ReportWire

Tag: Polk County

  • New study finds Lake Bonny’s infrastructure ‘insufficient’ following Milton

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Lake Bonny residents received some answers after the city recently released a new watershed study. 

    The report analyzed what went wrong during Hurricane Milton and offered ways to prevent future flooding.

    Each person Spectrum Bay News 9 spoke to living on the shore of Lake Bonny shared a similar reaction to the report. Resident Diana Hoagland said the findings confirmed what they’ve suspected since October.

    What You Need To Know

    • A new watershed study found Lake Bonny’s infrastructure is inadequate to handle flooding like what occurred during Hurricane Milton

    • Lakeland officials say they’re reviewing the report’s findings and working with partner agencies to assess potential flood prevention solutions.

    • Residents want immediate action from the city, but fear leaders may not follow through on the report’s recommendations.
    • BELOW: Read the full study


    “We knew the pumping system was inadequate just by virtue of the Army Corps of Engineers having to stay here for 41 days,” she said.

    The Army Corps of Engineers brought in three additional pumps after homes near Lake Bonny and Little Lake Bonny flooded during Hurricane Milton. While many homes were flooded, Hoagland said water didn’t enter her home. But it did flood her crawl space, causing damage to her floors.

    “They needed to be completely replaced,” Hoagland said. “So, we’re in the process of doing that now, still, even though we’re getting pretty close to the one-year anniversary of Milton.

    For months, she and others have pointed to the lake’s pumping system as the cause of the flooding. According to the study by AECOM, the current infrastructure is “insufficient” for extreme events.

    “It’s not terribly surprising, but we’re more concerned about with next steps. How do we fix it?” Hoagland said.

    The study provides a few ways to improve the system, including taking necessary steps to pump water to Lake Parker at a higher rate.

    In a statement, Kevin Cook, spokesperson for the city of Lakeland, said:

    “The report has just been finalized, and we are now entering the next phase of the process. This will involve a thorough evaluation of the report’s findings in collaboration with our partner agencies. We are committed to carefully assessing the feasibility of each scenario presented. There is no straightforward solution. Each option outlined in the report involves complex considerations and will require coordinated decisions from multiple jurisdictions and agencies, including the City of Lakeland, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, the State of Florida, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

    It is important to note that at least one of the proposed scenarios will involve property acquisition and wetland mitigation, underscoring the importance of a collaborative and strategic approach moving forward. Polk County has taken the lead on mitigation and has submitted a grant application to the Florida Department of Emergency Management for $11.9 million to help implement flood relief projects around Lake Bonny as recommended by the report.”

    However, Hoagland is concerned that leaders may not follow through on their efforts.

    “That’s something that we cannot afford to allow to happen. So we need change, we need action. I don’t know what that looks like and I don’t know how long it takes but we need help,” she said.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Polk County opens new facility to support special needs shelters

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — As the peak of hurricane season nears, Polk County is taking steps to ensure its shelters are fully prepared. 

    The county recently opened a new special needs warehouse.

    The 8,000-square-foot facility stores supplies and equipment used to support the county’s three special needs shelters during severe weather.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County has opened an 8,000-square-foot warehouse to store supplies and equipment for its three special needs shelters.

    • The $1.5 million centralizes storage, improves inventory management and allows faster deployment of resources during storms.

    • Emergency officials say the dedicated warehouse will help serve residents with medical and mobility needs who require extra care and support.


    Emergency Management Director Paul Womble said the new facility has been in the works for the past few years. Over his 20-year career with the county, he has watched the area grow significantly — increasing the number of people who rely on special needs shelters.

    “We just needed more space, you know? We had temporary storage, and we didn’t have a good inventory system,” he said.

    Previously, supplies were kept in two separate school board warehouses. Now, everything is stored under one roof just behind Polk County’s Emergency Operations Center in Winter Haven.

    “It’s sitting here ready to go. You know, we can load it up on trucks and move it out and get those shelters ready when we need it,” he said.

    Womble said the $1.5 million facility, funded by the state Legislature, is stocked with key necessities: cots, wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen tubing and administrative supplies.

    “All the things it takes to turn a high school into a special needs shelter,” Womble said.

    He said a lot happens behind the scenes to ensure emergency shelters are prepared ahead of storms. But when it comes to special needs shelters, the benefit of having a dedicated warehouse goes beyond just the supplies.

    “There are a lot of folk in Polk County that have some type of electrical medical equipment, they need some extra care especially in a hurricane,” he said. “They live alone, they live in a mobile home. Their only family may be that home health nurse that comes every couple of weeks and that’s it and that’s what this program is all about.”

    Polk County’s special needs shelters are located in Lakeland, Haines City and Bartow.

    To register for a special needs shelter or transportation, visit the Florida Special Needs Registry. You can call your home health care provider or durable medical equipment provider, or call the Polk County Emergency Management Special Needs Program at (863) 298-7027.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Winter Haven elementary school kicks off first day with new campus

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Students at Elbert Elementary School in Winter Haven arrived at a brand-new campus on Monday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Elbert Elementary in Winter Haven opened a $50 million, brand-new campus on Monday

    • The district decided to modernize Elbert Elementary after the old campus started to show signs of age

    • The two-year construction included new classrooms, science labs, and playgrounds, and more

    • MORE BACK TO SCHOOL HEADLINES

    The $50 million campus, located next to the original building that was more than 60 years old, was made possible by impact fees and the district’s half-cent sales tax.

