This Saturday, Sept. 19, from 6 to 9 p.m., Grievous Angel will host a “Dolly Parton Night Market,” benefitting the Imagination Library.
Author Archives: Anna Toms
Anna Toms was born and raised in Kansas City, Mo., where she cultivated a love for writing and eventually earned her Ph.D. in literature and the humanities. She is an experienced educator who has taught students from middle school to college to think critically and express themselves clearly. Anna moved to Lakeland in June of 2020.
Posted inArts & Culture
Community Leaders Come Together to Champion ‘Arts as Infrastructure’
Over 100 people attended “The Infrastructure of Well-Being,” hosted by the Polk Arts and Health Collaborative, to explore the impact of the arts on the overall health of the community.
Posted inSports
Lkld Lore: Lakeland High School’s 2006 State Championship Football Team
After a historic game that came down to inches, seven Dreadnaughts would go on to become “Gatornaughts,” and four made it to the NFL.
Posted inCrime / Justice
Local Law Enforcement Responds to FDOT Order To Remove License Plate Readers from State Highways
All cameras must be removed by Sept. 30, 2026. PSCO says they will continue to use the cameras in non-state roads.
Posted inInsight Polk
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Ensures Legacy of Literacy in Polk
Founded to honor Parton’s father, the program distributed nearly 30,000 books to children in Central Florida in 2025, championing literacy while instilling a love of books and reading from an early age.
Posted inPolitics
August Primary Decides County Commission District 2 and Circuit Court Judges
Incumbent Rick Wilson will serve a third term on the Polk County Commission; Chris Spath and Andrea DeMichael will join the 10th Judicial Circuit Court.
Posted inPolitics
School Board Elections: District 3 Heads to Run-Off; Fields and Sharpless Cruise to Victory
Two of the three contested seats on the Polk County School Board were decided by Tuesday’s election while District 3 candidates Wallace and Sims head to a run-off in November.
Posted inPolitics
Behind the $264K: 2026 Polk County School Board Campaign Funding
Seven candidates are running for three PCPS School Board seats that will be decided this coming Tuesday, Aug 18. We looked beyond the totals to see where support is coming from.
Posted inEducation
Dixieland Elementary School Earns a B
School grades in Lakeland increased by an average of five percentage points in 2025-26 — but with an improvement of 24%, Dixieland jumped from a D to a B in a single year.
Posted inArts & Culture
Lakeland Symphony Orchestra Announces 61st Season
With performances at Branscomb Auditorium and the AGB, the 2026-2027 LSO season will honor traditions and engage Polk County youth.
