down on deadly crashes.

    According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there have been over 9,000 crashes in the county so far this year, and 75 of those were deadly.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Polk Vision Zero Action Plan is aimed at looking for ways to prevent traffic fatalities



    • The Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) has been collecting data in partnership with local agencies to pinpoint hot spots of traffic accidents



    • TPO is looking for community feedback on the findings to take action




    With a booming population in Polk County, there are more people on the road, walking and biking, so to keep the community safe, county leaders are taking proactive measures through an action plan.

    Just by looking at a map, Ryan Kordek can tell you which areas are hot spots for traffic accidents.

    “Spirit Lake Road, 42nd Street Northwest, portions of U.S. 27,” he said.

    Kordek is the executive director of the county’s Transportation Planning Organization, or TPO.

    He said the area has seen significant growth since 2020 and in correlation, the number of traffic accidents has increased.

    “There’s a lot of delay, there’s a lot of inconvenience, and an effect on people’s lives,” Kordek said.

    According to the DMV, there have been 75 deadly traffic accidents in the county since January. 

    It’s a number Kordek wants to bring to zero through the Polk Vision Zero Action Plan.

    “This is a way for us to address and kind of evaluate and figure out where are those locations, where are the worst intersections, where are the worst roads, and from there, we’ll develop a course of action,” he said.

    It’s a safety initiative aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities by identifying ways to prevent them. The plan began with an initial online feedback portion. 

    Now they’re looking to involve the public, presenting them with the accident findings.

    Kordek believes it is information that will help keep people safe.

    “It’s one thing if you’re five or 10 minutes late, and it’s something else if you don’t even make it there, and that’s what we really want to improve,” he said.

    Building a safer community for old and new residents.

    A Vision Zero community meeting took place on Tuesday, and findings about traffic accidents were presented.

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  • Polk County Sheriff’s Office tops local agencies in immigration enforcement

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has reported more immigration-related encounters than any other local law enforcement agency in Florida. That’s according to the state board of immigration enforcement.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has reported over 400 immigration-related encounters since August

    • Sheriff Judd explains the increase is due to daily operations and access to new warrants

    • The state board of immigration enforcement was created to help deport individuals without legal status

    The Polk County Sheriff’s office polices around 850,000 people, and its goal is to keep everyone safe.

    “We’re not out here going to job sites, going to businesses, going to agriculture fields. We’re just bumping into people as we do our normal daily business,” Sheriff Grady Judd said about the office’s immigration enforcement.

    Since August, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has had more than 400 immigration encounters, second in line after the Florida Highway Patrol. That’s according to the state board of immigration enforcement.

    The board was created in February by Gov. Ron DeSantis to help deport people without legal status.

    Judd says it’s part of their mission to help.

    “I know it’s uncomfortable for a lot of wonderful people who are in this country illegally, but the bottom line is they’re here in violation of the federal law,” Judd said.

    He says he was surprised to see the agency ranking higher than most, and it brought about questions.

    Judd says they’re not doing anything different. Instead, he believes access to warrants that were once under ICE and now in the National Crime Information Center is allowing them to expand their reach to immigrants who are here illegally.

    “Now anytime we stop a vehicle and do a warrants check, then we see those warrants. We didn’t see them before,” Judd said.

    He also believes state and federal funding that is helping pay for training and reimbursing local law enforcement to help ice is aiding in those efforts.

    “We put resources to make sure we met the duties and requirements under the law,” Judd said. “I think you’ll see some of the other agencies catching on as they learn the process.”

    Other agencies in Polk County that reported encounters were the Winter Haven Police Department and the Lakeland Police Department.

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  • Polk State College launches new agriculture industry initiative

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk State College is launching a new initiative aimed at getting more students into the agriculture industry. It starts next spring, but students are already signing up.

    What You Need To Know

    • Agripolk is an initiative aimed at creating a pathway for students interested in the agricultural industry
    • The initiative offers gen-ed courses that will easily transfer to the University of Florida
    • The courses begin in spring 2026, and sign-ups are already happening


    Penny Watson has been fishing since she was a little girl, and while it brings her peace, it also gives her a strong desire to protect the waters.

    “It is a beautiful place there, but it’s also kind of sad because the seagrass is goop and it shouldn’t be like that,” she said.

    Watson hopes to help change that thanks to a new initiative from Polk State College, where she’ll be able to merge her love for computer science and agriculture.