    Staff members cheerfully greeted students as they hopped out of cars for the first day of school. Some kids walked into Elbert Elementary’s building with ease, while others needed a little encouragement. Luckily, third-grade teacher Alexis Dewberry was able to walk her two daughters into the building.

    After working at the school for the past four years, she said she was glad to finally show them the changes.

    “They’re excited as well. As a mom, it means a lot to me being able to be in the same school with my child,” she said.

    Principal Julie Thomas said about 700 students are expected this year — double the school’s original enrollment. The district decided to modernize Elbert Elementary after the old campus started to show signs of age.

    Elbert Elementary in Winter Haven opened a $50 million, brand-new campus on Monday. (Spectrum News/Alexis Jones)

    “The original building was built in 1962, and it was experiencing some issues and it was not the best for the students and so the decision was made and the district decided we were going to redo,” Thomas said.

    The new facility features fresh classrooms, science labs, two playgrounds and more. Thomas said the project took about two years to complete. During that time, students and staff temporarily relocated to a campus in Haines City.

    Now, students get to attend school in an upgraded facility closer to home — which Thomas said she’s most excited about.

    “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said. “You don’t get to open a brand-new school very often. I’ve been with the county for 35 years. This is my first time being at a brand-new, what I can call, my school.”

    Like Thomas, Dewberry is looking forward to welcoming students to a place they can call their own too.

    “It just feels good to be back home,” Dewberry said.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • It’s Back-to-School time across Tampa Bay

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – It’s the first day of school across the Bay area.

    Thousands of Bay area school children will be returning to school across multiple counties.

    And they will return to a variety of new schools, issues and focuses in their counties.

    In Hillsborough, the Bay area’s largest school district will open a new high school: Morgan High located in Wimuama.

    Among the Pinellas schools, Gul Beaches Elementary is reopening for the first time since Hurricane Helene in 2024.

    And in Manatee County, schools are reopening as the district continues its search for a new superintendent. 

    Here’s what students and parents need to know by school district for the upcoming year: 

    Additional Back-To-School stories and resources

    County-by-County resources

    Hillsborough Public Schools

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    Pinellas County Schools

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    Hernando County Schools

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    Pasco County Public Schools

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    Citrus County Public Schools

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    Manatee County Public Schools

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    Polk County Public Schools


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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Caution, awareness stressed around school buses as students return to school

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    TAMPA, Fla. – As students return to classrooms today, school officials in Tampa Bay and statewide are reminding the public about school bus safety.

    Hillsborough County Public Schools, along with school bus safety organization BusPatrol, has released a report card detailing last year’s school bus stop-arm safety camera program results.


    Florida law requires drivers to stop when a school bus displays a stop signal. Drivers can only resume driving when the stop signal is withdrawn. 

    Last year, the number of violations issued per school bus per day dropped month-over-month as driver awareness of the Hillsborough stop-arm camera program took hold.

    In the program’s first month, the number of violations issued, on average, per school bus, per school day, was 1.34. In the last month of the school year, this number was .38. Moreover, the program saw an under 5% recidivism rate, meaning over 95% of drivers cited for a stop-arm camera violation did not repeat offend. 

    For more information on HCPS’s partnership with BusPatrol and to learn more about school bus safety, click here.

    “As drivers, we all have the power to protect our children,” said Hillsborough Superintendent Van Ayres. “Our district transports nearly 80,000 students each day and their safety is our number one priority.”

     

    In a recent AAA survey, 38% of drivers admitted to speeding and 31% conceded that they used a hand-held cell phone in active school zones.

    FLHSMV said drivers need to pay extra attention to lower speed limits, watch for and obey signals from school crossing guards and to only drive or park in authorized areas to pick up or drop off kids at school. Parents are also encouraged to go over safety tips with their children to make sure they are safe around school buses and school zones.

    (Courtesy of FLHSMV)

    Motorists are required to stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and STOP arms extended. Other rules about navigating areas near school buses include:

    • On two-lane roads, all drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal, and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.
    • On a highway divided by a paved median, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.
    • Divided highways, where there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least 5 feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic, are the only roadways where traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop. On a highway divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least 5 feet wide, drivers moving in the opposite direction do not have to stop for the bus (painted lines or pavement markings are not considered barriers). However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus. 

    Penalties for passing a stopped school bus include a moving violation to citation, a requirement to complete a basic driver improvement course upon conviction, four points on your driver’s license and a minimum fine of $165. Motorists who pass on the side where children enter and exit will receive a minimum fine of $265.

    If a driver passes a school bus and causes serious bodily injury or death of another person, penalties include serving 120 community service hours in a trauma center or hospital, participating in a victim’s impact panel session (or if such a panel does not exist, attending a FLHSMV-approved driver improvement course), six points on your driver’s license, suspension of your license for a minimum of one year and a $1,500 fine.

    FLHSMV and AAA provide additional school safety tips for parents and their children.

    For drivers:

    • Slow down.
    • Come to a complete stop at stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods, and check carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding. 
    • Keep your eyes on the road.
    • Slow down and allow at least 3 feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist. 

    For pedestrians:

    • Pay attention at all times. Avoid texting or wearing headphones, so you can detect nearby traffic.  
    • Use sidewalks where available. If not, walk against the direction of traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.
    • Make yourself easier to be seen by wearing reflective, bright-colored clothing. 

