Tonight from 4pm to 4am Thursday, the Lakeland Police Department will conduct saturation patrols throughout the city. LPD will also conduct checkpoints in the 4400 block of Old Road 37 and the 800 block of Alamo Drive. An LPD press release states the "operations are scheduled to reduce impaired driving and traffic fatalities during the St. Patrick's Day holiday." LPD encourages the use of designated drivers, taxis, and public transportation. In addition, they remind those observing impaired drivers to call 911.
Newly listed homes for the period of February 16th through February 28th decreased to 135 Lakeland homes for sale. The average sales price of Lakeland homes listed with area Realtors® increased to $165,281 from my previous report. -- Petra Norris
The Lakeland Police Department has an open house March 20th to give the public a glimpse behind-the-scenes. At least the part of the public not familiar with the downtown police station. From 10 am to 2pm the 219 N. Massachusetts Ave. station is focused on Cyber Safety. Experts will provide instruction on identity protection and child safe web surfing. In addition to activities for the kids, the City's mobile command center, armored rescue vehicle, and K-9 team will also be on hand. While visiting the station, you can safely dispose of your unwanted and expired prescription medication. Just secure the pills in a clear air-tight sealed plastic bag. StandUp Polk will have a Purge Your Pills drop-off station available.
A set of photos of the Leadership Lakeland visit to Blue Sky West
Lakeland Police Department Officers are on the lookout for unbuckled drivers and passengers. Through March 15th LPD officers are on the lookout for unbuckled drivers and passengers throughout the city. During this time period, drivers and passengers will be ticketed if they are not buckled up. Here's the Florida law requiring seatbelts and the cost of the ticket is: $30 for unbuckled adults and $60 for improperly restrained children. "Safety belt use in Florida climbed to 81.7% last year, almost reaching the national average of 82%. The minority of Floridians who do not wear a seat belt continue to make up the majority of traffic fatalities in the state, according to the Florida Department of Transportation website. The 1 in 5 Floridians who did not buckle up accounted for 3 in 5 traffic fatalities." -- Lakeland Police Department
Spring Obsession is an annual charity event/garden and art festival. Free activities, family friendly, informative and always a good time, the event benefits Common Ground Park this year. The event is at Munn Park on Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. There'll be plants for sale, gardening presentations, and live music. Note: Lakeland Local is one of the event's many sponsors.
Longtime readers of Lakeland Local will remember that Chris Craig's column "Religion in the City" debuted here last April. After a few weeks, his column moved to our sister publication, Metro I4 News. Yesterday's column touched on something Craig overheard while sitting in a downtown Lakeland business. Take a look at Sharing the Hookah.
We don't hide the fact we're focused on Lakelanders. It's our name, after all. That's why, when it comes to football, our photographer, Tom Hagerty, can be found at high school games...not the Bucs. It's also why last year we published photos after every Lakeland Flying Tigers home game and the box score from every game home or away. For our readers on Twitter, we sent game updates and reminders. That's coverage you didn't find anywhere else.
David Robinson, president of DSM Technology, is working to raise funds for the latest United Way campaign. Well, maybe not working. Last night Robinson slept on his roof to raise awareness and funds. Noon to 2 pm today, Robinson is in spending time in a dunk tank today to raise more funds. The event is in the DSM parking lot at 6810 New Tampa Hwy, Lakeland 33815. $5 for 3 shots. BBQ lunch provided.
Two months ago, Sikes Elementary Principal Corey Swindler was arrested. An interim principal was named and last night the Polk County appointed his replacement. Laura Starner will be Assistant Principal for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year and take over as the Sikes Principal on July 1, 2010. Starner has worked for Polk County Schools since 1984. During her tenure she taught numerous grade levels and was named Assistant Principal at Wagner Elementary in 2004.
We get quite many press releases. Many are about local events, or company news, but every now and then you get one that catches your attention for one reason or another. Today the Polk Theatre will be closed; Not to prepare the stage for a new production or break down an old set. “We will spend eight hours removing drywood termites from the stage area,” said Ted Horton, the Truly Nolen Branch Manager in Lakeland. Did anyone else immediately get an image of men with mouse ears on their hands and knees picking up termites with tweezers? No? OK, then. On to the next release...
The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce sent out a press release this afternoon. It contained a resolution calling for a Florida Department of Transportation study to determine the location of a high speed rail stop in Polk County. We'd like to give you the full text of the resolution, but you'll have to make do with the image the Chamber delivered to the press. We don't have the time right now to re-type it. Here's the introduction to the email:
While Lakeland homes inventory remains stable, newly listed homes for the period of February 1st through February 15th increased by 16.75% to 203 Lakeland homes for sale.
The Polk County School system chooses their Spelling Bee champion February 24th. Starting at 6 pm, 39 middle school students from 23 schools will compete in the McKeel Auditorium at 1810 West Parker St in Lakeland. Last student standing is the county champion. Attendance is free, but if you have more questions call 863.519.8798 for more information, but you can only ask for the definition, part of speech, or language of origin. photo credit: wumpiewoo
Bio: The short line? Father, husband, writer. My online presence is primarily through as the editor, writer, and occasional photographer for the news sites, Lakeland Local, a sampling of the news, concerns, and events for Lakeland, Florida, and Metro i4 News, which covers the Interstate 4 corridor in Central Florida. Both sites feature the work of myself and other contributors. As a hobby, I manage a forum and some web sites that feature a pulp fiction series written by Lester Dent -- Doc Savage Organized, Doc Savage Info, and Flearun.