    “I feel like there needs to be data science and research so that we can bring the seagrass back and restore our fisheries,” she said.

    The initiative combines an Associate of Arts degree with specialized coursework and certification opportunities. 

    It’s a new pathway for the college that will help create a pipeline for students to start their careers in agriculture in Polk County.

    Belkis Torres-Capeles is the dean of workforce education with the college. She says the initiative comes with its perks.

    “An expedited admissions decision process, ability to participate in several events and have the weight of UF behind them, and the brand that is Polk State to uplift them as they begin their agricultural career,” she said.

    According to Polk State College, more than 3,000 students in Polk County schools are already enrolled in agricultural programs, therefore this initiative is meeting the high demand for careers in agriculture.

    It’s a pathway that gives high school students like Kayleigh Douge the opportunity to kickstart their career early.

    “I think weather students have grown up in production, agriculture, or they are new to the industry. It’s really a great opportunity because they don’t have to leave their home county to pursue the agriculture industry,” said Douge.

    Watson believes it’ll help her grow and learn more about the agriculture industry while making a difference.

    “We produce a lot of food here, and we need to do it safely,” she said. “We need to do to sustainably, and I want to be able to help with that with the next generation.”

    To maintain the waters in which she fishes for years to come.

    Polk State College will be hosting a series of open houses for students to learn more about the new initiative.

    The first open house is taking place on Oct. 28 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lake Wales campus.

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  • School club aimed at helping immigrant students adjust to school system

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Starting a new school can be challenging, especially if that new school is in a new country.

    One student in Tampa Bay is hoping to make that transition a little easier with a club aimed at supporting first-generation students in Hillsborough County.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Tampa Bay student is working to make education transition easier for immigrant students
    • The club known, First Generation, First Dream, is aimed at providing support for students
    • Flavia Mandado says this club was formed from her personal experience


    Flavia Mandado said it feels like yesterday she took several pictures with her family back in Cuba: “I’m happy that we took this picture and we could treasure it forever.”

    Memories like this continue to connect her to her Cuban roots even though she left her home country four years ago.

    She says the move came with a lot of challenges, especially navigating the school system. “I didn’t have anyone that could guide me through the United States educational system, so I didn’t take full advantage of my knowledge and how I could use my dedication to school.”

    After her first two years, she got the hang of things and began to take more advanced courses like honors and advanced placement.

    Now as a senior at Alonso High School, she’s got a lot of awards to show for her hard work, and she wants to pay it forward through a new club, First Generation, First Dream.

    “It’s dedicated to first-generation students, no matter where they come from, no matter their cultural background,“ she said.

    The club, which has about 30 members so far, teaches first-generation students about the educational system in America. They’re learning about honors, AP and dual enrollment courses and how to apply to college.

    It’s building community while strengthening students’ love for education.

    “I would like to pass that advice that I missed to that generation, so they do not miss is,“ Mandado said.

    She is serving as a role model to help students like herself succeed in a new environment.

    Mandado hopes to expand the club outside of schools, too, and that she can eventually turn the group into a nonprofit organization.

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  • ‘Colectivo Arbol’ helps immigrant families reunite with loved ones

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    TAMPA, Fla. — More than 11 million immigrants have arrived in the U.S. since 2020, according to the Pew Research Center.

    The move can also mean leaving behind family — sometimes, for many years. A Tampa Bay nonprofit is helping educate immigrants on a path toward reunification.

    What You Need To Know

    • Colectivo Arbol is a nonprofit that focuses on helping immigrants in agriculture

    • Its program helps reunite loved ones through visitor visas

    • The visas are usually granted for 10 years and requires the help from lawyers and the country from which the person arrived from to be processed


    As Carmen Lugo will tell you, tending to her animals is her favorite part of the day. The animals remind her of her home country of Mexico.

    Lugo is a permanent resident and has been living in the U.S. for almost four years.

    While she misses her country, she says she’ll never forget the moment she arrived.

    “Beautiful, because I got here to see all my brothers, my sister and all my children,” she said.

    It’s that joy that she wanted for her cousin as well. Thanks to the nonprofit Colectivo Arbol, she reunited with her cousin in March of this year, through a 10-year visitor visa.

    “I felt relief to have been able to do this for her, because it was a dream that seemed impossible for her,” Lugo said. “Because it was impossible for her because of the lack of support.”

    Lugo said her cousin was struggling day-to-day to make ends meet, so she wanted her to feel supported and loved by bringing her here.