    For bicyclists:

    • Wear a helmet and neon or bright-colored clothes. 
    • Ride in the same direction as traffic and stay as far to the right as possible. Use bike lanes when you can. 
    • Do not wear headphones so you can detect approaching traffic. 
    • Cross the street at intersections. Do not pull into the roadway from between parked cars. 

    On and around school buses:

    • Arrive at the bus stop about five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
    • At bus stops, children should wait five steps away from the curb. Never sit on the roadway or curb while waiting for the bus.
    • Be alert and remove headphones so you can hear oncoming traffic.
    • Make sure children know their bus driver’s name and bus number.
    • Tell children to never speak to strangers at the bus stop or get into the car with a stranger. Children should tell parents, the bus driver and a teacher at school if a stranger tries to talk to them or pick them up.
    • Children should never walk behind a bus and should stay away from bus wheels at all times. When the bus stops, children should wait for the driver’s signal that it is safe to cross the road or board the bus.
    • Children should look both ways before crossing the street- look left, right and left again. They should make eye contact to make sure the bus driver can see them as they cross the street.
    • On the bus, children should remain seated at all times, keep the aisle clear and not put their head, hands or arms out the window.
    • Children should stop talking and remain silent when the bus comes to a railroad crossing so the driver can hear if a train is approaching.
    • Children should avoid any loud or disruptive behavior that could distract the bus driver from safely operating the bus.
    • Refer to the official Florida Driver License Handbook for more information on school bus safety.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida Poly students create possible solution for spacewalks

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Spacewalk repairs are no small task for NASA astronauts, but thanks to students at Florida Polytechnic University, the process could soon get a lot easier.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Polytechnic University students created a tool to assist astronauts with spacewalk repairs

    • Their invention was part of NASA’s Micro-g NExT Challenge, a national competition

    • Students say NASA tested their designed tool in underwater simulations and praised it


    Each piece of the tool that they created is part of a spacewalk tool that David Chazbani and Eduardo Jirau helped create.

    The purpose is to make it easier for astronauts to secure two overlapping pieces of fabric while outside the International Space Station.

    “There’s a lot of insulation out there around every single capsule that they have, so that way they’re able to protect any type of electronics or any type of device they have from radiation from the sun,” Jirau said. “Whenever they have to go out on space repairs, they have to cut out a piece of the fabric so they can access the electronics on the backside of that fabric. So currently they don’t have a way to put a Band-Aid over that hole they’ve created.”

    The two mechanical engineering students were tasked last August with developing a solution as part of NASA’s Micro-g NExT Challenge. They were one of 17 college teams across the country selected to participate.

    The Florida Polytechnic University’s AlbertX team is made up of Dr. Alexander Murphy, team mentor and assistant professor of mechanical engineering; seniors Jirau, Chazbani, and Katelyn Godell; and Dr. Apurva Patel, team mentor and assistant professor of mechanical engineering.

    Jirau said it took them roughly nine months to develop the final product. Once it was complete, he said he knew they had created something special.

    “We did a lot of testing, and every time, we wanted to make sure it worked before we actually took it out there, and so we were pretty confident in that what we did would work,” Jirau said.

    The fastening device works by holding the new piece of material in place with a consumable.

    Chazbani and Jirau said NASA tested the tool in a lab underwater to simulate conditions in space at the U.S. space agency’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

    The result? Nothing short of amazing.

    “They said our device looked like something that NASA would’ve made,” Chazbani said.

    The project could simplify future spacewalks and push Chazbani and Jirau’s limits beyond the sky.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Florida Poly students create possible solution for spacewalks

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Spacewalk repairs are no small task for NASA astronauts, but thanks to students at Florida Polytechnic University, the process could soon get a lot easier.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Polytechnic University students created a tool to assist astronauts with spacewalk repairs

    • Their invention was part of NASA’s Micro-g NExT Challenge, a national competition

    • Students say NASA tested their designed tool in underwater simulations and praised it


    Each piece of the tool that they created is part of a spacewalk tool that David Chazbani and Eduardo Jirau helped create.

    The purpose is to make it easier for astronauts to secure two overlapping pieces of fabric while outside the International Space Station.

    “There’s a lot of insulation out there around every single capsule that they have, so that way they’re able to protect any type of electronics or any type of device they have from radiation from the sun,” Jirau said. “Whenever they have to go out on space repairs, they have to cut out a piece of the fabric so they can access the electronics on the backside of that fabric. So currently they don’t have a way to put a Band-Aid over that hole they’ve created.”

    The two mechanical engineering students were tasked last August with developing a solution as part of NASA’s Micro-g NExT Challenge. They were one of 17 college teams across the country selected to participate.

    The Florida Polytechnic University’s AlbertX team is made up of Dr. Alexander Murphy, team mentor and assistant professor of mechanical engineering; seniors Jirau, Chazbani, and Katelyn Godell; and Dr. Apurva Patel, team mentor and assistant professor of mechanical engineering.

    Jirau said it took them roughly nine months to develop the final product. Once it was complete, he said he knew they had created something special.

    “We did a lot of testing, and every time, we wanted to make sure it worked before we actually took it out there, and so we were pretty confident in that what we did would work,” Jirau said.

    The fastening device works by holding the new piece of material in place with a consumable.

    Chazbani and Jirau said NASA tested the tool in a lab underwater to simulate conditions in space at the U.S. space agency’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

    The result? Nothing short of amazing.

