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Monday, June 26, 2017

Five Polk pioneers honored

BARTOW — Five pioneers — people who have lived in Polk County and at least age 79 — were honored at the Polk County History Association’s 43rd Meeting and Pioneer Luncheon held June 15 at the Bartow Civic Center. The five — Lenore Costello, Lillian Juhler, Kenneth Laurent, Moses Wearing … read more.

LATEST LOCAL NEWS

High school teacher charged with threatening teen
Thu Jun 22 2017 04:54PM

Thomas Griffin is an ESE teacher at Lake Region High School in Winter Haven, was charged Thursday, June 22, after he broke a fence post and threatened a 17-year-old boy … read more.

Long-time members reminisce about their church
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

BARTOW — It has been a heady year thus far for First United Methodist Church of Bartow as it celebrates its 150th anniversary. Among its current congregation are several long-time … read more.

Commissioners question Northern Connector
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

BARTOW – Polk County Commissioners may abandon their long-time top transportation priority, even though they just got a $7.5 million slice of the state budget to add to the $30 … read more.

State cuts more than $6 million from Bok Towers
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:12PM

LAKE WALES – Despite a massive letter writing campaign, Bok Tower Gardens will have to make do without the funding for its partnership with The University of Florida’s Institute of … read more.

More Local News

Hearing on medical marijuana could set county standards
Tue Jun 20 2017 02:56PM

BARTOW – Polk County Commissioners on Tuesday were expected to approve the first reading of an ordinance that will say where medical marijuana dispensaries can be in the unincorporated areas of the county. But, according to County Attorney Michael Craig, … read more.

Airport Authority to take out loan
Tue Jun 20 2017 02:54PM

BARTOW — It has been many years since the Bartow Municipal Airport and Industrial Park has needed to take out a loan. Thus it was at the April meeting the Airport Authority Board instructed Executive Director Cynthia Barrow to solicit … read more.

Troutman to seek Ag Commissioner seat
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

TALLAHASSEE – Former state Rep. Baxter Troutman entered the race for state agriculture commissioner last week, priming his Republican bid for a Cabinet seat with $2.5 million of his own money. He is the second person that represented Polk County … read more.

Recent rains have helped the drought
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

WINTER HAVEN – On May 23 staff with the Southwest Florida Water Management District announced that the region was experiencing the third worst dry season since 1914. Oh what a difference two weeks makes. Rain has fallen somewhere in Polk … read more.

City looks to CRA for more funding
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

LAKE WALES – Lake Wales could receive capital improvement projects to help revitalize the city in the near future with potential funding through the Community Redevelopment Agency. At a budget workshop last Tuesday, City Manager Kenneth Fields mentioned that there … read more.

Webber to offer analytics class created by local man
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

LAKE WALES – With the Internet being prominent in our everyday lives, there’s now a greater need for people who can analyze computer data. Webber University in Lake Wales is helping to meet that need now that they have approved … read more.

Airport Authority to go with consultant
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

BARTOW — Before launching into the results of the search for a consultant to assist with the search for a new executive director for the Bartow Municipal Airport and Industrial Park, its current executive director, Cynthia Barrow, made a request … read more.

Commissioners want more enforcement on codes
Tue Jun 20 2017 02:56PM

BARTOW – Polk County Commissioners learned at a work session last week that even though its code enforcement ordinance has teeth, it hasn’t been enforced with much bite as it could be. The code enforcement ordinance is supposed to make … read more.

United Way names Jonsson chair
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

The United Way of Central Florida’s Board of Directors unanimously voted last week to approve the slate of officers and new members to serve on its Board of Directors and Jennifer Kincart Jonsson was named the chairman. The vice president … read more.

Baby osprey rescued by firefighters
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

A baby osprey that fell from its perch was returned to its nest by Polk County Fire Rescue firefighters. Firefighters were told the juvenile fell from the nest a couple days earlier. Residents who live in Indian Lake Estates were … read more.

Community Calendar
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

Wednesday, June 21 Charter Review Commission, 5:30 p.m. Neil Combee Administration Building, 330 W. Church St., Bartow. Tiger Bay meeting, 11:30 a.m. $15. Guest speaker Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey III, analysis of the state budget’s impact on Polk County. Bartow Civic … read more.

Citizens Bank and Trust opens in Fort Meade
Wed Jun 21 2017 08:30AM

FORT MEADE – Polk County’s oldest city celebrated the grand opening of its own branch of Polk County’s oldest bank. Last Monday, Fort Meade residents and officials attended the ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the grand opening of the city’s branch … read more.

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State, National and World News

US stock indexes hold steady as oil’s dismal week eases
Fri Jun 23 2017 01:19AM

NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes held steady Thursday after the price of oil halted its slide, at least for now. Energy stocks fell again, but not by nearly as much as earlier in the week, after crude rose for … read more.

Qatar Airways seeks stake in American Airlines
Fri Jun 23 2017 01:19AM

DALLAS — State-owned Qatar Airways is attempting to buy 10 percent of American Airlines, a surprising move that would trigger an antitrust review by the U.S. government and carry political and trade-policy implications. American said in a regulatory filing Thursday … read more.

‘Imagine’ if Britain stays in EU
Fri Jun 23 2017 01:19AM

BRUSSELS — While European Union chief Donald Tusk may still be “a dreamer” hoping that Britain is having second thoughts on leaving the EU, other leaders at Thursday’s EU summit tried to shake him back to reality. Discord over whether … read more.

London fire: Tests show other high-rises have suspect panels
Fri Jun 23 2017 01:19AM

LONDON — Tests so far have found that at least seven high-rise apartment buildings in England have combustible external panels like the ones believed to have contributed to a fire that killed 79 people in London, Prime Minister Theresa May’s … read more.