    With the help they received, her cousin’s daughter also obtained a visa. While they recently returned to Mexico, Lugo said they’ll be back again soon.

    She said the process to obtain the visa took about four months to complete before she arrived. That’s the case for many families the nonprofit serves.

    The nonprofit’s founder Isaret Jeffers said many of the families they help are older adults who haven’t seen loved one for more than 20 years.

    She said it’s not just about helping, but educating immigrants on this pathway.

    “Many of them didn’t even get the chance to see their parents anymore, because many of them have passed away,” Jeffers said. “So imagine the pain you feel when you immigrate here and never see your parents again.”

    Jeffers said it’s a big effort to keep the reunification program going. Volunteers help move the older adults through airports in Mexico and pick them up when they arrive here in the U.S.

    For Lugo, it has kept her family together, and she believes it will do the same for others.

    “They should have faith more than anything and have the confidence that they will receive this help,” she said.

    Lugo said Colectivo Arbol has helped reunite about 100 families so far this year.

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  • Man helped woman reunite with lost ring on Clearwater Beach

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Our local beaches are full of beauty and sometimes even treasures that people find with metal detectors. One Clearwater man used his hobby to help reunite a woman with a ring that to her is priceless.

    What You Need To Know

    • Clearwater man helps woman reunite with ring lost on the beach

    • Joey Dahlia started metal detecting this summer as a hobby

    • Dahlia says many people never see their jewelry again once it’s lost, but this case was different


    Joey Dahlia recently started using his metal detector this summer.

    “The first seven days were just screws and bottle caps,” he said.

    But that didn’t stop him from continuing his search for treasure.

    “I find one piece of jewelry a day. It can be any kind, like costume, garbage or up to a very expensive ring,” Dahlia said.

    That’s exactly what happened when he discovered a ring recently.

    He said that while most of the jewelry he finds never makes it back to its owner, this case was different. He was approached by people who knew the ring’s owner.

    “She shows me a clear picture, and I’m like, ‘That’s the ring, and she can have it back.’” He returned the ring, which had sentimental value.

    “I’m always in unique situations, and that was a unique situation for me,” he said. “It wasn’t just a wedding ring, it was very expensive, life changing for either her or me.”

    The connection he made with the ring’s owner inspired him to create a lost and found page for other people who lose items at the beach.

    “People go in there and post they found stuff, or they lost stuff, and it’s really unique that I was able to do that,” Dahlia said.

    The ring’s owner said she lost the ring while near the shoreline and said she is happy to have it back.

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  • First Hispanic Polk commissioner shares journey to position

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    TAMPA, Fla. — This Hispanic Heritage Month, Spectrum News is shining a light on leaders in the community who are making a difference and inspiring others.

    That’s the case for the first Hispanic Polk County commissioner, Martha Santiago.

    What You Need To Know

    • Commissioner Martha Santiago is the first Hispanic elected to the Polk County Commission
    • Santiago ran twice before securing her position as District 4 commissioner
    • Santiago says since being elected, she’s seeing more Hispanics


    Santiago likes to stay in the know.

    “I read a lot because there’s just so much going on in our county,“ she says.

    She’s in her office a few times a week, but she says the real work is done out in the community.

    She first started connecting with the public through her work in education. Santiago was with the Polk County School District for several years and then became provost at Polk State College.

    “I was very much involved in helping our community, especially our Hispanic community, our children,“ she said.

    Her interest in helping others led her to get involved in politics. She first ran for county commission in 2004. She lost that race and ran again in 2006, but again she didn’t win.

    “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, people are going to remember me as the person who ran twice and didn’t win, but you know, I gave it everything,’” she said.

    And she didn’t quit. Santiago ran for the third time in 2017, and she won, becoming the first Hispanic to take a seat on the Polk County Commission.

    Since then, Santiago says she’s seen just how impactful her election to office has been for other Hispanics too.

    “Because I did, now other Hispanics, female and male, are doing the same thing; that’s absolutely awesome.”

    Over the past seven years, Santiago says she’s had to step out of her comfort zone to be a leader in her own way.

    “I branch out in the community, and I think Latinas need to do that, sometimes we hold ourselves back because we just don’t dare, it could be our language, it could be that we just don’t have the experience,“ she said.

    She hopes to inspire more Hispanics to take a chance on themselves and get involved in government and leave their mark on the community.

    Since being elected to the commission, Santiago has served as both chairwoman and vice chairwoman.

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