    “They said our device looked like something that NASA would’ve made,” Chazbani said.

    The project could simplify future spacewalks and push Chazbani and Jirau’s limits beyond the sky.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Polk’s Florida Dance Theatre shuts down following loss in state funding

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Polk County’s only professional dance company has officially closed after more than 30 years in operation.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Dance Theatre has officially shut down after more than 30 years
    • The closure was triggered by the loss of an $18,000 grant, part of a broader $32 million cut to arts and cultural funding
    • Founder Carol Erkes says the decision was difficult, but she’s comforted by the legacy she leaves behind


    Founder Carol Erkes still holds decades of memories close.

    “Oh my gosh, these are old. You can tell they’re all black and white,” she said, looking through old photos.

    Erkes welcomed her first group of students to Florida Dance Theatre in 1994. At the time, it was known as the Lakeland School of Ballet. She later changed the name and transitioned the school into a nonprofit. She says that shift opened the door to government funding — and the chance to truly invest in children’s lives.

    “I really loved all of them. It was never work. It was passion. It was joy on a daily basis,” she said.

    After a successful 25-year run, Erkes retired in 2019 but stayed involved with the organization. She says things remained steady until after the pandemic — when community funding began to dwindle and some students stopped attending.

    The final straw, she says, came last year when the theatre lost a grant worth more than $18,000 after Gov. Ron DeSantis cut $32 million in state arts and cultural funding. That ultimately led the organization’s board of directors to vote to shut down in June.

    In a statement, Tiffany Van Wieren, president of Florida Dance Theatre, said:

    “The board’s decision to close was incredibly difficult and made after thoughtful reflection on the organization’s long-term sustainability. We are grateful to all those that helped the organization to have such a lasting effect. We’re proud of the legacy FDT leaves behind and the impact it’s had on our community.”

    Erkes shares those sentiments, but admits it was difficult to accept the decision — until a recent conversation with a former student

    “I said, ‘I’m so sad because I wanted Florida Dancing to be my legacy.’ And he said, ‘Carol, it is your legacy. I’m your legacy. All the people’s lives you affected are your legacy,’” she said.

    A reminder that while the company has closed, Erkes’ impact will live on.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Polk County pauses school bus camera program; changes underway

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County’s school bus camera program is on hold as district leaders work to make changes.

    What You Need To Know

    • Officials say nearly 13,000 violations have been issued since the Safe Stop initiative started. But some drivers claim many of those tickets were unfair

    • Cleo Davis said he tried to appeal the citation he received, but there were no instructions on how to do so, despite state law requiring them to be included

    • BELOW: Statement from Polk County Public Schools


    The Safe Stop initiative officially launched in August of last year. Since then, officials say nearly 13,000 violations have been issued. But some drivers, like resident Cleo Davis, claim many of those tickets were unfair.

    Davis says he was driving home from work in November when he saw a school bus stop at the railroad tracks on the opposite side of the road near Recker Parkway. Not thinking much of it, he said he kept driving, since buses are required to stop before crossing.

    “Common sense just said to me… you know, me thinking that it’s no way that they’re letting children off at that location, so that’s why I proceeded to go forward,” Davis said.

    To his surprise, he received a $225 notice of violation in the mail weeks later. The violation was for failing to stop for a school bus with its stop signal deployed, and it included photos of the incident. But Davis felt he did nothing wrong, saying there were no children being picked up or dropped off.

    He said he tried to appeal the citation, but there were no instructions on how to do so, despite state law requiring them to be included.

    “I got the statuette and everything, and it clearly says that the violation is supposed to have that, but it doesn’t exist. Now where it does exist is once you get the uniform citation,” he said.

    Up until recently, drivers in Polk County who were fined for passing a stopped school bus couldn’t appeal the violation until 30 days later — when it automatically became a $329 uniform citation.

    Thanks to a new law that went into effect July 1, drivers now have the right to immediately contest a violation.

    In a statement, Polk County Public Schools said:

    “Polk County Public Schools and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office will continue to follow state law regarding the use of our Safe Stop program. At this time, we are working with local authorities to develop and implement an appeal process for motorists who receive a violation from our school bus cameras. Beginning July 1, no violations will be issued until the local appeal process is in place.” 

    However, Davis says an appeal process should have been in place from the start. Now, he’s calling on the county to issue reimbursements.

    “I want my money back. I want my money back,” he said. “I, at least, would like to be reimbursed for the cost. Although I know they can’t reimburse me for the time it took going down there, but the least they can do is reimburse the money for the citation.”

    The school district didn’t mention the possibility of reimbursement. However, it reiterated:

    “The PCPS Safe Stop program has always complied with state law, and student safety remains our top priority.”

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland man shares journey post Hurricane Maria

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — It’s been almost eight years since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico as a Category 4 hurricane.

    Its devastation forced many to leave and move elsewhere in the U.S. That’s the case for one Lakeland man.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico as a Category 4 hurricane in 2017
    • The hurricane forced many to relocate to Florida
    • One Lakeland man made that move and has since opened a barbershop


    Like any hobby, practice makes perfect. For Angel Maldonado, his desire to learn how to cut hair started at the age of 11.

    “I practiced a lot. At the beginning, it was awful, after a year, I was getting decent,” he says.

    He was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Growing up, his dream was to open a barber salon there. But life had other plans.

    Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September 2017.

