High School Football Scores
See Friday-night scores for Lakeland teams below and click here for Ledger coverage.
- Lakeland 45, Bradenton Manatee 0
- Cape Coral Oasis 17, Lakeland Christian 13
- Lake Wales 57, Kathleen 0
- George Jenkins 46, Lake Region 7
- Victory Christian 33, Frostproof 6
- Santa Fe Catholic 38, Four Corners 0
- Lake Gibson 41, Hernando 0
- Hudson 6, Tenoroc 0
- All Saints 49, Marco Island Academy 0
Read It in the Morning Paper
LPD: An internal investigation has determined that allegations of fraternization and unbecoming conduct between former Police Chief Larry Giddens and department attorney Donna Perry were unfounded. Investigators said nobody they interviewed knew of a personal relationship between the two before Giddens resigned Feb. 1. Perry insisted the investigation continue after she resigned in order to clear both their names, the 41-page investigation noted; neither she nor Giddens consented to an interview with investigators.
POT: A GrowHealthy medical marijuana dispensary is scheduled to open next week at the southwest corner of U.S. 98 and Griffin Road, not far from another dispensary.
LHS Teacher Placed on Leave After Shooter Comments
A Lakeland High School math teacher was placed on administrative leave and under mental health examination after students reported he told them how he would combine bullets and bombs to kill up to 1,000 people if he were a school shooter. The teacher told a police officer he was joking.
COVERAGE: The Ledger | Fox 13 News
Leadership Lakeland Introduces New Class Members
Leadership Lakeland, a Lakeland Chamber of Commerce program to develop community leaders, tonight introduced the 30 members of its 37th class. The members will devote one day each month for the next nine months to learning about different segments of community life, such as government, health care, education, economy, human services, criminal justice, art and media. More
Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend
Live music highlights this weekend include the monthly Maddox Local Jam and several acts from other parts of Florida who we rarely see in Lakeland. Keep scrolling for the highlights followed by the updated music calendar: More
Read It in the Morning Paper
LHS TEACHER: A Lakeland High School math teacher was removed from the classroom via a judge-issued risk protection order Wednesday after he “described hypothetical acts of violence against the school” following a lockdown drill on Friday, according to School Board officials. No specifics have been given about what he said, leaving a lot of questions raised in placed like this Facebook discussion.
LAKELAND ELECTRIC: Three employees of the city power utility assembled the software behind a new electronic disaster-response tool; crews in the field will get updated information on digital devices instead of relying on the paper maps and lists used during the 12 days power was out following Hurricane Irma in 2017.
SEU-TIGERS: Last year, Southeastern University replaced Florida Southern College as the school whose baseball team played the Detroit Tigers at the start of Spring Training. SEU and the Tigers announced Wednesday that they have extended the parternship for three years. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed | News release
INDOOR ART FESTIVAL: The third Fine Art at the Magnolia is scheduled for 10-5 Saturday and 10-4 Sunday at the Magnolia Building on Lake Mirror.
New Lakeland Magic Mural Nods to City’s Lakes
A new mural by a Lakeland-born painter at the RP Funding Center pays overt tribute to the Lakeland Magic and subtle homage to the city’s many lakes. More
School Board Considers Revenue Options
Facing funding reductions mandated by the Florida Legislature, Polk School Board members are looking at options to increase revenues. At a workshop Tuesday, they discussed timing of a referendum on increasing property taxes. In addition, county officials are considering a phased increase in impact fees on new construction over the next few years.
Athena Awards Honor Leadership, Service
Top honorees tonight at Lakeland’s inaugural Athena Awards included Ana Wood (leadership award), Laura Lear (young professional) and Top Buttons (organization).
The Athena Awards, a collaboration between the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, recognize women leaders who have made significant accomplishments and enhanced the community. More
Aluminum Smelting Company Coming to West Lakeland
A company that melts old aluminum wheels into ingots is moving into a long-vacant industrial building a few blocks west of the entrance to the upcoming Bonnet Springs Park. More
Detroit Tigers Release Spring Training Schedule
The Tigers open their 84th Spring Training in Lakeland on Feb. 21 with an exhibition game against Southeastern University followed by a home game the following day against the Phillies.
Combee Academy Bee Hive Yields Environment Lessons
The colony of live bees, part of the nonprofit Bee Cause Project, is one of two in Florida schools. It teaches students at Combee Academy of Design and Engineering about the importance of bees to agriculture and food production.
Social Media Checks in on City Hall
A discussion of a possible city broadband utility might have the farthest-reaching implications, but plenty more happened during five meetings that occupied city commissioners and their top staff between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. today. Here are some highlights, as seen on social media: More
Annexation Could Boost Warehouse to 1M Square Feet
A 710,962-square-foot warehouse planned for property that was once part of the Lakeland Drag Strip could grow to more than 1 million square feet, as a result of City Commission action today. That would make it one of the five largest warehouses in Lakeland. More
Commission Support for Broadband Utility Remains Soft
The city of Lakeland is planning a series of public meetings on whether it should create a municipal internet service provider even as support on the commission remains limited. More
Polk Museum Impressionist Exhibit Impresses Forbes Writer
Chadd Scott, a Jacksonville sports radio programmer who writes about the intersection of arts and travel for Forbes, visited the new Impressionists exhibit at the Polk Museum of Art and was impressed. He writes in Forbes that the art on loan from an institution in Reading, Pa., “to a museum in an even smaller city, easily bypassed on Interstate 4 between Orlando and Tampa, serves as a great reminder of the wonderful artwork which can be found outside America’s mega-collection institutions. You shouldn’t have to live or travel in New York or Chicago to see the greatest art the world has ever produced. This show proves you don’t.”