Hidden trove of suspected Nazi artifacts found in Argentina
Fri Jun 23 2017 01:19AM

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In a hidden room in a house near Argentina’s capital, police believe they have found the biggest collection of Nazi artifacts in the country’s history, including a bust relief of Adolf Hitler and magnifying glasses inside … read more.

400 more homes evacuated as Utah wildfire grows
Fri Jun 23 2017 01:19AM

SALT LAKE CITY — A wildfire near a southwestern Utah ski town has forced the evacuations of 400 more homes after the fire doubled in size amid high winds, authorities said Thursday. Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday in a news … read more.

Psychologist suffered ‘torment’ designing CIA interrogations
Fri Jun 23 2017 01:19AM

SPOKANE, Wash. — A psychologist who helped design the CIA’s harsh interrogation methods in the war on terror has said his participation in the program that involved torturing suspects caused him “great, soulful torment.” The comments were in videotaped depositions … read more.

Minneapolis police asked to limit presence
Fri Jun 23 2017 01:19AM

MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis’ first openly gay police chief responded sharply Thursday to a decision by organizers of the Twin Cities Pride Parade to ask her department to minimize its participation in Sunday’s annual event due to tensions over the police … read more.

Authorities launch probe into city of Tallahassee
Fri Jun 23 2017 01:19AM

TALLAHASSEE — In a move that could shake-up next year’s race for Florida governor, the FBI has launched an investigation into redevelopment deals involving prominent business owners and developers in the state capital. Federal grand jury subpoenas this month seek … read more.

Uber pushes its founder out
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:19AM

DETROIT — Under Travis Kalanick’s leadership, Uber’s “Animal House”-style business plan was to grow as quickly as possible, steamrolling regulators while flouting the rules of workplace conduct. Behavior at the male-dominated company didn’t seem to matter. Riders embraced the app-based … read more.

US indexes mixed
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:19AM

NEW YORK — Energy stocks dove again on Wednesday as oil dropped to its lowest price since last summer, extending their dismal start to the year. Gains for health care and technology stocks helped hem in losses for broader market … read more.

Activists say Turkey bolsters its troops in northern Syria
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:19AM

BEIRUT — Turkey bolstered its ground forces in northern Syria in a possible lead-up to renewed battles between the Turkish military and local Kurdish forces, a monitoring group and a Syrian opposition commander said Wednesday. According to the Britain-based Syrian … read more.

Prince Philip in London hospital
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:19AM

LONDON — Prince Philip, the elderly husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has been hospitalized with an infection, but Buckingham Palace said Wednesday that he’s out of bed and in good spirits. The palace didn’t paint a dire picture of his … read more.

Belgium tightens security after failed Brussels bombing
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:19AM

BRUSSELS — The weapons are increasingly ordinary — rented vehicles, nails and canisters, store-bought knives. A series of small-scale attacks has left Europeans trying to balance their desire not to give in to extremism with a persistent anxiety that it … read more.

Fidget spinners named among possible hazards
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:19AM

BOSTON — The wildly popular fidget spinners that seem to be in the hands of the half the children in the U.S. are also potentially dangerous, a consumer watchdog group warned Wednesday. The small plastic and metal spinners, already banned … read more.

Flu vaccine ineffective for people 65 and older last winter
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:19AM

NEW YORK — The flu vaccine did a poor job protecting older Americans against the illness last winter, even though the vaccine was well-matched to the flu bugs going around. U.S. health officials on Wednesday released new vaccine data showing … read more.

FBI: Gunman who shot congressman had no target in mind
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:19AM

WASHINGTON — Adrift and nearly out of money after three months of living out of his van in the Washington area, the gunman who shot a top House Republican and four other people on a Virginia baseball field didn’t have … read more.

Officials in Tampa decide not to move Civil War monument
Thu Jun 22 2017 01:19AM

TAMPA — Officials decided Wednesday not to move a Confederate memorial from in front of a Florida courthouse. Instead, a mural will be put behind it to display, in the words of one county leader, “the love and diversity” in … read more.

After public outcry, Florida city moves Confederate statue
Wed Jun 21 2017 01:19AM

ORLANDO — City workers on Tuesday started moving a Confederate statue called “Johnny Reb” from a park in the heart of downtown Orlando, Florida, to a nearby cemetery, following renewed public outcry that it is a symbol of racism and … read more.

Citing water losses, insurer approves rate hikes
Wed Jun 21 2017 01:19AM

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s state-created property insurer, contending that it is dealing with a flood of suspicious water-related claims and lawsuits, is asking state regulators to raise rates for thousands of homeowners next year, including those in the most heavily-populated areas. … read more.

UN chief: US will be replaced if it disengages from world
Wed Jun 21 2017 01:19AM

UNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Trump administration on Tuesday that if the United States disengages from many issues confronting the international community it will be replaced — and that won’t be good for America or for the … read more.

US military shoots down Iranian-made drone in southern Syria
Wed Jun 21 2017 01:19AM

BEIRUT — The U.S. military said it shot down an Iranian-made, armed drone in southern Syria on Tuesday, marking the third time this month that that the U.S. has downed aircraft affiliated with Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government. The U.S.-led … read more.

Google promises YouTube crackdown on online extremism
Tue Jun 20 2017 01:19AM

SAN FRANCISCO — Google is promising to be more vigilant about preventing terrorist propaganda and other extremist videos from appearing on its YouTube site amid intensifying criticism about the internet’s role in mass violence. Its crackdown will involve both computer … read more.

With tech giants back in charge, stocks hit records again
Tue Jun 20 2017 01:19AM

NEW YORK — Apple and other big-name technology stocks got back to their winning ways Monday and helped drive U.S. indexes once again to record heights. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 20.31 points, or 0.8 percent, to 2,453.46 … read more.

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