    At the time, Maldonado was in Florida working, but his family was back home on the island.

    “Very worrying about how my family and my kids would do afterwards, and of course, we didn’t expect it to be as bad as it was,” he said.

    The hurricane killed thousands and left parts of Puerto Rico without power for nearly a year. During the height of the storm, Maldonado lost communication with his relatives for two days.

    With so much destruction, they made the decision to leave Puerto Rico and relocate as a family to Florida.

    “We started living on air mattresses, we only had the stove and the fridge,” Maldonado said.

    Little by little, they started building a life in Florida, and that included looking for economic opportunities.

    In 2021, Maldonado realized his dream of opening a barbershop, High Class Barber Salon, not in Puerto Rico, but instead in Polk County. Now, he’s expanding and opening a beauty school as well, known as High Class Academy.

    “It was hard for sure, you know, what happened in Puerto Rico, but I think it got the best out of us. We’re actually capable of facing those bad situations and be better and be successful,” he said.

    Maldonado found hope in haircare and a new home in Polk County, putting down roots with room to grow.

    Maldonado says his next goal will be to expand his academy into a trade school in the future to help offer courses in HVAC and more.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Talbot House Ministries consider relocation despite concerns

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Talbot House Ministries in Lakeland is looking to move into a new space off Memorial Boulevard.

    The homeless shelter says the proposed new location has much-needed green space. But some people who live and work nearby say they’re concerned about a homeless shelter moving into their backyard.

    Since 1979, Talbot House Ministries has served the growing homeless population in downtown Lakeland, offering residential programs, free clinic help, and helping with affordable housing.

    Executive Director Maria Cruz said the ministry has started to outgrow the current facility.

    “We are at max capacity at our existing facility, and we would like to continue serving the community and have a major impact,” she said.

    That concern is why they’re looking to relocate to a new facility off Memorial Boulevard. The plans were proposed during the city’s planning and zoning commission meeting last month.

    The change would mean building a brand-new facility, roughly 58,000 square feet, something Cruz said is needed.

    “In the new facility, everybody will have a bed, so that is different,” she said. “Right now we are converting every single day our dining room areas to be able to feed and serve as an overnight housing, so in the new facility it will have a designated area.”

    Project renderings were presented during last month’s meeting. The move would mean more space for residents inside and more green space outside.

    While the project would be a boost for the shelter, people who live near the proposed new location say they have safety concerns.

    “The safety statistics — Lakeland has had 127 traffic deaths and 9,000 injuries in the last five years, there’s zero chance that’s going to get better based on this plan,” Lakeland resident Josh Borem said

    Several nearby businesses also spoke out against the plan.

    Traci Hughes, the owner of Jimbo’s Pit Bar-B-Q, says they are already dealing with a homeless issue in the area. She believes it will make things worse for her business.

    “This is going to have unintended consequences for us,” Hughes said. “We don’t want to look like all the vacant lots that are fenced off around the Talbot house now, we want to grow it.”

    Talbot House Ministries said it’s taking into consideration the challenges this presents and wants to create a space to help more people get off the streets. 

    The planning and zoning board will present a decision at its next meeting on Aug. 20.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • New women and children’s center in Winter Haven

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Talbot House Ministries in Polk County celebrated the opening of its first-ever women and children center located in Winter Haven.

    What You Need To Know

    • Talbot House Ministries celebrated the opening of a new center in Winter Haven

    • This center will focus on helping women and children

    • It has rooms for mothers and infants, women with special needs children, and more

    Polk County officials and residents attended the ceremony and got to take a tour inside the center. Its center in Lakeland houses men and women, but this center will focus on women and children.

    It has rooms for mothers and infants, women with special needs children and more. It will help provide those women with housing connections, medical services, mental health counseling, parenting skills and much more.

    Maria Cruz, the executive director, said they want to create a safe and empowering environment, and its system will work a bit differently from the Lakeland facility.

    “Once a bed is empty, because we place an individual or whatever the circumstance may be, then that bed is going to be open for the next person to be assessed and screened and made sure that they are going to be a good fit for the program,” Cruz said.

    The center can house up to 62 women and children, with 20 overflow emergency beds. They estimate mid-August is when women and children will start moving into the center.

    Every person who will live at the center will also have to go through an extensive background check.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Haines City could be the next stop added to FDOT’s SunRail project

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Haines City could be the next stop added to the Florida Department of Transportation SunRail expansion that currently serves 17 stations in the Orlando region.

    A project development and environment study is underway.

    What You Need To Know

    • FDOT conducting a Project Development and Environment study to potentially add Haines City to its SunRail.

    • The SunRail currently serves the Orlando region, with 17 stations.

    • Haines City SunRail meeting will be held in September for public input; date and location to be announced

    • Business owners in downtown Haines City hope the stop is added to the area.


    Business owners like Suzette Gomez hope the project passes. She started her own business, 555 Nutrition.

    “Everything here is healthy, and we also do free full body scans,” she said.

    Gomez opened the store five years ago in downtown Haines City. She was drawn to its growth and a welcoming atmosphere.

    “I really love the community here in Haines City and I love being around different cultures,” she said.

    She sees about 40 to 50 customers a day, a number she hopes will increase if Haines City becomes a stop in the FDOT’s SunRail expansion.

    “A lot of people will start knowing more of the downtown area,” Gomez said. “There’s a lot of small businesses here.”

    SunRail currently operates over 61 miles with 17 stations.

    With Polk County being one of the state’s fastest growing counties, Haines City Mayor Morris West said this could help alleviate traffic congestion.

    “Haines City is a destination for people that are retiring and moving here,” West said. “We’re working diligently as a city commission and as city council members to make sure we get some alternative transportation for our Haines City residents and beyond.”

    City officials have been staying proactive in the project by purchasing buildings near the proposed location to help make way for more parking.

    Gomez says it could be an impactful addition. “For those who either don’t drive or don’t feel comfortable riding here on a bike,” she said.

    To serve as that connection to the heart of downtown and beyond.

    The first public meeting for the SunRail expansion in Haines City project will be held in September. The date and location haven’t been announced yet.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • White House unfreezes $1.3 billion in grants; organizations brace for future

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    MULBERRY, Fla. — The future of Boys & Girls Club programs could be in jeopardy as locations across the country face major funding cuts.

    What You Need To Know

    • The White House released $1.3 billion in previously frozen federal grants last Friday

    • Seven Boys & Girls Club locations in Polk County rely on these grants, and say they’re still concerned about future funding, as nearly $5 billion remains under federal review

    • Despite the uncertainty, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County plan to continue operations by seeking alternative funding and community support


    The Trump administration recently paused more than $6 billion in federal grants, including money for after-school and summer programs. The federal funding for 2025 was initially withheld from states as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House’s priorities.

    After public pushback, the Trump administration decided to release the 21st Century Community Learning Center grants last Friday. The remaining withheld funding — close to $5 billion — is still under review for bias by the Office of Management and Budget.

    Leaders and staff with the Boys & Girls Club say it is unlikely the funding will be released again, potentially costing the children they serve.

    Twelve-year-old Jermaine Franklin has spent the last four summers at the Boys & Girls Club in Mulberry. Ask his friends what they love most about it, and the answer is simple.

    “It’s so much fun,” several children said.

    But for Franklin, it’s more than just fun — it’s everything.

    “I like the people here, I like the staff, I like the food, I like basically everything here,” he said. “I like playing in the gym with my friends and then my friend right here — he’s just too much fun to play with.”

    Much of what Franklin enjoys is made possible by the Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Center grants.

    Since 2011, Steve Giordano, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County, says the grants have provided roughly $10 million for enrichment and academic programming.

    “It just enhances the services that we have to provide after school and summer camp for kids,” Giordano said. “And once they get with us, we make sure they got a great meal, good exercise, and academic improvement specialists like tutors and teachers.”

    Seven out of 10 Polk County locations — serving more than 600 children — rely on 21st Century grants. With the possibility of losing federal funding next year, Giordano says some clubs across the country could be at risk of closing. As for the Polk County locations, he says they’re already thinking of new ways to keep going.

    “Polk County is an extraordinarily philanthropic community, and Polk County steps up and takes care of its own, and we expect that that will happen. And we’re going to redouble our efforts going out and getting these funds because we made a commitment to the board, we’ve made a commitment to the community that regardless of what happens with 21st Century, we’re going to grow,” Giordano said.

    This brings comfort to children like Jermaine, who never want to see the organization go.

    “Because I love this place way too much,” he said.

    Along with searching for more funding, the organization says they’ll also look to recruit more volunteers to fill in the gaps.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland axe-throwing restaurant to close, citing downtown construction impact

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland’s first and only axe-throwing restaurant is permanently closing its doors this weekend after owners say downtown construction hurt their business.

    What You Need To Know

    • Ax-Caliber is closing permanently this weekend after a sharp drop in business, which the owners attribute to construction for Publix’s new I.T. campus

    • The owners say street closures and reduced foot traffic have led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue

    • Ax-Caliber’s last day is this Saturday, July 26


    Joyce Woodrow said each day is becoming more surreal as she takes inventory of what’s left inside her restaurant.

    “I can’t believe it. I still can’t believe it,” she said. “It’s like every time I come in here to work, to meet our customers, our employees and I keep counting, ‘We only have these many days left.’ It’s very heart breaking.”

    Woodrow and her husband first opened Ax-Caliber in downtown Lakeland in 2020. Over the past five years, they’ve weathered a lot — from the pandemic to a shifting economy.

    But Woodrow says things didn’t start to take a real turn for the worse until a sudden drop in foot traffic going into March — just around the time Publix began preparing to renovate two buildings for its new I.T. campus.

    “A lot of the employees weren’t coming in for lunch and so we had to discontinue our lunch times and opening until two in the afternoon and the evenings,” Woodrow said.

    Soon after preparations started, the Cty of Lakeland shut down portions of East Orange Street and surrounding roads. Since then, Woodrow said the restaurant has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue.

    She said they’ve done everything they can to offset the losses — including giving up half the building to the landlord, reducing staff, and cutting down the menu.

    “But it’s hard to fight to continue moving forward when things are out of your control,” Woodrow said. “I mean we cannot control the street closures, we can’t control the lack for foot traffic, we can’t control the accessibility. We can only control what we’re dealing with.” 

    Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to Publix and the City of Lakeland several times regarding Woodrow’s claims but has not received a response. However, Woodrow she’s not trying to place blame. Instead, she wants to shed light on the impact large companies can have on small businesses.

    “A lot of these larger businesses are great to have. We need them to sustain our city, but I think the smaller ones are the ones that keep us going,” she said. 

    Based on the interactions between the customers and Woodrow, there is a shared feeling of disappointment that a small business has to shut its doors.

    Ax-Caliber’s last day is this Saturday, July 26. Woodrow says they’ll also be hosting a “going out of business” sale on Monday and Tuesday at 9 a.m.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Haines City pausing year-long battle to make changes to food truck ordinance

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    HAINES CITY, Fla. — There is now a pause on a long battle to enact stricter guidelines on food trucks in Haines City. Instead, it’s back to the drawing board to consider changes.

    And while that happens, some food truck owners are taking a wait and see approach about the city’s next steps.

    What You Need To Know

    • Haines City Commissioners pause battle to enact stricter guidelines on food trucks

    • City officials heard from residents at a recent commission meeting about the ordinance

    • Idania Pagan and husband say their business is up to codes and are hopeful a resolution for the industry will have a positive impact

    • A Otro Nivel food truck is located at 35509 U.S Highway 27 Haines City


    Food is unique to every country, and it all comes down to its ingredients.

    Benjamin Bravo said he enjoys cooking because it draws him closer to his native country of Ecuador. When we met him, he was making an encebollado.

    “It’s a popular dish, and I think it’s the number one dish in Ecuador,” he said.

    Bravo and his wife, Idania Pagan, recently moved to Florida from New York, eventually starting A Otro Nivel.

    Their food truck is a new venture for them. “We saw an opportunity here, and that’s why, being the first Ecuadorian food truck in the area, I think it’s bringing a lot of people a lot of attention,” Bravo said.

    But Pagan said it wasn’t easy to get up and running.

    “It took us a lot of exploring, a lot of asking questions, a lot of looking for these resources,” she said.

    They were attracted to Haines City because of the welcoming environment. So, she has some concerns about city officials potentially placing tighter restrictions on the food truck industry.

    She said it could deter new business owners. 

    “They may look elsewhere to want to establish business, but why do that if you can have them contribute into this growing economy,” she said.

    Talk about changing the ordinance started when commissioners were told their current ordinance of issuing a license or business tax receipt to food trucks went against state law.

    Then the city was looking at limiting new food trucks based on zoning, removing them from residential areas and limiting them one vendor per property.  

    During a recent city commission meeting, residents and business owners showed up with questions. We reached out to the city, and the Haines City public information officer, Merissa Green, provided us with this statement: “The city commission has not finalized changes to the food truck ordinance. Commissioners directed the city attorney to amend the current ordinance to align with the state statute for consideration during a future meeting.”

    Mayor Morris West stated in the meeting that while the ordinance is being reviewed, food truck owners could continue to operate as normal.

    Idania said she is hopeful there will be a resolution soon. “I really hope that we can maintain that same growth. It’s healthy growth for Haines City,” she said.

    And a way for her and her husband to share a taste of Ecuadorian food with the community.

    Any changes made to the current ordinance would need to be presented in a Haines City Commission meeting. It would have to go to a vote.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • 8 charged in Polk County $8.8 million fraud scheme

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday discussed a multi-state fraud investigation in which eight people were arrested.

    The suspects are accused of fraud totaling nearly $9 million.

    Investigators say they scammed over 200 people, many of them seniors.

    According to the sheriff’s office, the suspects stole bank information from the victims and then sold that data on the messaging app, “Telegram.”

    All eight suspects are facing racketeering, or felonies related to racketeering.

    The investigation began in April 2023.

    To read more about the suspects, click here.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Nonprofit making Biochar with first mobile processing facility in Florida

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    HIGHLAND PARK Fla. — A Florida nonprofit is on a mission to revive the state’s farmland with sustainability in mind.

    Biotech Applied Research is turning waste into “biochar,” a charcoal-like material.

    The nonprofit said it could completely change the Florida agriculture industry.

    What You Need To Know

    • Biochar is a charcoal-like material 

    • BAR said biochar will benefit soil, water and air quality


    Farming is in Biotech Applied Research CEO Zack Farr’s blood

    “It’s everything, being able to be outside and in God’s country and just not be behind a cubicle,” said Farr.

    He is a third-generation citrus farmer from Avon Park. He grew up working in the groves, but now, many are just piles of wood.

    “We’re going to be going to groves that I’ve planted when I was four years old,” Farr said.

    The United States Department of Agriculture said Florida orange production has decreased by more than 90% since the early 2000s. 

    “Now we’re at a 93% loss of production over the last two decades because of disease and hurricane and real estate encroachment,” Farr said.

    In 2023, Farr realized that some of his crops were on an old citrus burn pile. 

    “On one plot of land we had, a 12-foot by 12-foot plot of hemp that was 12 feet tall in 60 days, and the rest was barren,” he said.

    From the ashes came an opportunity, he spent about two years researching technology to make biochar himself.

    Now, he is the CEO of Biotech Applied Research.

    He said the nonprofit has the first mobile biochar processing facility in Florida.

    “This machine can eat about 15 tons of wood an hour,” he said.

    Nearly whole trees are dropped into the Tigercat 6040 Carbonizer and hit with 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

    “With that heat and the right combustion, it actually allows that, organic carbon, the pores inside of it to expand,” Farr said.

    Farr said rather than burning the trees in an open fire where their carbon is turned into carbon dioxide, this machine is helping keep the carbon in place

    “When you burn a grove, you’re releasing about 11 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. What we’re going to be doing is redirecting that carbon back into the soil,” Farr said.

    This is biochar, a charcoal-like material. Biotech Applied Research said the material will help soil, air and water quality. (Spectrum News/Tyler O’Neill)

    The final product is biochar. The material is chock-full of carbon — Farr said it’s just what the soil needs.

    “So adding that carbon into the soil allows for that microbial growth. Basically, it allows the plants to eat more food. The more food you eat, the bigger you are, the bigger you are, the higher the return for the farmer,” he said.

    Big Earth Landscaping in Tampa sells biochar. The store’s assistant manager said they’ve been selling more of the product as awareness grows. 

    “It helps to provide a healthier environment for the plants. And, if you have a healthy plant, you get better nutrient intake and, more resistant to pests and disease,” Big Earth Landscaping Assistant Manager Kevin Damphouse.

    As Biotech Applied Research is scaling up its operations, Farr said it’s hoping to clear about 5 acres of trees and produce about 20 tons of biochar a day. 

    “That’s what Biotech Applied Research’s intentions are, is to kind of take the risk to do crazy innovative stuff and this is where we’re starting,” he said.

    Turning waste into innovative farming solutions.

    The nonprofit said local schools are testing how much carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere when biochar is produced.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Winter Haven adding more multi-family units; business owners benefiting

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — More people are making the move to Polk County, and that’s driving up the demand for more housing.

    The city of Winter Haven is experiencing that growth, and officials are focusing on bringing more multi-family units to the downtown area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Winter Haven adding more multi-family housing due to growing population

    • About 300 multi-family units are currently constructed in the city

    • Growing population and housing is also having an impact on businesses in downtown

    • Vegan Monarch Bakery and Café is seeing people from all over the country stopping in


    From selling food and sweets at flea markets to now owning a brick-and-mortar location, Mika Altidor said getting here wasn’t easy.

    “I’m first-generation American, first to do many things and first to make this dream a reality,” Altidor said.

    She was born in Michigan but spent most of her life in Winter Haven.

    She has seen just how much the city has grown and transformed over the years.

    “It’s nice to be a part of the change and be a part of development and to have my family be a part of this too,” Altidor said.

    She opened her business, Vegan Monarch Bakery and Café, in 2021, serving vegan meals and treats.

    She said the downtown area has grown over the years, but the most prominent addition has been more housing.

    It is something Altidor said has been positive for her business.

    “We get to see more of that foot traffic,” she said. “We get to see more of that business from the residents and then make that human connection,” she said.

    Right now, Winter Haven has about 300 multi-family units.

    As the city continues to grow, it is also looking to incorporate new housing opportunities like townhomes.

    Eric Labbe is the director of Winter Haven’s Economic Opportunity and Community Investment.

    “We’ve been adding about a thousand units per year within the city limits of the city of Winter Haven,” he said. “That’s total housing, single and multifamily. We will probably continue that trend for a couple years.”

    City leaders say for a community to be considered a healthy one, they need to have 33% to 35% of rental product.

    Winter Haven is on track to meet that percentage with 30% as of right now.

    Altidor and several other business owners have seen the change in the customer base, too.

    “I like the fact that people are driving intentionally from Orlando and Tampa to come here,” she said.

    So that she can continue sharing a taste of her café — always ready to serve new and old customers with a smile.

    Construction is currently underway on the newest apartment complex in downtown Winter Waven.

    The Breeze Apartments is nearing completion and is expected to be ready for residents in the next few months.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Polk County track team fundraises to compete at Junior Olympics

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Athletes across the Tampa Bay area are gearing up for the National Junior Olympic Games.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pressure Track and Field, a Polk County-based nonprofit, is sending its largest group ever to the National Junior Olympic Games



    • The team is working to raise $3,500 by next week to cover travel, food, and lodging expenses, lifting the financial burden off families



    • Pressure will host its final fundraiser this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Walmart on U.S. 92 in Auburndale




    This year, the event will be held in Houston, Texas, but one Polk County team is in need of some help in getting there.

    Twelve-year-old Shamyra Ellison joined Polk County Pressure Track and Field in 2022. Since then, she’s been invited to compete in the National Junior Olympic Games three times.

    But this year, she’ll be joined by 14 of her teammates — the largest group ever to come out of the nonprofit.

    “It really shows how dedicated we are to making it,” Ellison said.

    To prepare for nationals, Ellison and her teammates practice several days a week. While they push through the heat, their coaches are working to make sure every child gets to go.

    Pressure Track and Field started in 2019 to provide students in predominantly Black neighborhoods with new opportunities and positive ways to stay active.

    Head coach David Hicks says each year, the nonprofit strives to cover the cost for athletes to compete in the Junior Olympics, taking the financial burden off parents.

    “Some of these parents have three, four kids on the track team. So just imagine trying to get two tickets,” he said. “Hopefully with doing this, this segment here, fundraising, we’re able to get these 15 kids to nationals.”

    Coach Hicks says the goal is to raise $3,500 by next week to help pay for transportation, food and lodging.

    As for Ellison, she says she wouldn’t have made it this far without her coaches’ determination.

    “I don’t know what I would do without my coaches,” she said. “Without them, I don’t think I’d be where I am now. They’ve really helped me through this.”

    And with a little help from the community, she says they’ll be able to get her across the finish line.

    Pressure Track and Field will host its final fundraiser Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Walmart on U.S. 92 in Auburndale.

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    Alexis Jones

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